CINXE.COM
Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY
<!DOCTYPE html> <html dir="ltr" lang="en"> <head> <title>Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"/> <meta name="description" content="This is an authorized Web site of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is a research tool for publications in various languages produced by Jehovah’s Witnesses."/> <meta name="keywords" content="jehovah's witnesses, jehovah, witness, watchtower, library, online, publications"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, minimum-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=no"/> <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="60x60" href="/icon/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="76x76" href="/icon/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120" href="/icon/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="/icon/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/icon/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/icon/favicon-32x32.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/icon/favicon-16x16.png"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="/icon/safari-pinned-tab.svg" color="#799FCC"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/icon/favicon.ico"> <meta name="msapplication-config" content="/icon/browserconfig.xml"> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="WOL"> <meta name="application-name" content="WOL"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#799fcc"> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style" content="black"/> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="no"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://b.jw-cdn.org/code/media-player/v3.0.0/css/media-player.css"/><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/assets/css/+0+974f270baf9554651558d525c4fb9b2bbaba7049.css"/><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/assets/css/+1+eda9e25e8d65b8146f2068ea6cf0d4486172ce3d.css"/><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/assets/css/+2+8bc20ec72a3d6bdee112c222e4724ab91daca5e0.css"/><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/assets/css/+3+5fe81ac8c80b601f07459195d4af94edf92bb720.css"/> <script> var localizedNumbers = ["0","1"]; window.VIDEOJS_NO_DYNAMIC_STYLE = true; </script> <input id="insightApi" type="hidden" value="https://b.jw-cdn.org/apis/insight/events" /> <script src="/assets/js/+0+3b23965c032d57f4d3f2965f87b3740e2c650208.js"></script> </head> <body class="showRuby cc-theme--light DynamicLayout"> <style id="scalableui"></style> <script> if (window.Cookies != null) { // Apply user preferred font size // Doesn't apply to static pages, all of which don't scale text var fontScale = Cookies.get('fontScale'); if (fontScale) { var scalableuiStyleContainer = document.getElementById('scalableui'); var scalableuiStyleSheet = scalableuiStyleContainer.sheet; scalableuiStyleSheet.insertRule( '.scalableui{font-size:' + fontScale * 100 + '%;}', scalableuiStyleSheet.cssRules.length ); } } </script> <div id="wrapper" class="dropShadow50"> <input id="locale" type="hidden" value="en" /> <input id="tooltipContentErrorMessage" type="hidden" value="Please click here to open the document." /> <input id="rsconf" type="hidden" value="r1" /> <input id="lib" type="hidden" value="lp-e" /> <input id="libLang" type="hidden" value="English" /> <input id="libTitle" type="hidden" value="English Publications (1950-2025)" /> <input id="libDir" type="hidden" value="ltr" /> <input id="libLangSym" type="hidden" value="E" /> <input id="libLangScript" type="hidden" value="ROMAN" /> <input id="libLangIsSignLanguage" type="hidden" value="" /> <input id="libraryLocale" type="hidden" value="en" /> <input id="contentLocale" type="hidden" value="en" /> <input id="contentRsconf" type="hidden" value="r1" /> <input id="contentLib" type="hidden" value="lp-e" /> <input id="contentLibLang" type="hidden" value="English" /> <input id="contentLibTitle" type="hidden" value="English Publications (1950-2025)" /> <input id="rubyAvailable" type="hidden" value="false" /> <input id="contentLibDir" type="hidden" value="ltr" /> <input id="contentLibLangSym" type="hidden" value="E" /> <input id="contentLibLangScript" type="hidden" value="ROMAN" /> <input id="contentLibLangIsSignLanguage" type="hidden" value="false" /> <input id="siteCookieDomain" type="hidden" value="wol.jw.org" /> <input id="audioMultiselect" type="hidden" value="" /> <input id="site" type="hidden" value="unified" /> <input id="updatedMediaPlayer" type="hidden" value="1" /> <div id="regionHeader" class="chrome showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <div id="siteBanner"> <div class="title"> <a href="/en/wol/h/r1/lp-e"> <span class="logo"><span class="icon"></span></span> <div class="ellipsized label"> <span class="ellipsized titleBig">Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY</span> <div class="ellipsized titleLittle siteTitleLine1">Watchtower</div> <div class="ellipsized titleLittle siteTitleLine2">ONLINE LIBRARY</div> </div> </a> </div> <div class="language"> <a class="chrome librarySelectionLink spriteLink" data-lang="E" href="/en/wol/li/r1/lp-e"> <span class="icon"></span> <span class="label">English</span> </a> </div> </div> <div id="toolbarFrame"> <div id="standardSearch" class="searchControl"> <form class="searchForm" role="search" method="GET" action="/en/wol/qt/r1/lp-e"> <div class="searchFieldContainer"> <input type="hidden" id="st" name="st" /> <input class="searchField" name="q" accept-charset="utf-8" type="text" title="Search operators: * = any text; ? = any character; " " = exact phrase; & = AND; | = OR; ! = NOT; () = group" aria-label="Type search text or a Bible citation" placeholder="Enter Topic" autocomplete="off" autocapitalize="off" autocorrect="off" autofocus="autofocus" spellcheck="false" maxlength="256" value=""/> <span class="searchFieldCancel"><span class="icon"></span></span> </div> <div class="searchControlContainer"> <input type="hidden" name="p" value="par"/> <input type="hidden" name="r" value="occ"/> <input class="searchButton" type="submit" value="SEARCH"/> </div> <div class="searchControlButtons"> <button class="searchIcon menuButton" type="button" aria-label="search"><span class="icon"></span></button> <button class="closeIcon menuButton" type="button" aria-label="cancel"><span class="icon"></span></button> </div> <div class="suggestions hidden"></div> </form> </div> <div id="toolbarMenu"> <ul class="menu" role="menu"> <li id="menuToolsPreferences" class="menuButton iconOnly menuRight" role="menuitem" aria-label="preferences"> <a href="/en/wol/pref/r1/lp-e?url=%2Fen%2Fwol%2Fpc%2Fr1%2Flp-e%2F1200020040%2F665%2F0" rel="nofollow"><span class="icon"></span> </a> </li> <li id="menuToolsShare" class="menuButton iconOnly menuRight" role="menuitem" aria-label="share"> <a id="shareButton" class="shareButtonIcon hidden" href="#"> <span class="icon"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="menuHome" role="menuitem" class="showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <a href="/en/wol/h/r1/lp-e" aria-label="home"> <span class="icon"></span> </a> </div> <div id="menuFrame"> <ul id="menuBar" class="menu" role="menubar"> <li id="menuBible" class="chrome menuButton showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" role="menuitem" aria-label="bible" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <a href="/en/wol/binav/r1/lp-e" role="menuitem" aria-label="bible"><span class="icon"></span><span class="label">BIBLE</span></a> </li> <li id="menuPublications" class="chrome menuButton showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" role="menuitem" aria-label="publications" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <a href="/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications" role="menuitem" aria-label="publications"><span class="icon"></span> <span class="label">PUBLICATIONS</span></a> </li> <li id="menuToday" class="chrome menuButton showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" role="menuitem" aria-label="meetings" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <a class="todayNav" href="/en/wol/meetings/r1/lp-e" role="menuitem" aria-label="meetings"><span class="icon"></span><span class="label">MEETINGS</span></a> </li> <li id="menuSearchHitNext" class="chrome menuButton iconOnly menuRight hidden showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <a href="#"><span class="icon"></span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="regionMain" class="unified navLeft showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr " lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr" > <div id="documentCitationInformation"> <div></div> <div></div> </div> <div id="content" class="content"> <div id="banner" class="siteBanner showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> </div> <article id="article" class="article publicationCitation html5 jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr contentOnly" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr" role="article"> <div class="results"> <ul class="results"> <li class="linkCard"> <a href="/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200010819#h=10:97-14:0" class="jwac showRuby publicationCitation html5 pub- docId-1200010819 pub-ad pub- pub-ad docClass-2 jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr chrome cardContainer noTooltips cardLine1Prominent lnk" data-nav-scope-data="[]"> <div class="cardThumbnail "> <span class=" cardThumbnailImage thumbnail publication icon-default publication pub-ad cat-bk " data-pub-symbol="ad" ></span> </div> <div class="cardTitleBlock"> <div class=" cardLine1 ellipsized cardHalfHeight cardLine1Prominent"><span class="sectionIcon"></span> Brother-in-law Marriage </div> <div class=" cardLine2 ellipsized cardLine1Prominent"> Aid to Bible Understanding </div> </div> <div class="cardTitleDetail"></div> <div class="cardChevron"> <div class="icon"></div> </div> </a> </li> <li class="result"> <ul class="resultItems"> <li class="publicationCitation html5 pub- docId-1200010819 pub-ad pub- pub-ad docClass-2 jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr"> <article class="scalableui"> <p id="p10" data-pid="10" class="sb"><span id="page264" class="pageNum" aria-hidden="true" data-no="264" data-before-text="264"></span>did his two sons, leaving his widow Naomi and two widowed daughters-in-law. There was a man referred to in the Bible as “So-and-so” who was a close relative of Elimelech, perhaps a brother. This one, being nearest of kin, was the one called the <em>go·ʼelʹ</em> or the repurchaser. This one refused to carry out his duty, drawing off his sandal, leaving Boaz the next nearest of kin with the right of repurchase. Boaz then bought Elimelech’s land and thereby took Naomi, but since she was too old for childbearing, the widowed daughter-in-law Ruth was actually the one becoming the wife to Boaz to raise up a child to the name of Elimelech. When the child Obed was born, neighbor ladies said: “A son has been born to Naomi,” considering the child the son of Elimelech and Naomi. Boaz and Ruth performed a service to Jehovah, the name given to their son meaning “servant.” Jehovah blessed this arrangement, for Obed became the ancestor of David and was, therefore, in the direct lineage of Jesus Christ.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010819/5/0" data-bid="6-1" class="b">Ruth chap. 4</a>.</p> <p id="p11" data-pid="11" class="sb">The right of levirate marriage evidently descended to the nearest male relative as outlined in the law governing inheritance of property, namely, the oldest brother, other brothers according to age, then the paternal uncle, and so forth. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010819/6/0" data-bid="7-1" class="b">Num. 27:5-11</a>) In the reference made to brother-in-law marriage at <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010819/7/0" data-bid="8-1" class="b">Matthew 22:23-28 and</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010819/7/1" data-bid="8-2" class="b"> Luke 20:27-33</a>, it is indicated that the duty to marry the childless man’s widow would pass from one brother to the next in the event of their successive deaths. Another brother evidently could not run ahead of the older brother, who had the prior obligation, unless the older brother refused to exercise it.</p> <p id="p12" data-pid="12" class="sb">The Sadducees interpreted brother-in-law marriage to apply only to betrothed virgins, but the Pharisees held to the view that it applied to widows. In the account in the book of Ruth, Naomi was actually a <em>widow</em> who had borne two sons. These had both died, leaving no one to inherit.</p> <p id="p13" data-pid="13" class="sb"></p> </article> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul class="results"> <li class="linkCard"> <a href="/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200010820" class="jwac showRuby publicationCitation html5 pub- docId-1200010820 pub-ad pub- pub-ad docClass-2 jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr chrome cardContainer noTooltips cardLine1Prominent lnk" data-nav-scope-data="[]"> <div class="cardThumbnail "> <span class=" cardThumbnailImage thumbnail publication icon-default publication pub-ad cat-bk " data-pub-symbol="ad" ></span> </div> <div class="cardTitleBlock"> <div class=" cardLine1 ellipsized cardHalfHeight cardLine1Prominent"><span class="sectionIcon"></span> Brown </div> <div class=" cardLine2 ellipsized cardLine1Prominent"> Aid to Bible Understanding </div> </div> <div class="cardTitleDetail"></div> <div class="cardChevron"> <div class="icon"></div> </div> </a> </li> <li class="result"> <ul class="resultItems"> <li class="publicationCitation html5 pub- docId-1200010820 pub-ad pub- pub-ad docClass-2 jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr"> <article class="scalableui"> <p id="p1" data-pid="1" class="st"><span id="page264" class="pageNum" aria-hidden="true" data-no="264" data-before-text="264"></span><strong>BROWN</strong></p> <p id="p2" data-pid="2" class="sb">See COLORS.</p> <p id="p3" data-pid="3" class="sb"></p> </article> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul class="results"> <li class="linkCard"> <a href="/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200010821#h=1:0-12:102" class="jwac showRuby publicationCitation html5 pub- docId-1200010821 pub-ad pub- pub-ad docClass-2 jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr chrome cardContainer noTooltips cardLine1Prominent lnk" data-nav-scope-data="[]"> <div class="cardThumbnail "> <span class=" cardThumbnailImage thumbnail publication icon-default publication pub-ad cat-bk " data-pub-symbol="ad" ></span> </div> <div class="cardTitleBlock"> <div class=" cardLine1 ellipsized cardHalfHeight cardLine1Prominent"><span class="sectionIcon"></span> Builder, Building </div> <div class=" cardLine2 ellipsized cardLine1Prominent"> Aid to Bible Understanding </div> </div> <div class="cardTitleDetail"></div> <div class="cardChevron"> <div class="icon"></div> </div> </a> </li> <li class="result"> <ul class="resultItems"> <li class="publicationCitation html5 pub- docId-1200010821 pub-ad pub- pub-ad docClass-2 jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr"> <article class="scalableui"> <p id="p1" data-pid="1" class="st"><span id="page264" class="pageNum" aria-hidden="true" data-no="264" data-before-text="264"></span><strong>BUILDER, BUILDING</strong></p> <p id="p2" data-pid="2" class="sb">Jehovah God as Creator of all things is the Builder <em>par excellence.</em> (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/0/0" data-bid="1-1" class="b">Heb. 3:4;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/0/1" data-bid="1-2" class="b"> Job 38:4-6</a>) His Word the Logos, who became Jesus Christ, is the Master Worker that he used in creating all things. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/1/0" data-bid="2-1" class="b">John 1:1-3;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/1/1" data-bid="2-2" class="b"> Col. 1:13-16;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/1/2" data-bid="2-3" class="b"> Prov. 8:30</a>) Man cannot create, but must build with materials already existent. The ability to plan, to manufacture instruments and to build was planted in man at his creation and was manifested early in human history.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/2/0" data-bid="3-1" class="b">Gen. 1:26;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/2/1" data-bid="3-2" class="b"> 4:20-22</a>.</p> <p id="p3" data-pid="3" class="sb">Cain, the first son of Adam and Eve, is the first man mentioned in the Bible as the builder of a city, giving it the name of his son Enoch. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/3/0" data-bid="4-1" class="b">Gen. 4:17</a>) Noah was the builder of an ark, the pattern of which was given to him by Jehovah. Resinous wood was the material used for this ark of three stories, which was covered inside and outside with tar. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/4/0" data-bid="5-1" class="b">Gen. 6:14-16</a>; see ARK No. 1.) Nimrod, a “mighty hunter in opposition to Jehovah,” was the builder of several cities, namely, Babel, Erech, Accad, Calneh and also Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah and Resen.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/5/0" data-bid="6-1" class="b">Gen. 10:9-12</a>.</p> <p id="p4" data-pid="4" class="sb">When the Israelites were in slavery in Egypt they built cities as storage places for Pharaoh, namely, Pithom and Raamses. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/6/0" data-bid="7-1" class="b">Ex. 1:11</a>) When they were led by Jehovah into the Promised Land they there found cities that had been built by the Canaanite inhabitants. Many of these cities with their houses were taken and used by the Israelites.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/7/0" data-bid="8-1" class="b">Deut. 6:10, 11</a>.</p> <p id="p5" data-pid="5" class="sb">Moses supervised the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness, with all its utensils, the pattern being divinely provided. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/8/0" data-bid="9-1" class="b">Ex. 25:9</a>) Taking the lead in the fabrication and construction were Bezalel and Oholiab, whose abilities were accentuated by God’s holy spirit so that the finished work was done exactly as God had commanded Moses.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/9/0" data-bid="10-1" class="b">Ex. 25:40;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/9/1" data-bid="10-2" class="b"> 35:30-36:1</a>.</p> <p id="p6" data-pid="6" class="sb">After David took the city of Jerusalem from the Jebusites he did considerable building there, including a house for himself. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/10/0" data-bid="11-1" class="b">2 Sam. 5:9-11</a>) His son Solomon was a builder of renown, the temple of Jehovah being his foremost project. The architectural plans for this temple had been given to David by inspiration. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/11/0" data-bid="12-1" class="b">1 Chron. 28:11, 12</a>) David had gathered much of the material for the temple building, gold, silver, copper, iron, timbers, stones and precious stones, contributed by the people and also from David’s own funds. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/12/0" data-bid="13-1" class="b">1 Chron. 22:14-16;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/12/1" data-bid="13-2" class="b"> 29:2-8</a>) Hiram, king of Tyre, acted toward Solomon as he had toward David by supplying materials, particularly cedar and juniper timbers, as well as supplying many workmen. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/13/0" data-bid="14-1" class="b">1 Ki. 5:7-10,</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/13/1" data-bid="14-2" class="b"> 18;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/13/2" data-bid="14-3" class="b"> 2 Chron. 2:3</a>) King Hiram also sent a man named Hiram (Hiram-abi), son of a Tyrian man and an Israelite woman, a very skilled worker in gold, silver, copper, iron, stones, timbers and fabrics.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/14/0" data-bid="15-1" class="b">1 Ki. 7:13, 14;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/14/1" data-bid="15-2" class="b"> 2 Chron. 2:13, 14</a>.</p> <p id="p7" data-pid="7" class="sb">Solomon did other extensive building works, including a house for himself as well as the House of the Forest of Lebanon, the Porch of Pillars and the Porch of the Throne. The building of the temple and other governmental buildings occupied twenty years. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/15/0" data-bid="16-1" class="b">1 Ki. 6:1;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/15/1" data-bid="16-2" class="b"> 7:1, 2,</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/15/2" data-bid="16-3" class="b"> 6, 7;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/15/3" data-bid="16-4" class="b"> 9:10</a>) Following this, Solomon embarked on a nationwide building program, including Gezer and Lower Beth-horon, Baalath and Tamar (Tadmor) in the wilderness, along with storage cities, chariot cities and cities for the horsemen. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/16/0" data-bid="17-1" class="b">1 Ki. 9:17-19</a>) Excavations in Palestine, particularly at Hazor, Megiddo and Gezer, have uncovered city gates and fortifications that archaeologists attribute to Solomon.</p> <p id="p8" data-pid="8" class="sb">A notable builder among the kings of Israel and Judah was Solomon’s son Rehoboam. His works included the rebuilding of Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. Rehoboam also reinforced and provisioned the fortified places. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/17/0" data-bid="18-1" class="b">2 Chron. 11:5-11</a>) Other builders were King Baasha of Israel, who “began to build Ramah”; King Asa of Judah, building at Geba in Benjamin and Mizpah; Hiel the Bethelite, who rebuilt ruined Jericho at the forfeit of Abiram his firstborn at the laying of its foundation, and of Segub his youngest son at the putting up of the doors, in fulfillment of Joshua’s prophecy (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/18/0" data-bid="19-1" class="b">1 Ki. 15:17,</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/18/1" data-bid="19-2" class="b"> 22;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/18/2" data-bid="19-3" class="b"> 16:34;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/18/3" data-bid="19-4" class="b"> Josh. 6:26</a>); and King Ahab of Israel, who constructed a house of ivory, besides several cities. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/19/0" data-bid="20-1" class="b">1 Ki. 22:39</a>) Some archaeologists believe that the heavy fortifications and the constructions at Megiddo, formerly thought to be Solomon’s stables, actually belonged to Ahab, whose rule began about fifty-seven years after Solomon’s death. Building works uncovered in the stratum below these are now considered to be Solomon’s fortifications.</p> <p id="p9" data-pid="9" class="sb">King Uzziah of Judah was an extensive builder. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/20/0" data-bid="21-1" class="b">2 Chron. 26:9, 10</a>) Uzziah displayed evidence of military genius in fortifying Jerusalem with “engines of war, the invention of engineers.” (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/21/0" data-bid="22-1" class="b">2 Chron. 26:15</a>) Scenes of wall reliefs depicting Sennacherib’s assault on Lachish show special kinds of fortifications on the towers, attributed by archaeologists to Uzziah.</p> <p id="p10" data-pid="10" class="sb">Jotham did a great deal of building. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/22/0" data-bid="23-1" class="b">2 Chron. 27:3, 4</a>) And Hezekiah did considerable fortifying of Jerusalem, in connection with which he dug a water tunnel from the spring of Gihon to bring water inside the city. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/23/0" data-bid="24-1" class="b">2 Chron. 32:2-5,</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/23/1" data-bid="24-2" class="b"> 30</a>) This water tunnel can still be viewed by visitors to Jerusalem.—See the names of the kings under their respective headings.</p> <p id="p11" data-pid="11" class="sb">After the exile, Zerubbabel traveled from Babylon with a company of nearly 50,000 persons and began the rebuilding of the temple of Jehovah in Jerusalem. It was completed in the year 516 B.C.E. Later, in 455 B.C.E., Nehemiah came from Shushan to rebuild the wall of the city.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/24/0" data-bid="25-1" class="b">Ezra 2:1, 2,</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/24/1" data-bid="25-2" class="b"> 64, 65;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/24/2" data-bid="25-3" class="b"> 6:15;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/24/3" data-bid="25-4" class="b"> Neh. 6:1;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1200010821/24/4" data-bid="25-5" class="b"> 7:1</a>.</p> <p id="p12" data-pid="12" class="sb">King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is known mainly for his military exploits. Nonetheless, he was a great</p> </article> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div id="regionFooter" class="chrome showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <input id="returnToLibrary" type="hidden" value="Return to {LibraryName}" /> <div id="userStatus" class="hidden" data-library-color=""> <div class="ellipsized currentLibrary"> <a class="chrome librarySelectionLink spriteLink" data-lang="E" href="/en/wol/li/r1/lp-e"> <span class="icon"></span> <span class="label ellipsized showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr">English Publications (1950-2025)</span> </a> <div id="cookieLibrary"> </div> </div> <div class="currentUser ellipsized"> <a id="userStatusLabel" class="statusLabel" href="#"> <span class="userName ellipsized"></span> </a> <div id="userControls" class="userControls hidden"> <span id="headerLogout" class="hidden"> <a class="statusItem userLogoutLink" href="#">Log Out</a> </span> </div> </div> <div id="headerLogin" class="hidden"> <a class="statusButton userLoginLink" href="#">Log In</a> </div> </div> <div id="contentFooterNavigation" role="navigation" class=" showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <ul class="contentFooterIcons" role="menubar" class="chrome"> <li id="libraryTitle" class="chrome" role="menuitem" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <a class="spriteLink" data-lang="E" href="/en/wol/li/r1/lp-e"> <span class="icon"></span> <span class="label">English</span> </a> </li> <li id="contentFooterShare" role="menuitem" aria-label="share"> <a id="shareButtonFooter" class="shareButtonFooterIcon spriteLink hidden" href="#"> <span class="icon"></span> <span class="label">Share</span> </a> </li> <li id="contentFooterPreferences" role="menuitem" aria-label="preferences"> <a class="spriteLink" href="/en/wol/pref/r1/lp-e?url=%2Fen%2Fwol%2Fpc%2Fr1%2Flp-e%2F1200020040%2F665%2F0" rel="nofollow"> <span class="icon"></span> <span class="label">Preferences</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="contentFooterLegal" class=" showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <ul class="contentFooterList" role="menubar"> <li class="showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://www.jw.org/finder?prefer=content&wtlocale=E&docid=1011511" target="_blank">Copyright</a> © 2024 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania </li> <li> <a href="https://www.jw.org/finder?prefer=content&wtlocale=E&docid=1011511" target="_blank">Terms of Use</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.jw.org/finder?prefer=content&wtlocale=E&docid=1011512" target="_blank">Privacy Policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.jw.org/finder?prefer=content&wtlocale=E&docid=1011512" id="privacySettingsButton" class="hidden" target="_blank">Privacy Settings</a> </li> <li id="jworg" role="menuitem" aria-label="jw.org"> <a id="jworgLogo" class="spriteLink" target="_blank" href="https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=1011200"> <span class="icon"></span> <span class="label">JW.ORG</span> </a> </li> <li id="footerLogin" class="clickable hidden"> <a class="statusButton userLoginLink" href="#">Log In</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="dialogContainer" class=" showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"></div> <div id="modalUnderlayContainer" class="underlay" tabindex="-1"></div> <div id="underlayContainer" class="underlay" touch-action="none"></div> <!-- share dialog --> <input type="hidden" id="mobileNativeShare" value=""/> <div class="jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <div id="shareForm" class="hidden"> <div> <div class="header chrome"> Share <div class="closeBtn" aria-label="close" onclick="app.modal.removeModals();"> <span class="icon"></span> </div> </div> <form class="content"> <div class="shareFormWrapper"> <div> <img class="sharePublicationImage" /> </div> <div class="shareInfoContainer"> <div class="jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <div class="shareContentParentTitle"></div> <div class="shareContentTitle"></div> </div> <input id="shareLink" class="shareLink" type="text" readonly dir="ltr" /> <button type="button" class="grayButton small shareCopyButton" aria-label="copy" onClick="app.utilities.copyToClipboard(document.getElementById('shareLink').value)"> <span class="icon"></span> </button> <div class="shareButtonContainer"> <button type="button" class="grayButton shareMailButton" onClick="app.share.sendEmail();"> <span class="icon"></span> Share Via Email </button> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> <!-- end share dialog --> </div> <input type="hidden" id="newMeetingsPage" value="yes"/> <script src="https://b.jw-cdn.org/code/media-player/v3.0.0/js/media-player.min.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/+1+d47041617fdb857d64eb29a3250d908664adf0ef.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/+2+78d2ab9b80a87e1396c3a1b7455ec10cece44b68.js"></script> </body> </html>