Exposition of 2 Chronicles

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND CHRONICLES

This, and the preceding, were but one book originally, but divided into two because of the size of it, so that this is only a continuation of the former history; that ends at the death of David; this begins with the reign of Solomon, goes through that, and the reigns of all the kings of the house of David; of the kings of Judah only, after the separation of the ten tribes, quite down to the captivity of Judah in Babylon, and reaches to the deliverance of the Jews from thence by Cyrus, and contains an history of four hundred and seventy nine years. It treats not at all of the kings of Israel, after the separation, only of the kings of Judah, through whom the line of the Messiah was drawn; and though it omits several things recorded of them in the book of Kings, yet it gives abundance of anecdotes not to be met with there, which are of great use and advantage in history to know.

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 1 This chapter relates, how that Solomon being confirmed in his kingdom, went to Gibeon to sacrifice 2Ch 1:1, that the Lord appeared there to him, and what passed between them, 2Ch 1:7 and that when he returned from thence to Jerusalem, he increased in splendour, wealth, and riches, 2Ch 1:13.

Ver. 1. And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom,.... Well settled and established on the throne of his father, after the death of some persons, from whom he might expect trouble, see 1Ki 2:46

and the Lord God was with him; directing and instructing him, prospering and succeeding him: the Targum is,

"the Word of the Lord was his help:''

and magnified him exceedingly; see 1Ch 29:25.

Ver. 2. Then Solomon spake unto all Israel,.... To their representatives about going to Gibeon to sacrifice, as the next words show: so Jarchi and Kimchi observe:

to the captains of thousands, and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers; whom he had convened on this occasion; though some think this is the same congregation gathered by his father, by whom he was anointed and made king, and that he spoke of this to them before they broke up, 1Ch 28:1 which seems not so probable, since it was after the death of his father, after he had been king some time, and even after his marriage with Pharaoh's daughter, that what follows was done, see 1Ki 3:1.

Ver. 3. So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon,.... They agreed to his motion, and went with him thither, see 1Ki 3:4

for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness: by the Lord's direction; where was also the altar of the Lord, and so most proper to offer sacrifice on, which was what Solomon went thither to do; see 1Ch 21:29.

Ver. 4. But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim,.... See 2Sa 6:2.

Ver. 5. Moreover, the brasen altar that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made,.... According to the pattern given by Moses, at the direction of God, Ex 38:1,

he put before the tabernacle of the congregation; either David, or rather Solomon; though it seems best to read the words as in the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, "and there it was before the tabernacle"; for it was always there:

and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it; to sacrifice unto it; or rather sought "unto him", the Lord, before whose tabernacle the altar was, so Gussetins {a}.

Ver. 6. And Solomon went up thither,.... To the high place at Gibeon:

to the brasen altar before the lord; where he used to be, and accept the sacrifices of his people, though the ark, the symbol of his presence, was not there:

which was at the tabernacle of the congregation; that is, which altar was there; or rather "who", that is, God, was there, as Osiander, hearing the prayers of his people, and accepting their offerings:

and offered a thousand offerings upon it; by the priests, see 1Ki 3:4.

Ver. 13. Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon,.... Or rather without the supplement, the words may be read as in the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions,

Solomon came from the high places; having sacrificed there, so Vatablus; l being put for m, as R. Jonah observes {b}; but the Targum agrees with us, he

"came to the high place which is in Gibeon, and from thence to Jerusalem;''

and to the same purpose Kimchi; having been there, he came to Jerusalem:

from before the tabernacle of the congregation; which was at Gibeon, where he had been sacrificing:

and reigned over Israel in great splendour and prosperity. From hence, to the end of the chapter, the same things are said as in 1Ki 10:26. See Gill on "1Ki 10:26" See Gill on "1Ki 10:27" See Gill on "1Ki 10:28" See Gill on "1Ki 10:29"

{b} Apud Kimchium. in loc.

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 2

Solomon intending to build a temple for God, and a palace for himself, sent to Hiram, king of Tyre, to furnish him with materials and workmen, 2Ch 2:1, to which Hiram returned an agreeable answer, 2Ch 2:11, and for this service Solomon numbered all the strangers in Israel, 2Ch 2:17.

Ver. 1. And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord,.... For the worship and service of God, and for his honour and glory, being directed, enjoined, and encouraged to it by his father David:

and an house for his kingdom; for a royal palace for him, and his successors, first the one, and then the other; and in this order they were built.

Ver. 2. And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men,.... Of whom, and the difference of the last number in this text from 1Ki 5:15, see the notes there. See Gill on "1Ki 5:15". See Gill on "1Ki 5:16".