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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. I.</FONT>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In the close of the foregoing book we read how God magnified Solomon
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and Israel obeyed him; God and Israel concurred to honour him. Now here
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we have an account,
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I. How he honoured God by sacrifice
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:1-6">ver. 1-6</A>)
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and by prayer,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:7-12">ver. 7-12</A>.
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II. How he honoured Israel by increasing their strength, wealth, and
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trade,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:13-17">ver. 13-17</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="2Ch1_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch1_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch1_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch1_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch1_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch1_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch1_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch1_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch1_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch1_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>God's Goodness to Solomon.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1015.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom,
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and the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> his God <I>was</I> with him, and magnified him
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exceedingly.
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2 Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of
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thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every
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governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.
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3 So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the
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high place that <I>was</I> at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of
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the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had
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made in the wilderness.
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4 But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjath-jearim to
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<I>the place which</I> David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a
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tent for it at Jerusalem.
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5 Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the
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son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>:
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and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.
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6 And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, which <I>was</I> at the tabernacle of the congregation, and
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offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.
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7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him,
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Ask what I shall give thee.
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8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto
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David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.
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9 Now, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God, let thy promise unto David my father be
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established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the
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dust of the earth in multitude.
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10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come
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in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, <I>that
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is so</I> great?
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11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart,
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and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life
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of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast
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asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my
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people, over whom I have made thee king:
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12 Wisdom and knowledge <I>is</I> granted unto thee; and I will give
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thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings
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have had that <I>have been</I> before thee, neither shall there any
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after thee have the like.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. Solomon's great prosperity,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Though he had a contested title, yet, God being with him, he was
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<I>strengthened in his kingdom;</I> his heart and hands were
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strengthened, and his interest in the people. God's presence will be
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our strength.</P>
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<P>
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II. His great piety and devotion. His father was a prophet, a psalmist,
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and kept mostly to the ark; but Solomon, having read much in his Bible
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concerning the tabernacle which Moses built and the altars there, paid
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more respect to them than, it should seem, David had done. Both did
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well, and let neither be censured. If the zeal of one be carried out
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most to one instance of religion, and of another to some other
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instance, let them not judge nor despise each other.</P>
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<P>
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1. All his great men must thus far be good men that they must join with
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him in worshipping God. He spoke to the captains and judges, the
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governors and chief of the fathers, to go with him to Gibeon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:2,3"><I>v.</I> 2, 3</A>.
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Authority and interest are well bestowed on those that will thus use
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them for the glory of God, and the promoting of religion. It is our
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duty to engage all with whom we have influence in the solemnities of
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religion, and it is very desirable to have many join with us in those
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solemnities--the more the better; it is the more like heaven. Solomon
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began his reign with this public pious visit to God's altar, and it was
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a very good omen. Magistrates are then likely to do well for themselves
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and their people when they thus take God along with them at their
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setting out.</P>
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<P>
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2. He offered abundance of sacrifices to God there
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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1000 <I>burnt-offerings,</I> and perhaps a greater number of
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peace-offerings, on which he and his company <I>feasted before the
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Lord.</I> Where God sows plentifully he expects to reap accordingly.
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His father David had left him flocks and herds in abundance
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+27:29,31">1 Chron. xxvii. 29, 31</A>),
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and thus he gave God his dues out of them. The ark was at Jerusalem
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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but the altar was at Gibeon
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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and thither he brought his sacrifices; for <I>it is the altar that
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sanctifieth every gift.</I></P>
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<P>
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3. He prayed a good prayer to God: this, with the answer to it, we had
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before,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+3:5-15">1 Kings iii. 5</A>,
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&c.
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(1.) God bade him ask what he would; not only that he might put him in
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the right way of obtaining the favours that were intended him (<I>Ask,
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and you shall receive, that your joy may be full</I>), but that he
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might try him, how he stood affected, and might discover what was in
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his heart. Men's characters appear in their choices and desires. What
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wouldst thou <I>have?</I> tries a man as much as, What wouldst thou
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<I>do?</I> Thus God tried whether Solomon was one of the <I>children of
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this world,</I> that say, <I>Who will show us any good,</I> or of the
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children of light, that say, <I>Lord, lift up the light of thy
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countenance upon us.</I> As we choose we shall have, and that is likely
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to be our portion to which we give the preference, whether the wealth
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and pleasure of this world or spiritual riches or delights.
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(2.) Like a genuine son of David, he chose spiritual blessings rather
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than temporal. His petition here is, <I>Give me wisdom and
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knowledge.</I> He owns those to be desirable gifts, and God to be the
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giver of them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+2:6">Prov. ii. 6</A>.
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God gave the faculty of understanding, and to him we must apply for the
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furniture of it. Two things are here pleaded which we had not in
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Kings:--
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[1.] <I>Thou hast made me reign in my father's stead,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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"Lord, thou hast put me into this place, and therefore I can in faith
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ask of thee grace to enable me to do the duty of it." What service we
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have reason to believe God calls us to we have reason to hope he will
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qualify us for. But that is not all. "Lord, thou hast put me into this
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place in the stead of David, the great and good man that filled it up
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so well; therefore give me wisdom, that Israel may not suffer damage by
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the change. Must I reign in my father's stead? Lord, give me my
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father's spirit." Note, The eminency of those that went before us, and
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the obligation that lies upon us to keep up and carry on the good work
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they were engaged in, should provoke us to a gracious emulation, and
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quicken our prayers to God for wisdom and grace, that we may do the
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work of God in our day as faithfully and well as they did in theirs.
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[2.] <I>Let thy promise to David my father be established,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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He means the promise of concerning his successor. "In performance of
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that promise, <I>Lord, give me wisdom.</I>" We do not find that wisdom
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was any of the things promised, but it was necessary in order to the
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accomplishment of what was promised,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+7:13-15">2 Sam. vii. 13-15</A>.
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The promise was, <I>He shall build a house for my name, I will
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establish his throne, he shall be my son,</I> and <I>my mercy shall not
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depart from him.</I> "Now, Lord, unless thou give me wisdom, thy house
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will not be built, nor my throne established; I shall behave in a
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manner unbecoming my relation to thee as a Father, shall forfeit thy
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mercy, and fool it away; therefore, <I>Lord, give me wisdom.</I>" Note,
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<I>First,</I> God's promises are our best pleas in prayer. <I>Remember
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thy word unto thy servant. Secondly,</I> Children may take the comfort
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of the promises of that covenant which their parents, in their baptism,
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laid claim to, and took hold of, for them. <I>Thirdly,</I> The best
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way to obtain the benefit of the promises and privileges of the
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covenant is to be earnest in prayer with God for wisdom and grace to do
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the duties of it.</P>
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<P>
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4. He received a gracious answer to this prayer,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>.
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(1.) God gave him the wisdom that he asked for because he asked for it.
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Wisdom is a gift that God gives as freely and liberally as any gift to
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those that value it, and wrestle for it; and will resolve to make use
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of it; and he upbraids not the poor petitioners with their folly,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+1:5">James i. 5</A>.
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God's grace shall never be wanting to those who sincerely desire to
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know and do their duty.
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(2.) God gave him the wealth and honour which he did not ask for
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because he asked not for them. Those that pursue present things most
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earnestly are most likely to miss of them; while those that refer
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themselves to the providence of God, if they have not the most of those
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things, have the most comfort in them. Those that make this world their
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end come short of the other and are disappointed in this too; but those
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that make the other world their end shall not only obtain that, and
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full satisfaction in it, but shall enjoy as much as is convenient of
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this world in their way.</P>
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<A NAME="2Ch1_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch1_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch1_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch1_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch1_17"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>13 Then Solomon came <I>from his journey</I> to the high place that
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<I>was</I> at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the
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congregation, and reigned over Israel.
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14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a
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thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen,
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which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at
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Jerusalem.
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15 And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem <I>as
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plenteous</I> as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycamore
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trees that <I>are</I> in the vale for abundance.
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16 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn:
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the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
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17 And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a
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chariot for six hundred <I>shekels</I> of silver, and a horse for an
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hundred and fifty: and so brought they out <I>horses</I> for all the
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kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their
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means.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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1. Solomon's entrance upon the government
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
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He came <I>from before the tabernacle, and reigned over Israel.</I> He
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would not do any acts of government till he had done his acts of
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devotion, would not take honour to himself till he had given honour to
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God--first the tabernacle, and then the throne. But, when he had
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obtained wisdom from God, he did not bury his talent, but as he
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received the gift ministered the same, did not give up himself to ease
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and pleasure, but minded business: he reigned over Israel.
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2. The magnificence of his court
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
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<I>He gathered chariots and horsemen.</I> Shall we praise him for this?
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We praise him not; for the king was forbidden to multiply horses,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+17:16">Deut. xvii. 16</A>.
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I do not remember that ever we find his good father in a chariot or on
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horseback; a mule was the highest he mounted. We should endeavor to
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excel those that went before us in goodness rather than in grandeur.
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3. The wealth and trade of his kingdom. He made silver and gold very
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cheap and common,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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The increase of gold lowers the value of it; but the increase of grace
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advances its price; the more men have of that the more they value it.
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<I>How much better</I> therefore <I>is it to get wisdom than gold!</I>
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He opened also a trade with Egypt, whence he imported horses and
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linen-yarn, which he exported again to the kings of Syria, with great
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advantage no doubt,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:16,17"><I>v.</I> 16, 17</A>.
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This we had before,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+10:28,29">1 Kings x. 28, 29</A>.
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It is the wisdom of princes to promote industry and encourage trade in
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their dominions. Perhaps Solomon took the hint of setting up the
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linen-manufacture, bringing linen-yarn out of Egypt, working it into
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cloth, and then sending that to other nations, from what his mother
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taught when she specified this as one of the characteristics of the
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virtuous woman, <I>She maketh fine linen, and selleth it, and
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delivereth girdles</I> of it <I>to the merchant,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:24">Prov. xxxi. 24</A>.
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<I>In all labour there is profit.</I></P>
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