Verse 22
Because they forsook the Lord - While they cleaved to God, the most powerful enemy could make no impression on them; but when they forsook him, then the weakest and most inconsiderable of their foes harassed, oppressed, and reduced them to bondage and misery. It was by no personal prowess, genuine heroism, or supereminent military tactics, that the Jews were enabled to resist and overcome their enemies; it was by the Divine power alone; for, destitute of this, they were even worse than other men.
Introduction
Solomon's buildings, conquests, and officers, [2Chr 8:1-10]. He brings Pharaoh's daughter to his new-built palace, [2Chr 8:11]. His various sacrifices, and arrangement of the priests, Levites, and porters, [2Chr 8:12-16]. He sends a fleet to Ophir, [2Chr 8:17], [2Chr 8:18].
Verse 1
At the end of twenty years - He employed seven years and a half in building the temple, and twelve and a half, or thirteen, in building his own house. - Compare this with [1Kgs 7:1].
Verse 2
The cities which Huram had restored - See the note on [1Kgs 9:11].
Verse 3
Hamath-zobah - "Emessa, on the river Orontes." - Calmet.
Verse 4
Tadmor - Palmyra. See the note on [1Kgs 9:18], for an account of this superb city.
Verse 6
All the store cities - See the note on [1Kgs 9:19].
Verse 9
But of the children of Israel - See the note on [1Kgs 9:21].
Verse 11
The daughter of Pharaoh - "And Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh, Solomon brought up from the city of David to the palace which he had built for her." - T.
Because the places are holy - Is not this a proof that he considered his wife to be a heathen, and not proper to dwell in a place which had been sanctified? Solomon had not yet departed from the true God.
Verse 13
Three times in the year - These were the three great annual feasts.
Verse 15
The commandment of the king - The institutions of David.
Verse 17
Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber - See the notes on [1Kgs 9:26-28] (note), for conjectures concerning Ezion-geber and Ophir.
Verse 18
Knowledge of the sea - Skilful sailors. Solomon probably bore the expenses and his friend, the Tyrian king, furnished him with expert sailors; for the Jews, at no period of their history, had any skill in maritime affairs, their navigation being confined to the lakes of their own country, from which they could never acquire any nautical skill. The Tyrians, on the contrary, lived on and in the sea.
Introduction
The queen of Sheba visits Solomon, and is sumptuously entertained by him, [2Chr 9:1-12]. His great riches, [2Chr 9:13], [2Chr 9:14]. He makes targets and shields of beaten gold, and a magnificent ivory throne, and various utensils of gold, [2Chr 9:15-20]. His navigation to Tarshish, and the commodities brought thence, [2Chr 9:21]. His magnificence and political connections, [2Chr 9:22-28]. The writers of his life, [2Chr 9:29]. He reigns forty years, and is succeeded by his son Rehoboam, [2Chr 9:30], [2Chr 9:31].
Verse 1
The queen of Sheba - See all the particulars of this royal visit distinctly marked and explained in the notes on [1Kgs 10:1-10] (note). The Targum calls her queen of Zemargad.
Verse 12
Beside that which she had brought unto the king - In [1Kgs 10:13] it is stated that Solomon gave her all she asked, besides that which he gave her of his royal bounty. It is not at all likely that he gave her back the presents which she brought to him, and which he had accepted. She had, no doubt, asked for several things which were peculiar to the land of Judea, and would be curiosities in her own kingdom; and besides these, he gave her other valuable presents.
Verse 14
The kings of Arabia - "The kings of Sistevantha." - Targum.
Verse 15
And King Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold - For a more correct valuation of these targets and shields than that in [1Kgs 10:17] (note), see at the end of the chapter.
Verse 17
Made a great throne of ivory - For a very curious description of the throne of Solomon, see at the end of the chapter, [2Chr 9:29] (note).
Verse 21
The king's ships went to Tarshish - "Went to Africa." - Targum.
Verse 25
Four thousand stalls for horses - See the note on [1Kgs 4:26], where the different numbers in these two books are considered. The Targum, instead of four thousand, has ארבע מאה arba meah, four hundred.
Verse 29
Nathan the prophet - These books are all lost. See the account of Solomon, his character, and a review of his works, at the end of [1Kgs 11:43] (note).