OLD TESTAMENT

2 Chronicles 8

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1

At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the LORD’s house and his own house,

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 1. After. Septuagint “in which.”

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2

Solomon built the cities which Huram had given to Solomon, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 2. Given back ( Tirinus.) as he refused to accept of the present. Some think that ( Calmet.) Hiram gave these cities in exchange for the others. Salien. Menochius.

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3

Solomon went to Hamath Zobah, and prevailed against it.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 3. Emath, or Emesa, on the Orontes. This city had belonged to Thou, who cultivated the friendship of David. 2 Kennicott. 8:9. But after the death of these princes, it had given some offence to Solomon, who took it, as well as Palmira, or Thadmor, though not perhaps in person.

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4

He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the storage cities, which he built in Hamath.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 4. Strong. Hebrew “the cities of tents.” Exodus 1:11. Calmet.—Prot. “store cities,” ( Bible.) for corn, and so forth

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5

Also he built Beth Horon the upper and Beth Horon the lower, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars;

6

and Baalath, and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.

7

As for all the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel—

8

of their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel didn’t consume—of them Solomon conscripted forced labor to this day.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 8. Tributaries. Hebrew also, “to work,” at cutting stones, &chapter 1 Chronicles 22:2. Some of their descendants returned from captivity. Ib. 9:2.

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9

But of the children of Israel, Solomon made no servants for his work, but they were men of war, chief of his captains, and rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen.

10

These were the chief officers of King Solomon, even two-hundred fifty, who ruled over the people.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 10. Fifty. These were different from the 550 overseers. 3 Kennicott. 9:23.

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11

Solomon brought up Pharaoh’s daughter out of David’s city to 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 where the LORD’s ark has come are holy.”

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 11. Into it. It was deemed improper for a pagan woman to reside in the same place. Calmet.—She had perhaps pretended, at first, to be converted, but had lately given some signs of relapse. Salien.—Solomon was as yet far from communicating with infidels. Worthington.

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12

Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the LORD on the LORD’s altar which he had built before the porch,

13

even as the duty of every day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, three times per year, during the feast of unleavened bread, during the feast of weeks, and during the feast of booths.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

or, feast of tents (Sukkot)

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14

He appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, the divisions of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their offices, to praise and to minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required, the doorkeepers also by their divisions at every gate, for David the man of God had so commanded.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 14. And gate, at their respective posts. See 1 Chronicles 26. Bible.

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15

They didn’t depart from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter or concerning the treasures.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 15. Treasures. The regulations of David were exactly observed. Calmet.

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16

Now all the work of Solomon was accomplished from the day of the foundation of the LORD’s house until it was finished. So the LORD’s house was completed.

17

Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and to Eloth, on the seashore in the land of Edom.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 17. Asiongaber, which was called Bernice, (Joseph. viii. 2.) and now Suez. Tirinus.

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18

Huram sent him ships and servants who had knowledge of the sea by the hands of his servants; and they came with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and brought from there four hundred fifty talents of gold, and brought them to King Solomon.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 18. Ships; not perhaps from Tyre, but from the Red Sea. Calmet.—Others think that he sent them by a canal, which opened a communication between the Mediterranean and Suez, (Huet) the distance of about ninety miles. Pliny ii. 68.—But this canal seems to have been made after the age of Solomon. Hence others imagine that the ships were taken in pieces, or conveyed by land, as has been sometimes done. Mahomet II. transported ships across the isthmus of Corinth. Alexander the Great conveyed on chariots the ships which had been used to cross the Indus, as far as the Hydaspes. Arrian vii. Calmet.—Skilful mariners. They were the most expert, and the inventers of navigation. Prima ratem ventis tradere docta Tyrus. Tibul. See Wisd. 14:6.—Ophir, the kingdom of Pegu, in the East Indies, ( Tirinus.) or some other distant land. Bible.—Fifty. Thirty are omitted, 3 Kennicott. 9:28, as they were expended in the voyage. Calmet.—Yet the Hebrew letters for twenty and fifty are extremely similar. D.

EXPLANATION

A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces, so 450 talents is about 13.5 metric tons

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