John Gill Commentary 2 Chronicles 8

And it came to pass at the end of twenty years
(See Gill on 1 Kings 9:10).

That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon
Which Solomon first gave to him, but he not liking them, returned them to him, (1 Kings 9:12) ,

Solomon built them ;
or rebuilt them, being very much out of repair, which might be one reason of Huram's not accepting them:

and caused the children of Israel to dwell there ;
they being inhabited by others, the remains of the Canaanitcs perhaps; see (2 Chronicles 8:7) .

And Solomon went to Hamathzobah
In an hostile manner, which is the only instance of any warlike expedition of Solomon's. This was Coelesyria, which though subdued in the times of David, perhaps rebelled, and now Solomon went forth to reduce it:

and prevailed against it ;
took it.

And built Tadmor in the wilderness
Of which (See Gill on 1 Kings 9:18)

and all the storehouses which he built in Hamath ;
a country in Syria, which he made himself master of, and where he laid up store of provision and ammunition to keep it, should any attempt be made to rescue it out of his hands. According to an Arabic writer ^F1 , Solomon in the twenty fourth year of his reign having demolished Antioch, built seven cities, of which Tadmor was one.

FOOTNOTES:

• F1: Abulpharag. Hist. Dynast. dyn. 3. p. 53.

Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether ,
&c.] Only mention is made of the latter in (1 Kings 9:17) ,

fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars ;
fortified cities in the tribe of Ephraim.