Lexical Summary Beth Millo: Beth Millo Original Word: בֵּית מִלּוֹא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance house of Millo Or Beyth Mil-loh {bayth mil-lo'}; from bayith and millow'; house of (the) rampart; Beth-Millo, the name of two citadels -- house of Millo. see HEBREW bayith see HEBREW millow' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom bayith and Millo Definition "house of earthwork," a place near Shechem, also a citadel in Jer. NASB Translation Beth-millo (3). Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting and Meaning “Beth Millo,” literally “house of the Millo,” is not the name of a single structure but a designation for inhabited quarters situated beside a massive earth-and-stone rampart (“the Millo,” a “filling” or embankment). Two separate regions are linked to the term: the fortified sector of ancient Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim and the outer defensive works on the northern spur of Jerusalem that David and Solomon incorporated into the City of David. In both locations the phrase marks the zone adjoining the great earthen fill that strengthened the city’s wall system. Appearance in the Scriptural Narrative 1. Shechem in the era of the Judges 2. Jerusalem in the united monarchy Historical and Archaeological Perspectives Excavations on the eastern slope of Jerusalem’s ancient Ophel ridge have revealed stepped stone structures dating to the late second millennium B.C.—immense fills that shore up the fortress area. Many scholars identify this complex with “the Millo.” Similar fills have been documented at Shechem. In both sites the “house of the Millo” would have housed administrators, soldiers, and craftsmen whose daily life revolved around maintaining the defenses and managing city affairs. The archaeological evidence corroborates the Biblical picture of sizable engineering projects in the early monarchy and earlier tribal period. Theological and Ministry Implications Protection ultimately belongs to the LORD. Beth-Millo was impressive in engineering terms, yet the fate of Abimelech’s supporters and of Joash shows that fortifications avail nothing where covenant loyalty is absent (Psalm 127:1). Conversely, when David and Solomon dedicated their building efforts to the service of God, the same defensive system became an instrument of blessing, enabling Israel to worship in peace and to extend righteous influence. Typological Reflections The Millo’s “filling” suggests a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ who “fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:23). Just as the earthen fill stabilized Jerusalem’s walls, Christ is the fullness that secures the spiritual house of God (Ephesians 2:20-22). Human attempts at self-security parallel the tragic Beth-Millo of Shechem, while reliance on the Savior mirrors the blessed Millo of David’s capital. Lessons for Today • Civic strength is inseparable from spiritual integrity; moral decay erodes even the strongest defenses. Summary Beth-Millo stands as a double-edged witness: a testimony to practical wisdom when employed under divine lordship, and a warning of inevitable collapse when human ambition usurps God’s throne. Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance hā·rām — 1 Occ.hā·rān — 1 Occ. haš·šiṭ·ṭāh — 1 Occ. haš·šim·šî — 2 Occ. ḥā·ḡə·lāh — 3 Occ. ḥō·w·rōn — 14 Occ. kār — 1 Occ. lə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ — 1 Occ. lā·ḥem — 19 Occ. le·ḥem — 22 Occ. ham·ma·‘ă·ḵāh — 1 Occ. ma·‘ă·ḵāh — 1 Occ. nim·rāh — 2 Occ. ‘az·mā·weṯ — 1 Occ. ‘ă·nō·wṯ — 1 Occ. ‘ă·nāṯ — 3 Occ. ‘ê·qeḏ — 1 Occ. pā·leṭ — 2 Occ. pə·‘ō·wr — 4 Occ. paṣ·ṣêṣ — 1 Occ. |