Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 9:17

"And Solomon built Gezer, and Beth-horon the nether," — 1 Kings 9:17 (ASV)

Lower Beth-horon. —The name “Beth-horon” (“the house of caves”) was given to two small towns or villages (still called Beit-ûr), near Gezer, commanding the steep and rugged pass from the maritime plain, celebrated for three great victories of Israel—the great victory of Joshua (Joshua 10); the victory of Judas Maccabæus ; and the last victory of the Jews over the Roman army of Cestius Gallus, before the fall of Jerusalem (Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 2.19).

Lower Beth-horon stands on a low eminence on the edge of the plain.