2 Then Solomon H8010 spake H559 unto all Israel, H3478 to the captains H8269 of thousands H505 and of hundreds, H3967 and to the judges, H8199 and to every governor H5387 in all Israel, H3478 the chief H7218 of the fathers. H1
And David H1732 assembled H6950 all the princes H8269 of Israel, H3478 the princes H8269 of the tribes, H7626 and the captains H8269 of the companies H4256 that ministered H8334 to the king H4428 by course, H4256 and the captains H8269 over the thousands, H505 and captains H8269 over the hundreds, H3967 and the stewards H8269 over all the substance H7399 and possession H4735 of the king, H4428 and of his sons, H1121 with the officers, H5631 and with the mighty men, H1368 and with all the valiant men, H2428 unto Jerusalem. H3389
Now the children H1121 of Israel H3478 after their number, H4557 to wit, the chief H7218 fathers H1 and captains H8269 of thousands H505 and hundreds, H3967 and their officers H7860 that served H8334 the king H4428 in any matter H1697 of the courses, H4256 which came in H935 and went out H3318 month H2320 by month H2320 throughout all the months H2320 of the year, H8141 of every H259 course H4256 were twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand. H505
And David H1732 gathered H6950 all Israel H3478 together H6950 to Jerusalem, H3389 to bring up H5927 the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 unto his place, H4725 which he had prepared H3559 for it.
And said H559 unto them, Ye are the chief H7218 of the fathers H1 of the Levites: H3881 sanctify H6942 yourselves, both ye and your brethren, H251 that ye may bring up H5927 the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 unto the place that I have prepared H3559 for it.
And there were more H7227 chief H7218 men H1397 found H4672 of the sons H1121 of Eleazar H499 than of the sons H1121 of Ithamar; H385 and thus were they divided. H2505 Among the sons H1121 of Eleazar H499 there were sixteen H8337 H6240 chief men H7218 of the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 and eight H8083 among the sons H1121 of Ithamar H385 according to the house H1004 of their fathers. H1
These likewise cast H5307 lots H1486 over against H5980 their brethren H251 the sons H1121 of Aaron H175 in the presence H6440 of David H1732 the king, H4428 and Zadok, H6659 and Ahimelech, H288 and the chief H7218 of the fathers H1 of the priests H3548 and Levites, H3881 even the principal H7218 fathers H1 over against H5980 their younger H6996 brethren. H251
Furthermore David H1732 the king H4428 said H559 unto all the congregation, H6951 Solomon H8010 my son, H1121 whom alone H259 God H430 hath chosen, H977 is yet young H5288 and tender, H7390 and the work H4399 is great: H1419 for the palace H1002 is not for man, H120 but for the LORD H3068 God. H430
For the king H4428 had taken counsel, H3289 and his princes, H8269 and all the congregation H6951 in Jerusalem, H3389 to keep H6213 the passover H6453 in the second H8145 month. H2320
Then the king H4428 sent H7971 and gathered together H622 all the elders H2205 of Judah H3063 and Jerusalem. H3389 And the king H4428 went up H5927 into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and all the men H376 of Judah, H3063 and the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 and the priests, H3548 and the Levites, H3881 and all the people, H5971 great H1419 and small: H6996 and he read H7121 in their ears H241 all the words H1697 of the book H5612 of the covenant H1285 that was found H4672 in the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 1
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 1 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 1
This chapter relates, how that Solomon being confirmed in his kingdom, went to Gibeon to sacrifice 2 Chronicles 1:1, that the Lord appeared there to him, and what passed between them, 2 Chronicles 1:7 and that when he returned from thence to Jerusalem, he increased in splendour, wealth, and riches, 2 Chronicles 1:13.
And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom,.... Well settled and established on the throne of his father, after the death of some persons, from whom he might expect trouble, see 1 Kings 2:46.
and the Lord God was with him; directing and instructing him, prospering and succeeding him: the Targum is,"the Word of the Lord was his help:'and magnified him exceedingly; see 1 Chronicles 29:25.
Then Solomon spake unto all Israel,.... To their representatives about going to Gibeon to sacrifice, as the next words show: so Jarchi and Kimchi observe:
to the captains of thousands, and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers; whom he had convened on this occasion; though some think this is the same congregation gathered by his father, by whom he was anointed and made king, and that he spoke of this to them before they broke up, 1 Chronicles 28:1 which seems not so probable, since it was after the death of his father, after he had been king some time, and even after his marriage with Pharaoh's daughter, that what follows was done, see 1 Kings 3:1.
So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon,.... They agreed to his motion, and went with him thither, see 1 Kings 3:4.
for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness: by the Lord's direction; where was also the altar of the Lord, and so most proper to offer sacrifice on, which was what Solomon went thither to do; see 1 Chronicles 21:29.
But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim,.... See 2 Samuel 6:2.
Moreover, the brasen altar that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made,.... According to the pattern given by Moses, at the direction of God, Exodus 38:1,
he put before the tabernacle of the congregation; either David, or rather Solomon; though it seems best to read the words as in the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, "and there it was before the tabernacle"; for it was always there:
and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it; to sacrifice unto it; or rather sought "unto him", the Lord, before whose tabernacle the altar was, so GussetinsF1Comment. Ebr. p. 197. .
And Solomon went up thither,.... To the high place at Gibeon:
to the brasen altar before the lord; where he used to be, and accept the sacrifices of his people, though the ark, the symbol of his presence, was not there:
which was at the tabernacle of the congregation; that is, which altar was there; or rather "who", that is, God, was there, as Osiander, hearing the prayers of his people, and accepting their offerings:
and offered a thousand offerings upon it; by the priests, see 1 Kings 3:4.
In that night did God appear unto Solomon,.... From hence to the end of 2 Chronicles 1:12 it is the same with 1 Kings 3:5. See Gill on 1 Kings 3:5, 1 Kings 3:6, 1 Kings 3:7, 1 Kings 3:8, 1 Kings 3:9, 1 Kings 3:10, 1 Kings 3:11, 1 Kings 3:12, 1 Kings 3:13, 1 Kings 3:14, 1 Kings 3:15
Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon,.... Or rather without the supplement, the words may be read as in the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions:
Solomon came from the high places; having sacrificed there, so Vatablus; ל being put for מ, as R. Jonah observesF2Apud Kimchium. in loc. ; but the Targum agrees with us, he"came to the high place which is in Gibeon, and from thence to Jerusalem;'and to the same purpose Kimchi; having been there, he came to Jerusalem:
from before the tabernacle of the congregation; which was at Gibeon, where he had been sacrificing:
and reigned over Israel in great splendour and prosperity. From hence, to the end of the chapter, the same things are said as in 1 Kings 10:26. See Gill on 1 Kings 10:26, 1 Kings 10:27, 1 Kings 10:28, 1 Kings 10:29.