Millo
Millo is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Jerusalem. It appears across 6 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
The Millo refers to a significant fortification or filled-in terrace structure within the ancient City of David in Jerusalem. The term derives from the Hebrew root meaning "to fill," suggesting an earthen rampart or platform construction. It first appears in connection with the Jebusites' city that David conquered (2 Samuel 5:9), where David built up the city "from the Millo inward." Solomon later rebuilt and strengthened the Millo as part of his extensive building projects in Jerusalem (1 Kings 9:15, 9:24, 11:27), using forced labor to repair breaches in the City of David. The Millo also features in the account of King Joash's assassination, who was murdered by his servants "at the house of Millo" on the road descending to Silla (2 Kings 12:20). In Judges 9:6, a separate "house of Millo" appears in Shechem, associated with the crowning of Abimelech. The Jerusalem Millo thus served as a critical defensive and structural element throughout the united and divided monarchy periods, representing the ongoing efforts of Israel's kings to fortify the holy city.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
The Millo is widely identified with the Stepped Stone Structure discovered on the eastern slope of the City of David in Jerusalem. This massive terraced construction, excavated by Kathleen Kenyon and later by Yigal Shiloh and Eilat Mazar, consists of a series of stone terraces filled with earth and rubble to create a level platform supporting buildings above. The structure dates to the Late Bronze and Iron Age periods, consistent with its biblical chronology. Some archaeologists associate it with the Large Stone Structure found at the summit. The site remains accessible within the City of David archaeological park in the Silwan neighborhood of modern Jerusalem, where ongoing excavations continue to reveal the complex engineering of ancient Jebusite and Israelite construction techniques.
Verse Appearances (6)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →