Ch. 2 Chronicles 1:1-6 (cp. 1 Kings 3:4). Solomon’s great Sacrifice at Gibeon

1. was strengthened] or, strengthened himself, a favourite expression of the Chronicler; cp. 2 Chronicles 12:13; 2 Chronicles 13:21 (waxed mighty); 2 Chronicles 17:1; 2 Chronicles 23:1, etc.

2. every governor] R.V. every prince.

the chief of the fathers] R.V. the heads of the fathers’ houses.

3. and all the congregation] The attendance of the chief representatives of the people at the great sacrifice with which Solomon seems to have inaugurated his reign is probable in itself, but it is passed over in the brief notice in 1 Kings 3:4.

at Gibeon] Cp. 1 Chronicles 16:39; 1 Chronicles 21:29; 1 Kings 3:4. It was a city of Benjamin. The Chronicler defends this instance of high-place worship by his explanation that the Tabernacle was on the high place.

the tabernacle of the congregation] R.V. the tent of meeting (cp. R.V. Preface, p. vi.). So 2 Chronicles 1:5.

in the wilderness] See Exodus 25:1 ff; Exodus 35:4 ff.

4. Kiriath-jearim] Cp. 1 Chronicles 13:5.

pitched a tent] Cp. 1 Chronicles 15:1.

5. Bezalel] See Exodus 31:2; Exodus 38:1-7.

he put] R.V. was there. In the Hebrew the position of a point makes the difference between these two translations.

sought unto it] See 1 Chronicles 28:8, note.

6. went up thither] R.V. mg., offered there. It is to be noted that the Chronicler does not ignore the exercise of priestly functions by Solomon, though such exercise must have seemed wrong in his eyes, but follows his authority (1 Kings 3:4) without adding any explanation.

7–13 (= 1 Kings 3:5-15). Solomon’s Vision and Return to Jerusalem

7. did God appear] In Kings, the Lord appeared in a dream.

8. mercy] R.V. kindness (as 1 Kings 3:6). God shewed David not merely compassion, but also bounty.

made me to reign] R.V. made me king.

9. thy promise] Cp. 1 Chronicles 22:9 ff. Perhaps the particular reference is to the first words of 1 Chronicles 22:12, which may be translated as a promise, Surely the Lord will give thee wisdom and understanding.

10. go out and come in] The phrase denotes the transaction of business of all kinds.

judge] Although every village by its headmen dispensed its own justice to its inhabitants, yet enough cases too hard for local decision remained over to make the king’s judicial functions of very great importance; cp. 2 Samuel 14:4 ff; 2 Samuel 15:2-4.

11. thine enemies] R.V. them that hate thee.

12. wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee] The incident illustrates the principle, To him that hath shall be given; Solomon had wisdom enough to offer a wise prayer; increase of wisdom followed as the answer to the prayer.

13. from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon] This clause yields no sense in the Hebrew and is probably a misplaced gloss. Read simply, Then Solomon came to Jerusalem (cp. 1 Kings 3:15).

14–17 (= 1 Kings 10:26-29). Solomon’s Horses and Chariots

14. the chariot cities] The greater part of Palestine is unsuitable for the evolutions of chariots, but flat country is found along the coast of the Mediterranean, in the plain of Esdrelon, and east of Jordan, and in these three districts the chariot cities were probably situated. Cp. G. A. Smith, Hist. Geography, p. 667, Appendix V.

15. at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones] R.V. to be at Jerusalem as stones. In Kings this is asserted of silver only. Jerusalem is one of the stoniest places in the world.

the sycomore trees] LXX. συκαμίνους (but Luke 19:4 συκομορέα). See 1 Chronicles 27:28, note.

vale] R.V. lowland, i.e. the stretch of low hills separating the maritime plain from the hill country of Judah. Cp. G. A. Smith, Hist. Geography, Chap. 10, “The Shephelah.”

16. And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt] R.V. And the horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt. Egypt is an agricultural not a pastoral country; it lacks the broad plains suitable for the rearing of large numbers of horses. Egypt was therefore probably only the market; the raising ground was elsewhere.

and linen yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price] R.V. the king’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price. “Linen yarn” is a mistranslation of a word which perhaps means “drove.” The whole verse refers to traffic in horses. According to a third view the Heb. “miḳvê” means neither “yarn” nor “drove,” but conceals a proper name, known to us from Assyrian inscriptions, Ku‘i or Kuë (= Cilicia). In this case the horses would be brought in the first place from eastern Asia Minor and Armenia, since Cilicia itself is not a horse-breeding country. We then translate, And the horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt and out of Cilicia; the king’s merchants received them from Cilicia at a price. The further supposition that “Egypt” (Mizraim) is a mistake for “Musri” (a land supposed to lie N.E. of Cilicia) may be true but is difficult to prove.

17. and so brought they out horses … by their means] i.e. by means of Solomon’s merchants horses were exported for the kings of the Hittites and of Syria.