About 2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles focuses on Judah's kings, emphasizing temple worship and showing that faithfulness brings blessing while unfaithfulness brings judgment.

Author: Ezra (traditionally)Written: c. 450-400 BCReading time: ~2 minVerses: 17
Temple WorshipRevivalJudgmentPrayerRepentanceFaithfulness

King James Version

2 Chronicles 1

17 verses with commentary

Solomon Asks for Wisdom

And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.</strong><br><br>This opening verse establishes the foundational theme of divine blessing upon faithful leadership. The Hebrew verb <em>chazaq</em> (חָזַק, "strengthened") indicates more than political consolidation—it denotes spiritual fortification and divine emp...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

**I.** (*a*) The sacrifice at Gibeon, and Solomon’s dream (2Chronicles 1:1-13). (*b*) The king’s chariots and horsemen, wealth and commerce (2Chronicles 1:14-17). (1) **And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom.**—Or, *showed himself strong over his kingdom;* firmly grasped the reins of power, and showed himself a strong ruler. (Comp. 2Chronicles 17:1; also 2Chronicles 12:13; 2C...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**4-6. he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord--**No sooner was the ark deposited in its tent than the Levites, who were to officiate in the choirs before it, entered upon their duties. A select number of the musicians were chosen for the service from the list (1Ch 15:19-21) of those who had taken a prominent part in the recent procession. The same arrangement wa...
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Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Solomon's reign, specifically focusing on Divine blessing through seeking God wholeheartedly. The Chronicler presents Solomon's faithfulness in temple building and worsh...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(2-6) Solomon and the national assembly repair to the Mosaic tabernacle at Gibeon, and sacrifice upon the great altar of burnt offering. (Comp. 1Kings 3:4, which the present section supplements and explains.) (2) **Then Solomon spake unto all Israel.**—Or, *commanded all Israel* (1Chronicles 21:17; 2Samuel 16:11; 2Kings 1:11; Vulg., *prœcepit*)*.* **To the captains of thousands . . . chief of the ...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**7. Then on that day David delivered first this psalm--**Among the other preparations for this solemn inauguration, the royal bard had composed a special hymn for the occasion. Doubtless it had been previously in the hands of Asaph and his assistants, but it was now publicly committed to them as they entered for the first time on the performance of their sacred duties. It occupies the greater par...
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So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Solomon's reign, specifically focusing on Divine blessing through seeking God wholeheartedly. The Chronicler presents Solo...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(3) **The tabernacle of the congregation of God.**—Rather, *God’s tent of meeting;* viz., with man (Exodus 25:22; Exodus 27:21; Numbers 17:4). Solomon repaired to Gibeon because “that was the great high place” (1Kings 3:4). We learn from our text why Gibeon stood pre-eminent above the other high places. (Comp. 1Chronicles 6:31 *sqq.;* 1Chronicles 16:39 *sqq.*)

But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjath-jearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Solomon's reign, specifically focusing on Divine blessing through seeking God wholeheartedly. The Chronicler presents Solomon's faithfulness in temple building and worship as parad...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(4) **But.**—Or, *But indeed, but no doubt* (*’ăbāl*) (2Chronicles 19:3; 2Chronicles 33:17). For the transfer of the ark see 1 Chronicles 13, 15; 2 Samuel 6. **To the place which David had prepared.**—*Into that David had prepared for it* (the article as relative: comp. 1Chronicles 26:28). **Pitched.**—Or**,** *spread* (1Chronicles 15:1).

Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it. he put: or, was there

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Solomon's reign, specifically focusing on Divine blessing through seeking God wholeheartedly. The Chronicler presents Solomon's faithfulness in temple building...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(5) **Moreover the brasen altar . . . he put before the tabernacle of the Lord.**—Rather, *And the brasen altar . . .* *was there before the dwelling of Jehovah.* In Hebrew, *shām* is “there”; and *sām,* “he put.” Some MSS., supported by the LXX. and Vulg., read the former; most of the MSS. and the Syr., Arab., and Targ., the latter. The former reading is preferable, as it is not likely that David...
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And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Solomon's reign, specifically focusing on Divine blessing through seeking God wholeheartedly. The Chronicler presents Solomon's faithfulness in temple building and worship...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(6) **And Solomon went up thither to the “brasen altar.**—So Vulg. incorrectly. Rather, *And Solomon offered there on the brasen altar;* so LXX. and Syriac. **Before the Lord.**—The altar stood before the entry of the Lord’s dwellingplace (Exodus 40:6). (Comp. Judges 20:23; Judges 20:26.) **Which was at the tabernacle of the congregation.**—*Which altar belonged to the tent of tryst.* In 1Kings 6:...
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In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

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KJV Study Commentary

God's question to Solomon 'Ask what I shall give thee' represents extraordinary grace - God invites petition, essentially offering a blank check. This divine initiative tests Solomon's heart: will he ask for selfish gain or kingdom needs? The nighttime setting at Gibeon's high place, following extensive sacrifices (1:6), suggests private divine revelation after public worship. This pattern - God s...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(7-13) God’s revelation to Solomon by night. (Comp. 1Kings 3:5-15.) (7) **In that night did God appear unto Solomon.**—Kings, “In Gibeon did Jehovah appear unto Solomon in a dream of the night.” Our text fixes the night as that which followed the sacrifices; the parallel passage explicitly states that it was in a dream that God appeared. **Ask what I shall give thee.**—Rather, *Ash thou! what shal...
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And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Solomon's reign, specifically focusing on Divine blessing through seeking God wholeheartedly. The Chronicler presents Solomon's faithfulness in temple building and worship as paradigmatic for post-exilic Israel. Unl...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(8) **Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David.**—Literally, *Thou, thou hast done great kindness with David.* (The regular phrase; comp. Luke 1:72.) From this point the relation here is briefer on the whole than that of Kings. The greater part of the long verse (1Kings 3:6) is omitted, and the variations between the two texts become numerous, though the general sense is the same in each. **And has...
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Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. like: Heb. much as the dust of the earth

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Solomon's reign, specifically focusing on Divine blessing through seeking God wholeheartedly. The Chronicler presents Solomon's faithfulness in temple building and worship as paradi...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(9) **Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established.**—A reminiscence of 1Chronicles 17:23. **Over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.**—*Over a people numerous as the dust of the earth.* This last clause freely corresponds with 1Kings 3:8. (Comp. the common title of Assyrian monarchs, “king of multitudes,” *sar kissāti.*)

Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

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KJV Study Commentary

Solomon's request 'Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?' demonstrates remarkable spiritual maturity. The paired terms 'wisdom' (chokmah) and 'knowledge' (mada) encompass theoretical and practical understanding - both insight and skill. The phrase 'go out and come in' is Hebrew idiom for leadership's...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(10) **Give me now wisdom and knowledge.**—*Now wisdom and knowledge give thou me;* a petition co-ordinate with that of 2Chronicles 1:9 : “Now, O Lord God,” &c. The clause answers to 1Kings 3:9. The word rendered “knowledge” (*madda’*) is late, and occurs besides only in Daniel 1:4; Daniel 1:17; Ecclesiastes 10:20. **That I may go out and come in before this people.**—See 1Kings 3:7; Numbers 27:17...
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And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

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KJV Study Commentary

God's commendation of Solomon's request: 'And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king.' God evaluates the heart, not just the request. Solomon could have a...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(11) **Because this was in thine heart.**—For this phrase see 1Chronicles 22:7. **Wealth, or honour.**—Added by chronicler. Wealth (*nĕkāsîm*) is a late word, common in the Targums, and in Syriac (*neksîn*)*.* The phrase “riches, wealth, and honour” occurs in Ecclesiastes 6:2. **Long life.**—*Many days.* **But **(*and*) **hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge . . . ki...
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Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

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KJV Study Commentary

God's generous response: 'Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.' God gives what Solomon requested (wisdom/knowledge) plus what he didn't request (riches/wealth/honor). This demonstrates the principle that seeking God's priorities...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(12) **Wisdom and knowledge.**—*The wisdom and the knowledge,* viz., which thou hast asked for. **Is granted unto thee.**—The Hebrew expression is found only here and in Esther 3:11. The parallel passage gives three verses for this one (1Kings 3:12-14). **And I will give thee.**—Kings, “I have given.” The perfect tense (I will certainly give) is more idiomatic than the chronicler’s simple imperfec...
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Solomon's Wealth and Splendor

Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Solomon's reign, specifically focusing on Divine blessing through seeking God wholeheartedly. The Chronicler presents Solomon's faithfulness in temple building and worship as...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(13) **Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem.**—Heb., *And Solomon came to the high place that was in Gibeon to Jerusalem.* Clearly we should read, *“from* the high place,” with the LXX. and Vulgate. The difficulty is as old as the Syriac version, which reads, “And Solomon came to the great high place [reading *bûmsâ*—*i.e., *βῶμος—with Dr. Payne Smit...
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And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Solomon's reign, specifically focusing on Divine blessing through seeking God wholeheartedly. The Chronicler presents Solomon's faithfulnes...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(14-17) Solomon’s “riches, and wealth, and honour” illustrated (comp. 1Kings 10:26-29). In the parallel passage of Kings, this short section closes the account of Solomon’s wealth and glory. 2Chronicles 9:25-28 is very similar; a fact which will not surprise those who bear in mind that the chronicler is careless of repetition. (14) **And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen.**—Word for word as i...
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And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance. made: Heb. gave

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Solomon's reign, specifically focusing on Divine blessing through seeking God wholeheartedly. The Chronicler presents Solomon's faithfulness in temple building and worship as parad...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(15) **Silver and gold . . . stones . . . cedar trees.**—Each of these words has the definite article in the Hebrew. **And gold.**—Not in 1Kings 10:27, with which the rest of the verse coincides; nor in 2Chronicles 9:27. The Syriac omits it here also, but the other versions have it, and the phrase is a natural heightening of the hyperbole. **The sycomore trees that are in the** **vale.**—(Comp. 1C...
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And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price. Solomon: Heb. the going forth of the horses which was Solomon's

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Solomon's reign, specifically focusing on Divine blessing through seeking God wholeheartedly. The Chronicler presents Solomon's faithfulness in temple building and worship as paradigmatic for post-exilic Israel. Unl...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(16) **And Solomon had horses brought out . . .**—Rather, *And the outcome* (export) *of horses for Solomon was from Egypt, and the company of the king’s merchants*—*a company* (of horses) *they would fetch at a price.* The same is read in Kings, only that the word *company* (*miqwē*) is there spelt in the ancient fashion (*miqwēh*)*,* and two words are transposed (“they would fetch a company”). *...
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And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means. means: Heb. hand

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Solomon's reign, specifically focusing on Divine blessing through seeking God wholehear...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(17) **And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt.**—Literally, *And they caused to come up and to come out.* Kings has: “And there came up and came out a chariot from Egypt.” The rest of the verse is identical there and here. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub

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