2 Chronicles 1:10 - Exposition

Give me now wisdom and knowledge . The force of the opening of this verse, and the relation of it to the former, are both prejudiced by the "now" ( עַתּה ) being deposed from its right position as the first word in the verse. For the rest of this verse, the parallel passage has "an understanding heart" in place of our "wisdom and knowledge; " and "that I may discern between good and bad," in place of our that I may go out and come in before this people . In using the words, "wisdom and knowledge," Solomon seems to have remembered well the prayer of his father ( 1 Chronicles 22:12 ). (For the pedigree of the simple and effective phrase, "know how to go out and come in," see Numbers 27:17 ; Deuteronomy 31:2 ; 1 Samuel 18:13 , 1 Samuel 18:16 ; 2 Samuel 3:25 ). It is at the same time refreshing to revisit the times when the most exalted nominal ruler was also the real ruler, as being the leader, the judge, the teacher in the highest sense, and "the feeder" of his people. Nor is it less refreshing to notice how, in Israel at least, the fact was so well recognized and honoured, that justice and to judge just judgment lay at the deepest foundation of civil society.