2 Chronicles 8
Solomon's Other Activities
1At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the LORD’s house and his own house,
2Solomon built the cities which Huram had given to Solomon, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.
3Solomon went to Hamath Zobah, and prevailed against it.
4He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the storage cities, which he built in Hamath.
5Also he built Beth Horon the upper and Beth Horon the lower, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars;
6and Baalath, and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
7As for all the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel—
8of their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel didn’t consume—of them Solomon conscripted forced labor to this day.
9But of the children of Israel, Solomon made no servants for his work, but they were men of war, chief of his captains, and rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen.
10These were the chief officers of King Solomon, even two-hundred fifty, who ruled over the people.
11Solomon brought up Pharaoh’s daughter out of David’s city to 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 where the LORD’s ark has come are holy.”
12Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the LORD on the LORD’s altar which he had built before the porch,
13even as the duty of every day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, three times per year, during the feast of unleavened bread, during the feast of weeks, and during the feast of booths.
14He appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, the divisions of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their offices, to praise and to minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required, the doorkeepers also by their divisions at every gate, for David the man of God had so commanded.
15They didn’t depart from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter or concerning the treasures.
16Now all the work of Solomon was accomplished from the day of the foundation of the LORD’s house until it was finished. So the LORD’s house was completed.
17Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and to Eloth, on the seashore in the land of Edom.
18Huram sent him ships and servants who had knowledge of the sea by the hands of his servants; and they came with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and brought from there four hundred fifty talents of gold, and brought them to King Solomon.
Following the completion of the temple and his palace, Solomon engages in extensive building projects throughout his kingdom, constructing fortified cities, storage facilities, and administrative centers. He organizes forced labor from non-Israelite populations while exempting Israelites from such service, and establishes proper worship practices according to Mosaic law and Davidic ordinances. The chapter concludes with Solomon's maritime ventures in partnership with Hiram, demonstrating his kingdom's expanding commercial reach and prosperity.
Context
This chapter bridges Solomon's temple dedication in chapter 7 with the Queen of Sheba's visit in chapter 9, showing the practical administration and expanding influence of his kingdom at its zenith.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-6Solomon's Building ProjectsAfter twenty years of construction, Solomon builds and fortifies numerous cities throughout his expanding kingdom.
- 7-10Organization of Labor ForcesSolomon conscripts non-Israelite peoples for forced labor while appointing Israelites to military and administrative positions.
- 11Pharaoh's Daughter RelocatedSolomon moves his Egyptian wife from the City of David to a new residence due to the holiness of places where the ark had been.
- 12-16Establishment of Proper WorshipSolomon institutes regular sacrificial offerings and organizes priestly and Levitical duties according to Mosaic and Davidic instructions.
- 17-18Maritime Commerce with OphirSolomon partners with Hiram's experienced sailors to establish profitable trade routes, bringing back substantial quantities of gold.
Solomon's Other Activities
8:1–8:18Solomon's building projects and administrative activities after completing the temple and palace, including his military campaigns, construction of cities, use of forced labor, and establishment of proper worship according to Moses' commandments.
person_contrast
Solomon's meticulous adherence to "Moses' commandments" in verses 13-15 contrasts sharply with his typical portrayal as an autonomous wisdom figure, revealing unexpected religious submission.
2 Chronicles 8:5
1 Chronicles 7:24lexicalHis daughter was Sheerah, who built Beth Horon the lower and the upper, and Uzzen Sheerah.
Nehemiah 3:13lexicalHanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its ba…
Nehemiah 3:15lexicalShallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the spring gate. He built it, covered it, and…
1 Kings 9:17lexicalSolomon built in the land Gezer, Beth Horon the lower,
Deuteronomy 3:5lexicalAll these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, in addition to a great many villages without walls.
2 Chronicles 8:6
1 Kings 9:19lexicalall the storage cities that Solomon had, the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomo…
1 Kings 9:1lexicalWhen Solomon had finished the building of the LORD’s house, the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was plea…
2 Chronicles 9:25lexicalSolomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen that he stationed in the chariot…
2 Chronicles 1:14lexicalSolomon gathered chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he p…
1 Kings 9:22lexicalBut of the children of Israel Solomon made no bondservants; but they were the men of war, his servants, his princes, his…
2 Chronicles 8:7
1 Kings 9:20lexicalAs for all the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who w…
Exodus 34:11lexicalObserve that which I command you today. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the…
Joshua 9:1lexicalWhen all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the grea…
Joshua 3:10lexicalJoshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite…
Exodus 23:23lexicalFor my angel shall go before you, and bring you in to the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hivite…
2 Chronicles 8:8
1 Kings 9:21lexicaltheir children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel were not able utterly to destroy—of the…
2 Chronicles 8:9
1 Kings 9:22lexicalBut of the children of Israel Solomon made no bondservants; but they were the men of war, his servants, his princes, his…
2 Chronicles 9:25lexicalSolomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen that he stationed in the chariot…
2 Chronicles 1:14lexicalSolomon gathered chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he p…
1 Kings 9:19lexicalall the storage cities that Solomon had, the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomo…
1 Kings 10:26lexicalSolomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen.…
2 Chronicles 8:10
1 Kings 9:23lexicalThese were the five hundred fifty chief officers who were over Solomon’s work, who ruled over the people who labored in…
2 Chronicles 8:11
2 Chronicles 35:3lexicalHe said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to the LORD, “Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon th…
2 Chronicles 8:12
1 Kings 9:25lexicalSolomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he built to the LORD three times per year, burnin…
2 Chronicles 8:13
Deuteronomy 16:16lexicalThree times in a year all of your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which he chooses: in the feas…
Ezekiel 45:21lexical“‘“In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall have the Passover, a feast of seven days; unleavene…
Exodus 23:15lexicalYou shall observe the feast of unleavened bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the t…
Exodus 34:18lexical“You shall keep the feast of unleavened bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the tim…
Ezekiel 45:17lexicalIt shall be the prince’s part to give the burnt offerings, the meal offerings, and the drink offerings, in the feasts, a…
2 Chronicles 8:14
2 Chronicles 31:2lexicalHezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites after their divisions, every man according to his servic…
2 Chronicles 35:15lexicalThe singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their place, according to the commandment of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun t…
1 Chronicles 26:12lexicalOf these were the divisions of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having offices like their brothers, to minister i…
Numbers 8:26lexicalbut shall assist their brothers in the Tent of Meeting, to perform the duty, and shall perform no service. This is how y…
2 Chronicles 35:10lexicalSo the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites by their divisions, according to the…
2 Chronicles 8:16
1 Chronicles 29:19lexicaland give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, and to do al…
2 Chronicles 4:11lexicalHuram made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Huram finished doing the work that he did for King Solomon in God’s…
1 Chronicles 28:20lexicalDavid said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD God,…
1 Kings 7:40lexicalHiram made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished doing all the work that he worked for King Solomon i…
2 Chronicles 8:17
1 Kings 9:26lexicalKing Solomon made a fleet of ships in Ezion Geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Ed…
Deuteronomy 2:8lexicalSo we passed by from our brothers, the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and fr…
2 Chronicles 8:18
1 Kings 9:28lexicalThey came to Ophir, and fetched from there gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to King Solomon.
1 Chronicles 29:4lexicaleven three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, with which to o…
2 Chronicles 9:10lexicalThe servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, also brought algum trees and precious st…
Ezra 8:26lexicalI weighed into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, one hundred talents of silver vessels, one hundred talent…
1 Kings 10:10lexicalShe gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never ag…
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter