2 Chronicles 1

2Ch 1:1-6.

SOLEMN

OFFERING OF

SOLOMON AT

GIBEON.

2-5. Then Solomon spake unto all Israel--The heads, or leading

officers, who are afterwards specified, were summoned to attend their

sovereign in a solemn religious procession. The date of this occurrence

was the second year of Solomon's reign, and the high place at Gibeon

was chosen for the performance of the sacred rites, because the

tabernacle and all the ancient furniture connected with the national

worship were deposited there. Zadok was the officiating high priest

(1Ch 16:39).

It is true that the ark had been removed and placed in a new tent which

David had made for it at Jerusalem

[2Ch 1:4].

But the brazen altar, "before the tabernacle of the Lord," on which the

burnt offerings were appointed by the law to be made, was at Gibeon.

And although David had been led by extraordinary events and tokens of

the divine presence to sacrifice on the threshing-floor of Araunah,

Solomon considered it his duty to present his offerings on the legally

appointed spot "before the tabernacle," and on the time-honored altar

prepared by the skill of Bezaleel in the wilderness

(Ex 38:1).

6. offered a thousand burnt offerings--This holocaust he offered, of

course, by the hands of the priests. The magnitude of the oblation

became the rank of the offerer on this occasion of national solemnity.

2Ch 1:7-13.

HIS

CHOICE OF

WISDOM

IS

BLESSED BY

GOD.

7. In that night did God appear unto

Solomon--(See on

1Ki 3:5).

2Ch 1:14-17.

HIS

STRENGTH AND

WEALTH.

14. Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen--His passion for horses

was greater than that of any Israelitish monarch before or after him.

His stud comprised fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand

horses. This was a prohibited indulgence, whether as an instrument of

luxury or power. But it was not merely for his own use that he imported

the horses of Egypt. The immense equestrian establishment he erected

was not for show merely, but also for profit. The Egyptian breed of

horses was highly valued; and being as fine as the Arabian, but larger

and more powerful, they were well fitted for being yoked in chariots.

These were light but compact and solid vehicles, without springs. From

the price stated

(2Ch 1:17)

as given for a chariot and a horse, it appears that the chariot cost

four times the value of a horse. A horse brought a 150 shekels, which,

estimating the shekels at 2s. 3d. or 2s.

6d., amount to £17 2s. or £18 15s.,

while a chariot brought 600 shekels, equal to £68

9s. or £75; and as an Egyptian chariot was usually drawn

the Syrians, who were fond of the Egyptian breed of horses, could

import them into their own country only through Judea, Solomon early

perceived the commercial advantages to be derived from this trade, and

established a monopoly. His factors or agents purchased them in the

markets or fairs of Egypt and brought them to the "chariot cities," the

depots and stables he had erected on the frontiers of his kingdom, such

as Bethmarcaboth, "the house of chariots," and Hazarsusah, "the village

of horses"

(Jos 19:5;

1Ki 10:28).

17. brought . . . for all the kings of the Hittites--A branch of this

powerful tribe, when expelled from Palestine, had settled north of

Lebanon, where they acquired large possessions contiguous to the

Syrians.