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. 1Kings 9:10-28.)

(a) PUBLIC WORKS, BUILDING AND FORTIFICATION OF TOWNS (2Chronicles 8:1-6).

Wherein.—When. The “twenty years” are reckoned from the fourth year of the reign (1Kings 6:6), and include seven years during which the Temple was building, and thirteen during which the palace was built (1Kings 6:38; 1Kings 7:1).

Solomon built them.—Rebuilt or restored and fortified (Joshua 6:26; 1Kings 15:17). The parallel passage (1Kings 9:11-13) records a contrary transaction; that is to say, it represents Solomon as giving to Huram twenty cities in Galilee, as a return for his past services. It is added that these cities did not please Huram, in consequence of which they got the name of “The Land of Kābûl” (i.e., “Like-nought”). The Authorised Version here assumes that the explanation of Josephus (Antt. viii. 5, § 3) is correct. That writer states that Huram restored the despised cities to Solomon, who thereupon repaired them, and peopled them with Israelites. Others assume an exchange of friendly gifts between the two sovereigns; so that Solomon gave Huram twenty Israelite cities (Kings), and Huram gave Solomon twenty Phenician cities (Chronicles): this seems highly improbable. The former explanation appears to be substantially correct. The chronicler, or the authority which he follows here. has omitted to notice a fact which seems to derogate from the greatness of Solomon, viz., the previous surrender of the territory in question to the Tyrian king; and has chosen to speak of Huram’s non-acceptance or return of Solomon’s present, as a gift. He then goes on to tell of the future fate of the twenty cities. Solomon repaired or fortified them, and colonised them with Israelites; for this border-land was chiefly inhabited by Gentiles (Isaiah 9:1, “Galilee of the Gentiles”). A border-land is naturally more exposed to the ravages of an invader; and the cities which Solomon ceded to Huram may have been in a half-ruinous condition. This would account for Huram’s disappointment in them. The statement of our text, then, is neither an “effacement,” nor a “travesty” (Reuss), nor even a “remodelling” of that of the older text “in favour of Solomon” (Zöckler). It replaces the older text by another statement which is equally true, and not incompatible with it.

Hamath-zobah.—That is, Hamath bordering on Zobah. (Comp. 1Chronicles 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. Thenius (on 2Kings 14:25) supposes that the text describes not a conquest of Hamath itself, but only the annexation of part of its territory; viz., a part of the highly fruitful plain of Cœle-Syria, called by the Arabs Ard-el-Beqâa. This appears to be correct.

Against it.—Or, over it (a late construction, 2Chronicles 27:5; Daniel 11:5).

And all the store cities, which he built in Hamath.—1Kings 9:19 mentions these cities, but not their locality. They were no doubt “places of arms,” and served as outposts against the hostile neighbouring kingdom of Zobah-Damascus. (See 1Kings 11:23-25.) So far as they lay on the caravan route, they would serve also as victualling stations. (Comp. 2Chronicles 32:28.)

Built—i.e., fortified, as the rest of the verse explains. (See 1Chronicles 7:24.) He built them as (or into) fenced cities, viz., walls, doors, and bar (Micah 7:12; Deuteronomy 3:5). This description is wanting in Kings.

In the above section no mention is made of the fortification of Jerusalem, and the building of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer, which last city had been taken by Pharaoh, and given by him to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. (See 1Kings 9:15-16.) On the other hand, as we have seen, the chronicler supplies several important details which are wanting in the parallel account.

(2Chronicles 8:7-10).

With this section comp. 1Kings 9:20-23, 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 king Solomon raised, for to build the house of the Lord,” &c. (1Kings 9:15).

(7) As for all the people that were left.—The verse agrees with 1Kings 9:20.

(8) But.—Omit. The of also is wanting in 1Kings 9:21. So Syriac, but not LXX. and Vulgate.

Consumed not.—1Samuel 15:18. Kings, “were not able to exterminate.” The chronicler’s reading is probably due to the fading of letters in his MS. authority.

Them did Solomon make to pay tribute.—On them did Solomon levy a tribute. Kings has the fuller expression, mas ‘ôbēd, “tribute of labourers.” “Solomon en fit de levées pour la corvée” (Reuss).

(9) But of the children of Israel.—See 1Kings 9:22. The Heb. text has the relative (‘asher) after “children of Israel.” But some few MSS., and the ancient versions, omit it. It is, perhaps, an accidental repetition from the beginning of 2Chronicles 8:8.

According to Diod. Sic. i. 56, Sesostris (Rameses II.), the great Egyptian monarch, was wont to inscribe over the temples he built, “No native hath laboured hereon.”

After “men of war,” Kings adds, “and his servants,” which is omitted here as unsuitable, after the preceding statement. It means, however, courtiers and officers.

Chief of his captains.—Heb., captains of his knights; which appears to be incorrect. Read, “his captains and his knights,” or “aides-de-camp.” as in Kings. LXX., καὶ ἄρχοντες καὶ δυνατοὶ.

(10) The chief of king Solomon’s officers.—“Captains of the overseers,” or “prefects,” i.e., chief overseers, or inspectors of works (Comp. 1Chronicles 18:13, and 2Chronicles 17:2, for the word n’çîbîm, prefects.) The Heb. margin suggests niççabîm, the word used in Kings.

King Solomon’s.—Literally, Who were to king Solomon. Kings, who were over the work for Solomon. Clearly the latter has been corrupted into the form presented by our text through a confusion of mĕlākāh, “work,” with mèlek, “king.”

Two hundred and fifty.—See 2Chronicles 2:17, and 1Kings 9:23. In the latter place 550 is the number. The number here is an error of transcription, דנ, i.e., 550, having been mistaken for ונ, i.e., 250 (Kennicott).

Bare rule.—They were taskmasters. (Comp. Syriac, “who made the people work who were working at the works.”)

The people—i.e., the Canaanite remnant (2Chronicles 8:7). Kings adds, who were labouring at the work. (See Syriac.)

For he said.—The motive here assigned is wanting in the other text, and is characteristic of the chronicler both in thought and language; though it is too much to say with Thenius that the princess could not have lived anywhere else than in the old palace of David, until the new one was built. 1Kings 3:1 says only that Solomon brought her “into the city of David.”

King of Israel.—In contrast with the Egyptian origin of the princess.

Because the places are holy.—For a holy thing is that unto which, &c. (The plural pronoun hēmmāh, “they,” is equivalent to a neuter-sing, in the usage of the chronicler.)

(2Chronicles 8:12-16).

This whole section corresponds to the single verse, 1Kings 9:25, which the chronicler has paraphrased in 2Chronicles 8:12-13, and extended by the addition of further details in 2Chronicles 8:14-15.

(12) Then.—After the consecration of the Temple.

Offered.—Not once, but habitually; according to the prescriptions of the Mosaic Law (2Chronicles 8:13).

On the altar . . . which he had built.—And apparently no longer at Gibeon (2Chronicles 1:3).

Before the porch.—Not in Kings.

The solemn feasts.—Literally, set seasons, viz., the three great festivals whose designations follow. (The form mô‘adôth for mô‘adîm occurs here only.)

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 1Chronicles 25:3.

And minister before the priests.—1Chronicles 23:28.

As the duty of every day required.—For a day’s matter (i.e., prescribed work) on its day. (Comp. 2Chronicles 8:13.)

The porters also.—See 1Chronicles 26:1-19. The construction is, and he appointed, or stationed, the warders.

For so had David . . .—See margin. A similar phrase occurs in Nehemiah 12:24.

The king=David.

Unto.—Concerning; literally, upon.

Concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.—With reference to any matter and (especially) with reference to the treasures. (See 1Chronicles 26:20-28.) 2Chronicles 8:14-15 assure us that the arrangements of David, as described in 1 Chronicles 24-26, were faithfully observed by his successor.

Prepared = completed. (2Chronicles 29:35; 2Chronicles 35:10; 2Chronicles 35:16; a late use of the word nākôn.)

Unto the day of the foundation . . . until it was finished.—Solomon’s activity is apparently divided into two periods, viz., the preparations which he made before and up to the foundation of the Temple (2 Chronicles 2), and secondly, the prosecution of the work to its completion (2Chronicles 3:1 to 2Chronicles 5:1). (The Heb. Is, unto that day of the foundation,” i.e., that memorable day, see 2Chronicles 3:1-3.) All the versions, however, understand from the day of the foundation unto the completion of the Temple, and perhaps ‘ad ha-yôm is, in the chronicler’s Hebrew equivalent to lĕmin ha-yôm, expressing the terminus a quo.

So the house of the Lord was perfected.—Omit so, and comp. 1Kings 9:25, “and he finished [same root as perfected] the house.” The verse thus closes the entire account of the building and inauguration of the Temple.

Comp. 1Kings 9:26-28.

(17) Then (’āz).—After the completion of the Temple.

Went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth.—Syr., “Ezion-geber, a city which is over against Eloth.” 1Kings 9:26 reads, “And a fleet did king Solomon make at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth.”

The sea.—Kings, the Red Sea. So Vulg. The words of our text do not necessarily imply a personal visit on the part of Solomon. He sent his shipwrights to the Idumean port.

And they went.—Huram’s mariners. Comp. 1Kings 9:27 : “And Huram sent in the fleet (which Solomon had built) his servants, men of ships that had knowledge of the sea.” So the Syr. and Arab. here.

To Ophir.—See 1Kings 9:28. LXX., Sophira.

Fifty.—Kings, twenty. The difference may be due to a scribe’s error, the letter kaf being confused with nun.