Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 2

Determined. —Literally, said, which may mean either commanded, as in 2 Chronicles 1:2; 1 Chronicles 21:17, or thought, purposed, resolved, as in 1 Kings 5:5. The context seems to favour the latter sense.

And a house for his kingdom. —Or, for his royalty; that is, as the Vulgate renders, a palace for himself. Solomon’s royal palace is mentioned again in 2 Chronicles 2:12; 2 Chronicles 7:11; 2 Chronicles 8:1; but the building of it is not related in the Chronicle. (See 1 Kings 7:1–12.)

The treaty with Huram of Tyre (2 Chronicles 2:3–16).

And Solomon sent to Huram. —Compare 1 Kings 5:2–11, from which we learn that Huram or Hiram had first sent to congratulate Solomon upon his accession. The account here agrees generally with the parallel passage of the older work. The variations which present themselves only prove that the chronicler has made independent use of his sources.

Huram. —In Kings the name is spelled Hiram (1 Kings 5:1–2; 1 Kings 5:7) and Hirom (1 Kings 5:10; 1 Kings 5:18, Hebrew). (Compare 1 Chronicles 14:1.) Whether the Tyrian name Sirômos (Herodotus vii. 98) is another form of Hiram, as Bertheau supposes, is more than doubtful. It is interesting to find that the king of Tyre bore this name in the time of Tiglath-pileser II., to whom he paid tribute (B.C. 738), along with Menahem of Samaria. (Assyrian Hi-ru-um-mu, to which the Hîrôm of 1 Kings 5:10; 1 Kings 5:18 comes very near.)

As thou didst deal ... dwell therein. —See 1 Chronicles 14:1. The sense requires the clause, added by our translators, in italics, “Even so deal with me,” after the Vulgate “sic fac mecum.” 1 Kings 5:3 makes Solomon refer to the wars which hindered David from building the Temple.

I build. — Am about to build (bôneh).

To the name of the Lord. — 1 Kings 3:2; 1 Chronicles 16:35; 1 Chronicles 22:7.

To dedicate. — Or, consecrate. (1 Kings 9:3; 1 Kings 9:7.) The italicized and should be omitted, as the following words define the purpose of the dedication, namely, for burning before him, etc. Compare to the Vulgate: “Ut consecrem eam ad adolendum incensum coram illo.” (Exodus 30:7–8.)

And for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings. — In Hebrew, this is loosely connected with the verb translated as to burn, as part of its object: for offering before him incense of spices and a continual pile (of shewbread) and burnt offerings. (Leviticus 24:8; Numbers 28:4.)

On the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts. — 1 Chronicles 23:31. “Solemn feasts:” set seasons. These special sacrifices are prescribed in Numbers 28:9 to Numbers 29:40.

This is an ordinance for ever to Israel. — Literally, for ever this is (is obligatory) upon Israel, namely, this ordinance of offerings. (Compare to the similar phrase in 1 Chronicles 23:31; and the formula, “a statute for ever,” so common in the Law, Exodus 12:14; Exodus 29:9.)

And the house which I build is great. — 1 Chronicles 29:1.

Great is our God above all gods. —Exodus 18:11; Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalms 77:13; Psalms 95:3.

According to modern notions of magnitude, the Temple of Solomon was a small building (see 1 Kings 6:2–3). Shelley’s

“There once proud Salem’s haughty fane
Reared high to heaven its thousand golden domes,”

is pure fancy.