2 Chronicles 1:1 - Exposition

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 any object ( 1 Chronicles 11:10 ; 1 Chronicles 19:13 ; 2 Chronicles 12:13 ; 2 Chronicles 13:7 , 2 Chronicles 13:8 , 2 Chronicles 13:21 ; 2 Chronicles 15:8 ; 2 Chronicles 16:9 ; 2 Chronicles 17:1 ; 2 Chronicles 21:4 ; 2 Chronicles 23:1 ; 2 Chronicles 25:11 ; 2 Chronicles 27:6 ; 2 Chronicles 32:5 ). It may suggest to us that Solomon threw the force of moral energy and resolution into his work and life at this period. The Lord his God was with him ; i.e. Jehovah his God was with him. The parallels of this very simple and natural expression are too numerous for quotation. Some of the earliest are found in well-known connections in the Book of Genesis, as e.g. Genesis 21:22 ; Genesis 26:28 ; Genesis 28:15 , Genesis 28:20 ; Genesis 31:3 . Again, Numbers 14:14 , Numbers 14:43 ; Numbers 23:21 ; Joshua 14:12 ; 6:13 ; Ruth 2:4 ; 1 Samuel 17:37 ; 2 Samuel 5:10 ; 1 Chronicles 11:9 ; 1 Chronicles 22:11 , 1 Chronicles 22:16 ; 2 Chronicles 15:9 ; 2 Chronicles 19:11 ; 2 Chronicles 36:23 ; Amos 5:14 . The beautiful New Testament equivalent occurs in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 , and elsewhere. Like some other of those earliest concisest religious expressions, brevity and simplicity are fully charged with suggestion. And the above quotations will be found to furnish examples of the manifold practical use of the Lord's presence with any one. That presence may infer the help just of companionship, or of sure sympathy, or of needed counsel, or of strength in the hour of temptation, or of absolute practical help, or of the highest revealings of faith. The whole circle of need, of human and Christian need, the Divine presence "will supply" ( Philippians 4:19 ). The "need" of Solomon in his present position was patent and pressing. Would that he had always kept by the true supply of it! Magnified him exceedingly . This verb in its piel conjugation, signifying "to make grow," occurs twenty-six times in the various books of the Old Testament, some of the more characteristic occurrences of it being found in the following passages: Genesis 12:2 ; Numbers 6:5 ; Joshua 3:7 ; Joshua 4:17 ; 1 Kings 1:37 , 1 Kings 1:47 ; 2 Kings 10:6 ; 1 Chronicles 29:12 , 1 Chronicles 29:25 ; Esther 3:1 ; Job 7:17 ; Psalms 34:4 ; Psalms 69:31 ; Isaiah 1:2 ; Isaiah 44:14 ; Ezekiel 31:4 ; Daniel 1:5 ; Hosea 9:12 .