2 Chronicles 8:3

_AND SOLOMON WENT TO HAMATHZOBAH, AND PREVAILED AGAINST IT._ Solomon went to Hamath-zobah. Hamath was on the Orontes, in Coele-Syria. Its king, Toi, had been the ally of David; but, from the combination Hamath and Zobah, it would appear that some revolution had taken place, which led to the union of these two petty kingdoms of Syria into one. For what cause the resentment of Solomon was provoked against it we are not informed, but he sent an armed force which reduced it. He made himself master also of Tadmor, the famous Palmyra, in the same region. The Romans, at a later period, attempted to impose the name of Adrianopolis upon it, but this appellation has utterly perished, and the Bedouins still give the ancient name of Tadmor to the desolate forest of erect and stately columns (see Taylor's 'Words and Papers'). Various other cities along the frontiers of his extended dominions he repa...

Verse 2 Chronicles 8:3. _HAMATH-ZOBAH_] "Emessa, on the river Orontes." - _Calmet_....

HAMATH-ZOBAH - Usually identified with the “great Hamath” Amos 6:2; the capital of Coele-Syria; but probably a town of Zobah otherwise unknown, which revolted from Solomon, and was reduced to subjection....

EXPOSITION This interesting historical chapter may very well be described as by Professor Dr. James G. Murphy, in his 'Bible-Class Handbook,' "The Acts of Solomon," or at any rate, some of the miscellaneous acts, for which time was found now that the "two houses" were out of hand. 2 CHRONICLES 8:1 (parallel, 1 Kings 9:10).—TwEnty YEARS, WHEREIN SOLOMON HAD BUILT THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, AND HIS OWN HOUSE. The description is intended to be, what it is, chronologically exact. Four years of Solomon had passed when he began the Lord's house, seven were spent in building it, thirteen in finishing and furnishing it, and in building, finishing, and furnishing the king's house—in all twenty-four years....

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....

5. SOLOMON'S PROSPERITY AND ACTIVITIES CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The fortifications of cities (2 Chronicles 8:1)_ 2. The subjection of the strangers (2 Chronicles 8:7) 3. The removal of the daughter of Pharaoh (2 Chronicles 8:11) 4. The perfected service (2 Chronicles 8:12) 5. The expedition to Ophir (2 Chronicles 8:17) The activities of the King included the fortification of certain cities. (See...

SOLOMON'S VARIOUS RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR UNDERTAKINGS (see notes on 1 Kings 9:10). A striking difference occurs between 2 and 1 Kings 9:11; here Hiram gives Solomon an unspecified number of cities, whereas in the historical account Solomon gives Hiram twenty cities. The discrepancy is not difficult to account for; in the Chronicler's days when, with the lapse of time, the popular conception had greatly increased the wealth and power of Solomon, it was not thought credible that such a monarch could really have ceded Israelite cities to a heathen in lieu of payment. This is not to say that the Chronicler deliberately falsified history; the sources from which he compiled his record were various, and upon these the influence of tradition is not likely to have been without effect; moreover, the authority of the

_Hamath-zobah_ The two kingdoms of Hamath and Zobah are distinguished from one another (1 Chronicles 18:3; 1 Chronicles 18:9 = 1 Samuel 8:3; 1 Samuel 8:9), Hamath apparently being north of Zobah. It is probable however that _Hamath_as the name of a city belonged to more than one place, and Hamath-Zobah may be a southern namesake of the well-known Hamath the great (Amos 6:2). Though Solomon was a "man of rest" (1 Chronicles 22:9) his reign was not wh

5. BUILDING, LABORERS AND SHIPS (2 Chronicles 8:1-18) TEXT 2 Chronicles 8:1. And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of Jehovah, and his own house, 2. that the cities which Huram had given to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there. 3. And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah, and prevailed against it. 4. And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath. 5. Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, fortified cities, with walls, gates, and bars; 6. and Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusale

SOLOMON'S BUILDINGS. HIS TRADE WITH OPHIR This chapter reproduces the substance of 1 Kings 9:10; 1 Kings 9:28 but describes some additional buildings....