What I Noticed Today (1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8)
1 Kings 9
God established a covenant with Solomon.
In verses 1-9, about 25 years into his reign (946 B.C.) Solomon had finished building the Lord’s Temple, his palace, and other buildings.
- The Lord appeared to Solomon a second time like He had appeared to Solomon at Gibeon.
- The Lord responded to Solomon’s prayer by putting His name on His house (temple) forever and keeping His eyes and heart there for all time.
- The Lord restated his promise to protect and bless the people if Solomon would walk with the Lord in the integrity of heart and uprightness.
- But, says the Lord, if Solomon turned away from following the Lord, the Lord promised to afflict the people, up to and including taking the land away from them.
In verses 10-14, at the end of 20 years, Solomon had completed building the Lord’s Temple and his own palace. Solomon gave Hiram, king of Tyre, 20 cities in Galilee.
- In addition to the cedar and pine wood, Hiram had given 9,000 pounds of gold (120 talents) to Solomon.
- When Hiram visited the 20 cities, he referred to them as the Land of Cabul (good for nothing)
Note: Hiram referred to Solomon as “my brother” (v. 13). Scholars believe this language is an indication of a treaty between the two rulers (Amos 1:9).
In verses 15-19, Solomon continued building. He built terraces between the hills and extended the wall around the city of Jerusalem. He also built walls around the cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. He rebuilt Beth-horon, Baalath, Tamar, the storage cities, and the cities where the cavalry was stationed.
In verses 20-23, the people who remained in the land after the Israelites had conquered it were conscribed to forced labor (the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites). 550 Israelites served as deputies supervising the workforce (along with 3,300 foremen 1 Kings 5:16).
In verses 24-28, Solomon’s wife, the daughter of Pharaoh, moved from the City of David (Jerusalem) to the house Solomon had built for her. Three times a year, Solomon offered sacrifices before the Lord. Solomon assembled a fleet of ships at Ezion-Geber on the Red Sea in Edom who conducted trade with Ophir
2 Chronicles 8
2 Chronicles 8 recounts the cities that Solomon rebuilt over a period of 20 years.
In verses 1-11, Solomon rebuilt the 20 cities that his father, David, had given to Hiram, king of Tyre.
Note: Hiram was displeased with these cities and had apparently given them back to Solomon who then rebuilt them.
- The non-Israelites who lived in the land were drafted as forced labor. This included the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
- It is interesting that Solomon makes a note of moving his Egyptian wife, the daughter of Pharaoh, out of the city of Jerusalem to a house he had built for her because his wife should not live in a place where the Ark of the Lord had been because these places were holy.
Note: The Chronicler does not say how the daughter of Pharaoh came to be Solomon’s wife. Pharaoh must have considered Solomon to be his equal, an important ally, or both, to have given his daughter to Solomon in marriage.
In verses 12-16, Solomon obeyed the Lord, fulfilling all the requirements of the daily offering, and the annual festivals and celebrations. The Levites and priests carried out their ministry tasks according to Solomon’s commands.
In verses 17-18, Solomon aligned with Hiram, king of Tyre to conduct trade across the Mediterranean.
- On a trip to Ophir, they took 450 talents of gold (17 tons) and gave it to Solomon (to store in his palace, 2 Chronicles 9:15).
