Ecclesiastes 2:6

Pools. The rainfall of Palestine is hardly adequate to provide a sufficient water supply (see Vol. II, p. 110; see on Gen. 12:10). Irrigation is necessary today, even as it was in ancient times when farmers excavated tanks and reservoirs. The “king’s pool” of Neh. 2:14 is called “Solomon’s pool” by Josephus (Wars v. 4. 2). The so-called Solomon’s pools probably date from the time of the Romans; the largest was approximately 600 ft. (182.9 m.) long, 207 ft. (63.1 m.) wide, and 50 ft. (15.2 m.) deep. These pools are about 3 mi. (4.8 km.) southeast of Bethlehem. Solomon may also have built fish hatcheries and raised various kinds of fish (Cant. 7:4).