Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Chronicles 1

Clinging to a Counterfeit Cross
Introduction

1  The solemn offering of Solomon at Gibeon.
7  Solomon's choice of wisdom is blessed by God.
13  Solomon's forces and wealth.
Verse 1

And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.
was strengthened
1 Kings 2:12,46
the Lord
Genesis 21:22, 39:2,21, Exodus 3:12, 1 Chronicles 17:8, Matthew 28:20
magnified
1 Chronicles 29:25, Philippians 2:9-11
Verse 2

Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.
Then Solomon
This seems to have taken place a short time after David's decease, and, according to some, in the second year of Solomon's reign; when being established in his kingdom, he convened his chief men, and spake to them concerning the solemn sacrifice which he purposed to offer to God.
to the captains
29:20, 30:2, 34:29,30, 1 Chronicles 13:1, 15:3, 27:1, 28:1, 29:1
the chief
1 Chronicles 15:12, 24:4,31
Verse 3

So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.
Gibeon
1 Kings 3:4-15, 1 Chronicles 16:39, 21:29
the tabernacle
Exodus 26:1-37, 40:2,34, Leviticus 1:1
the servant
Deuteronomy 34:5
Verse 4

But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.
the ark
The tabernacle and the brazen altar still remained at Gibeon; but David had brought away the ark out of the tabernacle, and placed it in a tent at Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 6:2,17, 1 Chronicles 13:5,6, 15:1,25-28
for he had pitched
1 Chronicles 16:1, Psalms 132:5,6
Verse 5

Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.
the brasen
Exodus 27:1-8, 38:1-7
Bezaleel
Exodus 31:2, 1 Chronicles 2:19,20
he put
or, was there. sought unto it. went to seek the Lord there.
Verse 6

And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.
a thousand
1 Kings 3:4, 8:63, 1 Chronicles 29:21, Isaiah 40:16
Verse 7

In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.
In that night
This was the night following the sacrifice which Solomon had offered.
1 Kings 3:5-15, Proverbs 3:5,6
Ask
Matthew 7:7,8, Mark 10:36,37,51, John 16:23, 1 John 5:14,15
Verse 8

And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.
Thou has shewed
2 Samuel 7:8,9, 12:7,8, 22:51, 23:1, Psalms 86:13, 89:20-28,49, Isaiah 55:3
to reign
1 Chronicles 28:5, 29:23
Verse 9

Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
let thy promise
2 Samuel 7:12-16,25-29, 1 Chronicles 17:11-14,23-27, 28:6,7, Psalms 89:35-37, Psalms 132:11,12
for thou hast
1 Kings 3:7,8
like the dust
Heb. much as the dust.
Genesis 13:16, 22:17, Numbers 23:10
Verse 10

Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
Give me
1 Kings 3:9, Psalms 119:34,73, Proverbs 2:2-6, 3:13-18, 4:7, James 1:5
go out
Numbers 27:17, Deuteronomy 31:2, 2 Samuel 5:2
for who can
2 Corinthians 2:16, 3:5
Verse 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; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:
Because
This does not occur in Kings: and it implies that the request of Solomon, as arising from a spiritual judgment and heart, was peculiarly acceptable to that God who searches, regards, and demands the heart. God promised Solomon all the things which he had not asked, except the life of his enemies; for he was to be a peaceable king, a type of the Prince of peace.
this was
1 Samuel 16:7, 1 Kings 3:11-13, 8:18, 1 Chronicles 28:2, 29:17,18, Proverbs 23:7, Acts 5:4, Hebrews 4:12
that thou mayest
1 Kings 3:28, Proverbs 14:8, James 3:13,17
Verse 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 shall there any after thee have the like.
I will give
Matthew 6:33, Ephesians 3:20
such as none
9:22, 1 Chronicles 29:25, Ecclesiastes 2:9, James 1:5
Verse 13

Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.
at Gibeon
reigned
1 Kings 4:24,25
Verse 14

And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
Solomon
9:25, Deuteronomy 17:16, 1 Kings 4:26, 10:16,26-29
the chariot cities
Cities where the chariots, and horses belonging to them, were kept.
Verse 15

And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance.
the king
He destroyed its value by making it so exceedingly plentiful.
12, 9:27, 1 Kings 10:27-29, Job 22:24,25, Isaiah 60:17
made
Heb. gave. sycamore trees.
9:27, Isaiah 9:10, Amos 7:14
Verse 16

And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
Solomon
Heb. the going forth of the horses which was Solomon's.
9:28, 1 Kings 10:28,29
linen yarn
The word or mikweh, is regarded by the ancient translators as a proper name: the LXX. have [ek Thekoue] "from Tekoa," the Vulgate, de Coa, "from Koa," which is adopted by Dr. Geddes; the Syriac, "from the city Aphelia;" and the Arabic, "ex urbe Australium." Bochart thinks it signifies a tribute; others suppose that it signifies a string or drove of horses, or as Jarchi says, what the Germans call Stutte, a stud; but Houbigant supposes it to be a corruption for mercavah, "chariots." Our English translation, however, which regards it as synonymous with tikwah, seems by far the best. According to Norden, linen yarn is still one of the principal articles of commerce in Egypt, and is exported in very large quantities, together with unmanufactured flax and spun cotton; and Sanutus, 400 years ago, remarked that though Christian countries abounded in flax, yet the goodness of the Egyptian was such, that it was dispersed even to the west.
Verse 17

And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an 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.
the kings
2 Kings 10:29
means
Heb. hand.

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