2 Chronicles 8

2 Chronicles 8:1-12

In this chapter we have, 1. The cities Solomon built, ver. 1—6. 2. The workmen he employed, ver. 7—10. 3. The palace he built for his wife, ver. 11. 4. The order he put the temple-groves into, ver. 12—16. 5. The 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 LORD.

LORD, 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 were 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 necker, 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 the children of Israel confirmed not; them did Solomon make to pay tribute, until this day. 7. 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. 8. And the children of Israel confirmed 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 the children of Israel confirmed not; them did Solomon make to pay tribute, until this day. 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 LORD hath come.

The only warlike exposition Solomon was engaged in, we have in v. 3. reducing to his obedience Hamath-zobah, which seems to have revoked. His buildings, to which his genius led him, still went forward, the beautifying and strengthening his kingdom was a work well worthy to great a prince; and the old inhabitants of the land, now brought under tribute and proscripted, afforded him a number of workmen without employing the nobler free-born Israelites. Having built a palace for his wife, the daughter of Pharaoh, he removed her from the city of David, where she had before her residence. For though probably a proscripted herald, many of her Egyptian servants might retain the idols and iniquities of Egypt; and a place which had been favoured with the ark of God, and to long the fear of worship, where David prayed and sung before the Lord, ought not to be profaned by such inhabitants. Note, (1.) Though we should avoid superfluous reverence for places, yet what hath been once faced to God in respect to him, ought not to be treated as a common thing. (2.) They who marry unto Strange families, will find a burden and a share from the evil manners of their wife’s friends and relations, with whom they become necessarily connected.

12. Then Solomon offered burnt-offerings unto the LORD, on the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch: 13. Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses on the Sabbath, 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 couries 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 couries, 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 LORD, and until it was finished: * so the house of the LORD was perfected. 17. Then went Solomon to Edom-gieber, 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.

2 Chronicles 8:17-18

Solomon had not only built a temple for the honour of God, but took care to continue waiting upon God there in his unheard way. Building churches will do a man so good, if his Spirit be not engaged in the service of the sanctuary.

Vol. I.

1. The temple work was exactly carried on according to the Divine pretextation, v. 13. and the couries of priests and Levites in waiting according to David’s instruction. Note, Irregular and flated returns of worship are carefully to be observed.

2. Solomon’s trade flourished. He visited his tea-pots in person; and with the assistance of Hiram’s mariners, made a very successful voyage to Ophir; See 1 Kings ix. 26. Note, (1.) The matter’s eye is most necessary over his own affairs. (2.) Men brave every danger of the seas for the gold of Ophir, and shall we be less fallacious to secure the more enduring treasures of grace and glory!