Solomon rebuilt Gezer: As in verse 15, the Hebrew verb rendered rebuilt may mean either “to build” or “to rebuild,” depending on the context. As in verse 15, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says that Solomon “fortified” these towns.

Lower Beth-horon is literally “Beth Horon the lower.” The two cities of Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon were located in the mountains of Judah in the Valley of Aijalon. Lower Beth-horon was located in the valley, and the other Beth-horon was located on a peak more than 130 meters (425 feet) higher and about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) away. So Lower Beth-horon may be rendered “the city of Beth-horon that was in the valley.” These two cities were located on a major road from the coastal plains in the west into the hill country to the east and had a clear view of the plains below. For this reason Lower Beth-horon had strategic importance. Because the list is interrupted by the parenthetical statement in verses 16-17a, it will be a good idea in many languages to repeat the information stated in verse 15, namely, that Solomon rebuilt this city and the ones cited in the following verse using forced labor. Compare Good News Translation.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .