This stronghold became David’s new residence. To secure the city on its only vulnerable side, he extended the fortifications of the Millo.
or supporting terraces
that are generally recognized by archaeologists as step-terraces built by the Jebusites on the eastern slope of Mount Zion. Millo is something that David, Solomon, and Hezekiah were said to have built or repaired (1 Kings 9:24; 1 Kings 11:27; 1 Chronicles 11:8; 2 Chronicles 32:5). Older commentators suggested that this was perhaps a corner tower or something similar. Kathleen Kenyon’s excavations at Jerusalem in the 1960s have helped a great deal. She learned that the Millo was probably a series of step-terraces built by the Jebusites along the eastern side of Jerusalem, upon which houses were built, allowing for an expansion of the residential area—a town laid out on terraces was better than one built on a steep slope. Unfortunately, however, terraces were liable to collapse. Thus, the walls of the structures needed repair from time to time, as especially 2 Chronicles 32:5 affirms.1
With the conquest of the city, its name is changed to the City of David to reflect its new master, who then embarks immediately with his newly appointed general, Joab, on a building program to strengthen the fortifications in the capital. David, starting at the Millo, repaired the city wall all around. Joab, who had brought destruction to the city through his invasion, repaired
or revived
the rest of the city.2
7 And David lived in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David.