Matthew Poole's Commentary And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house, Solomon’s buildings, 2 Chronicles 8:1-6. The heathen who remained in the land he maketh tributaries; but the Israelites rulers, 2 Chronicles 8:7-11. His yearly solemn sacrifices: he appointeth to the priests and Levites their places, 2 Chronicles 8:12-16. The navy fetcheth gold from Ophir, 2 Chronicles 8:17,18. No text from Poole on this verse. That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there. Which Huram had restored to Solomon; which Solomon gave to Huram, who not being pleased with them, 1 Kings 9:12,13, here returns them to him again. And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it. No text from Poole on this verse. And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath. Of this and the following verses, See Poole "1 Kings 9:17", &c. Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars; No text from Poole on this verse. And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion. No text from Poole on this verse. As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel, No text from Poole on this verse. But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day. No text from Poole on this verse. But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen. No text from Poole on this verse. And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people. No text from Poole on this verse. And Solomon 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 dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come. Not because every place where once the ark came was thereby consecrated to God, and night not after the ark was gone be put to any common use; for then both the house of Obed-edom and all other places where the ark either rested or passed were made holy thereby, and unlawful for men to dwell in; but either, 1. Because she was a woman, and attended by many other women, who besides the common pollutions of all, are subject to many and frequent ceremonial pollutions peculiar to their sex, and either she, or at least many of her followers, might be heathens at this time; and therefore he thought it indecent that such persons should come as it were in God’s stead, and succeed him in the place where he had dwelt. Or, 2. He speaks not of the time when the ark was gone, but whilst it was there; and these words contain a reason not of the more remote words, why he now brought her up thither, but of the words immediately preceding, why he built this house for her; because the ark was now in the house of David, which therefore, ought to be kept pure and free from the very danger and appearance of pollution. Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the LORD on the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch, No text from Poole on this verse. Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles. No text from Poole on this verse. And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites 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 so had David the man of God commanded. The man of God, i.e. a prophet inspired by God in these matters, whose commands therefore are the commands of God. And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures. No text from Poole on this verse. Now all the 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. All the work of Solomon was prepared; all the materials were procured, and in all points squared, and fitted, and completed beforehand. Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom. Of this and the next verse, See Poole "1 Kings 9:26", &c. And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants 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. No text from Poole on this verse. |
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