1 Kings 9

God appeareth to Salomon the second time, ver.1, &c. Salomon giveth certain Cities unto King Hiram for his good service, 10. A relation of the buildings and strong holds built by Salomon, 15. Of the distinction or difference of his subjects, 20. Of his yearly offerings, 25. Of his Navie that went to Ophir, for gold, 26.

1. Now it came to pass, when Salomon had made an end of building the house of the LORD, and the house of the King: [See 2 Chron.7.11.] and all the desire of Salomon, [i.e. all his desire] which he had a mind to make, [i.e. all that came into Salomons heart to make, as is explained 2 Chron.7.11.]

2. That the LORD appeareth to Salomon the second time, [viz. After the building, and dedication of the Temple, but not after the building of the Kings house, which was finished thirteen years after the Temple was built. Some conceive that this appearance happened after that both houses were finished] according as he had appeared unto him in Gibeon. [see above chap.3.5.]

3. And the LORD said unto him; I have heard thy prayer, and thy supplication, which thou hast made supplicating before my face; I have hallowed that house; [i.e. separated it to any holy use: so Gen.2.on v.3.] which thou hast built, to set my Name there, [see above Chap.8.on ver.13.] and mine eyes, and mine heart shall be there [understand by the eyes of the LORD, his providence in keeping and preserving the Temple, and in protecting, and maintaining the Worship of God, which was to be performed there, understanding withal, according to the condition that is here annexed. And understand by his heart, his mercy, and love toward those that should serve him upright in this house] at all days.

4. And if thou shalt walk before my face, [See Gen.17.on ver.1. and above chap.8.23.] according as David thy Father walked with perfectness [i.e. unfeignedness, truth, simplicity; see Gen.6.on v.9.] of heart, and with uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, (and) shalt keep my statutes, and my judgements.

5. Then I will establish the throne of thy Kingdom over Israel for ever: according as I spake concerning David thy father, [See 2 Sam.7.12,16. above chap.6.12. 1 Chron.2.10. Psal.132.12.] saying; (There) shall not a man be cut off unto thee from the throne of Israel. [see above chap.2.on v.4.]

6. But if ye shall wholly turn away, [Heb. Turning away, shall turn away] ye, and your children, from (following) after me, [Heb. from after me, namely, coming, or following, that is, from hearing, believing, fearing, and serving me according to my Word. So 1 Sam.12.20. 2 King.18.6. Compare 2 Sam.2.21.] and shall not keep my Commandements, (and) my statutes, which I have given before your face: but shall go and serve other gods, and bow your selves down before them:

7. Then will I destroy Israel out of the Land which I have given them, and this house, which I have hallowed unto my Name, [See Jerem.7.15.] will I cast away from my face: [i.e. out of my sight, and out of mine heart: see above on v.3.] and Israel shall be a Proverb, and a By-word among all Nations. [see Deuteromony 28.37.]

8. And concerning this house, (which) [This word here inserted out of 2 Chron.7.21.] shall have been exalted, [namely by the declaration of my word and works] whosoever shall pas by it, shall be astonished, and whistle: [as at those, whom they scorn and deride. See also such kind of phrase, Jerem.19.8. & 49.17. & 50. 13. Sometimes unto this word is also added the nodding of the head, the clapping, and moving of the hands, which are all outward tokens and gestures of scornful division. See Lament.2 15. Zephan.2.15.] they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this Land, and to this house? [see Deuteronomy 20.24. Jerem.22.8.]

9. And they shall say, Because they forsook the LORD their God, [viz. By a faithless wretchedness, at which the very Heathens themselves did blush, that would not part with their seigned Gods, Jerem.2.10,11.] who had brought forth their Fathers out of the Land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other Gods, and bowed themselves down before them, and served them: therefore the LORD hath brought upon them all this evil.

10. And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, in which Salomon had built those two houses; the houses of the LORD and the Kings house; [viz. the house of the Lord in seven years, above chap.6. v.38. and the other houses in thirteen years, above chap.7.v.1.]

11. (Whereunto) Hiram the King of Tyre, had furnished Salomon with Cedar-trees, and with Fir-trees, and with gold, according to all his desire) that then King Solomon gave unto Hiram twenty cities [Which lay in the North-border of the Land of Canaan, about the Syrians and Sidonians, and bordering upon the tribe of Aser, but (as some conceive) not belonging unto that tribe: because otherwise Salomon might not have given them away. Others are of opinion, that he gave him only the use, and not the propriety thereof] in the land of Galilee. [which bordered West-ward upon the Country of Tyre. For Galilee is a land, Having East-ward the Jordan, South-ward the land of Samaria, North-ward the land of Libanon, West-ward Phaenicia, wherein Tyre lay. Galilee is divided into the upper and lower Galilee. Of the upper Galilee sirnamed the Galilee of the Gentiles is here spoken, ands Mat.4.15.]

12. And Hiram came out from Tyre, to see the cities, which Salomon had given him; but they were not right in his eyes. [i.e. they pleased him not. So judg.14.3.1. 1 Chron.13.4. for which cause Hiram gave them to King Solomon again, as may be gathered out of 2 Chron.8.2. for there the word give must be taken for giving again.]

13. Therefore he said; What Cities are those, my brother, which thou hast given me? and he called them the Land of Cabal, [viz. Because it misliked him, for this word signifieth so in Phaenicia (unto which Tyrus belonged) as some hold. Others interpret this word, mirie, sandy, or, Moorish] unto this day.

14. And Hiram had sent the King an hundred and twenty talents of gold. [Understand this of common talents, and see the value hereof, Exod.25.on v.39.]

15. Now this is the cause of the Leavie, [See hereof above chap.5.on v.13.] which King Salomon raised to build the house of the LORD, [the meaning is, for asmuch as Salomon had such a stock of money, and other furniture for the building of the Temple, he caused a certain Leavy of men, that were to be employed in this work, to further the same with all speed and diligence, until it should be finished] and his (own) house, and mills, [it’s thought that this was some great Fort or Bulwark, about the Kings Palace, where the people at their first entering in were received; serving for a place of retreat, or Watch house for the Kings Guard. See hereof, 2 Sam.5 9. & 1 King.11.27.] and the Wall of Jerusalem; as also Hazor, [a city lying in the tribe of Naphtali, at the Jordan: see Jos.11.10. & 19.36.] and Megiddo, [lying in the tribe of Manasseh, on the side of the Jordan. See Jos.12.17. & 17.15. Judg.1.27.] and Gezer. [lying in the tribe of Ephraim: see Jos.10.33.]

16. For Pharao the King of Egypt was come up, and had taken Gezer, and burnt the same with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and had given it for a Present unto his daughter, Salomons wife.

17. So Salomon built Gezer, and the nether Beth-Horon: [Lying in the tribe of Benjamin. Add hereunto out of 2 Chron.8.17. the upper Beth-Horon, lying in the tribe of Ephraim.Jos.21.22.]

18. And Baalath [Lying in the tribe of Dan, Jos.19.44.] and Tamor, [or. Tadmor] in the wilderness, in that Land: [i.e. in the Land of Israel. Some hold this place to be a city lying in the Wilderness of Juda, not far from Engedi: Others to be the city of Palmyra, lying in the Wilderness of Syria.]

19. And all the cities of store, [In which all manner of stone, provision, and furniture for war, and likewise of victual, was stored and laid up: otherwise called Magazines, or, houses of ammunition and provision. Compare Exod.11.] which Salomon had, and the charet-cities, [where the arms that were used in war were kept] and the cities of the horsemen; and what the desire of Salomon desired to build, in Jerusalem, and in Libanon, [see above chap.7.on ver.2. &2 Chron.8.6.] and in all the Land of his Dominion.

20. Concerning all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hethites, Perezites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel.

21. Their Children that were left after them in the Land, which the children of Israel were not able to ban: [See Deut.2.on ver.34.] those Salomon brought to a slavish Leavie [i.e. he taxed them as his own slaves, or bond-men. They dwelt among the Israelites, and were called the slaves, or, servants of Salomon, Ezra 2:55. Nehem.7.57. because Salomon had made the Ordinance or Law concerning these slaves. The bond-men were firm to embrace the true Religion first, otherwise Salomon might not have shewed them this kindness, Deut.7.2. Of the word Leavie, see also above chap.5.3.] unto this day.

22. But of the children of Israel did Salomon make no bond-men: [See Levit.25. ver.39.] but they were men of war, and his Servants, and his Princes, and his Captains, and Rulers of his charets, and of his Horsemen.

23. These were the chief of the appointed that were over Salomons work, five hundred and fifty: [2 Chron.8.10. there are mentioned two hundred and fifty; but know, that these were in all five hundred, as is mentioned here, but taking the charge of overseeing by turns upon them, they were every time two hundred and fifty] which bare rule over people that were busied in the work. [i.e. which by turns executed the office of ten men, to excite and pull on the rest to the work. See 1 King.5.16. and the annotat.]

24. But Pharaohs daughter came up from the city of David [See above chap.8.on v.1.] unto her house, which he [viz. Salomon] had built for her: then he built Millo. [see above on v.15.]

25. And Salomon offered thrice in a year [viz. At the Passover, Pentecost, and Feast of Leaf-huts, 2 Chron.8.13.] burnt –offerings, and thank-offerings, upon the altar which he had built unto the LORD, and burnt incense upon that, which was before the face of the LORD: [i.e. in the sanctuary, or holy place, just before the most holy place, in which the Ark was, a token of Gods presence] when he had finished the house.

26. King Salomon made also ships at Ezion-Gebers, [This was the 32. camping-place of the Israelites, Numb.3.35. It was a city with a haven or port lying on the Reed-Sea, or Red-sea] which is by Eloth [otherwise called Elath, 2 King.14.22. a city lying in the land of Edom, on the shore of the Reed-sea. See Deut.2 7. This city Azan, called otherwise Uzzia, the King of Juda took, and restored or brought it again to Juda, and re-edified or built it again, 2 King.1.22. but under the reign of Achaz the King of Juda, Rezin the King of Syria took it again from the Jews, 2 King.16.6.] on the shore of the Reed-sea in the Land of Edom.

27. And Hiram sent with those ships his servants, ship men, [Heb. men of ships; i.e. that lived by Navigation] knowing the Sea, with the servants of Salomon.

28. And they came to ophir [This is held to be an Island in the East-Indies, and is called by Josephus, Lib.8. Antiquit. chap.2. Aurea Chersonesus, which we now call Malacca. Some will have this to be Peru in the West-Indies] and fetch from thence of the gold four hundred and twenty talents: [Compare this with 2 Chron.8.18. with the annotate.] and brought it to King Salomon.