And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom ,.... Well settled and established on the throne of his father, after the death of some persons, from whom he might expect trouble, see 1 Kings 2:46 . and the Lord God was with him ; directing and instructing him, prospering and succeeding him: the Targum is,"the Word of the Lord was his help:'and magnified him exceedingly; see 1 Chronicles 29:25 . read more
Then Solomon spake unto all Israel ,.... To their representatives about going to Gibeon to sacrifice, as the next words show: so Jarchi and Kimchi observe: to the captains of thousands, and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers ; whom he had convened on this occasion; though some think this is the same congregation gathered by his father, by whom he was anointed and made king, and that he spoke of this to them before they broke up, 1... read more
And Solomon the son of David - The very beginning of this book shows that it is a continuation of the preceding, and should not be thus formally separated from it. See the preface to the first book. The Lord his God was with him - "The Word of the Lord was his support." - Targum. read more
Then Solomon spake - This is supposed to have taken place in the second year of his reign. read more
Was strengthened in his kingdom. This expression, or one very closely resembling it, is frequently found both in Chronicles and elsewhere, so far as the English Version is concerned. But the verb in its present form (hithp. conjugation) is found in Chronicles, omitting other books, just fifteen times, and rarely, if ever, to the level of the mere passive voice. It carries rather the idea of a person who exerts himself, and does all that in him lies to nerve himself with strength for... read more
A bright beginning. It is far from being everything when we make a good beginning; for many a bright beginning has a very dark ending. Yet is it a very great advantage to start well on our course. Few men ever commenced their career under more favourable auspices than did King Solomon, when "he sat on the throne of the Lord as king, instead of David his father" ( 1 Chronicles 29:23 ). He had much to sustain and to encourage him. I. THE HERITAGE HE HAD FROM HIS FATHER .... read more
The beginning of a reign. I. THE KING 'S PERSON MAGNIFIED . 1 . The owner of an auspicious name—Solomon, "Peace," equivalent to Friederich or Frederick Perhaps 2 . The son of a distinguished father—David. Originally a Bethlehem shepherd-lad ( 1 Samuel 16:1 ), Jesse's youngest son climbed the giddy heights of fame with marvellous celerity and success, becoming in swift succession a brilliant warrior, a skilful harper, an agreeable courtier, a popular leader, a... 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
This verse and the following four supersede the one verse, 1 Kings 3:4 ; and the five together give us, of course, a much fuller view of the events of the sacrifice. Our present verse purports to show the representative components of "all Israel" in a fourfold classification. Captains of thousands and of hundreds (see first 1 Chronicles 13:1 ; 1 Chronicles 27:1 ; 1 Chronicles 28:1 ; and then Exodus 18:21 , Exodus 18:25 ; Numbers 31:14 , Numbers 31:48 , Numbers 31:52 , ... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
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