2 Chronicles 8

Chapters 1–9 of 2 Chronicles cover the reign of Solomon. Chapter 8 follows the dedication of the temple and God's response in chapter 7. It summarizes Solomon's building projects, his administration of the kingdom, and the order of temple worship. Its content largely parallels the latter part of 1 Kings 9.

Outline

• Verses 1–6: Solomon completes the temple and his palace after twenty years. He then rebuilds the cities that Huram had given him and captures Hamath-zobah. He also builds Tadmor, Beth-horon the upper and Beth-horon the nether, Baalath, and the store cities and chariot cities.
• Verses 7–10: The descendants of the remaining Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites are conscripted as forced laborers. The children of Israel serve as soldiers and officials. The officers who supervise the work number 250.
• Verse 11: Solomon brings Pharaoh's daughter up from the city of David to the house he built for her, because the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy.
• Verses 12–16: As Moses commanded, Solomon offers burnt offerings daily, on the Sabbaths, on the new moons (the first day of each month), and at the three annual feasts. According to the ordinance of David, he appoints the priests in their courses (rotations), the Levites to lead praise, and the porters, and the work on the temple is completed without fault.
• Verses 17–18: When Solomon goes to Ezion-geber and Eloth, Huram sends him seamen. Together with Solomon's servants, they sail to Ophir and bring back 450 talents of gold.

Key Verses

• 2 Chronicles 8:11 "Because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come": This reflects a concern to keep holy places set apart.
• 2 Chronicles 8:13 "According to the commandment of Moses … three times in the year": The temple offerings are arranged according to the festival calendar of the Law.
• 2 Chronicles 8:16 "So the house of the LORD was perfected": This concludes the account of the temple's construction that began in chapter 2.

People and Places

• Solomon: Son of David and the third king of Israel.
• Huram: King of Tyre, called Hiram in Kings.
• The daughter of Pharaoh: The daughter of the king of Egypt, who became Solomon's wife.
• David: Mentioned as the king who established the courses of service for the priests and Levites.
• Tadmor: A city in the wilderness, commonly identified with Palmyra in Syria.
• Ezion-geber and Eloth: Ports on the seacoast in the land of Edom.
• Ophir: A land known for its gold, whose exact location is unknown.

Points for Reflection

• Who gave the cities: Verse 2 states that Huram gave cities to Solomon, whereas 1 Kings 9:11–13 states that Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in Galilee. Some interpreters explain the difference by suggesting that Hiram returned the cities, while others view the two accounts as recording a mutual exchange.
• The amount of gold: The two accounts also give different amounts of gold: 420 talents in 1 Kings 9:28 and 450 talents in this chapter.
• Emphasis on worship: Kings briefly notes that Solomon offered sacrifices three times a year. Chronicles names the feasts and details the priestly courses, placing greater emphasis on the order of worship.
• Interpreting verse 11: Some read verse 11 as an expression of Solomon's piety. Others read it as a foreshadowing of the later problem of his foreign wives (1 Kings 11).
• The Feast of Weeks and Pentecost: Of the three feasts, the Feast of Weeks is the same festival as Pentecost in the New Testament. On that day the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost took place.