VIII
SOLOMON’S GOVERNMENT AND EXTERNAL
GLORY. — His DEATH (2 Chronicles 8-9).
2 Chronicles 8 Solomon’s public works. — Forced labour. —
Religion. — Maritime commerce. (Comp. 1 Kings 9:10.)
(_a_) PUBLIC WORKS, BUILDING AND FORTIFICATION OF TOWNS (2 Chronicles
8:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS. — The verb is identical with 1 Kings 9:10,
slightly abbreviated.
WHEREIN. — _When._ The “twenty years” are reckoned from the
fourth year of the reign (1 Kings 6:6), and include seven years during
which the Temple was building, and thirteen during which the palace
was built (1 K... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HURAM HAD RESTORED. — Literally, _which Huram gave._
SOLOMON BUILT THEM. — _Rebuilt_ or _restored_ and _fortified_
(Joshua 6:26; 1 Kings 15:17). The parallel passage (1 Kings 9:11)
records a contrary transaction; that is to say, it represents _Solomon
as giving to Huram_ twenty cities in Galil... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SOLOMON WENT. — _Marched_ (2 Samuel 12:29).
HAMATH-ZOBAH. — That is, Hamath bordering on Zobah. (Comp. 1
Chronicles 18:3.) Solomon’s conquest of the kingdom of Hamath, which
had been on terms of amity with David, is not mentioned in 1 Kings 9;
nor indeed anywhere else in the Old Testament. Then... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE BUILT TADMOR IN THE WILDERNESS. — That is, Palmyra, in the
wilderness, on the traders’ route between the coast and Thapsacuson
the Euphrates. See 1 Kings 9:18, where _Tamar_ or _Tammor_ of the Heb.
text is explained by the margin to mean Tadmor; and the epithet, “in
the wilderness,” seems cer... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO. — _And._ 1 Kings 9:17, “And Solomon built Gezer, and
Beth-horon the nether.”
BUILT — _i.e., fortified,_ as the rest of the verse explains. (See 1
Chronicles 7:24.) He built them _as_ (or _into_)_ fenced cities, viz.,
walls, doors, and bar_ (Micah 7:12; Deuteronomy 3:5). This description
is wa... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BAALATH. — 1 Kings 9:18. Like the two Beth-horons, it lay west
of Jerusalem, and was a bulwark against the Philistines: (Comp. Joshua
19:44, a Danite town.) The rest of this verse is identical with 1
Kings 9:19, which see. (Chronicler has twice added _all._)
In the above section no mention is m... [ Continue Reading ]
(_b_) THE FORCED LABOUR OF THE CANAANITES
(2 Chronicles 8:7).
With this section comp. 1 Kings 9:20, and the Notes there. In Kings it
stands in more obvious connection with what precedes; for there the
account of Solomon’s buildings is headed by the words, “And this
is the reason of the levy which... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SOLOMON BROUGHT UP THE DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH. — See 1 Kings 9:24,
which is much briefer than the present notice. The chronicler has not
mentioned this princess before (comp. 1 Kings 3:1; 1 Kings 9:16), and
mentions her here only in connection with Solomon’s buildings. (See
Note on 2 Chronicles 12:... [ Continue Reading ]
(c) REGULATION OF THE TEMPLE WORSHIP
(2 Chronicles 8:12).
This whole section corresponds to the single verse, 1 Kings 9:25,
which the chronicler has paraphrased in 2 Chronicles 8:12, and
extended by the addition of further details in 2 Chronicles 8:14.
(12) THEN. — After the consecration of the Te... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AFTER A CERTAIN RATE EVERY DAY. — Literally, _and with a
day’s matter on a day_ (Leviticus 23:37) _they had to offer_
(infinitive _construct,_ as at 1 Chronicles 13:4; 1 Chronicles 15:2),
or, perhaps, _he would offer._
THE SOLEMN FEASTS. — Literally, _set seasons,_ viz., the three great
festiv... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE APPOINTED. — _Caused to stand._ (1 Chronicles 6:16; 1
Chronicles 15:16.)
ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF DAVID HIS FATHER. — _Order, i.e.,_
ordinance or institution.
THE COURSES OF THE PRIESTS. — See 1 Chronicles 24.
CHARGES. — _Watches, wards, stations._
TO PRAISE. — See 1 Chronicles 25:3.
AN... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY DEPARTED NOT FROM THE COMMANDMENT OF THE KING. — _From_ has
fallen out of the Heb. text, and must be restored. So three MSS. and
the versions.
THE KING=David.
UNTO. — _Concerning;_ literally, _upon._
CONCERNING ANY MATTER, OR CONCERNING THE TREASURES. — _With
reference to any matter and_... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW. — _And,_ here equivalent to _so._
PREPARED = _completed._ (2 Chronicles 29:35; 2 Chronicles 35:10; 2
Chronicles 35:16; a late use of the word _nâkôn._)
UNTO THE DAY OF THE FOUNDATION... UNTIL IT WAS FINISHED. —
Solomon’s activity is apparently divided into two periods, viz., the
preparations w... [ Continue Reading ]
(_d_) THE VOYAGE TO OPHIR (2 Chronicles 8:17).
Comp. 1 Kings 9:26.
(17) THEN (’_âz_). — After the completion of the Temple.
WENT SOLOMON TO EZION-GEBER, AND TO ELOTH. — Syr., “Ezion-geber, a
city which is over against Eloth.” 1 Kings 9:26 reads, “And a
fleet did king Solomon make at Ezion-geber,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HURAM SENT HIM BY THE HANDS OF HIS SERVANTS SHIPS. — When
Solomon began to evince an interest in maritime affairs, his Tyrian
ally presented him with a number of vessels and their crews of trained
seamen. To what port the vessels were sent is not expressly stated.
Probably they put in at Joppa ... [ Continue Reading ]