Solomon Appoints I. CHRONICLES, VIII. 7.8. the Priests to their Places. officers, even two hundred and fifty, a1 Kings 3. 1, & the solemn feasts, three times in the that bare rule over the people. 1 Heb., holiness. (11) And Solomon a 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 Exod. 29. 23. dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are 1holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come. с Deut. 16. 16. 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 Exod. 23. 14; 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 2so 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 d 1 Chron. 24. 1. e 1 Chron. 9. 17. (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 sab-t baths, and on the new moons, and on Did the man of b God. overseers, or inspectors of works (Comp. 1 Chron. xviii. 13, and 2 Chron. xvii. 2, for the word n'çîbîm, prefects.) The Heb. margin suggests niççābim, the word used in Kings. King Solomon's.-Literally, Who were to king Solomon. Kings, who were over the work for Solomon. Clearly the latter has been corrupted into the form presented by our text through a confusion of mělākah, "work," with melek, "king." Two hundred and fifty.-See chap. ii. 17, and 1 Kings ix. 23. In the latter place 550 is the number. The number here is an error of transcription, 27, i.e., 550, having been mistaken for i.e., 250 (Kennicott). Bare rule. They were taskmasters. (Comp. Syriac, "who made the people work who were working at the works.") The people-i.e., the Canaanite remnant (verse 7). Kings adds, who were labouring at the work. (See Syriac.) (1) And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh.-See 1 Kings ix. 24, which is much briefer than the present notice. The chronicler has not mentioned this princess before (comp. 1 Kings iii. 1, ix. 16), and mentions her here only in connection with Solomon's buildings. (See Note on chap. xii. 2.) Solomon's Egyptian consort was probably a princess of the XXII. Bubastite Dynasty, founded by Shishak, which was of Semitic origin. For he said.-The motive here assigned is wanting in the other text, and is characteristic of the chronicler both in thought and language; though it is too much to say with Thenius that the princess could not have lived anywhere else than in the old palace of David, until the new one was built. 1 Kings iii. 1 says only that Solomon brought her "into the city of David." King of Israel.-In contrast with the Egyptian origin of the princess. Because the places are holy.-For a holy thing is that unto which, &c. (The plural pronoun hēmmāh, "they," is equivalent to a neuter-sing. in the usage of the chronicler.) (e) REGULATION OF THE TEMPLE WORSHIP This whole section corresponds to the single verse, 1 Kings ix. 25, which the chronicler has paraphrased in verses 12, 13, and extended by the addition of further details in verses 14, 15. of (12) Then. After the consecration of the Temple. Offered. Not once, but habitually; according to the prescriptions of the Mosaic Law (verse 13). On the altar.. which he had built.-And apparently no longer at Gibeon (chap. i. 3). ... Before the porch.-Not in Kings. (13) Even after a certain rate every day.Literally, and with a day's matter on a day (Lev. xxiii. 37) they had to offer (infinitive construct, as at 1 Chron. xiii. 4, xv. 2), or, perhaps, he would offer. The solemn feasts.-Literally, set seasons, viz., the three great festivals whose designations follow. (The form mo adôth for mô‘adim occurs here only.) (14) And he appointed.-Caused to stand. (1 Chron. vi. 16, xv. 16.) According to the order of David his father. -Order, i.e., ordinance or institution. The courses of the priests.-See 1 Chron. xxiv. Charges.-Watches, wards, stations. To praise. See 1 Chron. xxv. 3. And minister before the priests.-1 Chron. xxiii. 28. As the duty of every day required.-For a day's matter (ie., prescribed work) on its day. (Comp. verse 13.) The porters also. See 1 Chron. xxvi. 1–19. The construction is, and he appointed, or stationed, the warders. For so had David . -See margin. A similar phrase occurs in Neh. xii. 24. (15) And they departed not from the commandment of the king.-From has fallen out of the Heb. text, and must be restored. So three MSS. and the versions. The Temple Finished. II. CHRONICLES, IX. 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 Eziongeber, and to 1 Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom. (18) And Huram sent him by the hands of his servant 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. CHAPTER IX.-(1) And a when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon 1 Or. Elath, Deut. : The Queen of Sheba's Visit. with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. (2) And Solomon told her all her questions and there was nothing hid from a1 Kings 10.1, &c. Solomon which he told her not. (3) And 11. 31. when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built, () and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the LORD; Matt. 12. 42; Luke 2 Or, butlers. (chap. ii.), and secondly, the prosecution of the work to its completion (chap. iii.—v. Î). (The Heb. is, unto that day of the foundation," i.e., that memorable day, see chap. iii. 1-3.) All the versions, however, understand from the day of the foundation unto the completion of the Temple, and perhaps ad ha-yom is, in the chronicler's Hebrew equivalent to lemin ha-yom, expressing the terminus a quo. So the house of the Lord was perfected.Omit so, and comp. 1 Kings ix. 25, "and he finished same root as perfected] the house." The verse thus closes the entire account of the building and inauguration of the Temple. (d) THE VOYAGE TO OPHIR (verses 17, 18). Comp. 1 Kings ix. 26-28. (17) Then ('āz).-After the completion of the Temple. 66 Went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth. -Syr., "Ezion-geber, a city which is over against Eloth." 1 Kings ix. 26 reads, And a fleet did king Solomon make at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth." The sea.- Kings, the Red Sea. So Vulg. The words of our text do not necessarily imply a personal visit on the part of Solomon. He sent his shipwrights to the Idumean port. (18) And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships.-When Solomon began to evince an interest in maritime affairs, his Tyrian ally presented him with a number of vessels and their crews of trained seamen. To what port the vessels were sent is not expressly stated. Probably they put in at Joppa (chap. ii. 16). ˇ Others assume the meaning to be that the ships were sent from Tyre to Ezion-geber, and then ask whether they were dragged across the desert which divides the Mediterranean from the gulf of Akaba, or whether they circumnavigated Africa. The dilemma is only apparent. The Greek historians of later times often speak of the transport of ships overland; and the galleys of Solomon's age were probably small. Even the circumnavigation of Africa was achieved by a Phoenician expedition sent out by Necho about four centuries later (Herod. iv. 42). But neither alternative seems necessary. If Huram provided Solomon with skilled mariners, they would naturally sail from Tyre to Joppa in their own ships. The Tyrian vessels may have been left at Joppa, while a portion of their crews proceeded, by Solomon's order, to Eziongeber. In short, "ships and servants" means "ships with servants," or "ships conveying servants." And they went.-Huram's mariners. Comp. 1 Kings ix. 27: "And Huram sent in the fleet (which Solomon had built) his servants, men of ships that had knowledge of the sea." So the Syr. and Arab. here. To Ophir.-See 1 Kings ix. 28. LXX., Sophira. Fifty.—Kings, twenty. The difference may be due to a scribe's error, the letter kaf being confused with nun. IX. (ii) SOLOMON'S WISDOM, WEALTH, AND GLORY. HIS DEATH. (a) THE VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA (verses 1-12). Comp. 1 Kings x. 1-13. The Hebrew text coincides with Kings, allowing for a few characteristic alterations, the chief of which will be noticed. (1) And when the queen of Sheba heard.Now the queen of Sheba had heard. Kings, was hearing. The fame of Solomon.-Kings adds a difficult phrase ("as to the name of Jehovah ") which the chronicler omits. Hard questions. Riddles, enigmas. LXX., alviyuaoi (Judg. xiv. 12). At Jerusalem.-An abridgment but not an improvement of Kings. The Syr. agrees with the latter. Gold in abundance.-The chronicler has substituted a favourite expression for the "very much gold" of Kings. (4) And his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord.-Kings, "And his burnt offering which he offered in the house of the Lord." The LXX., Syr., and Vulg. here agree with Kings; and the Arab. reads, "the altar on which he offered.” In all other passages, the word used in our text (aliyah) means not ascent, but upper chamber; it is likely, therefore, that in the present instance it is merely an error of transcription for the term occurring in Kings (ôlah, "burnt-offering "). Solomon and II. CHRONICLES, IX. there was no more spirit in her. (5) And 1 Heb., word. 3 Or, stairs. The Queen of Sheba. talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon. (10) And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones. (11) And the king made of the algum trees 34 terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah. (12) And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, 4 Heb., highways. she and her servants. (5) of thine acts.-Literally, words. LXX., ñepì τῶν λόγων σου. We might render matters, affairs. (6) The one half of the greatness of thy wisdom.-Kings has simply," the half was not told me." The chronicler has made an explanatory addition. (See 1 Chron. xii. 29, and 2 Chron. xxx. 18, for the word marbith, "increase," "multitude," which occurs thrice in the Chronicles and twice elsewhere.) Thou exceedest the fame.-Literally, Thou hast added to the report. Kings, more fully, "Thou hast added wisdom and weal to the report." con (7) And happy and hear.-The junctions weaken the rhetorical effect of the verse, and are not read in Kings. (8) On his throne-i.e., Jehovah's throne. (Comp. 1 Chron. xxviii. 5.) Kings has, "on the throne of Israel." To be king for the Lord thy God.-A further insistance on the idea that Solomon was but the vicegerent of Jehovah. The clause is added by the chronicler, but need not be called “an evidently wilful alteration" (Thenius). To establish. This phrase is wanting in the Hebrew of Kings, but is probably original, as the LXX. there has it. (9) Spices.-B'sāmím, from which come our words balsam and balm. Great abundance.-See Note on verse 1. Here lārōb is substituted for the ancient harběh. Neither was there any such spice.-Or, there had not been such spicery, i.e., in Jerusalem. A defect in the chronicler's MS. authority probably occasioned this deviation from the phrase which we find in the older text, "There came no more such abundance of spicery" (1 Kings x. 10). (10) And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon.-Kings, " And the fleet also of Huram which carried gold from Ophir." The phrase is altered here to correspond with chap. viii. 18. Brought algum trees.-See chap. ii. 8. LXX., túλa TeÚKIVA; Vulg., “ligna thyina;" Syriac. " acacia (?) wood" ('eshkoro); Kings, " brought from Ophir almug trees in great abundance." In the Mishna 'almúg is "coral;" and the Rabbis ascribe a red colour to the algum wood. The Pterocarpus Santalinus has bloodred wood with black streaks, is fragrant, and is used in works of art, as well as for burning. The tree called Valgu or Valgum is the Santalum album, which produces white and yellow sandalwood. Thenius doubts whether the algum wood of Solomon was not the teak (Cytharexylon Tectona), which abounds in East India, and is a hard, yellow-streaked, strongly-scented wood, used in India for temple building. (11) Terraces. M'silloth, which usually means highways, that is, raised paths. The word is an interpretation of mis ad, which only occurs in 1 Kings xi. 12. LXX., ávaßáσeis; Vulg., "gradus; " Arabic, "pillars." Singers.-The singers. And there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.-A shortened paraphrase of, "There came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day" (Kings). "The land of Judah" is a phrase which indicates how utterly the northern kingdom was excluded from the redactor's thought. (12) Beside that which she had brought unto the king.-It can hardly be meant that Solomon returned her own presents. If the reading be sound, we may understand return presents, i.e., gifts equal in value to those which she had bestowed. Or better, we may regard the clause as a parenthetic note of the chronicler's, to the effect that the giving of presents was not all on one side. Solomon showed himself as royally generous as his visitor. Putting the clause first would make this meaning clearer: "And quite apart from what she brought the king, Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all her desire." Bertheau, however, proposes a slight change in the Hebrew text, so as to get the sense," beside what the king had brought for her." 1 Kings x. 13 is much clearer: "besides what he had given her, according to the hand of king Solomon. LXX. translates, "besides all that she brought to king Solomon;" the Vulg., " and far more than she had brought him,” which may be a trace of the original reading; the Syriac, "besides what he had given her." Syriac and Arabic add, “and he revealed to her all that was in her heart." She turned.-Hāphak, for pānāh of Kings, which is more usual in this sense. (15) And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold; six hundred 3 Heb., shut up. shekels of beaten gold went to one target. (16) And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred His Throne. footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and 2 stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays: (19) and twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom. (20) And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of. 3 pure gold: none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days shekels of gold went to one shield. And or, there was no of Solomon. (21) For the king's ships the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. (17) Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. (18) And there were six steps to the throne, with a (b) SOLOMON'S INCOME, NION (Verses 13-28). and 1 Kings iv. 26, 27. silver in them. SPLENDOUR, AND DOMIComp. 1 Kings x. 14—29, (13) Now the weight of gold.-See 1 Kings x. 14, with which this verse coincides. (14) Besides that which chapmen and merchants brought.-The Hebrew is difficult, and probably corrupt. Literally it seems to run, besides the men of the itinerants (a strange phrase), and that which the merchants were bringing; or, perhaps, apart from the men of the itinerants and the merchants bringing. The last word may be a clerical error, as it occurs again directly. The conjecture of Thenius on 1 Kings x. 15 seems to be borne out by the ancient Versions. He would read instead of 'anshé ha-tārim, "men of the travellers," 'onshê ha-r'dûyîm, “fines or tributes of the subjects." The Syriac of Chronicles has "tributes of the cities." Perhaps, therefore, the true original reading was 'onshê he'arim. The Vulg. renders envoys of divers peoples;" but the LXX., men of the subjected (states).' 66 For the second half of the phrase Kings has, " and the merchandise of the pedlars." The kings of Arabia.-Kings, "the kings of the mixed tribes;" that is, the Bêdawîs, bordering on and mingling with Israel. (Comp. Exod. xii. 38.) The difference depends on the vowel pointing only. (Comp. Jer. xxv. 24, where both words occur; and Ezek. xxx. 5.) Governors.-Pachoth, i.e., pashas. Thenius is wrong in supposing this word to be a token of the "later composition of the section." (See Note on 2 Kings xviii. 24.) Brought.-Were bringing used to bring. (Comp. verses 23, 24.) = (15) And king Solomon made.-Word for word as 1 Kings x. 16. Beaten gold.-Rather, according to Gesenius, mixed or alloyed gold. But the word (shahût, i.e., shatûah) seems to mean gold beaten out, gold-leaf. So LXX., ἐλατόν. Went to.-He put on, i.e., he plated the "targets," which were large oblong shields, with gold. (Comp. Amos viii. 10, "And I will put upon all loins sackcloth.") So in verse 16. (16) Shields.-Maginnîm. The magen was a round or oval shield, about half the size of the "target went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, 5 ivory, and apes, and peacocks. (22) And king Solomon passed all the (çinnah), with which it is often contrasted; e.g., Ps. XXXV. 2; LXX., àσñídas. Three hundred shekels of gold. Kings, three manehs of gold. The maneh or mina (Assyrian, mana), was 1-60th part of a talent, and was equivalent to fifty or sixty shekels. Either the reading of our text is an error of transcription (sh'losh mëôth for sh'losheth manim), or the word shekels is wrongly supplied in our version, and we ought rather to read drachms (100 drachms=1 mina). The Syriac reads, "And three minas of gold wrought on the handle of one shield;" so also the Arabic. (17) Pure.-Tahor, a common word, for the once occurring mûphaz of Kings. (18) With a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne.-Instead of this Kings has, And the throne had a rounded top behind. Although the footstool is a prominent object in Oriental representations of thrones, it is quite possible that our text is due to a corruption of that which appears in Kings, and with which the Syriac here agrees. The LXX. renders, "and six steps to the throne, fastened with gold," omitting the footstool. The Heb. is at all events suspiciously awkward. For the remainder of this and the following verse see 1 Kings x. 19, 20. The chronicler has made two slight verbal corrections in verse 19. (20) None were of silver; it was not anything accounted of.-The not appears to be rightly supplied by our version; comp. 1 Kings x. 21, with which the verse otherwise entirely agrees. (21) For the king's ships went to Tarshish.— 1 Kings x. 22, "For the king had a Tarshish fleet on the sea, with the fleet of Hiram." It is generally assumed that the words of the chronicler are an erroneous paraphrase of the expression, "Tarshish fleet," i.e., a fleet of ships fitted for long voyages. (Comp. Isa. ii. 16.) The identity of the present fleet with that mentioned above in verse 10 is not evident. Solomon may have had a fleet in the Mediterranean ("the sea" of 1 Kings x. 22) trading westward, as well as in the Red Sea, trading south and east. Some have identified Tarshish with Cape Tarsis in the Persian Gulf. (See Note on chap. xx. 36.) (22) And king Solomon.-See 1 Kings x. 23. Passed all. Was great above all. a 1 Kings 4. 26. Gen. 15. 18. That is, Eu phrates. c 1 Kings 10. 28; kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. d1 Kings 11. 41. 3 Heb., words. e ch. 12. 15. B.C. cir. 975. His Death. to Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands. (29) Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat ? (30) And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. (31) And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead. CHAPTER X.-(1) And f Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king. (2) And it came to pass, when Jeroboam 1 Kings 12.1, &c. the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, (23) All the kings of the earth.-Explanatory of "all the earth were seeking (Kings). The earth, an expression defined in verse 26. (24) And they brought.-Used to bring. (Comp. verse 14.) Harness i.e., weapons and armour. Compare Macbeth's 66 'At least we'll die with harness on our back." A rate year by year.-Literally, a year's matter in a year. Solomon's vassal kings are intended. (25) And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.-See 1 Kings iv. 26 (where the number of stalls is erroneously stated at 40,000). The remainder of the verse coincides with 1 Kings x. 26. Having already given an account of Solomon's chariots and horses, and his importation of the latter from Egypt, in chap. i. 14-17, an account which is identical with 1 Kings x. 26-29, the chronicler naturally avoids mere repetition of that passage in verses 25-28. (26) And he reigned over all the kings.-This verse corresponds to 1 Kings iv. 21. (27) And the king made silver.-Identical with 1 Kings x. 27. On this and the following verse, comp. the prohibitions of Deut. xvii. 16, 17. (28) And they brought.-Used to bring. The verse summarises 1 Kings x. 28, 29 (=2 Chr. i. 16, 17), and adds that Solomon imported horses "out of all the lands," as well as from Egypt. (c) REFERENCE TO DOCUMENTS.-CLOSE OF THE REIGN (verses 29-31). (Comp. 1 Kings xi. 41-43.) (29) Now the rest of the acts of Solomon.Or, story, history; literally, words. (Comp. 1 Chron. xxix. 29.) First and last.-Or, the former and the latter. Instead of this, Kings has, "and all that he did, and his wisdom." Solomon?" His name conveyed the idea of peace to the Hebrew ear. But there is no doubt that it was originally identical with Shalman (Assyrian Salmânu), the name of a god. Tiglath-pileser II. mentions a Salamânu king of Moab. This name exactly corresponds to Solomon. Ahijah the Shilonite.-See 1 Kings xi. 29-39 and xiv. 2-18. Iddo.-Hebrew, Ie'di or Ie'dû. This seer is not mentioned in Kings. (See chaps. xii. 15 and xiii. 22 for further references to his works.) (30) And Solomon reigned.-So 1 Kings x. 42, "And the days that Solomon reigned," etc., as here. Over all İsrael-i.e., the undivided nation. (31) Slept.-Literally, lay down. He was buried.-They buried him. Kings has, "he was buried." The two texts are otherwise identical. X. (iii) HISTORY OF THE KINGS WHO REIGNED IN JERUSALEM, FROM REHOBOAM ΤΟ THE EXILE (chaps. x-xxxvi.). (1) The Revolt of the Ten Tribes. The Reign of Rehoboam (chaps. x.-xii.). (a) The Revolt of the Ten Tribes against the Dynasty of David (chaps. x.-xi. 4). Comp. the parallel narrative in 1 Kings xii. 1-24. Considered by itself, this section might be pronounced a transcript of 1 Kings xii. 1-24. Such differences as appear in the Hebrew text are mostly unimportant, consisting of merely verbal modifications and omissions not affecting the general sense. (See Intro. §6; and the commentary on the passage in Kings.) (1) To Shechem.-Sh'kémah, with accusative ending; Kings, Sh'kem. "Were come," pf. plural; Kings, singular. |
