[1] At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of the
LORD and his own house, [2] Solomon rebuilt the cities which Huram had
given to him, and settled the people of Israel in them. [3] And Solomon
went to Ha'math-zo'bah, and took it. [4] He built Tadmor in the wilderness
and all the store-cities which he built in Hamath. [5] He also built Upper
Beth-hor'on and Lower Beth-hor'on, fortified cities with walls, gates, and
bars, [6] and Ba'alath, and all the store-cities that Solomon had, and all
the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever
Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of
his dominion. [7] All the people who were left of the Hittites, the
Amorites, the Per'izzites, the Hivites, and the Jeb'usites, who were not of
Israel, [8] from their descendants who were left after them in the land,
whom the people of Israel had not destroyed--these Solomon made a forced
levy and so they are to this day. [9] But of the people of Israel Solomon
made no slaves for his work; they were soldiers, and his officers, the
commanders of his chariots, and his horsemen. [10] And these were the chief
officers of King Solomon, two hundred and fifty, who exercised authority
over the people. [11] Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the city
of David to the house which he had built for her, for he said, "My wife
shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to
which the ark of the LORD has come are holy." [12] Then Solomon offered up
burnt offerings to the LORD upon the altar of the LORD which he had built
before the vestibule, [13] as the duty of each day required, offering
according to the commandment of Moses for the sabbaths, the new moons, and
the three annual feasts--the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of weeks,
and the feast of tabernacles. [14] According to the ordinance of David his
father, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, and
the Levites for their offices of praise and ministry before the priests as
the duty of each day required, and the gatekeepers in their divisions for
the several gates; for so David the man of God had commanded. [15] And they
did not turn aside from what the king had commanded the priests and Levites
concerning any matter and concerning the treasuries. [16] Thus was
accomplished all the work of Solomon from the day the foundation of the
house of the LORD was laid until it was finished. So the house of the LORD
was completed. [17] Then Solomon went to E'zion-ge'ber and Eloth on the
shore of the sea, in the land of Edom. [18] And Huram sent him by his
servants ships and servants familiar with the sea, and they went to Ophir
together with the servants of Solomon, and fetched from there four hundred
and fifty talents of gold and brought it to King Solomon.
