In that night did God appear unto Solomon ,.... From hence to the end of 2 Chronicles 1:12 it is the same with 1 Kings 3:5 . See Gill on 1 Kings 3:5 , 1 Kings 3:6 , 1 Kings 3:7 , 1 Kings 3:8 , 1 Kings 3:9 , 1 Kings 3:10 , 1 Kings 3:11 , 1 Kings 3:12 , 1 Kings 3:13 , 1 Kings 3:14 , 1 Kings 3:15 read more
Let thy promise - דברך debarcha , thy word; פתגמך pithgamach , Targum. It is very remarkable that when either God or man is represented as having spoken a word then the noun פתגם pithgam is used by the Targumist; but when word is used personally, then he employs the noun מימרא meymera , which appears to answer to the Λογος of St. John, John 1:1 , etc. read more
Each highest need of life offers to turn into the first accepted and best rewarded prayer of life. This chapter of seventeen verses might remind us of a picture and its mount and frame, a precious stone and its setting. In this sense it is a unity. The first six verses are used just to prepare us for the contents of the six that follow; and the last five summarily assure us that the fulfilment did not fall short of, nor halt long behind, promise. The now sole reign of Solomon, begun with... read more
The vision and prayer of Solomon, and God ' s answer to that prayer. read more
The Divine responsiveness, etc. From the interesting scene described in these verses (more fully in 1 Kings 3:1-28 .) we may glean some lasting truths. I. THAT WE MAY CONFIDENTLY RECKON ON THE DIVINE RESPONSIVENESS . Solomon went to Gibeon with "all the congregation," in very great state, to seek the Lord there, and there he offered abundant sacrifices ( 2 Chronicles 1:6 ). And God responded to his act of piety by seeking him, by coming to him and making him a... read more
A young king's choice. I. THE PERMISSION GRANTED TO SOLOMON . "Ask what I shall give thee." Granted: 1 . By whom ? God ( Elohim ) , the Giver par excellence, of whom David had said, "All things come of thee" ( 1 Chronicles 29:14 ); "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord" ( Psalms 33:5 ); and whom a New Testament writer describes as "the Father of lights," etc. ( James 1:5 , James 1:17 ). The invitation here accorded to Solomon, after the manner of... read more
Thou hast showed great mercy unto David my father . These also are the exact words found in the parallel place, but they omit the words, "thy servant," before "David," found there. And hast made me to reign in his stead . This concise expression takes the place of two equivalent expressions, found at the end of the sixth and beginning of the seventh verses in the parallel passage, the former of which passages also describes it as "this great kindness," i.e. kindness on the part of God—a... read more
Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established. This challenge on the part of Solomon, intended, without doubt, most reverently, is not given in the parallel place, and forms not only a distinctive but an interesting additional feature of the present account. It is thought by some that the "promise "here challenged is not very distinctly recorded anywhere, but surely passages like 1 Chronicles 17:12-14 ; 1 Chronicles 22:10 ; 1 Chronicles 28:6 , 1 Chronicles... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 1:1-12
Here is, I. Solomon's great prosperity, 2 Chron. 1:1. Though he had a contested title, yet, God being with him, he was strengthened in his kingdom; his heart and hands were strengthened, and his interest in the people. God's presence will be our strength. II. His great piety and devotion. His father was a prophet, a psalmist, and kept mostly to the ark; but Solomon, having read much in his Bible concerning the tabernacle which Moses built and the altars there, paid more respect to them than,... read more