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David's Jerusalem and Millo by Rev. Raymond Parnell
Almost 3,000 years ago King David conquered the city of Jebus after the inhabitants had taunted him by saying that he could not defeat them unless he took away "the lame and blind" (II Samuel 3:6). They felt invincible. Connected to Jerusalem was the Millo (II Samuel 5:9; I Chronicles 11:8. Kathleen Kenyon, a British archaeologist, suggested that it was actually known as the Stepped-Stone Structure. The word means "filling", and was built in the 14th or 13th century BC by the Jebusites. "Preserved to a height of nearly 50 feet, the structure stands on the City of David's northeastern slope, which descends precipitously to the Kidron Valley. The interior was filled with rock and earth to serve as a foundation for a platform that added about 2,000 square feet to the top of the ridge. On this platform the Jebusites appear to have built their citadel - the most likely candidate for the Fortress of Zion where David lived after conquering the city but before building his own palace" (Biblical Archaeology Review, January/February 1997). Further evidence suggests that Millo was important to Israel's defense during Sennacherib's siege in the late eighth century. From the reign of King Solomon onwards, the kings of Jerusalem had to rebuild and reinforce the Millo as a complex architectural unit of prime strategic importance. As they realized the fort's value, we Christians likewise need a spiritual citadel. Theirs was filled with stones and earth to elevate its height. Let us put within our strongholds spiritual solids - prayer, scripture, and worship, for upon it we stand against the wiles of the devil. We are more than conquerors through Christ. Let us go as high as possible because that's the safest place to be. |
