Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 1
Charles Ellicott Commentary
2 Chronicles 1
Charles Ellicott Commentary
2 Chronicles 1
"And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and Jehovah his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly." — 2 Chronicles 1:1 (ASV)
(a) The sacrifice at Gibeon, and Solomon’s dream (2 Chronicles 1:1–13). (b) The king’s chariots and horsemen, wealth and commerce (2 Chronicles 1:14–17).
And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom. —Or, showed himself strong over his kingdom; he firmly grasped the reins of power and showed himself a strong ruler. (Compare 2 Chronicles 17:1; also 2 Chronicles 12:13; 2 Chronicles 13:21; 2 Chronicles 21:4.)
The chronicler omits all that is related in 1 Kings 1:2, as not falling within the scope of his narrative. Compare with this opening sentence from 1 Kings 2:46: And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
And the Lord his God was with him. —Compare 1 Chronicles 11:9; 1 Chronicles 9:20.
Magnified him exceedingly. —1 Chronicles 29:25; 1 Chronicles 22:5.
"And Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers` [houses]." — 2 Chronicles 1:2 (ASV)
Then Solomon spake unto all Israel. —Or, commanded all Israel (1 Chronicles 21:17; 2 Samuel 16:11; 2 Kings 1:11; Vulgate, prœcepit).
To the captains of thousands ... chief of the fathers. —This is an apposition, explaining what is meant by “all Israel” in the first clause, namely, the national representatives. The account in Kings allows only one verse for the sacrifice, and so omits to mention that the princes took part in it (1 Kings 3:4). The fact, however, is likely in itself. (Compare the similar assemblies under David, 1 Chronicles 13:1; 1 Chronicles 23:2; 1 Chronicles 28:1.)
Every governor. —Hebrew nûsî’, prince, emir of a tribe, or chief of a clan. (Numbers 7:10; 1 Kings 8:1.)
The chief of the fathers. —The heads of the clans. This defines the preceding phrase.
"And Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers` [houses]. So Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of Jehovah had made in the wilderness. But the ark of God had David brought up from Kiriath-jearim to [the place] that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. Moreover the brazen altar, that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of Jehovah: and Solomon and the assembly sought unto it. And Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar before Jehovah, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt-offerings upon it." — 2 Chronicles 1:2-6 (ASV)
Solomon and the national assembly go to the Mosaic tabernacle at Gibeon, and sacrifice upon the great altar of burnt offering. (Compare to 1 Kings 3:4, which the present section supplements and explains.)
"So Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of Jehovah had made in the wilderness." — 2 Chronicles 1:3 (ASV)
The tabernacle of the congregation of God. —Rather, God’s tent of meeting; namely, with man (Exodus 25:22; Exodus 27:21; Numbers 17:4). Solomon went to Gibeon because that was the great high place (1 Kings 3:4). We learn from our text why Gibeon stood pre-eminent above the other high places. (Compare 1 Chronicles 6:31 and following; 1 Chronicles 16:39 and following.)
"But the ark of God had David brought up from Kiriath-jearim to [the place] that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem." — 2 Chronicles 1:4 (ASV)
But. —Or, But indeed, but no doubt (’ăb âl) (2 Chronicles 19:3; 2 Chronicles 33:17). For the transfer of the ark see 1 Chronicles 13; 1 Chronicles 15; 2 Samuel 6; 2 Samuel 6.
To the place which David had prepared. — Into that David had prepared for it (the article as relative: Compare to 1 Chronicles 26:28).
Pitched. —Or, spread (1 Chronicles 15:1).
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