2 Chronicles 8WEB
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2 Chronicles8

World English Bible · Public Domain

1At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built Yahweh’s house and his own house,

2Solomon built the cities which Huram had given to Solomon, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.

3Solomon went to Hamath Zobah, and prevailed against it.

4He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the storage cities, which he built in Hamath.

5Also he built Beth Horon the upper and Beth Horon the lower, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars;

6and 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.

7As for all the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel—

8of 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.

9But 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.

10These were the chief officers of King Solomon, even two-hundred fifty, who ruled over the people.

11Solomon 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 Yahweh’s ark has come are holy.”

12Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to Yahweh on Yahweh’s altar which he had built before the porch,

13even 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.

14He 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.

15They didn’t depart from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter or concerning the treasures.

16Now all the work of Solomon was accomplished from the day of the foundation of Yahweh’s house until it was finished. So Yahweh’s house was completed.

17Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and to Eloth, on the seashore in the land of Edom.

18Huram 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.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Chronicles 8.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Solomon's buildings and trade. (1-18).

vv1-18

It sometimes requires more wisdom and resolution to govern a family in the fear of God, than to govern a kingdom with reputation. The difficulty is increased, when a man has a hinderance instead of a help meet in the wife of his bosom. Solomon kept up the holy sacrifices, according to the law of Moses. In vain had the altar been built, in vain had fire come down from heaven, if sacrifices had not been constantly brought. Spiritual sacrifices are required of us, which we are to bring daily and weekly; it is good to be in a settled method of devotion. When the service of the temple was put into good order, it is said, The house of the Lord was perfected. The work was the main matter, not the place; the temple was unfinished till all this was done. Canaan was a rich country, and yet must send to Ophir for gold The Israelites were a wise people, but must be beholden to the king of Tyre for men that had knowledge of the seas. Grace, and not gold, is the best riches, and acquaintance with God and his law, the best knowledge. Leaving the children of this world to scramble for the toys of this world, may we, as the children of God, lay up our treasure in heaven, that where our treasure is, our hearts also may be.

Cross References

2 Chronicles 8
v11 Kings 9:10thematic

Parallel account of the twenty-year duration for building both the temple and the palace.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v21 Kings 9:11-18thematic

Explains how Huram/Hiram returned the Galilean cities to Solomon which Solomon then rebuilt.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v71 Kings 9:20-22thematic

Parallel description of making the remaining Canaanite populations tributary servants while sparing Israelites.

Supported by JFB

v111 Kings 9:24thematic

Parallel details regarding Pharaoh's daughter moving from David's city to her custom palace.

Supported by JFB

v121 Kings 9:25thematic

Parallel account of Solomon offering regular burnt offerings on the altar he built.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v171 Kings 9:26thematic

Parallel account of Solomon constructing his fleet at Ezion-geber and Eloth.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v181 Kings 9:27thematic

Parallel regarding Hiram sending experienced Tyrian shipmen to navigate with Solomon's servants.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v181 Kings 9:28thematic

Parallel passage noting the import of Ophir's gold; records a slight numerical variation.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Corroborates Solomon's expansion of military infrastructure, specifically chariot and cavalry cities.

Supported by JFB

v101 Kings 9:23thematic

Parallel regarding the officers ruling the people, noting the divergent count of supervisors.

Supported by JFB

v32 Samuel 8:3thematic

Background of David's conquest of Zobah, clarifying Solomon's regional dominance in Hamath-zobah.

Supported by JFB

Law of Moses commanding three annual pilgrimage feasts kept strictly by Solomon.

Supported by Matthew Henry

David's organization of the Levitical courses which Solomon meticulously implements here.

Supported by JFB

Historical note on the original building of Beth-horon upper and nether by Sheerah.

Supported by JFB

Mosaic prohibition against enslaving fellow Israelites, explaining why they served as soldiers.

Supported by Matthew Henry