Throughout the Hebrew Bible, there are seven references to a location in Jerusalem known as “Millo” or the “House of Millo” (beit Millo) which appears to have predated the reign of King David. Most famously, King Joash was on his way there when he was assassinated. Nathan Steinmeyer reports on a new theory, based on the biblical, archaeological, and linguistic record, of where it might have been located:

Many options have been put forward for the location of Beit Millo and the Millo in general. One of the more common theories is that the Millo was the ancient name for the famous Stepped Stone Structure found within the modern-day City of David Archaeological Park. The new study, however, rejects this traditional identification and instead identifies the Millo with the area of Jerusalem’s Gihon Spring. . . . According to the study, the spring’s fortifications were known to the biblical writers as the Millo, and the Beit Millo was a specific and well-known building found among them.

The Hebrew word Millo comes from the verb m-l-’, meaning “to fill.” Many scholars have therefore traditionally understood the Millo to refer to a large constructional fill made of stones and earth. . . . Only twice in the Hebrew Bible, however, does the verb m-l-’ imply filling with stones and dirt. Rather, the verb is almost always used to describe filling with water, which is also how the word is regularly used in other Semitic languages. . . . The authors of the new study therefore argue that it is far more fitting for the biblical Millo to be connected with a water installation than a large constructional fill.

On Tuesday, a Hizballah drone attack injured three people in northern Israel. The next day, another attack, targeting an IDF base, injured eighteen people, six of them seriously, in Arab al-Amshe, also in the north. This second attack involved the simultaneous use of drones carrying explosives and guided antitank missiles. In both cases, the defensive systems that performed so successfully last weekend failed to stop the drones and missiles. Ron Ben-Yishai has a straightforward explanation as to why: the Lebanon-backed terrorist group is getting better at evading Israel defenses. He explains the three basis systems used to pilot these unmanned aircraft, and their practical effects:

These systems allow drones to act similarly to fighter jets, using “dead zones”—areas not visible to radar or other optical detection—to approach targets. They fly low initially, then ascend just before crashing and detonating on the target. The terrain of southern Lebanon is particularly conducive to such attacks.

But this requires skills that the terror group has honed over months of fighting against Israel. The latest attacks involved a large drone capable of carrying over 50 kg (110 lbs.) of explosives. The terrorists have likely analyzed Israel’s alert and interception systems, recognizing that shooting down their drones requires early detection to allow sufficient time for launching interceptors.

The IDF tries to detect any incoming drones on its radar, as it had done prior to the war. Despite Hizballah’s learning curve, the IDF’s technological edge offers an advantage. However, the military must recognize that any measure it takes is quickly observed and analyzed, and even the most effective defenses can be incomplete. The terrain near the Lebanon-Israel border continues to pose a challenge, necessitating technological solutions and significant financial investment.