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Bible Commentary
2 Chronicles

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2 Chronicles 8

2Ch 8:1

2Ch 8: "Following the establishment of the temple and palace, King Solomon engaged on a tremendous building activity in Israel (vv 1-6). It is a token of the labour that will be accomplished in the reign of Messiah throughout the land of the future. Then the Law of Domination was established: vv 7-10. The marriage of Pharaoh's daughter was conducted in pomp and ceremony: v 11. Arrangements were made for temple worship: vv 12-18.

"Solomon established, possibly for the first time, the full order of worship as required under the Law. In the wilderness, much of the sacrificing was not carried out, the Law specifying many things to be done when 'in the land' (Exo 23:19,26; Lev 19:9,23; 23:10; 25:2; Num 15:2,18). Meanwhile, a great degree of allowance was permitted in the days of probation (Deu 12:8,9). Circumcision was omitted (Jos 5:5). But once in the Land, the wars of Joshua would have interfered with the establishment of full worship. The 'place' had not then been defined (Deu 12:11) although some went up to the tabernacle (1Sa 1:3). The anarchy of the times of the Judges -- similar to today -- would suggest this was far from a general rule. The closing days of Eli and the ministry of Samuel saw the ark separated from the tabernacle, so that the Day of Atonement could not be kept. The days of Saul saw the ephod in the hands of a fugitive priest, so that the high priest was absent from the people. But now, in the times of Solomon, for the first time 'the place' is defined, the ark united with the most holy, and the full order of worship commenced. So it will be in the Millennial Kingdom" (GEM).

2Ch 8:2

THE VILLAGES: These were villages in Galilee, land of Jesus, despised (Isa 9:1; Joh 1:46). These villages were unimportant to Solomon (sym Jews), and called "dirty" by Hiram (sym Gentiles) (cp 1Ki 9:11,13).


2Ch 8:4

ALL THE STORE CITIES: These "store cities", it seems. were used mainly for the storage of the weapons and requirements of WAR. Just what "treasures" do we store up?

2Ch 8:6

CHARIOTS... HORSES: Ct Deu 17:16: "The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself."

2Ch 8:11

MY WIFE MUST NOT LIVE IN THE PALACE OF DAVID... BECAUSE THE PLACES THE ARK OF THE LORD HAS ENTERED ARE HOLY: Early in his reign (1Ki 3:1), Solomon had married a daughter of Pharaoh. But despite the prestige and political advantages (cf 1Ki 9:16), such marriages introduced foreign idolatries and, eventually, apostasy into Israel (1Ki 11:1-4). At this point Solomon still retained enough spiritual sensitivity to keep her residence out of "places" made "holy".

But one must ask the question: if he knew this much, then why did he marry her in the first place?

Where had Pharaoh's daughter lived before? In the City of David (cp 1Ki 9:24), which is called the "fortress of Zion" in 2Sa 5:7,9. That would have been the original citadel of the Jebusite city, captured by David. This was the area just south of the "Temple Mount" (and Palace) area. It looks like Solomon did not want to bring Pharaoh's daughter into David's palace at all, but kept her separated in another residence in the citadel area until he could build a house especially for her.

2Ch 8:18

OPHIR: See Lesson, Ophir.

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