2Ch 8:1-6 | KingComments | STEP | In 2 Chronicles 8-9 we see the relations between Solomon and the Gentiles. In 2 Chronicles 8 we see 1. which cities Solomon builds and fortifies ( ), 2. which workmen he uses ( ), 3. what provisions he makes for his Egyptian wife ( ), 4. how he upholds the temple service as it is arranged by Moses and his father David ( ) and 5. his trade with the nations ( ). In Psalm 72 we read a prayer for the king and his son. In that psalm the rule of Solomon is described. With Psalm 72, the second book of Psalms (Psalms 42-72) closes. In Isaiah 60 we read a description of the glory of the coming kingdom of peace, where the power of the nations is brought to Him. Both sections can be connected to 2 Chronicles 8. Solomon reigned for forty years. Concerning the building of the house of the LORD he took seven years ( ) and concerning his own house thirteen years ( ), that is twenty years together ( ). Solomon is a builder. He builds the house of the LORD and his own house ( ); he builds the cities which Huram gave him ( ); he builds Tadmor and builds in Hamath ( ); he builds upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon and he fortifies cities ( ); he builds all that pleases him ( ). We are also builders. The only question is whether we are good builders or bad builders. We must build on the foundation, “which is Jesus Christ” ( ). It is also important that we build with good material, that is to say that we bring the biblical doctrine that is really for building up the church and that we live as the Bible tells us. If we learn wrong things or if we allow sins in our lives, we do not build up the church, but we break it down. Solomon started building these houses in the fourth year of his reign ( ). This means that more than the first half of his reign is over and the second part of his reign has begun. We are then in the year 946 BC. In this second part of his reign the decline begins. This can be read in 1 Kings, because there the kingship is described from the point of view of the responsibility of the king. In 2 Chronicles it is about God’s counsel. Here the reign of Solomon ends with a painting of the glory as the Lord Jesus will possess it in the kingdom of peace. Solomon is a man of great learning, but he does not spend his time only studying. He is also active. His scholarship leads him to act wisely. Here he is working on fortifying his land. Building and fortifying in a time of peace is necessary because the enemy is always lurking. We must protect ourselves against savage wolves who will come in among us, not sparing the flock ( ), against people who cause dissensions and occasions of stumbling ( ), against sectarian people ( ), against false brethren ( ), against false teachers ( ), against people who like Diotrephes want to be the first ( ).

‏ 2 Chronicles 8:1-6

Introduction

In 2 Chronicles 8-9 we see the relations between Solomon and the Gentiles. In 2 Chronicles 8 we see

1. which cities Solomon builds and fortifies (2Chr 8:1-6),

2. which workmen he uses (2Chr 8:7-10),

3. what provisions he makes for his Egyptian wife (2Chr 8:11),

4. how he upholds the temple service as it is arranged by Moses and his father David (2Chr 8:12-16) and

5. his trade with the nations (2Chr 8:17-18).

In Psalm 72 we read a prayer for the king and his son. In that psalm the rule of Solomon is described. With Psalm 72, the second book of Psalms (Psalms 42-72) closes. In Isaiah 60 we read a description of the glory of the coming kingdom of peace, where the power of the nations is brought to Him. Both sections can be connected to 2 Chronicles 8.

Solomon’s Building

Solomon reigned for forty years. Concerning the building of the house of the LORD he took seven years (1Kgs 6:38) and concerning his own house thirteen years (1Kgs 7:1), that is twenty years together (2Chr 8:1). Solomon is a builder. He builds the house of the LORD and his own house (2Chr 8:1); he builds the cities which Huram gave him (2Chr 8:2); he builds Tadmor and builds in Hamath (2Chr 8:4); he builds upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon and he fortifies cities (2Chr 8:5); he builds all that pleases him (2Chr 8:6).

We are also builders. The only question is whether we are good builders or bad builders. We must build on the foundation, “which is Jesus Christ” (1Cor 3:10-11). It is also important that we build with good material, that is to say that we bring the biblical doctrine that is really for building up the church and that we live as the Bible tells us. If we learn wrong things or if we allow sins in our lives, we do not build up the church, but we break it down.

Solomon started building these houses in the fourth year of his reign (2Chr 3:2). This means that more than the first half of his reign is over and the second part of his reign has begun. We are then in the year 946 BC. In this second part of his reign the decline begins. This can be read in 1 Kings, because there the kingship is described from the point of view of the responsibility of the king. In 2 Chronicles it is about God’s counsel. Here the reign of Solomon ends with a painting of the glory as the Lord Jesus will possess it in the kingdom of peace.

Solomon is a man of great learning, but he does not spend his time only studying. He is also active. His scholarship leads him to act wisely. Here he is working on fortifying his land. Building and fortifying in a time of peace is necessary because the enemy is always lurking.

We must protect ourselves against savage wolves who will come in among us, not sparing the flock (Acts 20:29), against people who cause dissensions and occasions of stumbling (Rom 16:17), against sectarian people (Tit 3:10-11), against false brethren (Gal 2:4-5), against false teachers (2Pet 2:1), against people who like Diotrephes want to be the first (3Jn 1:9).