That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon ,.... Which Solomon first gave to him, but he not liking them, returned them to him, 1 Kings 9:12 , Solomon built them ; or rebuilt them, being very much out of repair, which might be one reason of Huram's not accepting them: and caused the children of Israel to dwell there ; they being inhabited by others, the remains of the Canaanitcs perhaps; see 2 Chronicles 8:7 . read more
The cities which Huram had restored - See the note on 1 Kings 9:11 . read more
Wise work. David had done excellent work for his country by uniting all the tribes of Israel in a strong band of attachment to himself, and thus to one another; also in defeating and subjecting the neighbouring powers, and thus giving peace and tranquillity to the nation. Solomon, coming after him, seconded and sustained him, not by acting on the same lines, but by "a new departure." We very often show the truest regard to those who have been before us by illustrating their spirit in a... read more
Solomon's building operations. I. PALACE - BUILDING . Like Seti I Rameses II ; and other Pharaohs (Brugsch, 'Egypt,' etc; 2 Chronicles 2:14 ), like Uruk, Kham-murabi, and other early Chaldean kings ('Records of the Past,' 1.8; 3.9), like ancient Oriental monarchs generally, Solomon was a great builder. The first twenty years of his reign were occupied in erecting "palaces," or royal residences. 1 . A house for Jehovah , the King of kings, i.e. the temple on Moriah, which... read more
The formative influence of the Church. In the exceeding abundance of suggestion of homiletic matter that characterizes Scripture, and even its historic books, there is naturally so much the less temptation to strain its sacred contents (which at all times serve their own purposes) by laying them under forced contributions to this particular service. It may be, therefore, perhaps best to say at once that this chapter does not proffer anything specially suitable for homiletics proper. None... read more
The cities which Huram had restored to Solomon . 1 Kings 9:11 explains the force of the word "restored" here, telling how it was Hiram had come by "twenty cities in the land of Galilee" by way of payment, or part payment, for the "cedar," "fir," and "gold" which he had given Solomon. It is evident that these cities were in need of repair; possibly they had not been previously in the occupation of the Israelites; if they had been, the transaction was scarcely legitimate on the part of... read more
The cities which Huram had restored to Solomon - These cities had not been mentioned previously by the writer of Chronicles, who, however, seems to assume that the fact of their having been given by Hiram to Solomon is known to his readers. See 1 Kings 9:11-13. read more
A.M. 3012. B.C. 992. Solomon’s buildings, 2 Chronicles 8:1-6 . His workmen and officers, 2 Chronicles 8:7-10 . He settles his wife, 2 Chronicles 8:11 . Fixes the method of the temple-service, 2 Chronicles 8:12-16 . His trade, 2 Chronicles 8:17 , 2 Chronicles 8:18 . 2 Chronicles 8:2. The cities which Huram had restored Which Solomon gave to Hiram, but which, not being pleased with them, he restored to him again, 1 Kings 9:12. Solomon built them That is, rebuilt them, and placed his... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 8:1-11
This we had 1 Kgs. 9:10-24, and therefore shall only observe here, I. Though Solomon was a man of great learning and knowledge, yet he spent his days, not in contemplation, but in action, not in his study, but in his country, in building cities and fortifying them, in a time of peace preparing for a time of war, which is as much a man's business as it is in summer to provide food for winter. II. As he was a man of business himself, and did not consult his own ease, so he employed a great many... read more