2 Chronicles 1:14 Kommentar

In the close of the foregoing book we read how God magnified Solomon and Israel obeyed him; God and Israel concurred to honour him. Now here we have an account, I. How he honoured God by sacrifice (Ch2 1:1-6) and by prayer (Ch2 1:7-12). II. How he honoured Israel by increasing their strength, wealth, and trade (Ch2 1:13-17).

This chapter relates, how that Solomon being confirmed in his kingdom, went to Gibeon to sacrifice Ch2 1:1, that the Lord appeared there to him, and what passed between them, Ch2 1:7 and that when he returned from thence to Jerusalem, he increased in splendour, wealth, and riches, Ch2 1:13.

Solomon, and the chiefs of the congregation, go to Gibeon, where was the tabernacle of the Lord, and the brazen altar; and there he offers a thousand sacrifices, Ch2 1:1-6. The Lord appears to him in a dream, and gives him permission to ask any gift, Ch2 1:7. He asks wisdom, Ch2 1:8-10, which is granted; and riches, wealth, and honor besides, Ch2 1:11, Ch2 1:12. His kingdom is established, Ch2 1:13. His chariots, horsemen, and horses, Ch2 1:14. His abundant riches, Ch2 1:15. He brings horses, linen yarn, and chariots, at a fixed price, out of Egypt, Ch2 1:16, Ch2 1:17.

He had a thousand and four hundred chariots - For these numbers, see the notes on Kg1 4:26.

SOLEMN OFFERING OF SOLOMON AT GIBEON. (Ch2 1:1-6) Then Solomon spake unto all Israel--The heads, or leading officers, who are afterwards specified, were summoned to attend their sovereign in a solemn religious procession. The date of this occurrence was the second year of Solomon's reign, and the high place at Gibeon was chosen for the performance of the sacred rites, because the tabernacle and all the ancient furniture connected with the national worship were deposited there. Zadok was the officiating high priest (Ch1 16:39). It is true that the ark had been removed and placed in a new tent which David had made for it at Jerusalem [Ch2 1:4]. But the brazen altar, "before the tabernacle of the Lord," on which the burnt offerings were appointed by the law to be made, was at Gibeon. And although David had been led by extraordinary events and tokens of the divine presence to sacrifice on the threshing-floor of Araunah, Solomon considered it his duty to present his offerings on the legally appointed spot "before the tabernacle," and on the time-honored altar prepared by the skill of Bezaleel in the wilderness (Exo 38:1).

HIS STRENGTH AND WEALTH. (Ch2 1:14-17) Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen--His passion for horses was greater than that of any Israelitish monarch before or after him. His stud comprised fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses. This was a prohibited indulgence, whether as an instrument of luxury or power. But it was not merely for his own use that he imported the horses of Egypt. The immense equestrian establishment he erected was not for show merely, but also for profit. The Egyptian breed of horses was highly valued; and being as fine as the Arabian, but larger and more powerful, they were well fitted for being yoked in chariots. These were light but compact and solid vehicles, without springs. From the price stated (Ch2 1:17) as given for a chariot and a horse, it appears that the chariot cost four times the value of a horse. A horse brought a 150 shekels, which, estimating the shekels at 2s. 3d. or 2s. 6d., amount to £17 2s. or £18 15s., while a chariot brought 600 shekels, equal to £68 9s. or £75; and as an Egyptian chariot was usually drawn by two horses, a chariot and pair would cost £112 sterling. As the Syrians, who were fond of the Egyptian breed of horses, could import them into their own country only through Judea, Solomon early perceived the commercial advantages to be derived from this trade, and established a monopoly. His factors or agents purchased them in the markets or fairs of Egypt and brought them to the "chariot cities," the depots and stables he had erected on the frontiers of his kingdom, such as Bethmarcaboth, "the house of chariots," and Hazarsusah, "the village of horses" (Jos 19:5; Kg1 10:28).

Solomon's chariots, horses, and riches. - In order to prove by facts the fulfilment of the divine promise which Solomon received in answer to his prayer at Gibeon, we have in Kg1 3:16-28 a narrative of Solomon's wise judgment, then in 2 Chron 4 an account of his public officers; and in Ch2 5:1-14 the royal magnificence, glory, and wisdom of his reign is further portrayed. In our Chronicle, on the contrary, we have in Ch2 1:14-17 only a short statement as to his chariots and horses, and the wealth in silver and gold to be found in the land, merely for the purpose of showing how God had given him riches and possessions. This statement recurs verbally in Kg1 10:26-29, in the concluding remarks on the riches and splendour of Solomon's reign; while in the parallel passage, 2 Chron 9:13-28, it is repeated in an abridged form, and interwoven with other statements. From this we see in how free and peculiar a manner the author of the Chronicle has made use of his authorities, and how he has arranged the material derived from them according to his own special plan. (Note: The assertion of Thenius on Kg1 10:26., that he found this section in his authorities in two different places and in different connections, copied them mechanically, and only towards the end of the second passage remarked the repetition and then abridged the statement, is at once refuted by observing, that in the supposed repetition the first half (Ch2 9:25-26) does not at all agree with Kg1 10:26, but coincides with the statement in Kg1 5:6-7.) For the commentary on this section, see on Kg1 10:26-28. Ch2 1:14-15 Ch2 1:14, Ch2 1:15, with the exception of one divergence in form and one in matter, correspond word for word to Kg1 10:26 and Kg1 10:27. Instead of ויּנחם, he led them (Kings), there stands in Ch2 1:15, as in Ch2 9:25, the more expressive word ויּנּיהם, "he laid them" in the chariot cities; and in Ch2 1:15 ואת־הזּהב is added to את־הכּסף, while it is omitted from both Kg1 10:27 and also Ch2 9:27. It is, however, very suitable in this connection, since the comparison "like stones" has reference to quantity, and Solomon had collected not only silver, but also gold, in quantity. Ch2 1:16-17 Ch2 1:16, Ch2 1:17 coincide with Kg1 10:28-29, except that מקרא is used for hw'q;mi, and ותּצא ותּעלה is altered into ויּוציאוּ ויּעלוּ. For the commentary on these verses, see Kg1 10:28.