2Chronicles 1:1 ¶ And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.
This book does not continue chronologically from the first one. It jumps back in time to shortly after Solomon became king. The writer notes that Solomon, the son of David, became firmly established in his kingdom because the LORD “his God” was with him and caused him to be greatly honored.
I think it is important to note that the LORD is identified as Solomon’s God. That indicates to me that as he started his reign, Solomon’s faith in the LORD was obvious from how he lived. How did the LORD accomplish making the king great? I think by blessing him very obviously for all to see.
2Chronicles 1:2 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.
2Chronicles 1:3 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.
2Chronicles 1:4 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.
2Chronicles 1:5 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.
2Chronicles 1:6 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.
Solomon spoke to all the military, religious and civic leaders among the people and evidently asked them join him at Gibeon (5-7 miles NW of Jerusalem) to make offerings before the LORD at the tabernacle of the congregation that Moses had made in the wilderness.
It is noted that the ark was no longer at the tabernacle because David had moved it to the special tent he had made for it in Jerusalem. He had put the brazen altar made by Bezaleel in the wilderness in front of the tabernacle in Gibeon. It was there that Solomon went and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it to the LORD.
Guzik notes that the tabernacle and altar were over 500 years old by this time.
2Chronicles 1:7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.
2Chronicles 1:8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.
2Chronicles 1:9 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.
2Chronicles 1:10 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?
That night God appeared to Solomon and asked him what he would like for Him to give him. In 1Kings we learn that this appearance was in a dream. Solomon’s response must have been through his subconscious spirit, but it was no less real. Solomon responded by acknowledging how God had shown great mercy to his father David and had made him the next king. The account in 1Kings notes that Solomon knew such mercy was in recognition of David’s commitment to live before the LORD in truth and righteousness with his whole heart.
1 Kings 3:6 “And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee….”
Solomon then asked the LORD to fulfill the promise He had made to David since He had made him king over such a great nation. I believe this to be a reference to God’s promise to establish the throne of David forever.
1 Kings 2:4 “That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.”
Solomon then asked the LORD for wisdom and knowledge to be able to govern such a great nation with right judgment. Again, the account in 1Kings adds a little more.
1 Kings 3:9 “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”
Wisdom, knowledge and understanding all go hand-in-hand when it comes to righteous governance. Solomon wanted to be able to discern between good and bad so that he could make right judgments.
2Chronicles 1:11 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:
2Chronicles 1:12 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.
God was pleased with Solomon’s answer. He told Solomon that because he had not asked for riches, wealth, honor, destruction of his enemies or for long life, he would not only give him the wisdom and knowledge he requested, but he would also give him the things for which he did not ask—riches, wealth and honor. The LORD declared that no king before or after him would have such blessing.
So what is the difference in riches and wealth? When I looked at the Hebrew, it seemed to indicate that wealth was a continual accumulation of riches.
The account in 1Kings tells us that the LORD’s promise to give Solomon a long life was dependent upon his obedience to the LORD.
1 Kings 3:14 “And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.”
This episode in Solomon’s life provided the foundation for a poem the LORD gave me several years ago. It is included at the end of this chapter.
2Chronicles 1:13 ¶ 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.
2Chronicles 1:14 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.
2Chronicles 1:15 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.
2Chronicles 1:16 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
2Chronicles 1:17 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.
Solomon returned to Jerusalem and assumed his throne. He gathered together his chariots—1400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen—and placed them in the chariot cities. Silver and gold became as plenteous as rocks in Jerusalem and cedar trees became as plenteous as the sycomore trees in the lowlands. He purchased and brought horses and chariots out of Egypt for 150 shekels of silver and 600 shekels of silver respectively. Many of these were then resold to the kings of the Hittites and Syrians.
JFB adds this historical note: “As the Syrians, who were fond of the Egyptian breed of horses, could import them into their own country only through Judea, Solomon early perceived the commercial advantages to be derived from this trade, and established a monopoly. His factors or agents purchased them in the markets or fairs of Egypt and brought them to the ‘chariot cities,’ the depots and stables he had erected on the frontiers of his kingdom….”
Despite the obvious economic bounty incurred from Solomon’s actions, I can’t help but be reminded that the LORD had specifically declared through Moses that the kings of Israel were not to accumulate horses or even go to Egypt.
Deuteronomy 17:15–16 “…one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.”
There is a discrepancy between the King James and some of the other translations regarding verse 16. What the KJV identifies as linen yarn, other translations identify as a reference to Kue or Cilicia. There is support for both, and neither is significant to important theological truth.
My poem:
“What Shall I Give Thee?”
“What shall I give thee?
God inquired of Solomon one day.
What if He asked me the very same thing?
I wondered what would I say.
Would I ask for an understanding heart?
To know the bad from the good?
Would I ask to be clay in the Potter’s hands?
For the strength to do what I should?
To be known as God’s friend?
To be free from pride?
To possess a heart that is pure?
The choices are many.
Which one is best?
I want to be very sure.
The more that I pondered,
The shining light of truth began to dawn.
He couldn’t give more than He already had—
His precious only Son.
As an heir with Christ, there is nothing I lack.
I have everything that I need.
The choices I make show the value I place
On my gift from the King of kings.
He gave me the Spirit to teach me
And empower me from above.
It’s up to me to obey Him
And submit to Him in love.
I’d never trade with King Solomon
For his wisdom, wealth and fame.
I have so much more that is mine to claim
In Jesus’ holy name.
So, thank you, dear Lord for your patience and love,
For Your mercy and Your grace.
Please help me to humbly serve You with joy
TilI I see You face to face.
2Chronicles 2:1 ¶ And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.
2Chronicles 2:2 And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
2Chronicles 2:3 And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.
In obedience to the command of his father David, Solomon determined to build a house to honor the LORD and a palace for himself. He appointed 70,000 men to carry material, 80,000 men to cut stone in the mountain and 3,600 men to oversee the work. The king also sent a message to Huram (aka Hiram), King of Tyre, asking him to provide cedar for him as he had for his father David.
2Chronicles 2:4 Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
2Chronicles 2:5 And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.
2Chronicles 2:6 But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
Solomon told Hiram that he planned to build a house to honor the LORD “my” God at which he could burn incense and make the offerings detailed in the law as recorded by Moses. The king declared that this house had to be very great because it was for “our” God, The God above all gods. He then observed that this was an impossible task since even the heaven of heavens cannot contain God. At least it would serve as a place to offer burnt sacrifices before Him.
I liked these comments from Chuck Smith: “The presence of God is everywhere. You can’t escape the presence of God. And it is always wrong when we try to think of God in a localized place. And yet, it is so often a part of our limited understanding that we always seem to think of God in a locality…. I think that one of the greatest needs of the Christian experience and in the Christian life is to become more conscious of God’s all pervading presence. And at the times when you least feel like it, He is there. In the time when you’re feeling the rottenest, He is there. In the time you’re feeling most desolate, He is there. The most forsaken, He is there. And we need to become aware of His presence…. When I become aware of that, then I want to always live in a way that is pleasing unto Him. Knowing that nothing I do is hidden. Knowing that nothing I do is secret. Knowing that my life is just an open book and that consciousness of God’s presence is such an important thing for my own personal life.”
2Chronicles 2:7 Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.
2Chronicles 2:8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,
2Chronicles 2:9 Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.
2Chronicles 2:10 And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.
Solomon then asked Hiram to send him a man that was skilled in working in gold, silver, brass and iron and also able to work with purple, crimson and blue material; he should also be a skilled engraver that could work with the skilled craftsmen of Israel that had been identified by David. He is basically asking for a highly skilled project manager.
The king also asked for cedar trees, fir trees and algum trees out of Lebanon, acknowledging that he could provide the most skilled men at cutting timber. Solomon promised to supply any additional help that was needed. Again he noted that the task was big and would require a whole lot of timber. Solomon committed to paying Hiram’s workmen with 20,000 measures of wheat, 20,000 measures of barley, 20,000 baths of wine, and 20,000 baths of oil.
The NIV Commentary provides insight on the use of cedar: “The fragrant cedars of Lebanon were famed throughout the ancient world. They were resistant to decay and superior to any timber native to Palestine.”
The IVP Commentary offers this note on the cloth: “These were the most exotic and desirable dyes that were available in the ancient world and were very expensive. They had been used in decorating the tabernacle and in embroidering the priestly vestments. The “blue cloth” has more recently been interpreted as a blue/purple or violet color. The dye for this color was one of the major imports of Phoenicia where it was extracted from the murex snail (murex trunculus) which inhabited shallow coastal waters of the Mediterranean. An ancient refinery has also been found at Dor along the northern coast of Israel. One chemist estimated that a quarter of a million snails would be needed to produce one ounce of pure dye. This dye was used in the manufacture of the most sacred objects.”
And this note on algum wood: “The algum of Chronicles may be Grecian juniper, a tall coniferlike fir used for timber. Typically they used hardwoods that polished to a fine finish with nice grain or fragrant odor. A number of these woods are also impervious to bugs or mildew.”
2Chronicles 2:11 ¶ Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them.
2Chronicles 2:12 Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.
2Chronicles 2:13 And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father’s,
2Chronicles 2:14 The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father.
2Chronicles 2:15 Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants:
2Chronicles 2:16 And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.
Hiram answered Solomon in writing. He declared that the LORD made Solomon king because the LORD loved his people. He then praised the LORD God of Israel that made heaven and earth, the very same God that had given King David a wise son and blessed him with prudence, wisdom and understanding to be able to build such a temple and palace.
Hiram told Solomon that he was sending a man whose mother was of the tribe of Dan and his father a man of Tyre. He had all the skills that Solomon had requested. He accepted the terms of payment of wheat, barley, oil and wine. He said that they would cut all the wood that was needed from Lebanon and deliver it on floats by the sea to Joppa. Solomon could then arrange for its transport to Jerusalem.
The NIV Commentary adds this note: “Joppa served as the port for inland Judah and for the city of Jerusalem. Before one reached Solomon’s capital, however, there were some thirty-five miles of flat, then hilly, and finally rugged terrain.”
2Chronicles 2:17 And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.
2Chronicles 2:18 And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.
Solomon then proceeded to number all the foreigners living in Israel that were able workers and found that there were 153,600. He assigned 70,000 of them to transport material, 80,000 to cut stones in the mountain and 3600 as overseers.
The account in 1Kings also notes that Solomon drafted 30,000 men of Israel to serve in monthly rotations every three months to help Hiram’s men.
1 Kings 5:13–14 “And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.”
Wiersbe: “The fact that Gentiles worked along with the Israelites suggests that the temple was indeed a house for all nations.”