2 Chronicles 8

AND it came to pass (at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house)

That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon Which Solomon gave to Hiram, who not being pleased with them, 1 Kin. 9. 12, 13. here returns them to him again., Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.

And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah, and prevailed against it.

And he built Tadmor in the wilderness Of this and the following Verses see on 1 King. 9. 18, &c., and all the store-cities, which he built in Hamath.

Also he built Beth-horon the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates and bars:

And Baalath, and all the store-cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.

As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel,

But of their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute unto this day.

But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work: but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen.

And these were the chief of king Solomons officers, even two hundred and fifty that bare rule over the people.

And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David, unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy whereunto the ark of the LORD has come Not because every place where once the Ark came was thereby consecrated to God, and might not after the Ark was gone be put to any common use; for then both the House of Obed-edom and all other places where the Ark either rested or passed were made Holy thereby, and unlawful for Men to dwell in; but either 1. Because she was a Woman, and attended by many other Women, who besides the common Pollutions of all, are subject to many and frequent Ceremonial Pollutions peculiar to their Sex, and either she, or at least many of her followers might be Heathens at this time; and therefore he thought it indecent that such persons should come as it were in Gods stead, and succeed him in the place where he had dwelt. Or, 2. He speaks not of the Time when the Ark was gone, but whilest it was there; and these words contain a Reason not of the more remote words, why he now brought her up thither, but of the words immediately preceding why he built this House for her; because the Ark was now in the House of David, which therefore ought to be kept pure and free from the very Danger and Appearance of Pollution..

Then Solomon offered burnt-offerings unto the LORD, on the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch.

Even after a certain rate every day-offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in a year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.

And he appointed according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God i. e. A Prophet inspired by God in these Matters, whose Commands therefore are the Commands of God. commanded.

And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites, concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.

Now all the work of Solomon was prepared All the Materials were procured, and in all points squared and fitted and compleated before hand. unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished: so the house of God was perfected.

Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber Of this and the next Verse see the Notes on 1 King. 9. 26 &c., and to Eloth, at the sea-side in the land of Edom.

And Huram sent him by the hand of his servants, ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea, and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.