2 Chronicles 8:1

2 Chronicles Old Testament

WEB

It happened at the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of the Lord, and his own house,

KJV

And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house,

Commentary

Commentary

In this chapter we are told, I. What cities Solomon built, ver. 1-6 . II. What workmen Solomon employed, ver. 7-10 . III. What care he took about a proper settlement for his wife, ver. 11 . IV. What a good method he put the temple-service into, ver. 12-16 . V. What trading he had with foreign countries, ver. 17, 18 . 1 And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the L ORD , and his own house,   2 That the cities which Huram had restored 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 Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;   6 And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.   7 As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel,   8 But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day.   9 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen.   10 And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.   11 And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the L ORD hath come. This we had 1 Kings ix. 10-24 , and therefore shall only observe here, I. Though Solomon was a man of great learning and knowledge, yet he spent his days, not in contemplation, but in action, not in his study, but in his country, in building cities and fortifying them, in a time of peace preparing for a time of war, which is as much a man's business as it is in summer to provide food for winter. II. As he was a man of business himself, and did not consult his own ease, so he employed a great many hands, kept abundance of people to work. It is the interest of a state by all means possible to promote and encourage industry, and to keep its subjects from idleness. A great many strangers there were in Israel, many that remained of the Canaanites; and they were welcome to live there, but not to live and do nothing. The men of Laish, who had no business, were an easy prey to the invaders, Judg. xviii. 7 . III. When Solom on had begun with building the house of God, and made good work and quick work of that, he prospered in all his undertakings, so that he built all that he desired to build, v. 6 . Those who have a genius for building find that one project draws on another, and the latter must amend and improve the former. Now observe, 1. How the divine providence gratified even Solomon's humour, and gave him success, not only in all that he needed to build and that it was for his advantage to build, but in all that he had a mind to build. So indulgent a Father God is sometimes to the innocent desires of his children that serve him. Thus he pleased Jacob with that promise, Joseph shall put his hand on thy eyes. 2. Solomon knew how to set bounds to his desires. He was not one of those that enlarge them endlessly, and can never be satisfied, but knew when to draw in; for he finished all he desired, and then he desired no more. He did not sit down and fret that he had not more cities to build, as Alexander did that he had not more worlds to conquer, Hab. ii. 5 . IV. That one reason why Solomon built a palace on purpose for the queen, and removed her and her court to it, was because he thought it by no means proper that she should dwell in the house of David ( v. 11 ), considering that that had been a place of great piety, and perhaps her house was a place of great vanity. She was proselyted, it is likely, to the Jewish religion; but it is a question whether all her servants were. Perhaps they had among them the idols of Egypt, and a great deal of profaneness and debauchery. Now, though Solomon had not zeal and courage enough to suppress and punish what was amiss there, yet he so far consulted the honour of his father's memory that he would not suffer that place to be thus profaned where the ark of God had been and where holy David had prayed many a good prayer and sung many a sweet psalm. Not that all the places where the ark had been were so holy as never to be put to a common use; for then the houses of Abinadab and Obed-edom must have been so. But the place where it had been so long, and had been so publicly attended on, was so venerable that it was not fit to be the place of so much gaiety, not to say iniquity, as was to be found, I fear, in the court that Pharaoh's daughter kept. Note, Between things sacred and things common the ancient landmarks ought to be kept up. It was an outer-court of the temple that was the court of the women. 12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the L ORD on the altar of the L ORD , which he had built before the porch,   13 Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.   14 And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.   15 And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.   16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the L ORD , and until it was finished. So the house of the L ORD was perfected.   17 Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom.   18 And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon. Here is, I. Solomon's devotion. The building of the temple was in order to the service of the temple. Whatever cost he was at in rearing the structure, if he had neglected the worship that was to be performed there, it would all have been to no purpose. Assisting the devotion of others will not atone for our own neglects. When Solomon had built the temple, 1. He kept up the holy sacrifices there, according to the law of Moses, v. 12, 13 . In vain had the altar been built, and in vain had fire come down from heaven, if sacrifices had not been constantly brought as the food of the altar and the fuel of that fire. There were daily sacrifices, a certain rate every day, as duly as the day came, weekly sacrifices on the sabbath, double to what was offered on other days, monthly sacrifices on the new moons, and yearly sacrifices at the three solemn feasts. Those are spiritual sacrifices that are now required of us, which we are to bring daily and weekly; and it is good to be in a settled method of devotion. 2. He kept up the holy songs there, according to the law of David, who is here called the man of God, as Moses was, because he was both instructed and authorised of God to make these establishments; and Solomon took care to see them observed as the duty of every day required, v. 14 . Solomon, though a wise and great man and the builder of the temple, did not attempt to amend, alter, or add to what the man of God had, in God's name, commanded, but closely adhered to that, and used his authority to have that duly observed; and then none departed from the commandment of the king concerning any matter, v. 15 . He observed God's laws, and then all obeyed his orders. When the service of the temple was put into this good order, then it is said, The house of the Lord was perfected, v. 16 . The work was the main matter, not the place; the temple was unfinished till all this was done. II. Solomon's merchandise. He did himself in person visit the sea-port towns of Eloth and Ezion-geber; for those that deal much in the world will find it their interest, as far as they can, to inspect their affairs themselves and to see with their own eyes, v. 17 . Canaan was a rich country, and yet must send to Ophir for gold; the Israelites were a wise and understanding people, and yet must be beholden to the king of Tyre for men that had knowledge of the seas, v. 18 . Yet Canaan was God's peculiar land, and Israel God's peculiar people. This teaches us that grace, and not gold, is the best riches, and acquaintance with God and his law, not with arts and sciences, the best knowledge. INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 8 This chapter contains much the same, with a little variation, as what is related in 1Ki 9:10. Ver. 1. And it came to pass at the end of twenty years,.... See Gill on "1Ki 9:10". 2 Chronicles 8:2 Ver. 2. That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon,.... Which Solomon first gave to him, but he not liking them, returned them to him, 1Ki 9:12, Solomon built them; or rebuilt them, being very much out of repair, which might be one reason of Huram's not accepting them: and caused the children of Israel to dwell there; they being inhabited by others, the remains of the Canaanitcs perhaps; see 2Ch 8:7. 2 Chronicles 8:3 Ver. 3. 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. 2 Chronicles 8:4 Ver. 4. And built Tadmor in the wilderness,.... Of which See Gill on "1Ki 9:18" and all the storehouses which he built in Hamath; a country in Syria, which he made himself master of, and where he laid up store of provision and ammunition to keep it, should any attempt be made to rescue it out of his hands. According to an Arabic writer {a}, Solomon in the twenty fourth year of his reign having demolished Antioch, built seven cities, of which Tadmor was one. {a} Abulpharag. Hist. Dynast. dyn. 3. p. 53. 2 Chronicles 8:5 Ver. 5. Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether,.... Only mention is made of the latter in 1Ki 9:17, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars; fortified cities in the tribe of Ephraim. 2 Chronicles 8:6 Ver. 6-12. And Baalath,.... See 1Ki 9:18. From hence, to the end of 2Ch 8:11, it is the same with 1Ki 9:19. See Gill on "1Ki 9:19". See Gill on "1Ki 9:20". See Gill on "1Ki 9:21". See Gill on "1Ki 9:22". See Gill on "1Ki 9:23". See Gill on "1Ki 9:24". 2 Chronicles 8:7 Ver. 7. See Gill on "2Ch 8:6". 2 Chronicles 8:8 Ver. 8. See Gill on "2Ch 8:6". 2 Chronicles 8:9 Ver. 9. See Gill on "2Ch 8:6". 2 Chronicles 8:10 Ver. 10. See Gill on "2Ch 8:6". 2 Chronicles 8:11 Ver. 11. See Gill on "2Ch 8:6". 2 Chronicles 8:12 Ver. 12. Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord,.... Meaning not barely at the time he rebuilt the above cities, for it was his constant practice: on the altar of the Lord, which he had built before the porch; the brasen altar, which was at the entrance into the temple, within the court; of which see 2Ch 4:1. 2 Chronicles 8:13 Ver. 13. Even after a certain rate every day, according to the commandment of Moses,.... The daily sacrifice, morning and evening, Ex 29:38, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons; when there were additional sacrifices, Nu 28:9, &c. and on the solemn feasts three times in the year, [even] in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles; which serves to explain the three times in 1Ki 9:25. 2 Chronicles 8:14 Ver. 14. And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service,.... The twenty four courses which served weekly in their turns, 1Ch 24:1 and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as duty of every day required; who also had their courses by lot, to sing the praises of God, when the priests sacrificed, or blew the trumpets, 1Ch 25:1, the porters also by their courses at every gate; from hence Dr. Lightfoot concludes that these were divided into twenty four classes, as the priests and Levite singers were: for so had David the man of God commanded, 1Ch 26:1, who in all these affairs acted as a prophet, under the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit of God. 2 Chronicles 8:15 Ver. 15. And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites,.... The priests and Levites departed not from it, not from the commandment of Solomon, according to the order of David, but in all things obeyed it: concerning any matter; which related to the office of either of them, sacrificers, singers, or porters: or concerning the treasures; such of the Levites as had the care of them were faithful to their trust, see 1Ch 26:20, &c. 2 Chronicles 8:16 Ver. 16. Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord, and until it was finished,.... The materials were prepared, and the money for the expenses; and even the very stones and timber were made fit for the building, so that there was nothing to retard the completion of it: so the house of God was perfected; in the space of seven years, in all the parts, and according to the form and pattern of it, see 1Ki 6:38. 2 Chronicles 8:17 Ver. 17-18. Then went Solomon to Eziongeber,.... Being now at leisure to look after his navy, to carry on merchandise; and of this, and the following verse, and the reconciliation of them with 1Ki 9:26, See Gill on "1Ki 9:26", See Gill on "1Ki 9:27", See Gill on "1Ki 9:28". 2 Chronicles 8:18 Ver. 18. See Gill on "2Ch 8:17". John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.
Sources: Matthew Henry; Gill's Exposition