2 Chronicles 2

For thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Sec 1 Kings iii. 8. Vcr. 1. JjlND Solomon determined to build a house for the name of the Lord.] Wherein the Lord should be worshipped: as his father David had designed and directed. And a house for his kingdom.] A royal palace for himself, and. those who should succeed him. But he finished God’s house before he began his own. in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusa-* lem, whom David viy father did provide.] There were admirable artists in all these works at Tyre: whom he desired to be sent to him; that they might assist those whom David had provided, but were not so skilful as those of Tyre. •

2 Chronicles 2:2

And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and threethousand and six hundred to oversee them. Here are three hundred more than arc mentioned iii the book of the Kings: concerning which difference, see what I have noted there, (v. 1G.) and need not be repeated here.’ Vcr. 3. And Solomon sent to Huram tlie king of Tyre, saying, Asthou didst deal ivith David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him a house to dwell therein, even so deal ivith me.] Hiram (as he is called in the book of the Kings) first sent to him, to congratulate his succession to the throne, and then Solomon sent to him: as T have noted there. (See 1 Kings v. 1.)

2 Chronicles 2:4

Behold, I build a house to the name of the Lord my God. That is, he purposed to build, as it is expressed 1 Kings v. 5. and he had also disposed things so, that he was ready to go about it. To dedicate it to him.] For his worship and service. And to burn before him sweet incense, arid for the continual shew-bread.] So this bread is called in Numb. iv. 7. because it stood before the Lord continually, being renewed every week, as we read Exod. xxv. 30. and other places.’ • • And for the burnt-offerings morning and evening, on the sabbatlis, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the Lord our God.y He reckons up several parts of the Divine service, which was there to be performed: Hiram, ds I have elsewhere observed, being no stranger to the God of Israel. Tliis is an ordinance for ever to IsraeL] “Which God himself had appointed.

2 Chronicles 2:5

And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods. It was no large structure which he built, but very magnificent, suitable to the glorious majesty of him that dwelt therein. •

2 Chronicles 2:6

But who is able to build him a house, seeing tjte heaven, and heaven of heavens, cannot contain him?. He would not have Hiram imagine that he had such low notions of God, as to think he could be confined and comprehended in any house, though ever so large, being immense beyond all conception. Who am I then that I should build him a house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?] It would have been a high presumption then for him, or any man else, to build him a house, for any other end, but only for his worshippers to assemble there; he being pleased in a special manner to be present in that place. The Targum thus paraphrases this, " The heavens arc the throne of his glory, the earth is his footstool, the abyss, and all people are supported by the Spirit of his Word.” Which carries in it a notion which the authorhad of the ever-blessed Trinity.

2 Chronicles 2:7

Send me now therefore a man cunning to work

2 Chronicles 2:8

Send me also cedar-trees, fir-trees, anddlgumtrees, out of Lebanon. Or almug-trees; concerning which, see what I have noted upon 1 Kings x. 11. To which may be added, that Betkius hath lately conjectured, This was a tree brought originally out of Arabia, as the prefix al notes. And then it was brought out of that Ophir which was in Arabia, and planted in Lebanon. For there, this place tells us, these trees grew; as well as cedars and firs. (For I know tlmt thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon); and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants.’] The Tyrians were more expert in cutting down and hewing timber (they dealing much in it), and therefore he desires to entertain them as his principal workmen, with whom he should join.

2 Chronicles 2:9

Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great. In the Hebrew, great and wonderful. This relates not so much to the bigness of it (though, taking in all the courts belonging to it, it was of large extent), but to the admirable contrivance and riches of it.

2 Chronicles 2:10

Give menow tvisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people. This is a proverbial speech, for governing the people,, both at home and abroad, in peace and in war. (See Numb, xxvii. 17. Deut. xxxi. 2.) For who can judge this thy people, that is so great?] Among such a numerous people, he knew there would bo so many, and so various, and many times difficult causes brought before him, that it would be impossible to hear them and judge aright, without a Divine spirit. (Sec upon 1 Kings iii. 9.). - Vcr. 11. And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; hut hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king;. « And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat.] That is, of wheat ground, or fine flour, as R. Jonas, a famous grammarian, expounds it; whom many Christians follow. And twenty thousand measures of barley* and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oiL] All this was provision for the. workmen; for whose subsistence Solomon took care/during their labour: besides what he gave to Hiram every year for his household. (Sec upon 1 Kings v. 11.) What this measure, called corns, was, is uncertain: but many learned men think it the same with an omer, which was the most ancient word. For we never find the other used in the books of Moses, nor in the prophets; but only in Ezekiel, (xlv. 14.) and in the books of the Kings, Chronicles, and Ezra. But Josephus and the LXX. often have the word corns instead of omer, which was the largest measure of dry things, containing, as Epiphanius saith, thirty bushels.

2 Chronicles 2:11

Then Hnram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the Lord hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them.

2 Chronicles 2:12

Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither sfiall there any after thee have the like.] These two verses have. been sufficiently explained in the same chapter; (1 Kings iii. 11 — 13.) only it may be observed, he doth not say he would give him the life of his enemies, because he was to be a peaceable king. Huram said moreover, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a ivise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that he might build a house for the Lord, and a house for his kingdom.] From these two verses, Victorinus Strigelius thought it certain,.that Huram was a proselyte to the true religion: because he first of all owns the God of Israel to be Jehovah, the maker of heaven and earth; for none but the Israelites called God by that name, and when they w T ouId distinguish him from idols and all creatures, they confess him to be the Creator of the world, as Huram here doth. And, secondly, he congratulates the Israelites the happiness they enjoyed under such a king, which was the effect of his love. to God and his church. And, lastly, he declared his love to the church, not only in embassies and letters, but in real acts of kindness, sending to Solomon materials to build the house of God, and artificers the best in the world. But the first of these reasons-is not good; for, as my most learned friend, Dr. Alix, hath observed to me, the name of Jehovah was known to the Tyrians from the time of Gideon, as we learn from the words of Sanchoniathon.

2 Chronicles 2:13

Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before tJie tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel. We put in these words, from his journey, which was not needful, for the words may be translated exactly, Solomon came from the high place, &c. and so it follows, from before the tabernacle. For the particle lamed signifies not only to but from. So It. Jonas, whom Kimchi calls a famous grammarian, saith that it is here put for mem, i. e. from. But Kimchi. himself is author of our translation, who is followed by Junius, and Tremellius, and others, but comes to the same purpose. », And now I have sent a cunning man (endued with understanding) of Huram my father’s.] A man of great skill and longexperience, being the principal workman employed by his father. • So the Targum seems to understand the word Abi to signify a master or chief ivorkman.’- But Beckius upon this place thinks it most probable’ that Abi was his surname, as we call it: and translates this verse; He sent him a man of great skill; viz. Huram Abi. For it was very common among the eastern people, to call men by the name of Ab, and Abi, or Aba, and Abu, as he observes. \And thus Luther translates these words, Huram Abi; to whom may be added Emanuel Sa, a person very skilful in this language., •

2 Chronicles 2:14

And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. See upon 1 Kings x. 2G. Which he placed in the cliariot-cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.] The chariot-cities were such wherein there was good pasturage for the horses. The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was.h man of Tyre.] The Targum saith she was awomanofthe tribe ofNaphtali; because it is said spin 1 Kings vii. 14. and therefore he reconciles these two places; by a daughter of Dan, he means of a man called Dan, who was of the tribe ofNaphtali: which being near to Tyre, she married one of that nation. Ox, as Jarchi and Kimchi will have it, he was a Jew, but dwelt to Tyre: as Obed-Edom was called the Gittite, because he dwelt in Gath, but was a Levitc. (See my notes upon 1 Kings vii. 14.) ■ •’: Skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine lineup and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him.] These last words argue this man to have been a great artist, who could contrive any thing that was propounded to him, though never wrought before. With thy cunning men, and ivith the cunning men of my lord David thy father.] This seems another argument, that Huram was of the true religion, because he honoured David with the name of his lord; as he doth Solomon in the next verse. Or, as others think, he was become tributary to them; his country very much depending upon them for corn.

2 Chronicles 2:15

And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones; and cedar-trees made he as the sycamore-trees that are in the vale for abundance. See there, ver. 27. Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, and the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken-of let him send unto his servants.] For their support in their labour. -

2 Chronicles 2:16

And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen-yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen-yarn at a price. Vcr. 17. And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt, a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, anda horse for a hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means.] These two verses are there also explained. (Sec 1 Kings x. 28, 29.) From this place the famous Bochartus gathers, that the chariots of Egypt in Solomon’s time were drawn by four horses: for the tribute which was exacted for a chariot, was four times as much as was paid for a single horse. (See his Hicrozoicon, par.i. lib. ii. cap. 9.) And. we will cut ivood out of Lebanon, as muck as thou shalt need; andwe will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa, and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.] The Hebrew word rapsodoth (which we translate floats) is of <the same signification with daberoth, (1 Kings v. 9.) as a learned -Tew notes; By which is meant, timber bound together, which was drawn through the sea, and through rivers.* Such floats were used, especially in the river Tigris (as Beckius here notes out of a Hebrew author), which was. so swift, that Vessels, were wont to be overturned by the stream: and therefore they employed these floats alone, made. of reeds tied close together; upon whidi both men A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. III. and burdens went down the river. (See my notes upon 1 Kings v. 9.). Vcr. 17. And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering xvherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found a hundred and fifty thousand, and three thousand and six hundred.’] These were the relies (as Kimehi thinks) of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, mentioned afterward, chap. viii. 7. But they were not idolaters; for then David would not have suffered them to dwell in the land: but they worshipped God alone, though they did not embrace the Jewish religion wholly, by being circumcised. Those David had numbered, that he might know their strength and their condition. Which did not proceed from such vanity, as moved him to number his own people, but out of a prudent caro, that they might be distinguished from Jews, and be employed in such work as he did not think fit to put upon the Israelites. (See 1 Chron. xxii. 2.)

2 Chronicles 2:18

And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens; and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set thepeople a-work.] This he had said before, ver.2. butnowrclates of what condition they were, who were put to these servile employments. They that were the overseers (whom the LXX. call ipyodiwicrai) were, I suppose, of the children of Israel.