2 Chronicles 8:5
New International Version
He rebuilt Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon as fortified cities, with walls and with gates and bars,

New Living Translation
He fortified the towns of Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, rebuilding their walls and installing barred gates.

English Standard Version
He also built Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars,

Berean Standard Bible
He rebuilt Upper and Lower Beth-horon as fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars,

King James Bible
Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;

New King James Version
He built Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars,

New American Standard Bible
He also built upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon, which were fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars;

NASB 1995
He also built upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates and bars;

NASB 1977
He also built upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars;

Legacy Standard Bible
He also built upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates and bars;

Amplified Bible
He also built upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars [to lock the gates];

Christian Standard Bible
He built Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon —fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars —

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He built Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon—fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars—

American Standard Version
Also he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, fortified cities, with walls, gates, and bars;

Contemporary English Version
He strengthened Upper Beth-Horon and Lower Beth-Horon by adding walls and gates that could be locked.

English Revised Version
Also he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He rebuilt Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon into cities fortified with walls, double-door gates, and bars.

Good News Translation
Solomon also rebuilt the following cities: Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon (fortified cities with gates that could be barred),

International Standard Version
He also built upper and lower Beth-horon as fortified cities, installing walls, gates, and bars,

Majority Standard Bible
He rebuilt Upper and Lower Beth-horon as fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars,

NET Bible
He made upper Beth Horon and lower Beth Horon fortified cities with walls and barred gates,

New Heart English Bible
Also he built Upper Beth Horon, and Lower Beth Horon, fortified cities, with walls, gates, and bars;

Webster's Bible Translation
Also he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, fortified cities, with walls, gates, and bars;

World English Bible
Also he built Beth Horon the upper and Beth Horon the lower, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he builds Beth-Horon the upper, and Beth-Horon the lower—cities of defense, with walls, double gates, and bar—

Young's Literal Translation
And he buildeth Beth-Horon the upper, and Beth-Horon the lower -- cities of defence, with walls, two-leaved doors, and bar --

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will build the house of the hollow the high, and the house of the hollow the low, fortified cities, the walls, doors, and bar:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, walled cities with Rates and bars and locks.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he built upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon, as walled cities, having gates and bars and locks,

New American Bible
He built Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars;

New Revised Standard Version
He also built Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, fortified cities, with walls, gates, and bars,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Also he built Beth-hauran the upper and Beth-hauran the lower;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he built Upper Bayth Khuran and Lower Bayth Khuran
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Also he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, fortified cities, with walls, gates, and bars;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he built Baethoron the upper, and Baethoron the lower, strong cities, - they had walls, gates, and bars;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Additional Accomplishments
4He built Tadmor in the wilderness, in addition to all the store cities that he had built in Hamath. 5He rebuilt Upper and Lower Beth-horon as fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars, 6as well as Baalath, all the store cities that belonged to Solomon, and all the cities for his chariots and horses—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout the land of his dominion.…

Cross References
1 Kings 9:17-19
So Solomon rebuilt Gezer, Lower Beth-horon, / Baalath, and Tamar in the Wilderness of Judah, / as well as all the store cities that Solomon had for his chariots and horses—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout the land of his dominion.

1 Kings 9:15
This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon imposed to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces, and the wall of Jerusalem, as well as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.

1 Kings 9:24
As soon as Pharaoh’s daughter had come up from the City of David to the palace that Solomon had built for her, he built the supporting terraces.

1 Kings 9:10-14
Now at the end of the twenty years during which Solomon built these two houses, the house of the LORD and the royal palace, / King Solomon gave twenty towns in the land of Galilee to Hiram king of Tyre, who had supplied him with cedar and cypress logs and gold for his every desire. / So Hiram went out from Tyre to inspect the towns that Solomon had given him, but he was not pleased with them. ...

1 Kings 9:26-28
King Solomon also assembled a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea. / And Hiram sent his servants, sailors who knew the sea, to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s servants. / They sailed to Ophir and imported gold from there—420 talents—and delivered it to Solomon.

1 Kings 9:1-9
Now when Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and had achieved all that he had desired to do, / the LORD appeared to him a second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. / And the LORD said to him: “I have heard your prayer and petition before Me. I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting My Name there forever; My eyes and My heart will be there for all time. ...

1 Kings 4:7-19
Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year, / and these were their names: Ben-hur in the hill country of Ephraim; / Ben-deker in Makaz, in Shaalbim, in Beth-shemesh, and in Elon-beth-hanan; ...

1 Kings 4:20-21
The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing. / And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

1 Kings 4:24-25
For Solomon had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates—over all the kingdoms from Tiphsah to Gaza—and he had peace on all sides. / Throughout the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel dwelt securely from Dan to Beersheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.

1 Kings 4:26-28
Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses. / Each month the governors in turn provided food for King Solomon and all who came to his table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking. / Each one also brought to the required place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and other horses.

1 Kings 4:29-34
And God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure, like the sand on the seashore. / Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. / He was wiser than all men—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread throughout the surrounding nations. ...

1 Kings 5:1-12
Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place, he sent envoys to Solomon; for Hiram had always been a friend of David. / And Solomon relayed this message to Hiram: / “As you are well aware, due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet. ...

1 Kings 5:13-18
Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel. / He sent them to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000 men, so that they would spend one month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. / Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, ...

1 Kings 6:1-10
In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD. / The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. / The portico at the front of the main hall of the temple was twenty cubits long, extending across the width of the temple and projecting out ten cubits in front of the temple. ...

1 Kings 6:11-13
Then the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying: / “As for this temple you are building, if you walk in My statutes, carry out My ordinances, and keep all My commandments by walking in them, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father David. / And I will dwell among the Israelites and will not abandon My people Israel.”


Treasury of Scripture

Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;

Beth-horon

Joshua 16:3,5
And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer: and the goings out thereof are at the sea…

1 Chronicles 7:24
(And his daughter was Sherah, who built Bethhoron the nether, and the upper, and Uzzensherah.)

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Bar Bars Beth Bethhoron Beth-Horon Beth-Hor'on Buildeth Built Cities Defence Doors Doorways Fenced Fortified Gates Higher Horon Lower Nether Rebuilt Towns Two-Leaved Upper Walled Walls
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Bar Bars Beth Bethhoron Beth-Horon Beth-Hor'on Buildeth Built Cities Defence Doors Doorways Fenced Fortified Gates Higher Horon Lower Nether Rebuilt Towns Two-Leaved Upper Walled Walls
2 Chronicles 8
1. Solomon's buildings
7. The remaining Canaanites, Solomon makes tributaries, but the Israelites rulers
11. Pharaoh's daughter removes to her house
12. Solomon's yearly solemn sacrifices
14. He appoints the priests and Levites to their places
17. The navy fetches gold from Ophir














He rebuilt
The phrase "He rebuilt" indicates a restoration or enhancement of what previously existed. In the Hebrew context, the verb used here is "בָּנָה" (banah), which means to build or rebuild. This action reflects Solomon's commitment to strengthening the infrastructure of his kingdom, ensuring that it was not only functional but also fortified against potential threats. The act of rebuilding signifies a renewal and a dedication to preserving the legacy and security of Israel.

Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon
These locations, Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, were strategically significant. Situated on the border between the tribes of Ephraim and Benjamin, they served as critical points of defense and control. The name "Beth-horon" means "house of the hollow" or "house of freedom," and these cities were part of a vital pass that connected the coastal plain with the interior highlands. Historically, this area was a frequent battleground due to its strategic importance, as seen in battles recorded in Joshua 10 and 1 Samuel 13-14. Solomon's rebuilding of these cities underscores his wisdom in securing key military and trade routes.

as fortified cities
The term "fortified cities" refers to urban centers that were strengthened with defensive structures. In Hebrew, the word for fortified is "מִבְצָר" (mivtzar), which implies a place of strength and protection. Fortified cities were essential in ancient times for the protection of inhabitants against invasions and raids. Solomon's initiative to fortify these cities reflects his understanding of the need for security and stability in his kingdom, ensuring that his people could live in peace and prosperity.

with walls, gates, and bars
The construction of "walls, gates, and bars" highlights the comprehensive nature of the fortifications. Walls provided the primary defense against attackers, gates controlled access and egress, and bars reinforced the gates, making them more resistant to battering. In the ancient Near Eastern context, these elements were crucial for a city's defense. The presence of such fortifications would have been a deterrent to potential aggressors and a reassurance to the inhabitants. Spiritually, this can be seen as a metaphor for the believer's life, where one must build spiritual defenses through faith, prayer, and adherence to God's Word to withstand the challenges and temptations of the world.

(5) Also.--And. 1Kings 9:17, "And Solomon built Gezer, and Beth-horon the nether."

Built--i.e., fortified, as the rest of the verse explains. (See 1Chronicles 7:24.) He built them as (or into) fenced cities, viz., walls, doors, and bar (Micah 7:12; Deuteronomy 3:5). This description is wanting in Kings.

Verse 5. - Beth-heron the upper... Beth-heron the nether. The parallel mentions only the latter (1 Kings 9:17). They were both in Ephraim (1 Chronicles 7:24; Joshua 10:10, 11; Joshua 16:1-6; Joshua 18:13, 14), but were assigned to the Kohathite Levites (Joshua 21:22; 1 Chronicles 6:68). The name means "the hollow place." The upper Beth-heron was about four miles from Gibeon, and the lower about three miles further on. The Roman general Cestius Gallus was defeated here in the last Jewish war; Judas Maccabaeus conquered here (1 Maccabees 3:18-25). Other interesting references may be made to 1 Samuel 13:18; 1 Kings 9:7; 2 Chronicles 25:18.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He rebuilt
וַיִּ֜בֶן (way·yi·ḇen)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1129: To build

Upper
הָֽעֶלְי֔וֹן (hā·‘el·yō·wn)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5945: An elevation, lofty, as title, the Supreme

and Lower
הַתַּחְתּ֑וֹן (hat·taḥ·tō·wn)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 8481: Lower, lowest

Beth-horon
חוֹר֖וֹן (ḥō·w·rō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1032: Beth-horon -- 'place of a hollow', two adjoining cities in Palestine

as fortified
מָצ֔וֹר (mā·ṣō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4692: Something hemming in, a mound, a siege, distress, a fastness

cities
עָרֵ֣י (‘ā·rê)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement

with walls,
חוֹמ֖וֹת (ḥō·w·mō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 2346: A wall of protection

gates,
דְּלָתַ֥יִם (də·lā·ṯa·yim)
Noun - fd
Strong's 1817: Something swinging, the valve of a, door

and bars,
וּבְרִֽיחַ׃ (ū·ḇə·rî·aḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1280: A bolt


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 8:5 Also he built Beth Horon the upper (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 8:4
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