1 Kings 9:17-19 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And Beth-horon the nether The lower Beth-horon, which was in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:13. Baalath A city in the tribe of Dan, Joshua 19:44. And Tadmor in the wilderness The name of this city signifies wonderful, or admirable, and it was so named, probably, from the singularity of the thing, in finding here springs and wells of water, and other conveniences to subsist a city, among such horrid and parched sands, with which it was on all sides surrounded. It is probable that Solomon built this city among the deserts to hinder the communication between the Syrians and the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, that they might not join their forces in confederacy together against the Israelites, as they had done in the time of David. This city appears to have been the same which was afterward called Palmyra by the Greeks, the ruins of which still remain. Some English gentlemen of credit and fortune visited it about the year 1750, who have published such a description of the exceeding magnificence and beauty of its ruins, at this day, as is astonishing. We refer our readers to that publication, not only that they may receive great pleasure, but great improvement; since it is not possible to conceive higher ideas of Solomon's magnificence than these ruins present, nor more humiliating ideas of the vanity and weakness of all human splendour. See Messrs. Dawkin's and Wood's Ruins of Palmyra. In the land Of Hamath Zoba, a part of Syria, as is said 2 Chronicles 8:3-4, which country Solomon had conquered. And all the cities of store that Solomon had Where he laid up corn against a time of need; or arms and ammunition in case of war. And cities for his chariots and his horsemen Which he had in great numbers.