1καιG2532{CONJ} ενισχυσενG1765{V-AAI-3S} σαλωμων{N-PRI} υιοςG5207{N-NSM} δαυιδ{N-PRI} επιG1909{PREP} τηνG3588{T-ASF} βασιλειανG932{N-ASF} αυτουG846{D-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} יהוהH3068{N-NSM} οG3588{T-NSM} θεοςG2316{N-NSM} αυτουG846{D-GSM} μετG3326{PREP} αυτουG846{D-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} εμεγαλυνενG3170{V-AAI-3S} αυτονG846{D-ASM} ειςG1519{PREP} υψοςG5311{N-ASN} 2καιG2532{CONJ} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} σαλωμων{N-PRI} προςG4314{PREP} πανταG3956{A-ASM} ισραηλG2474{N-PRI} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} χιλιαρχοιςG5506{N-DPM} καιG2532{CONJ} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} εκατονταρχοις{N-DPM} καιG2532{CONJ} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} κριταιςG2923{N-DPM} καιG2532{CONJ} πασινG3956{A-DPM} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} αρχουσινG758{N-DPM} εναντιονG1726{PREP} ισραηλG2474{N-PRI} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} αρχουσιG758{N-DPM} τωνG3588{T-GPF} πατριωνG3965{N-GPF} 3καιG2532{CONJ} επορευθηG4198{V-API-3S} σαλωμων{N-PRI} καιG2532{CONJ} πασαG3956{A-NSF} ηG3588{T-NSF} εκκλησιαG1577{N-NSF} μετG3326{PREP} αυτουG846{D-GSM} ειςG1519{PREP} τηνG3588{T-ASF} υψηληνG5308{A-ASF} τηνG3588{T-ASF} ενG1722{PREP} γαβαων{N-PRI} ουG3739{R-GSM} εκειG1563{ADV} ηνG1510{V-IAI-3S} ηG3588{T-NSF} σκηνηG4633{N-NSF} τουG3588{T-GSN} μαρτυριουG3142{N-GSN} τουG3588{T-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} ηνG3739{R-ASF} εποιησενG4160{V-AAI-3S} μωυσης{N-NSM} παιςG3816{N-NSM} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} ερημωG2048{N-DSF} 4αλλαG235{CONJ} κιβωτονG2787{N-ASF} τουG3588{T-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} ανηνεγκενG399{V-AAI-3S} δαυιδ{N-PRI} εκG1537{PREP} πολεωςG4172{N-GSF} καριαθιαριμ{N-PRI} οτιG3754{CONJ} ητοιμασενG2090{V-AAI-3S} αυτηG846{D-DSF} σκηνηνG4633{N-ASF} ειςG1519{PREP} ιερουσαλημG2419{N-PRI} 5καιG2532{CONJ} τοG3588{T-ASN} θυσιαστηριονG2379{N-ASN} τοG3588{T-ASN} χαλκουν{A-ASN} οG3739{R-NSM} εποιησενG4160{V-AAI-3S} βεσελεηλ{N-PRI} υιοςG5207{N-NSM} ουριουG3774{N-GSM} υιουG5207{N-GSM} ωρ{N-PRI} εκειG1563{ADV} ηνG1510{V-IAI-3S} εναντιG1725{ADV} τηςG3588{T-GSF} σκηνηςG4633{N-GSF} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} εξεζητησενG1567{V-AAI-3S} αυτοG846{D-ASN} σαλωμων{N-PRI} καιG2532{CONJ} ηG3588{T-NSF} εκκλησιαG1577{N-NSF} 6καιG2532{CONJ} ανηνεγκενG399{V-AAI-3S} εκειG1563{ADV} σαλωμων{N-PRI} επιG1909{PREP} τοG3588{T-ASN} θυσιαστηριονG2379{N-ASN} τοG3588{T-ASN} χαλκουν{A-ASN} ενωπιονG1799{PREP} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} τοG3588{T-ASN} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} σκηνηG4633{N-DSF} καιG2532{CONJ} ανηνεγκενG399{V-AAI-3S} επG1909{PREP} αυτοG846{D-ASN} ολοκαυτωσιν{N-ASF} χιλιανG5507{A-ASF} 7ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} νυκτιG3571{N-DSF} εκεινηG1565{D-DSF} ωφθηG3708{V-API-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} θεοςG2316{N-NSM} τωG3588{T-DSM} σαλωμων{N-PRI} καιG2532{CONJ} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} αυτωG846{D-DSM} αιτησαιG154{V-AAN} τιG5100{I-ASN} σοιG4771{P-DS} δωG1325{V-AAS-1S} 8καιG2532{CONJ} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} σαλωμων{N-PRI} προςG4314{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} θεονG2316{N-ASM} συG4771{P-NS} εποιησαςG4160{V-AAI-2S} μεταG3326{PREP} δαυιδ{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} πατροςG3962{N-GSM} μουG1473{P-GS} ελεοςG1656{N-ASN} μεγαG3173{A-ASN} καιG2532{CONJ} εβασιλευσαςG936{V-AAI-2S} μεG1473{P-AS} αντG473{PREP} αυτουG846{D-GSM} 9καιG2532{CONJ} νυνG3568{ADV} יהוהH3068{N-VSM} οG3588{T-NSM} θεοςG2316{N-NSM} πιστωθητωG4104{V-APD-3S} τοG3588{T-ASN} ονομαG3686{N-ASN} σουG4771{P-GS} επιG1909{PREP} δαυιδ{N-PRI} πατεραG3962{N-ASM} μουG1473{P-GS} οτιG3754{CONJ} συG4771{P-NS} εβασιλευσαςG936{V-AAI-2S} μεG1473{P-AS} επιG1909{PREP} λαονG2992{N-ASM} πολυνG4183{A-ASM} ωςG3739{PRT} οG3588{T-NSM} χους{N-NSM} τηςG3588{T-GSF} γηςG1065{N-GSF} 10νυνG3568{ADV} σοφιανG4678{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} συνεσινG4907{N-ASF} δοςG1325{V-AAD-2S} μοιG1473{P-DS} καιG2532{CONJ} εξελευσομαιG1831{V-FMI-1S} ενωπιονG1799{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} λαουG2992{N-GSM} τουτουG3778{D-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} εισελευσομαιG1525{V-FMI-1S} οτιG3754{CONJ} τιςG5100{I-NSM} κρινειG2919{V-FAI-3S} τονG3588{T-ASM} λαονG2992{N-ASM} σουG4771{P-GS} τονG3588{T-ASM} μεγανG3173{A-ASM} τουτονG3778{D-ASM} 11καιG2532{CONJ} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} θεοςG2316{N-NSM} προςG4314{PREP} σαλωμων{N-PRI} ανθG473{PREP} ωνG3739{R-GPM} εγενετοG1096{V-AMI-3S} τουτοG3778{D-ASN} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} καρδιαG2588{N-DSF} σουG4771{P-GS} καιG2532{CONJ} ουκG3364{ADV} ητησωG154{V-AMI-2S} πλουτονG4149{N-ASM} χρηματωνG5536{N-GPN} ουδεG3761{CONJ} δοξανG1391{N-ASF} ουδεG3761{CONJ} τηνG3588{T-ASF} ψυχηνG5590{N-ASF} τωνG3588{T-GPF} υπεναντιων{A-GPF} καιG2532{CONJ} ημεραςG2250{N-APF} πολλαςG4183{A-APF} ουκG3364{ADV} ητησωG154{V-AMI-2S} καιG2532{CONJ} ητησαςG154{V-AAI-2S} σεαυτωG4572{D-DSM} σοφιανG4678{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} συνεσινG4907{N-ASF} οπωςG3704{CONJ} κρινηςG2919{V-AAS-2S} τονG3588{T-ASM} λαονG2992{N-ASM} μουG1473{P-GS} εφG1909{PREP} ονG3739{R-ASM} εβασιλευσαG936{V-AAI-1S} σεG4771{P-AS} επG1909{PREP} αυτονG846{D-ASM} 12τηνG3588{T-ASF} σοφιανG4678{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} τηνG3588{T-ASF} συνεσινG4907{N-ASF} διδωμιG1325{V-PAI-1S} σοιG4771{P-DS} καιG2532{CONJ} πλουτονG4149{N-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} χρηματαG5536{N-APN} καιG2532{CONJ} δοξανG1391{N-ASF} δωσωG1325{V-FAI-1S} σοιG4771{P-DS} ωςG3739{PRT} ουκG3364{ADV} εγενηθηG1096{V-API-3S} ομοιοςG3664{A-NSM} σοιG4771{P-DS} ενG1722{PREP} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} βασιλευσιG935{N-DPM} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} εμπροσθεG1715{PREP} σουG4771{P-GS} καιG2532{CONJ} μεταG3326{PREP} σεG4771{P-AS} ουκG3364{ADV} εσταιG1510{V-FMI-3S} ουτωςG3778{ADV} 13καιG2532{CONJ} ηλθενG2064{V-AAI-3S} σαλωμων{N-PRI} εκG1537{PREP} βαμα{N-PRI} τηςG3588{T-GSF} ενG1722{PREP} γαβαων{N-PRI} ειςG1519{PREP} ιερουσαλημG2419{N-PRI} αποG575{PREP} προσωπουG4383{N-GSN} σκηνηςG4633{N-GSF} μαρτυριουG3142{N-GSN} καιG2532{CONJ} εβασιλευσενG936{V-AAI-3S} επιG1909{PREP} ισραηλG2474{N-PRI} 14καιG2532{CONJ} συνηγαγενG4863{V-AAI-3S} σαλωμων{N-PRI} αρματαG716{N-APN} καιG2532{CONJ} ιππειςG2460{N-APM} καιG2532{CONJ} εγενοντοG1096{V-AMI-3P} αυτωG846{D-DSM} χιλιαG5507{A-NPN} καιG2532{CONJ} τετρακοσιαG5071{A-NPN} αρματαG716{N-NPN} καιG2532{CONJ} δωδεκαG1427{N-NUI} χιλιαδεςG5505{N-NPF} ιππεωνG2460{N-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} κατελιπενG2641{V-AAI-3S} αυταG846{D-APN} ενG1722{PREP} πολεσινG4172{N-DPF} τωνG3588{T-GPN} αρματωνG716{N-GPN} καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} λαοςG2992{N-NSM} μεταG3326{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} βασιλεωςG935{N-GSM} ενG1722{PREP} ιερουσαλημG2419{N-PRI} 15καιG2532{CONJ} εθηκενG5087{V-AAI-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} βασιλευςG935{N-NSM} τοG3588{T-ASN} χρυσιονG5553{N-ASN} καιG2532{CONJ} τοG3588{T-ASN} αργυριονG694{N-ASN} ενG1722{PREP} ιερουσαλημG2419{N-PRI} ωςG3739{PRT} λιθουςG3037{N-APM} καιG2532{CONJ} ταςG3588{T-APF} κεδρους{N-APF} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} ιουδαιαG2449{N-DSF} ωςG3739{PRT} συκαμινουςG4807{N-APF} ταςG3588{T-APF} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} πεδινη{A-DSF} ειςG1519{PREP} πληθοςG4128{N-ASN} 16καιG2532{CONJ} ηG3588{T-NSF} εξοδοςG1841{N-NSF} τωνG3588{T-GPM} ιππωνG2462{N-GPM} τωνG3588{T-GPM} σαλωμων{N-PRI} εξG1537{PREP} αιγυπτουG125{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} ηG3588{T-NSF} τιμηG5092{N-NSF} τωνG3588{T-GPM} εμπορωνG1713{N-GPM} τουG3588{T-GSM} βασιλεωςG935{N-GSM} εμπορευεσθαιG1710{V-PMN} ηγοραζονG59{V-IAI-3P} 17καιG2532{CONJ} ανεβαινονG305{V-IAI-3P} καιG2532{CONJ} εξηγονG1806{V-IAI-3P} εξG1537{PREP} αιγυπτουG125{N-GSF} αρμαG716{N-ASN} ενG1519{N-NUI} εξακοσιωνG1812{A-GPN} αργυριουG694{N-GSN} καιG2532{CONJ} ιππονG2462{N-ASM} εκατονG1540{N-NUI} καιG2532{CONJ} πεντηκονταG4004{N-NUI} καιG2532{CONJ} ουτωςG3778{ADV} πασινG3956{A-DPM} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} βασιλευσινG935{N-DPM} τωνG3588{T-GPM} χετταιων{N-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} βασιλευσινG935{N-DPM} συριαςG4947{N-GSF} ενG1722{PREP} χερσινG5495{N-DPF} αυτωνG846{D-GPM} εφερονG5342{V-IAI-3P}
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 Here is, I. Solomon's great prosperity,
2Chr 1:1. Though he had a contested title, yet, God being with him, he was
strengthened in his kingdom; his heart and hands were strengthened, and his interest in the people. God's presence will be our strength.
II. His great piety and devotion. His father was a prophet, a psalmist, and kept mostly to the ark; but Solomon, having read much in his Bible concerning the tabernacle which Moses built and the altars there, paid more respect to them than, it should seem, David had done. Both did well, and let neither be censured. If the zeal of one be carried out most to one instance of religion, and of another to some other instance, let them not judge nor despise each other.
1. All his great men must thus far be good men that they must join with him in worshipping God. He spoke to the captains and judges, the governors and chief of the fathers, to go with him to Gibeon,
2Chr 1:2,
2Chr 1:3. Authority and interest are well bestowed on those that will thus use them for the glory of God, and the promoting of religion. It is our duty to engage all with whom we have influence in the solemnities of religion, and it is very desirable to have many join with us in those solemnities - the more the better; it is the more like heaven. Solomon began his reign with this public pious visit to God's altar, and it was a very good omen. Magistrates are then likely to do well for themselves and their people when they thus take God along with them at their setting out.
2. He offered abundance of sacrifices to God there (
2Chr 1:6): 1000
burnt-offerings, and perhaps a greater number of peace-offerings, on which he and his company
feasted before the Lord. Where God sows plentifully he expects to reap accordingly. His father David had left him flocks and herds in abundance (
1Chr 27:29,
1Chr 27:31), and thus he gave God his dues out of them. The ark was at Jerusalem (
2Chr 1:4), but the altar was at Gibeon (
2Chr 1:5), and thither he brought his sacrifices; for
it is the altar that sanctifieth every gift. 3. He prayed a good prayer to God: this, with the answer to it, we had before,
1Kgs 3:5, etc. (1.) God bade him ask what he would; not only that he might put him in the right way of obtaining the favours that were intended him (
Ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full ), but that he might try him, how he stood affected, and might discover what was in his heart. Men's characters appear in their choices and desires. What wouldst thou
have? tries a man as much as, What wouldst thou
do? Thus God tried whether Solomon was one of the
children of this world, that say,
Who will show us any good, or of the children of light, that say,
Lord, lift up the light of thy countenance upon us. As we choose we shall have, and that is likely to be our portion to which we give the preference, whether the wealth and pleasure of this world or spiritual riches or delights. (2.) Like a genuine son of David, he chose spiritual blessings rather than temporal. His petition here is,
Give me wisdom and knowledge. He owns those to be desirable gifts, and God to be the giver of them,
Prov 2:6. God gave the faculty of understanding, and to him we must apply for the furniture of it. Two things are here pleaded which we had not in Kings: - [1.]
Thou hast made me reign in my father's stead, 2Chr 1:8. Lord, thou hast put me into this place, and therefore I can in faith ask of thee grace to enable me to do the duty of it. What service we have reason to believe God calls us to we have reason to hope he will qualify us for. But that is not all. Lord, thou hast put me into this place in the stead of David, the great and good man that filled it up so well; therefore give me wisdom, that Israel may not suffer damage by the change. Must I reign in my father's stead? Lord, give me my father's spirit. Note, The eminency of those that went before us, and the obligation that lies upon us to keep up and carry on the good work they were engaged in, should provoke us to a gracious emulation, and quicken our prayers to God for wisdom and grace, that we may do the work of God in our day as faithfully and well as they did in theirs. [2.]
Let thy promise to David my father be established, 2Chr 1:9. He means the promise of concerning his successor. In performance of that promise,
Lord, give me wisdom. We do not find that wisdom was any of the things promised, but it was necessary in order to the accomplishment of what was promised, (2Sam:7:13-15). The promise was,
He shall build a house for my name, I will establish his throne, he shall be my son, and
my mercy shall not depart from him. Now, Lord, unless thou give me wisdom, thy house will not be built, nor my throne established; I shall behave in a manner unbecoming my relation to thee as a Father, shall forfeit thy mercy, and fool it away; therefore,
Lord, give me wisdom. Note,
First, God's promises are our best pleas in prayer.
Remember thy word unto thy servant. Secondly, Children may take the comfort of the promises of that covenant which their parents, in their baptism, laid claim to, and took hold of, for them.
Thirdly, The best way to obtain the benefit of the promises and privileges of the covenant is to be earnest in prayer with God for wisdom and grace to do the duties of it.
4. He received a gracious answer to this prayer,
2Chr 1:11,
2Chr 1:12. (1.) God gave him the wisdom that he asked for because he asked for it. Wisdom is a gift that God gives as freely and liberally as any gift to those that value it, and wrestle for it; and will resolve to make use of it; and he upbraids not the poor petitioners with their folly,
James 1:5. God's grace shall never be wanting to those who sincerely desire to know and do their duty. (2.) God gave him the wealth and honour which he did not ask for because he asked not for them. Those that pursue present things most earnestly are most likely to miss of them; while those that refer themselves to the providence of God, if they have not the most of those things, have the most comfort in them. Those that make this world their end come short of the other and are disappointed in this too; but those that make the other world their end shall not only obtain that, and full satisfaction in it, but shall enjoy as much as is convenient of this world in their way.
13 Here is, 1. Solomon's entrance upon the government (
2Chr 1:13): He came
from before the tabernacle, and reigned over Israel. He would not do any acts of government till he had done his acts of devotion, would not take honour to himself till he had given honour to God - first the tabernacle, and then the throne. But, when he had obtained wisdom from God, he did not bury his talent, but as he received the gift ministered the same, did not give up himself to ease and pleasure, but minded business: he reigned over Israel. 2. The magnificence of his court (
2Chr 1:14):
He gathered chariots and horsemen. Shall we praise him for this? We praise him not; for the king was forbidden to multiply horses,
Deut 17:16. I do not remember that ever we find his good father in a chariot or on horseback; a mule was the highest he mounted. We should endeavor to excel those that went before us in goodness rather than in grandeur. 3. The wealth and trade of his kingdom. He made silver and gold very cheap and common,
2Chr 1:15. The increase of gold lowers the value of it; but the increase of grace advances its price; the more men have of that the more they value it.
How much better therefore
is it to get wisdom than gold! He opened also a trade with Egypt, whence he imported horses and linen-yarn, which he exported again to the kings of Syria, with great advantage no doubt,
2Chr 1:16,
2Chr 1:17. This we had before,
1Kgs 10:28,
1Kgs 10:29. It is the wisdom of princes to promote industry and encourage trade in their dominions. Perhaps Solomon took the hint of setting up the linen-manufacture, bringing linen-yarn out of Egypt, working it into cloth, and then sending that to other nations, from what his mother taught when she specified this as one of the characteristics of the virtuous woman,
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it, and delivereth girdles of it
to the merchant, Prov 31:24.
In all labour there is profit.