What Was the Millo in the Bible?

The Millo is part of David’s city that the kings built or repaired. 2 Samuel 5:92 Samuel 5:9 · King James VersionSo David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.2 Samuel 5:9 · King James VersionOpen source (1) says David dwelt in the fort, called it the city of David, and built round about from Millo and inward. 1 Kings 9:151 Kings 9:15 · King James VersionAnd this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.1 Kings 9:15 · King James VersionOpen source (2) lists Millo with the temple, Solomon’s house, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. 2 Chronicles 32:52 Chronicles 32:5 · King James VersionAlso he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.2 Chronicles 32:5 · King James VersionOpen source (4) says Hezekiah repaired Millo in the city of David. The Hebrew word page, Millo (H4407), glosses it as a rampart, as filled in, that is, the citadel. The house of Millo at Shechem in Judges 9 (6) is not that Jerusalem work.

Key Points

• 2 Samuel 5:72 Samuel 5:7 · King James VersionNevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.2 Samuel 5:7 · King James VersionOpen source (1) says David took the stronghold of Zion, “the same is the city of David.” 2 Samuel 5:92 Samuel 5:9 · King James VersionSo David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.2 Samuel 5:9 · King James VersionOpen source says he built from Millo inward.
• 1 Kings 9:151 Kings 9:15 · King James VersionAnd this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.1 Kings 9:15 · King James VersionOpen source (2) is Solomon’s levy for the house of the Lord, his own house, Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, with Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. 1 Kings 9:241 Kings 9:24 · King James VersionBut Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo.1 Kings 9:24 · King James VersionOpen source says that after Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of the city of David, he built Millo. 1 Kings 11:271 Kings 11:27 · King James VersionAnd this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.1 Kings 11:27 · King James VersionOpen source says Solomon built Millo and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.
• 1 Chronicles 11:81 Chronicles 11:8 · King James VersionAnd he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.1 Chronicles 11:8 · King James VersionOpen source (3) says he built the city from Millo round about, and Joab repaired the rest. 2 Chronicles 32:52 Chronicles 32:5 · King James VersionAlso he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.2 Chronicles 32:5 · King James VersionOpen source (4) says Hezekiah repaired Millo in the city of David when he strengthened the broken wall.
• 2 Kings 12:202 Kings 12:20 · King James VersionAnd his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.2 Kings 12:20 · King James VersionOpen source (5) says Joash was killed in the house of Millo, which goes down to Silla. He was buried in the city of David. Judges 9:6Judges 9:6 · King James VersionAnd all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.Judges 9:6 · King James VersionOpen source (6) is a different house of Millo, at Shechem, with the men who made Abimelech king.
• The lexicon line on Millo (H4407) is “a rampart (as filled in), i.e. the citadel,” and it points to H1037, Beth-Millo, “the name of two citadels.” The verb “to fill” is מָלֵא (H4390). This page does not identify the rampart with a particular excavated terrace.

David and the City of David

2 Samuel 5:92 Samuel 5:9 · King James VersionSo David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.2 Samuel 5:9 · King James VersionOpen source (1):

So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

2 Samuel 5:9 · King James Version

2 Samuel 5:72 Samuel 5:7 · King James VersionNevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.2 Samuel 5:7 · King James VersionOpen source names the place he took: the stronghold of Zion, the same is the city of David. The building note is “from Millo and inward.” The verse does not give a length, a height, or a modern street. 1 Chronicles 11:81 Chronicles 11:8 · King James VersionAnd he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.1 Chronicles 11:8 · King James VersionOpen source (3) retells the work: “And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.”

The Hebrew token in 2 Samuel 5:92 Samuel 5:9 · King James VersionSo David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.2 Samuel 5:9 · King James VersionOpen source is the word the interlinear files as מִלּוֹא (millô, H4407), with the article on the form in the verse. Letters inside the word run right to left on that page. The lexicon gloss there calls it a rampart as filled in, the citadel. מָלֵא (H4390) is the verb “to fill,” which is the ordinary sense behind the English “filled in.” The verse itself says David built. It does not narrate a filling ceremony.

Solomon and Hezekiah

1 Kings 9:151 Kings 9:15 · King James VersionAnd this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.1 Kings 9:15 · King James VersionOpen source (2) gives the reason for the levy Solomon raised: to build the house of the Lord, his own house, Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. Millo sits in that list between his house and the wall, and before the three cities outside Jerusalem. 1 Kings 9:241 Kings 9:24 · King James VersionBut Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo.1 Kings 9:24 · King James VersionOpen source times one stage of the work: Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of the city of David to the house Solomon had built for her, and “then did he build Millo.” 1 Kings 11:271 Kings 11:27 · King James VersionAnd this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.1 Kings 11:27 · King James VersionOpen source, in the account of Jeroboam’s revolt, says Solomon built Millo and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.

2 Chronicles 32:52 Chronicles 32:5 · King James VersionAlso he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.2 Chronicles 32:5 · King James VersionOpen source (4) is Hezekiah, before Sennacherib: he built up the broken wall, raised it to the towers, built another wall outside, “and repaired Millo in the city of David,” and made darts and shields. The repair is in the city of David, with the walls. The verse does not call Millo a temple.

The House of Millo

Judges 9:6Judges 9:6 · King James VersionAnd all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.Judges 9:6 · King James VersionOpen source (6) says all the men of Shechem and all the house of Millo went and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem. Judges 9:20Judges 9:20 · King James VersionBut if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.Judges 9:20 · King James VersionOpen source names “the house of Millo” again, with the men of Shechem, in Jotham’s warning. The place in those verses is Shechem. It is not David’s Zion.

2 Kings 12:202 Kings 12:20 · King James VersionAnd his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.2 Kings 12:20 · King James VersionOpen source (5) uses the same English phrase in Jerusalem’s story: Joash’s servants slew him “in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.” 2 Kings 12:212 Kings 12:21 · King James VersionFor Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.2 Kings 12:21 · King James VersionOpen source says they buried him in the city of David. The lexicon note on H4407 points to H1037, Beth-Millo, “the name of two citadels.” Judges 9 and 2 Kings 12 are the two “house of Millo” scenes. This page does not decide which stones, if any, still stand.

Deuteronomy 34:1Deuteronomy 34:1 · King James VersionAnd Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,Deuteronomy 34:1 · King James VersionOpen source is Moses on Mount Nebo, looking at the land. Nebo is not Millo, and the verse does not mention the rampart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Was the Millo?

In David’s city. 2 Samuel 5:7–92 Samuel 5:7–9 · King James Version^5:7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. ^5:8 And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. ^5:9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.2 Samuel 5:7–9 · King James VersionOpen source (1) puts it with the stronghold of Zion that he called the city of David, and he built from Millo inward. 2 Chronicles 32:52 Chronicles 32:5 · King James VersionAlso he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.2 Chronicles 32:5 · King James VersionOpen source (4) says Hezekiah repaired Millo in the city of David. The Shechem house of Millo in Judges 9:6Judges 9:6 · King James VersionAnd all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.Judges 9:6 · King James VersionOpen source (6) is the other citadel the lexicon’s cross-reference names.

Who Built the Millo?

2 Samuel 5:92 Samuel 5:9 · King James VersionSo David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.2 Samuel 5:9 · King James VersionOpen source (1) says David built round about from Millo and inward. 1 Kings 9:241 Kings 9:24 · King James VersionBut Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo.1 Kings 9:24 · King James VersionOpen source (2) and 1 Kings 11:271 Kings 11:27 · King James VersionAnd this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.1 Kings 11:27 · King James VersionOpen source say Solomon built Millo and repaired the breaches of the city of David. 2 Chronicles 32:52 Chronicles 32:5 · King James VersionAlso he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.2 Chronicles 32:5 · King James VersionOpen source (4) says Hezekiah repaired it. 1 Chronicles 11:81 Chronicles 11:8 · King James VersionAnd he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.1 Chronicles 11:8 · King James VersionOpen source (3) adds that Joab repaired the rest of the city.

Is the House of Millo the Same Place?

Judges 9:6Judges 9:6 · King James VersionAnd all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.Judges 9:6 · King James VersionOpen source (6) is Shechem. 2 Kings 12:202 Kings 12:20 · King James VersionAnd his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.2 Kings 12:20 · King James VersionOpen source (5) is the house of Millo where Joash was killed, and the next verse buries him in the city of David. The lexicon calls Beth-Millo the name of two citadels. The Jerusalem Millo of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles is the rampart in the city of David.

Keep Reading

• 2 Samuel 5
• 1 Kings 9
• Millo (H4407)
• The Bible
• Christianity
• Common Arguments