1 Kings 9 16

1 Kings 9:16 kjv

For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon's wife.

1 Kings 9:16 nkjv

(Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and taken Gezer and burned it with fire, had killed the Canaanites who dwelt in the city, and had given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon's wife.)

1 Kings 9:16 niv

(Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire. He killed its Canaanite inhabitants and then gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter, Solomon's wife.

1 Kings 9:16 esv

(Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and captured Gezer and burned it with fire, and had killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and had given it as dowry to his daughter, Solomon's wife;

1 Kings 9:16 nlt

(Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had attacked and captured Gezer, killing the Canaanite population and burning it down. He gave the city to his daughter as a wedding gift when she married Solomon.

1 Kings 9 verses

1 Kings 9 16 Meaning

The verse clarifies how King Solomon acquired the strategically important Canaanite city of Gezer. It states that the Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, conquered Gezer, destroying it by fire. Subsequently, he presented the ruined city as a lavish wedding gift or dowry (shilluḥim) to his daughter upon her marriage to King Solomon. This act underscores the unique political and military alliance between Israel and Egypt during Solomon's reign, marking a significant period of diplomatic peace and prosperity.

1 Kings 9 16 Context

This verse is nested within 1 Kings chapter 9, immediately following God's renewed covenant promises and warnings to Solomon after the completion of the Temple and palace. The chapter then transitions to describe Solomon's kingdom management, including his partnership with Hiram of Tyre and his impressive building program (1 Kgs 9:10-23). The acquisition of Gezer, detailed in this verse, illuminates the geopolitical realities of Solomon's reign. Historically, Gezer was a fortified Canaanite city-state located at a crucial strategic intersection between the coastal plain and the Judean foothills. Despite earlier attempts (Josh 16:10, Judg 1:29), the Israelites had never fully captured it. This alliance with Pharaoh marks a significant shift in the balance of power, demonstrating Israel's elevated standing among nations and Pharaoh's strategic engagement, providing Israel a key city through diplomacy rather than costly warfare. This reflects an era of peace and widespread influence for Solomon's kingdom.

1 Kings 9 16 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): A conjunctive particle serving to introduce an explanation or reason for the preceding statement, clarifying how Gezer, a city often mentioned in lists of Solomon's fortifications (e.g., 1 Kgs 9:15), came into his possession.
• Pharaoh (פַרְעֹה, Parʿoh): The hereditary title for the monarch of ancient Egypt, signifying supreme authority and the leading foreign power of that era.
• king of Egypt (מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַיִם, melek-Mitzrayim): Directly identifies Pharaoh's realm, reinforcing the official and national nature of his actions.
• had gone up (עָלָה, ʿalah): A common Hebrew idiom describing an ascent, specifically used for a military expedition proceeding north from Egypt into the region of Canaan.
• and captured it (וַיִּלְכְּדָהּ, vayyilkeda): From the root lakhad, meaning "to seize" or "capture," indicating a military conquest of the city.
• Gezer (אֶת־גֶּ֣זֶר, ʾet-Gezer): A significant Canaanite royal city, located strategically at a crossroads. Its long-standing Canaanite presence and previous resistance to Israelite conquest made its acquisition particularly noteworthy.
• and burned it with fire (וַיִּשְׂרְפֶ֣הָ בָאֵשׁ, vayyisrpheha baʾesh): Denotes total destruction by combustion, a harsh but typical practice in ancient siege warfare. This act would signify complete conquest and removal of its existing inhabitants and structures.
• and had given it (וַיִּתְּנָהּ֙, vayyittnah): From the root natan, "to give," signifying the transfer of ownership or presentation.
• as a wedding present (שִׁלֻּחִ֔ים, shilluḥim): A crucial legal and cultural term, specifically referring to a dowry or parting gifts given by a father to his daughter upon her marriage, especially at her departure from his house. It implies a substantial, often immovable, asset given to secure her position and prosperity in her new household.
• to his daughter (לְבִתּ֖וֹ, l'vitto): Identifies the recipient of the dowry, emphasizing the personal and familial aspect of this political transaction.
• Solomon’s wife (אֵ֣שֶׁת שְׁלֹמֹֽה, ʾeshet Shlomo): Confirms the marital tie, explicitly linking the recipient of the gift to the Israelite king and underscoring the high diplomatic standing of this union.

Words-Group analysis:

• "Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and captured Gezer and burned it with fire": This sequence of actions vividly portrays Pharaoh's military dominance in the region. The comprehensive destruction of Gezer signifies Pharaoh's direct engagement and exertion of power, likely clearing the site of any anti-Egyptian elements or existing Canaanite claims before presenting it.
• "and had given it as a wedding present to his daughter, Solomon’s wife": This entire phrase unveils a major geopolitical maneuver disguised as a familial gift. The gift of a fortified city as a shilluḥim for a royal marriage speaks volumes about the prestige and strategic alliances of Solomon's kingdom. It suggests that Solomon had achieved such renown and power that even the mighty Pharaoh sought an alliance through marriage, an act nearly unprecedented in Egyptian foreign policy concerning their own princesses.

1 Kings 9 16 Bonus section

The gifting of Gezer highlights a fascinating diplomatic paradox in ancient Near Eastern history. Typically, Egyptian pharaohs did not send their daughters to marry foreign kings. Instead, they expected foreign princesses to be sent to them. The text's emphasis on "Pharaoh king of Egypt" and "his daughter, Solomon's wife" indicates this was an extraordinary and high-status union. This deviation from usual Egyptian practice suggests the immense prestige and power that Solomon had attained, making an alliance with Israel highly desirable even for Egypt. Furthermore, archaeological evidence at Gezer, particularly the presence of a Solomonic gate system, corroborates the biblical account of Gezer being rebuilt or heavily fortified by Solomon after its destruction, fitting its transfer into his control.

1 Kings 9 16 Commentary

1 Kings 9:16 details a remarkable event: the transfer of the significant city of Gezer to King Solomon's possession, not by Israelite conquest, but as a dowry from the Pharaoh of Egypt. This narrative serves multiple purposes. First, it fills a historical gap, explaining how Gezer, a city never fully subdued by Israel (Josh 16:10; Judg 1:29), became part of Solomon's fortified cities (1 Kgs 9:15). Second, it dramatically highlights the unique geopolitical standing of Solomon's kingdom. For Pharaoh to conquer and then gift such a valuable city as shilluḥim for his daughter's marriage signifies a high level of respect, mutual strategic interest, and the unparalleled diplomatic success of Solomon. This alliance, sealed by the marriage to Pharaoh's daughter (1 Kgs 3:1), reflects a period of unprecedented peace and prosperity for Israel, where surrounding nations sought amity. However, this verse also subtly foreshadows the spiritual dangers inherent in such alliances, particularly foreign royal marriages that brought foreign deities and customs into the heart of the kingdom, as Solomon's foreign wives ultimately turned his heart away from God (1 Kgs 11:4).