2 Chronicles 1:13

Here is, 1. Solomon's entrance upon the government (Ch2 1:13): He came from before the tabernacle, and reigned over Israel. He would not do any acts of government till he had done his acts of devotion, would not take honour to himself till he had given honour to God - first the tabernacle, and then the throne. But, when he had obtained wisdom from God, he did not bury his talent, but as he received the gift ministered the same, did not give up himself to ease and pleasure, but minded business: he reigned over Israel. 2. The magnificence of his court (Ch2 1:14): He gathered chariots and horsemen. Shall we praise him for this? We praise him not; for the king was forbidden to multiply horses, Deu 17:16. I do not remember that ever we find his good father in a chariot or on horseback; a mule was the highest he mounted. We should endeavor to excel those that went before us in goodness rather than in grandeur. 3. The wealth and trade of his kingdom. He made silver and gold very cheap and common, Ch2 1:15. The increase of gold lowers the value of it; but the increase of grace advances its price; the more men have of that the more they value it. How much better therefore is it to get wisdom than gold! He opened also a trade with Egypt, whence he imported horses and linen-yarn, which he exported again to the kings of Syria, with great advantage no doubt, Ch2 1:16, Ch2 1:17. This we had before, Kg1 10:28, Kg1 10:29. It is the wisdom of princes to promote industry and encourage trade in their dominions. Perhaps Solomon took the hint of setting up the linen-manufacture, bringing linen-yarn out of Egypt, working it into cloth, and then sending that to other nations, from what his mother taught when she specified this as one of the characteristics of the virtuous woman, She maketh fine linen, and selleth it, and delivereth girdles of it to the merchant, Pro 31:24. In all labour there is profit.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

2Ch 1:13 Then Solomon came [from his journey] to the high place that [was] at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.

Ver. 13. And reigned over Israel.] Sic regnabat, he so reigned, sc., with that wisdom and knowledge which God had promised him.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ch_1:13-14

And Solomon gathered chariots.

Solomons wealth

I. Wealth derived from trading speculations.

II. Wealth acquired in opposition to Gods commands (Deu_17:16-17). He must trust in the Lord God, not in chariots and horses (Psa_20:7).

III. Wealth therefore risky in its possesion. Prosperity of Solomon his great misfortune. The smallest departure from rectitude may lead to grievous errors and fearful miseries. (J. Wolfendale.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

(13) Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem.—Heb., And Solomon came to the high place that was in Gibeon to Jerusalem. Clearly we should read, “from the high place,” with the LXX. and Vulgate. The difficulty is as old as the Syriac version, which reads, “And Solomon came to the great high place [reading bûmsâ—i.e., βῶμος—with Dr. Payne Smith] that is in Gibeon the city, which is on the east of Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle.”

From before the tabernacle of the congregation.—See 2Ch_1:3; 2Ch_1:6. Perhaps “to (or at) the high place that was at G-ibeon,” was originally a marginal gloss upon this expression. (Comp. 2Ch_1:3.) The reading, “And Solomon came to Jerusalem from before the tent of tryst,” would be quite intelligible without this addition.

And reigned over Israel.—Syr., over all Israel. (Comp. 1Ki_4:1.) But the remark, “and he reigned over Israel,” is by no means “superfluous” (Bertheau), inasmuch as it naturally introduces the following sketch of the reign, which carries us on from God’s promise to its fulfilment.

The chronicler does not notice the sacrifices which, on his return, Solomon offered before the ark at Jerusalem (1Ki_3:15), nor the story of the king’s wise judgment which there follows (1Ki_3:16-28). It is unreasonable to seek any other ground of such omissions than the free and legitimate exercise of the compiler’s discretion in the choice of his own materials. That he did not depreciate the sanctuary on Mount Zion as a place of sacrifice, is evident from 1Ch_21:18 to 1Ch_22:1.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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. 1Ki_3:15).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

From his journey - These words are not in the original text, which is thought to be corrupt. It is best to correct the text, and then simply to translate: “And Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem.”

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Before. Hebrew and Septuagint, "from before the tabernacle," which was at Gabaon. there was another at Jerusalem, where (Haydock) Solomon rendered homage to the Lord. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

To the high place, or, from the high place; for the Hebrew prefix lamed, which commonly signifies to, is sometimes put for the Latin de, which signifies from.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Solomon"s return after sacrifice from Gibeon to Jerusalem, and from before the tabernacle of the congregation" to before the ark of the covenant of the Lord" in Mount Zion. 1Ki 3:1-50 This verse not merely bears the trace of a slightly corrupt text in the presence of the Hebrew preposition: before hmB where there can be no doubt the preposition should stand, but also suggests (keeping in view our ver. 3, and comparing (1Ki_3:15) the condensed and cut-down method of Chronicles, and its strong preferences for selecting out of the various material at its command. The tabernacle of the congregation. This styling of the "tabernacle" is of very frequent occurrence. It is found above thirty times in Exodus, and fully as often in Leviticus and Numbers. Afterwards it is sprinkled more rarely in the historical books. The reason of its being styled "the tabernacle of the congregation" (rewOm) is doubtful perhaps because of the gatherings of the people in front of it, or possibly because of its being the place where God would meet with Moses. The other name, the tabernacle of "witness" or "testimony" or covenant" (tWde Num_9:15, etc.) is not unfrequent. Hence the LXX skhnhou the Vulgate, tabernaculum testimonii; and Luther"s Stifisuitten. This verse very much stints the information contained in the parallel, to the effect that Solomon forthwith took his place before the ark of the covenant in Mount Zion, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and gave a feast to all his servants (2Sa_6:17-19; 1Ch_16:1-3; Deu_14:26-29) And he reigned over Israel. These words seem nugatory both in themselves and as placed here. They probably stand for 1Ki_4:1.

Vers. 13-17.

From the altar to the throne.

A great step was now taken. Solomon, the young man, mounted the throne of his father David; in so doing he assumed the function of one who had behind him a large and varied experience, and who had above and around him the assured and proved loving-kindness of God. Solomon began his reign most promisingly. We gather

I THAT HE DID WELL TO STEP TO THE THRONE FROM THE ALTAR. He came from before the tabernacle and reigned" (ver. 13). There could have been no place so suitable as that where Jehovah was worshipped from which to ascend to kingly power. There is no resort so good as the throne of grace, from which we can ascend any throne of authority or power to-day. It is well, indeed, to pass from intercourse with God to association with men and to the conduct of human affairs. The visit to the house of the Lord, fellowship with Christ at his table or in our own chamber, will give a calmness of spirit, an unselfishness of aim, and a steadfastness of principle which will go far to qualify us for the difficult duties and heavy burdens and (it may be) the serious battles of daily life.

II THAT ONE MAN MAY HOLD IN HIS HAND THE WELL-BEING OF MANY. Solomon "reigned over Israel." In those days reigning meant governing. And though the Hebrew monarchy was not actually absolute, it was invested with great power. A good sovereign wrought great blessings, and a bad one caused terrible evils to his country. Great power, in the shape of royal authority, has passed or is passing away. But still men "reign over others lead, direct, rule, influence, mightily affect them for good or evil. Very great power has the statesman, the preacher, the poet, the principal, the teacher. The possession of power is usually esteemed a thing to be greatly coveted. But it is as full of solemn responsibility as it is of noble opportunity; it calls for a deep sense of obligation and accountability; also for peculiar prayerfulness of spirit and of habit. Humble and not proud, conscious of dependence on God and not self-sufficient, should be the man of high position and commanding influence.

III THAT AFFLUENCE MAY BE A GOOD SIGN, BUT IT IS A PERILOUS CONDITION. All those instances of national prosperity related in the text the abundance of horses and chariots, and of gold and silver, the cultivation of choice trees, etc. were signs that Jehovah was favouring the land, and that Solomon was fulfilling his early promise. But affluence, whether individual or national, is a dangerous condition. It tends to luxury; and luxury leads only too often to sloth and self-indulgence; and these lead straight to wrong-doing and impiety. It is "a slippery place," where a few can walk without stumbling, but where the many slip. and fall.

1. Envy not the greatly prosperous; plenteousness of gold and silver may impoverish the soul while it enriches the treasury.

2. Care much, care most, for the abundance of Christian truth, of sterlingprinciple, of generous helpfulness. C.

Vers. 13-17.

The glory of Solomon.

I HIS SPLENDID EQUIPAGE. "Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen.

1. A sign of great prosperity. Mentioned on this account rather than as a proof of the expensiveness and burdensomeness of Solomon"s reign (Ewald).

(1) A discrepancy. Solomon had 40, 000 stalls; (1Ki_4:26; Josephus, "Ant. Jud:," 8:2:4) 12, 000 horsemen and 1400 chariots (ver. 14; 2Ch 10:25) 4000 stalls and 12, 000 horsemen. (2Ch_9:25)

(2) An explanation. The stalls probably were 4000, the horsemen 12, 000, and the chariots 1400. The Israelitish war-chariot, like the Egyptian and Assyrian, may have been two-horsed, in which case 1400 chariots would represent 2800 horses. A reserve force of 1200 would bring the total number of horses to 4000, which would require 4000 stalls: That the horsemen should be 12, 000 may be explained by supposing that, as Solomon"s equestrian equipage was more for show than action, each horse may have had a rider as well as each chariot a charioteer; or the term "horsemen" may have embraced all persons connected with the equestrian service.

2. An act of great wickedness. If the Divine prohibition (Deu_17:16) forbade not the actual possession of horses by Israelitish kings, it certainly condemned their indefinite multiplication. David respected this prohibition (2Sa_8:4; 1Ch_18:4) Solomon overstepped its limits, consequently what Moses had predicted ensued first Solomon sought a matrimonial alliance with, (1Ki_3:1) and then the people put their trust in, Egypt (2Ki_18:24; Hos_7:11) The glory of princes does not always harmonize with the commands of the King of kings. Solomon"s horsemen and chariots were partly kept in Jerusalem to augment his magnificence, and partly distributed through chariot-cities, not so much to overawe the people as for convenience in providing fodder for the beasts, and meeting the state necessities of the king.

II HIS ENORMOUS WEALTH. The revenues of Solomon were:

1. Varied. Gold and silver and cedar wood; the precious metals obtained from Ophir, in South Arabia (Ewald, Keil, Bahr, etc.), by means of Tarshish ships (cf. the modern expressions, "India-men," "Greenlanders"), which sailed from Ezion-geber, on the Red Sea (2Ch_9:21; 1Ki_9:26-28) and also from the numerous Eastern potentates the kings of the earth", (2Ch_9:23) who came to hear his

2. wisdom, and brought every man his present, vessels of silver and vessels of; (2Ch_9:24) the timber purchased from Hiram of Tyre, and procured from Mount Lebanon. (1Ki_5:10)

3. Abundant. Making large allowance for rhetorical exaggeration, the crown wealth in Solomon"s days was immense. Even if the gold and silver were barely as plentiful as stones (ver. 15), one may judge of its quantity by the statements that "the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents" (equivalent to estimating the gold talent at besides that brought by chapmen, merchants, foreign kings, and provincial governors. (2Ch_9:13, 14 1Ki_10:14, 1Ki_10:15) This accumulation of wealth in the hands of the crown, more accordant with ancient than with modem practice, was likewise then more excusable than now for obvious religious as well as political reasons.

III HIS COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE.

1. How far it extended. To Egypt, The first mention of commercial intercourse between Israel and Egypt, this is also one of the earliest indications of contact between these two peoples since the Exodus; and the silence of Scripture as to Egypt during the long interval between the Exodus and the age of Solomon receives a striking confirmation from the monuments, which show "no really great or conquering monarch between Rameses III and Sheshonk I" (Rawlinson, "Egypt and Babylon," p. 328).

2. In what it consisted. Horses and chariots. A native of Armenia and Media, whence it was fetched by the Jews to Palestine, (Ezr_2:66) the horse had been used in Egypt from the earliest times, (Gen_41:43 Gen_47:17) and in Solomon"s time had been brought by the Egyptians to a high degree of cultivation in respect both of swiftness and courage two qualities highly serviceable for war. Hence Solomon naturally turned to the Nile valley when he thought of setting up an equestrian establishment. The manufacturing of war-chariots had also engaged the attention of the Pharaohs and their people; and these likewise were imported by the Israelitish monarch. Taking the shekel at 3s. 4d., the price of a horse was and of a war-chariot (perhaps with two horses and harness) sterling.

3. By whom it was conducted. By the king"s merchants, who were so called, not because, as foreign horse-dealers settled in the country, they were required to contribute to the king"s treasury a portion of their gains in the shape of an income-tax (Bertheau), but because they traded for the king (Keil), acting as his agents, going down to Egypt, purchasing the animals in droves, and fetching them up for his use. So skilful did these merchants show themselves both in judging of the animals and in driving bargains with Egyptian dealers, and so far had their fame travelled, that their services were sought for by the Hittite and Syrian kings of the day.

LESSONS.

1. The criminality of disobedience.

2. The danger of wealth.

3. The advantages of trade and commerce. W.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Solomon’s Immense Wealth

v. 13. Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the Tabernacle of the Congregation, where he had served the Lord by his special act of worship, and reigned over Israel, after having publicly offered praise and thanks to the Lord before the Ark of the Covenant.

v. 14. And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, who were trained to fight in chariots as well as on horseback, which he placed in the chariot cities, such as were especially designated for that purpose, and with the king at Jerusalem.

v. 15. And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, on account of the great masses of the precious metals which he acquired in the course of time, and cedar-trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance, the sycamore-fig tree being one of the most common in the valleys toward the southeast.

v. 16. And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, for the horses of that country were very highly valued, being as fine as Arabian steeds, but larger and more powerful, and linen yarn, the fine, silklike byssus of Egypt; the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price, or, "they fetched a troop for a certain price," delivered to certain established markets.

v. 17. And they fetched up and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver (almost four hundred dollars) and an horse for an hundred and fifty (not quite one hundred dollars); and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites and for the kings of Syria, thereby establishing a lucrative business, by their means. Thus the gracious promises of God to Solomon were literally fulfilled, even as they invariably are to this day. It is but for us to trust in Him with childlike confidence, and we shall not be ashamed.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.