2 Chronicles 8

Salomon buildeth cities and strong holds, v.1 &c. maketh the heathen, that yet remained in the land tributary 7. The offices and places of honour he bestoweth only upon the Israelites, 9. His wife. Pharaos daughter, cometh into her habitation, 11. His ordinary and usual sacrifices, 12. His care for the service of God, 14. His navy going Ophir, 17.

1. Now it came to pass at the end of twenty years, [Whereof he had spent seven in building the temple of the LORD, and thirteen in building his own palace] wherein Salomon had built the house of the LORD, and his (own) house.

2. That Salomon built the cities, which Huram had given him; [Heb. to Salomon, given him, that is, restored to him. For Salomon had given these cities to king Huram, for an acknowledgement of the good offices that he had received from him, but Huram taking no content in them, restored them to Salomon again, who afterward repaired them, and caused them to be inhabitated by the Israelites, as the following words declared. See 1 Kings 9:11,12,13.] and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.

3. Afterward that Salomon went to Hamath [See Numb.13.on v.21.] Zoba: [a country reaching from Batanea unto Euphrates. See thereof 1 Sam.14. chap.47. 2 Sam.8.3.] and he over-powered it.

4. He built also Tadmor in the wilderness, [See 1 King.9.on ver.18. where it is called Tamor] and all the treasure-cities [oth. Ammunition, or, store-cities. So below v.6. See 1 Kings 9.on ver.19.] which he built in Hamath. [the land of Hamath, 1 Chron.18.3.]

5. He also built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether; [See 1 Kings 9.on ver.17.] fenced cities with walls, gates, and bars.

6. Together with Baalath, [See 1 Kings 9.on v.18.] and all the store-cities that Salomon had, and all the charet-cities, [see 1 Kings 9.on v.19.] and the cities of the horsemen, and whatever Salomons desire had desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Libanon, [see 1 Kings 7.on v.2.] and in the land of his dominion.

7. As for all the people that were left of the Hethites, and the Amorites, and the Perezites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, [See of these nations, Gen.10.on v.15,16. And below chap.15.on v.19,20,21.] which were not Israel.

8. Of their children [To wit, the children of the fore-mentioned nations] who were lift after them in the land which the children of Israel had not consumed, them did Solomon bring under a leavie, [understand servile or slavish leavie, 1 Kings 9:21. and see the annotate. The meaning is, that they were to do servile labour for the king as his bond-men. See also 1 Kings 5.on v.13,14. Oth. Did Salomon cause to come under tribute, that is, compelled them to pay tribute or taxes] unto this day.

9. But of the children of Israel, them Solomon made not (to be) slaves in his work; (for they were men of war, and chief of his Captains and Commanders of his charets, and of his horsemen.)

10. (Of) these then were chief of the appointed, [Understand those that were set over the workmen and labourers, to overlook their actions and labours. The Hebrew word is also used of other Governours and Rulers. See 1 Kings 4.on v.5. Oth. Forces, or, garrisons] which king Salomon had, two hundred and fifty, [see 1 Kings 9.on v.23.] which had dominion over the people.

11. Now Salomon caused the daughter of Pharao to come up out of the city of David to the house which he had built for her: For he said; my wife shall not dwell in the house of David the king of Israel, because the places are holy, [That is, were to serve for a pure, peculiar, and holy use, and not for an ordinary dwelling-place of men, which might easily be able to prophane and pollute them, both with their moral and ceremonial defilements] whereunto the ark of the LORD is come.

12. Then Salomon offered unto the LORD burnt-offerings upon the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch: [Which was between the Temple and the Court of the Priests: That is, before the Temple. See 1 Kings 6:3.]

13. Even Alter the task of every day, offering according to the commandments of Moseh, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set high times, [That is, in the offerings, which according to the law were to be performed on certain days, observing each day of them. Heb. in the work, or, thing of the day, or, on its day, as in the following 14. Verse. Compare Exod.5.13. 1 Kings 10:25. The meaning is, that he diligently observed and kept the set days, wherein certain offerings were to be made] three times in the year: On the Feast of unleavened (bread loaves), and on the Feast of weeks, and on the Feast of Leaf-huts.

14. He also appointed, according to the manner of David his Father, [That is, which David by the instinct of the holy Ghost had ordained, 1 Chron.28.19. as also by the direction of the Prophets, below chap.29.25.] the divisions of the Priests concerning their service, and of the Levites concerning their charges, to praise (God,) and to minister before the Priests as every day required: And the porters in their divisions at every gate: [Heb. at the gate, and gate; that is, at every gate. See Gen.7.on v.2. By divisions here is meant distinct companies and courses. See of these, 1 Chronicles Chapters 24. And 25. And 26. They were of the Priests and Levites. The Priests were either high Priests, or common and ordinary Priests. The Levites ministered unto the Priests, or were singers, or porters, or keepers of the treasury, or those that had the care of ordinary, or extraordinary matters] for so was the commandment of David the man of God. [see Judg.13.on v.6.]

15. And they departed not [Or, there was no departing Heb. they departed not. See Job.4.on v.19.] from the commandment of the King [namely, of Salomon, who would have the ordinance of God delivered by David, and other Prophets, precisely kept] unto the Priests, and the Levites, [That is, which was given and imposed upon the Priests and Levites] concerning all (or any) matter [touching mostly the persons and offices of the service of God] and concerning the treasures. [to wit, of the Temple.]

16. Thus all the work of Salomon was prepared until the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until the finishing of the same; [Oth. From the day of the foundation, etc. to the finishing, etc.] (that) the house of the LORD was perfected.

17. Then Salomon went to Ezeon-Geber, [A Haven lying at the Reed-sea, or Red-sea. See 1 Kings 9.on v.26.] and to Eloth [called also Elath, Deut.2.8. and 2 Kings 14:22. See there the annotat.] at the bank Red-sea, to wit, borders of the land of Edom, for the king of Edom extended his dominion unto this very place.]

18. And Huram sent him by the hand of his servants, ships, [Hereby may be understood materials prepared for ships. Because a man cannot come from Tyre into the Red-sea with ships, but by a very long voyage. Compare 1 Kings 9:26,27. Others conceive that he sent indeed ships with servants to Joppa, but no ships to go to the Red-sea, and they went with Salomons servants to Ophir: [see 1 Kings 9.on vers.28.] and they fetch from thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, [there being contained under this number thirty talents, which the setting out of the ships had cost: Otherwise the clear gain was but four hundred and twenty talents, 1 Kings 9 28. See of the weight of a talent of Gold, Exod.25.on v.39.] which they brought to king Salomon.