9:15 the levy. Solomon undertook numerous major construction projects, not only for the temple and his own palace, but numerous others, including the strengthening of the key cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer, as well as Jerusalem (I Kings 9:15). For this he required many thousands of laborers, and these were mostly conscripts from the large numbers of Canaanites remaining in the land (I Kings 9:20-21). This policy, while developing Israel as never before or since, led to much resentment among the people (I Kings 12:3-5).

9:15 Gezer. The cities mentioned in this verse were important cities during the reign of Solomon, a fact clearly confirmed by archaeological excavations at their sites.