1.
And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the 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.
2 Chronicles 8:2. Which Huram had restored— Had left. See 1 Kings 9:13.
3.
And Solomon went 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.
2 Chronicles 8:4. And all the store-cities, &c.— And also other store-cities, which are in Hamath. Houbigant.
5.
Also he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, 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 all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.
7.
As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel,
2 Chronicles 8:7. Which were not of Israel— i.e. Who did not observe the Jewish law and religion.
8.
But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed 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 these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.
2 Chronicles 8:10. And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, &c.— But those chief officers who presided over the works of Solomon, were two hundred and fifty. See 1Ki 9:23 where they are said to be five hundred and fifty. Other inferior officers were included perhaps in the former account.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, The only warlike expedition that Solomon was engaged in, we have in 2Ch 8:3 reducing to his obedience Hamath-zobah, which seems to have revolted. His buildings, to which his genius led him, still went forward; and the old inhabitants of the land, now brought under tribute and proselyted, afforded him a number of workmen, without employing the nobler freeborn Israelites. Having built a palace for his wife, the daughter of Pharaoh, he removed her from the city of David, where she had her residence before; for, though probably a proselyte herself, 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, so long the seat of worship, and where David prayed and sung before the Lord, ought not to be profaned by such inhabitants. Note; They who marry into improper families, will find a burden and a snare from the evil manners of their wife's friends and relations, with whom they become necessarily connected.
2nd, Solomon had not only built a temple for the honour of God, but took care to continue waiting upon him there in his instituted ways. Building churches will do a man no good, if his spirit be not engaged in the service of the sanctuary.
1. The temple work was carried on exactly according to the divine prescription, and the courses of priests and Levites in waiting according to David's institution. Note; Regular and stated returns of worship are carefully to be observed.
2. Solomon's trade flourished. He visited his sea-ports in person, and, with the assistance of Hiram's mariners, made a very successful voyage to Ophir. Note; (1.) The master'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 solicitous to secure the more enduring treasures of grace and glory?
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.
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 sabbaths, 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 courses 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 courses 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 Ezion-geber, 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.