And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord ,.... For the worship and service of God, and for his honour and glory, being directed, enjoined, and encouraged to it by his father David: and an house for his kingdom ; for a royal palace for him, and his successors, first the one, and then the other; and in this order they were built. read more
A house for the name of the Lord - A temple for the worship of Jehovah. A house for his kingdom - A royal palace for his own use as king of Israel. read more
In the Hebrew text this verse stands as the last of 2 Chronicles 1:1-17 . Determined . The Hebrew word is the ordinary word for "said;" as, e.g; in the expression of such frequent occurrence, "The Lord said." Its natural equivalent here might be, he gave the word, or issued the command, for the building of a house. For the Name of the Lord ; better, to the Name of the Lord ( 1 Kings 5:3 ; or in Hebrew text, 1 Kings 5:18 ; 1 Chronicles 22:7 ). The expression," the Name... read more
The three elements in human purpose. "And Solomon determined to build a house," etc. And whence came this purpose of the king's heart? From the depths of his own soul; or were there not other elements besides that of his own volition? This determination which is here chronicled as a simple act of one mind was, as most of our resolutions are, more complex in its character than it seemed. I. THE OUTSIDE HUMAN ELEMENTS —the human element which is outside ourselves. In this case... read more
A great project: the building of a temple. I. THE PROJECT CONCEIVED . ( 2 Chronicles 2:1 .) A project: 1 . Not new, but old. Not taken up by Solomon for the first time, but one his father David had years before meditated, though not permitted to execute it, because he had been "a man of war, and had shed blood '( 1 Chronicles 28:3 ). 2 . Not self-devised, but delegated, Not assumed out of vanity or from purely political motives, but handed down to him in circumstances... read more
This chapter, in a homiletic point of view, invites attention to Those methods (or some of them) of religious enterprise which go to ensure success and to issue in real usefulness. For we may notice here— I. THE REPEATED RECORD , ON THE PART OF SOLOMON , OF HIS RESOLUTION OR DETERMINATION . "Solomon determined." The enterprise "of building a house to the Name of the Lord" had been set before him. He knew it had been in his father's mind. He had heard it in... read more
2 Chronicles 2:1. And a house for his kingdom A royal palace for himself and his successors. The substance of this whole chapter is contained in 1 Kings 5:0., and is explained in the notes there, and the seeming differences between the contents of this and it reconciled. read more
Construction of the temple (2:1-7:22)With the help of King Hiram of Tyre, Solomon prepared materials and arranged a workforce to build the planned temple (2:1-18; see notes on 1 Kings 5:1-18). Construction went on for seven years, until the temple, its furniture, its courtyard, and all other articles and decorations connected with it were completed according to plan (3:1-5:1; see notes on 1 Kings 6:1-7:51). The temple was then dedicated to God (5:2-7:22; see notes on 1 Kings 8:1-9:9). read more
the name of. Figure of speech Pleonasm. See note on Psalms 20:1 . an house for his kingdom. This is described in 1 Kings 7:0 , which is complementary to 2 Chronicles 8:1 . read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 2:1-10
Solomon's wisdom was given him, not merely for speculation, to entertain himself (though it is indeed a princely entertainment), nor merely for conversation, to entertain his friends, but for action; and therefore to action he immediately applies himself. Observe, I. His resolution within himself concerning his business (2 Chron. 2:1): He determined to build, in the first place, a house for the name of the Lord. It is fit that he who is the first should be served?first a temple and then a... read more