2Ch 1:16 | TNotes | STEP | 1:16 If Egypt is the correct translation, this verse indicates disobedience by Solomon (see Deut 17:16 ). However, importing from Muzur in Anatolia was not prohibited. Thematic note: Solomon’s Wisdom When God gave Solomon the opportunity to ask for anything he wanted, Solomon chose wisdom, so that he could “govern [God’s] people well and know the difference between right and wrong” (1 Kgs 3:9 ). In response to this unselfish choice, God granted the wisdom he desired (3:12 ) and the rewards of its proper use (3:13-14 ; 2 Chr 1:14-17 ). Solomon’s subsequent behavior provided immediate evidence of his wisdom. He resolved an argument over a child with such insight that the people were “in awe of the king” (1 Kgs 3:16-28 ). Later, the queen of Sheba came to test him with difficult questions and found his wisdom exceeding all that she had heard about it (10:1-9 ). His administration (4:1-28 ), his diplomacy (5:1-9 ), his building projects (5:10–7:51 ), and his commerce (9:26-28 ; 10:14-29 ) all demonstrated his wisdom. Solomon accumulated vast knowledge (4:29-33 ) and wrote proverbs (much of the book of Proverbs), songs (Pss 72 ; 127 ), love poetry (the Song of Songs), and philosophical literature (Ecclesiastes). He used his wisdom to build the Temple (2 Chr 2:12 ), even as Bezalel had previously been endowed with wisdom to build the Tabernacle (Exod 31:1-3 ). Jesus noted Solomon’s great wisdom and reminded his hearers that someone even greater than Solomon was among them (Matt 12:42 ). Jesus is the true wisdom of God in whom one can find ultimate wisdom (1 Cor 1:24 ). A life of wisdom is centered in Christ (1 Cor 1:18-25 ; Col 3:16 ; 2 Pet 3:18 ) and in Scripture (2 Tim 3:14-17 ). Passages for Further Study Exod 31:1-6 ; 1 Kgs 3:5-14 ; 3:16-28 ; 4:29-34 ; 5:2-7 ; 10:1-13 ; 2 Chr 1:7-12 ; Pss 72:1-20 ; 111:10 ; 127:1-5 ; Eccl 12:9-14 ; Isa 11:1-5 ; Jer 9:23-24 ; Matt 12:42 ; Jas 1:5

1:16 ^a If Egypt is the correct translation, this verse indicates disobedience by Solomon (see Deut 17:16 ^b). However, importing from Muzur in Anatolia was not prohibited.

Thematic note: Solomon’s Wisdom
When God gave Solomon the opportunity to ask for anything he wanted, Solomon chose wisdom, so that he could “govern [God’s] people well and know the difference between right and wrong” (1 Kgs 3:9 ^c). In response to this unselfish choice, God granted the wisdom he desired (3:12 ^d) and the rewards of its proper use (3:13-14 ^e; 2 Chr 1:14-17 ^f).
Solomon’s subsequent behavior provided immediate evidence of his wisdom. He resolved an argument over a child with such insight that the people were “in awe of the king” (1 Kgs 3:16-28 ^g). Later, the queen of Sheba came to test him with difficult questions and found his wisdom exceeding all that she had heard about it (10:1-9 ^h). His administration (4:1-28 ⁱ), his diplomacy (5:1-9 ^j), his building projects (5:10–7:51 ^k), and his commerce (9:26-28 ^l; 10:14-29 ^m) all demonstrated his wisdom. Solomon accumulated vast knowledge (4:29-33 ⁿ) and wrote proverbs (much of the book of Proverbs), songs (Pss 72 ^o; 127 ^p), love poetry (the Song of Songs), and philosophical literature (Ecclesiastes). He used his wisdom to build the Temple (2 Chr 2:12 ^q), even as Bezalel had previously been endowed with wisdom to build the Tabernacle (Exod 31:1-3 ^r).
Jesus noted Solomon’s great wisdom and reminded his hearers that someone even greater than Solomon was among them (Matt 12:42 ^s). Jesus is the true wisdom of God in whom one can find ultimate wisdom (1 Cor 1:24 ^t). A life of wisdom is centered in Christ (1 Cor 1:18-25 ^u; Col 3:16 ^v; 2 Pet 3:18 ^w) and in Scripture (2 Tim 3:14-17 ^x).

Passages for Further Study
Exod 31:1-6 ^y; 1 Kgs 3:5-14 ^z; 3:16-28 ^aa; 4:29-34 ^ab; 5:2-7 ^ac; 10:1-13 ^ad; 2 Chr 1:7-12 ^ae; Pss 72:1-20 ^af; 111:10 ^ag; 127:1-5 ^ah; Eccl 12:9-14 ^ai; Isa 11:1-5 ^aj; Jer 9:23-24 ^ak; Matt 12:42 ^al; Jas 1:5 ^am