Bible Dictionaries
Millo

Holman Bible Dictionary

(mih loh) Hebrew word meaning, “filling” which describes a stone terrace system employed in ancient construction. 1. The story of Abimelech in the Book of Judges mentions Beth Millo—”The House of the Filling.” Probably a suburb of Shechem, the Beth Millo most likely was a Canaanite sanctuary. The shrine was built upon an artificial platform or fill and thus received the name “House of the Filling.”

2. The extension of Jerusalem beyond the original Jebusite city David captured stretched northward to include the Hill of Moriah, the site of the future Temple. A large open space between the hill and the main city below left ample room for added construction. To provide a level platform upon which to build, a series of retaining walls were raised along the slope of the hill. Loads of earth and rock were dumped behind the walls to form large terraces to support the royal halls and residences planned by Solomon. The area came to be called the Ophel, meaning “high” or “lofty.” It is probable that additional supporting terraces were built on the southern slopes in the city proper to extend the area available for general construction. Joash's murder by his own men near the Beth Millo “on the road to Silla” may refer to terraces in this portion of the city.