2 Chronicles
Chapter 1
THE REIGN OF SOLOMON
Solomon’s Vision
Solomon, son of David, confidently took control of Israel’s kingdom. The Lord, his God, was with him and greatly exalted him.
Solomon then addressed all Israel: the commanders of thousands and hundreds, the judges, and all the leaders of Israel, the heads of families.
Afterward, Solomon, along with the entire assembly, went to the high place at Gibeon where God’s Tent of Meeting was, which Moses, God’s servant, had made in the wilderness.
David, however, brought the Ark of God from Kiriath-Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, setting up a tent for it in Jerusalem.
The bronze altar that Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, had built stood there in front of the Holy Tent of the Lord. Solomon, along with the assembly, approached this altar, seeking the Lord’s presence.
Solomon approached the bronze altar at the Tent of Meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings.
That night, God appeared to Solomon and said: “Ask what you would like me to give you.”
Solomon replied to God: “You showed great kindness to David, my father, and you have made me king in his place.
The Lord God, the promise you made to David, my father, has now been fulfilled since you have made me king over a people who are so many that they cannot be counted.
Therefore, now give me wisdom and knowledge to lead this people, for who could govern a great people like yours?”
God said to Solomon: “Since that is what you want, you have asked, not for riches, treasure, honor, the lives of your enemies, or even for a long life, but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people of whom I have made you king;
therefore, wisdom and knowledge are granted you. I give you riches too, treasures, and honor like none of the kings had before you, nor shall any have that come after you.”
Solomon left the high place and the Tent of Meeting at Gibeon and returned to Jerusalem.
Solomon’s Riches
Solomon assembled a force of chariots and horses. He had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses. He was based in the chariot towns and with the king in Jerusalem.
During his reign, silver and gold became as common in Jerusalem as stone, while cedar wood was as plentiful as the ordinary sycamore trees in the foothills of Judah.
Solomon’s horses were shipped from Cilicia. The king’s agents transported them from Cilicia at a set rate.
They imported chariots from Egypt for pieces of silver each and horses for each. These men acted in the same way for all the Hittite and Aramean kings.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE
Preparations
Solomon decided to build a house for the Lord’s Name and a palace for himself.
Commentaries
Solomon’s Vision.
The Chronicler follows the narrative of 1 Kings 3:4-15, but from his theological perspective: Solomon’s presence in Gibeon is not a private act of worship but a public one—essentially a pilgrimage. Additionally, the Chronicler places the tent that Moses built in the desert in Gibeon to justify Solomon’s presence in a sanctuary other than Jerusalem. Therefore, the first act of Solomon’s reign is a liturgical one rather than a political act. The wisdom the king requests is the ability to guide God’s people through the construction of the Temple (10).
The Reign of Solomon.
In these chapters, the Chronicler shares his view of Solomon’s reign, based on the account in 1 Kings 1-11. He omits any negative details about the king or anything that contradicts his greatness. He highlights the building of the Temple, dedicating five chapters (2-7) to it. Solomon is shown as the ideal king of Israel, the leader who fulfills David’s dream and God’s plan by constructing the Temple. He is described as the wise king who excels in construction, leadership, and trade. Chapters 1-9 begin (1:14-17) and end (9:1-28) with celebrations of Solomon’s wealth and wisdom.
Solomon’s Riches.
This reference emphasizes divine blessing that affirms the king’s actions.
Construction of the Temple.
The Chronicler omits the story from 1 Kings 3:15-5:14 and emphasizes the main goal of Solomon’s reign: building the Temple, with only a brief mention of the royal palace (2:11). Starting in chapter 3, he details Solomon’s building projects, including furnishings and utensils, following the account in 1 Kings 6 and later. He uses hyperbolic figures and measurements, especially regarding gold quantities. Some details indicate the author was imagining the Temple being rebuilt after the exile (3:14; Ez 40:5).
Preparations.
Diplomatic correspondence between Solomon and Hiram, king of Tyre, highlights the artistic direction (2:12ff) and foreign labor (2:16) involved in the construction of the Temple. The model given to David by God is honored. Verse 2:11 briefly references the construction of the royal palace (1 Kgs 5:21).