John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 9:15
And this is the reason of the levy which King Solomon raised ,.... Both of men to work, 1 Kings 5:13 , and of money to defray the expense: it was for to build the house of the Lord ; the temple: and his own house ; or palace: and Millo ; which he repaired: See Gill on 1 Samuel 5:9 . and the wall of Jerusalem ; which, as Abarbinel says, was a large building, there being three walls one within another: and Hazor ; a city in the tribe of Naphtali, and which had been a... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 9:15-28
We have here a further account of Solomon's greatness. I. His buildings. He raised a great levy both of men and money, because he projected a great deal of building, which would both employ many hands and put him to a vast expense, 1 Kgs. 9:15. And he was a wise builder, who sat down first, and counted the cost, and would not begin to build till he found himself able to finish. Perhaps there was some complaint of the heaviness of the taxes, which the historian excuses from the greatness of his... read more