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 ]