BEFORE the Temple was thus completed, Solomon had proceeded to construct other magnificent buildings. Amongst these was a sumptuous palace for himself, surrounded with beautiful pleasure-grounds, which stood within the city opposite to the Temple, and occupied 13 years in building (1 K. vii. 1). Another palace he built for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had espoused, and besides it the house of the forest of Lebanon[329], 175 ft. long, half that measurement in width, and 50 ft. high. The roof, which was made of cedar, was supported by 4 rows of cedar columns, and the whole received light from 3 rows of windows on each side. Adjoining it were the women’s apartments, a banqueting-hall, and spacious and luxuriant gardens. Other works were designed for use and security; among these were artificial reservoirs for supplying the city with water, and the strengthening or repairing of a fortress called Millo (1 K. ix. 15), already begun by David (2 Sam. v. 9). Solomon also fortified Baalath[330]; Gezer[331] and the two Beth-horons on the great road towards the sea-coast; the strong and important post of Hazor[332] to defend the entrance from Syria and Assyria; Megiddo to guard the Esdraelon plain; while, for the protection of his eastern caravans, he built Tadmor, afterwards called _Palmyra_, in the Syrian wilderness, and Tiphsah or _Thapsacus_[333] on the Euphrates (2 Chr. viii. 3–6). Illustration: SOLOMON’S DOMINIONS, THE KINGDOMS OF JUDAH & ISRAEL AND THE LANDS OF THE CAPTIVITIES. London: Macmillan & Co. His reign was a period of great commercial activity. On the North-west the important kingdom of Phœnicia was united with him by the bonds of a strict alliance. Once only did Hiram, king of Tyre, express any dissatisfaction with the dealings of his powerful friend. Solomon had bestowed upon him twenty cities which he had conquered in the land of Galilee, on the borders of Asher. But when the Tyrian king came forth to see them, he was much dissatisfied. One of them named Cabul, now _Kabûl_, about 8 or 9 miles east of _Akka_, in his own Phœnician tongue denoted _displeasure_, and this name he gave to them all (1 K. ix. 10–13). 1. But Phœnician enterprise was turned to account in other directions. Having possession of the Eastern shore of the Red Sea, Solomon strengthened the ports of Elath and Ezion-geber (_the giant’s backbone_), and with the assistance of Tyrian shipwrights, constructed a fleet, which sailed to Ophir[334], and returned with gold, silver, ivory, and other products (1 K. ix. 26–28).