2 Chronicles 2

Chap. II. Ver. 1—76. Register of families.—The Register, in the book of Nehemiah, answers to this here given in so many particulars, that there can be no doubt that the same is meant in both places. In general, the names and the numbers of each family are nearly the same; and the sum total is computed in both exactly alike. Yet there are several considerable variations, in names and numbers, which cannot be readily and satisfacii, 13, 14, the amount is 5469, as will be evident from the following state- IN EZRA. IN ESDRAS. Gold chargers - 30} Gold cups; 1090 Silver ditto é A. 1000] Silver cups. 1000 Knives.. -. 29] Silver censers 29 Gold basins ‘ A; a 30) Gold vials., F 30 Silver ditto 410] Silver vials.

s 2410 Other vessels 1000} Other vessels.. 1006 Said to be. 5400} Total. 5169 But only 2499 — —| Surplus o S68 Deficiency 2901 It is supposed that they actually amounted to 5400, but that only the chic of them were specified, the spoons, &c. being omitted. |— Bagster.

Notes on the verses

God promised Solomon all the things which he had not mands the asked, except the life of his enemies; for he was to be a peaceable king, a type of the prince of peace. ]—Bagster. Ver. 4—17. Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen, &c.—See (1 Kings 10:26-29), which is the same almost verbatim. This intercourse with Bayes had been strictly forbidden, (Deuteronomy 17:16), and no doubt produced very evi Ver. 16. Linen yarn.—[The word mikweh, is regarded by the ancient translators as a proper name: the LXX. has ess pgs ey from Koa,” which is adopted by Dr. Geddes; the Syriac, | from poe ee ’ “Bochart thinks it the city Aphelia;” and the Arabic, “ ex urbe Australium.”” signifies a tribute; others suppose that it signifies a string or drove of horses; or, as Jarchi says, what the Germans call a stud; but Houbigant supposes it ‘ Our English translation, howto be a corruption for mercavah, “ chariots.”

| ever, which regards it as synonymous with tikwah, seems by ‘According to Norden, linen yarn is still one of the principal articles of commerce in be pt, and is exported in very large quantities, together with unmanufactured flax and spun cotton; and Sanwéus, 400 years ago, remarked, that though Christian countries abounded in flax, yet the goodness of the Egyptian was such, that it was dispersed even to the west. ]—Bagster. Cap. Il. The substance of this whole chapter will be found in the 5th of the 1st Book of Kings, but with some transpositions and slight variations. See also (1 Kings 7:13-14).: ~ Ver. 8. Algum trees.—[Called in the parallel passage, by a transposition of letters, amuggim, or “almug trees;”

which thya or lignumvite wood. Theophrastus says, that “the thyon or thya tree grows near the temple of Jupiter Ammon (in Africa) and in the Cyrenaica; that it resembles the cypress in its boughs, leaves, stalk, and fruit; and that its wood (from its close texture) never rots.” 1 trees; but cautions us against supposing that the wood was like what was known in his time by that name; for these “were to the sight like the wood of the fig tree, but more white and shining.” The Syriac version has kaiso dekeesotho, probably cypress wood; and Dr. f t cypress. Several critics understand it to mean gwmmy wood, Celsius queries whether it may not be the sandal tree, as pose. ]—Bagster. y Ver. 12. Blessed be the Lord.—See (1 Kings 10:9). soe Ne the best. Ver. 13. Of Huram my father’s.—Some, as Dr. Boothroyd, make the latter word a part of this man’s proper name; think Huram refers to his own father; the late king. A third class consider it a term of courtesy and respect, as a man of superior talents; “My father Huram.” is rendered by the Vulgate the Josephus calls it torch or pine Shaw supposes it denotes the the Rabbins and Dr. Geddes sup- Huram (or Hiram) Abiu. Others “A cunning workman, of my father’s,” _ (2 Chronicles 3)The chapter parallel to this, is 1 ticulars are detailed more minutely, and others Ver. 1. In mount Moriah.—‘This is which the temple was built, and adjacent to mount Zion. of this hill that Abraham offered up his son Isaac: Ver.

3. The first measure.—[It is supposed, with much probability, that the first measure means the cubit used in the time of Moses, contradistinguished from that used in Babylon, and which the Israelites used after their return from captivity: and, as these books were written, § after the captivity, it was necessary for the writer to make this remark, lest it should be thought that the measurement was by the Babylonish cubit, which was a palm or one sixth shorter than the cubit of Moses; which may the historical books, with respect to er. 4. One hundred and twenty.—{As the height of the temple was only 30 cubits, 120 seems too great a height for the porch; but the Syriac, Arabic, and the LXX.

in the codex Alexandrianus have only twenty, probably reading instead of maiah weesrim, “one hundred and twenty,” ammoth esrim, | twenty cubits:” which brings it within the proportion of the other measures. } Ver. 6. Gold of Parvaim.—Parvaim is supposed by Calmet to be the same | as Sepharvaim in Armenia or Media, banes, now the island of Ceylon, which d le V he derives from taph, a border, and | Parvan, i. e. * the coast of Parvan;” but the late Editor of Calmet thinks it Ki. vi. where some of the pargenerally understood to be the hill on serve to reconcile some variations in numbers when applied to measures. ]—B.; Bochart is of opinion that it is Taprosame as the Parvatoi mountains of Ptolemy at the head of the Indus.

}— Ver. 9. Nails.—Under this term, bolts, &c. are supposed to be included. It was on some part Ver. 15—17. Two pillars, &c.—See (1 Kings 7:15-22). ° Isolated pillars of this nature were common among the ancients. Savary mentions two obelisks before the temple of Luxore, each 72 feet high; and some were higher. (2 Chronicles 4)This chapter is a repetition of great part of 1 Ki. vii. Ver. 3. Under it was the similitude of oxen.—In (1 Kings 7:24). we read “knops.” Dr. Clarke mappa they might be ornaments, in the shape of “grapes, mushrooms, apples,” or something else: but if we suppose they were the eyes of oxen, (or rather bulls,) it will solve the difficulty. pte > says, the original Bakarim signifies a species of black grape, or plum, called ox, or bull eyes.

It can plainly have no reference to the figures of oxen, on which the sea stood. Pika Ver. 5. Three thousand baths.—The parallel passage in Kin says 2000; but as the Babylonians shortened the Mosaic cubit, (see note on ch. iii. 3.) so it is thought they lessened the measure of a bath; or else we must suppose some error in the transcribers. Ver. 7. Ten candlesticks.—Or perhaps, ‘ten branches,” or sconces. See (1 Chronicles 28:12, 19), and note. i Ver. 8. Ten tables.—The parallel text mentions one table; perhaps the word should have been plural.—A hundred basins.—A sort of sacrificial spoons, with which they made libations.—Dr. Clarke. Ver. 22. Entry, &c.—[Capellus, Houbigant, and Dr.

Geddes, are persuaded, that we should read, agreeably to (1 Kings 7:50). “The hinges also of the doors of the inner house,” &c.; the word pothoth, “hinges,” being mistaken for paithach, ‘an entry” or “door-way;” which mistake might easily occur in transcribing. ]—Bagster.