1 Kings 9:10

EXPOSITION

SOLOMON 'S BUILDINGS AND UNDERTAKINGS .—So far the historian has spoken exclusively of the two greatest works of Solomon's reign, the Temple and the Palace, and principally of the former. Even the message just related was, as we have seen, the response to the prayer offered when the temple was consecrated. But he now proceeds to mention other proofs of Solomon's greatness, and of the prosperity of his reign—doubtless because the glory of Israel then reached its climax, and the author would be tempted to linger over these details because of the dark contrast which his own time supplied—and this leads him to speak of the means by which all these enterprises were accomplished. The particulars here given are but fragmentary, and are grouped together in a somewhat irregular manner. It would seem as if both this account and that of the chronicler had been compiled from much more copious histories, each writer having cited those particulars which appeared to him to be the most interesting and important. But the design of the historian in either case is evident, viz.,

(1) to recount the principal undertakings of this illustrious king, and

These latter were

And it came to pass at the end of twenty years [seven of which were occupied on the temple and thirteen on the palace ( 1 Kings 7:1 ) ], when [or, during which . LXX . ἐν οἷς ὠκοδομὴσε . This may well be the meaning of אֲשׁר בָּנָה , though אֲשֶׁר , qui, undoubtedly sometimes has the sense of quum ] Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord and the king's house. [Observe how all the palaces are regarded as one house. Note on 1 Kings 7:1 .]