Bible Commentaries

A.M. 3012. — B.C. 992.

Solomon’s buildings, 2 Chronicles 8:1-6. His workmen and officers, 2 Chronicles 8:7-10. He settles his wife, 2 Chronicles 8:11. Fixes the method of the temple-service, 2 Chronicles 8:12-16. His trade, 2 Chronicles 8:17, 2 Chronicles 8:18.

2 Chronicles 8:2. The cities which Huram had restored — Which Solomon gave to Hiram, but which, not being pleased with them, he restored to him again, 1 Kings 9:12. Solomon built them — That is, rebuilt them, and placed his own subjects in them.

2 Chronicles 8:4. He built Tadmor — For the explanation of this and the following verses, see notes on 1 Kings 9:17-18, &c.

2 Chronicles 8:11. Unto the house which he had built — This house he had built for her, because the ark was now in the house of David, which therefore ought to be kept pure and free from every danger and appearance of pollution. For though Pharaoh’s daughter was proselyted to the Jewish religion, and had renounced idolatry, it is not likely that both she and all her servants had embraced the whole law of Moses; and therefore they might many ways defile a place made sacred by that symbol of the divine presence.

2 Chronicles 8:14. So had David the man of God commanded — David is here called the man of God, as Moses had been, because he was a prophet divinely inspired, and was both instructed and authorized of God to make these establishments. Hence his commands are represented as being the commands of God. And Solomon, though a wise and great man, and the builder of the temple, did not attempt to amend, alter, or add to, what the man of God had commanded in God’s name, but closely adhered to it, and used his authority to have it duly observed.

2 Chronicles 8:15-16. They departed not from the commandment of the king — He obeyed God’s commands enjoined by David, in God’s name, and by inspiration of God’s Spirit, and therefore all obeyed his orders. Now all the work of Solomon was prepared — All the materials were procured, and in all points fitted and completed beforehand. So the house of God was perfected — This is now said, because the service of the temple was now put into this good order. The work was the main matter, not the place: the temple was unfinished till all this was done.