1:1While the book of 1 Chronicles focuses mainly on David's life, 2 Chronicies focuses on the lives of the rest of the kings of Judah, the southern kingdom. Very little is mentioned about Israel, the northern kingdom, because (1) Chronicles was written for Judeans who had returned from captivity in Babylon, and (2) Judah represented David's family, from which the Messiah would come. Israel was in a state of constant turmoil, anarchy, and rebellion against God, but Judah, at least, made sporadic efforts to follow God.
Life Application Study Bible2 ChroniclesChapter 1
2 Chronicles 1
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 667, 668
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
12 Chronicles 1
1A. THE REIGN OF SOLOMON (1:1—~9:31) In response to Solomon’s request, God gives to Solomon great wisdom. Solomon launches great building programs, including the Temple, his greatest achievement. In the midst of the celebration dedicating the Temple, fire flashes down from heaven, and God's glory fills the Tempte, God wants to live among his people and to be central in their lives. Today, our bodies are God’s temple, the place where God, through his Holy Spirit, lives and reigns.
1. Solomon asks for wisdom
Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the LORD his God was with him and made him very powerful. 2Solomon called together all the leaders of Israel—the generals and captains of the army,* the judges, and all the political and clan leaders.?Then he led the entire assembly to the place of worship in Gibeon, for God’s Tabernacle* was located there. (This was the Tabernacle that Moses, the LORD’s servant, had made in the wilderness.) 4David had already moved the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the tent he had prepared for it in Jerusalem. 5But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri and grandson of Hur was there* at Gibeon in front of the Tabernacle of the LORD. So Solomon and the people gathered in front of it to consult the LORD.* 6There in front of the Tabernacle, Solomon went up to the bronze altar in the LORD’s presence and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it. 7That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” 8Solomon replied to God, “You showed faithful love to David, my father, and now you have made me king in his place. 90 LORD God, please continue to keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth! 10Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly,* for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?” 1God said to Solomon, 11Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people— 12I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!” 13Then Solomon returned to Jerusalem from the Tabernacle at the place of worship in Gibeon, and he reigned over Israel. 14Solomon built up a huge force of chariots and horses.* He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He stationed some of them in the chariot cities and some near him in Jerusalem. 5The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stone. And valuable cedar timber was as common as the sycamore-fig trees that grow in the foothills of Judah.* 16Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt* and from Cilicia*; the king’s traders acquired them from Cilicia at the standard price. 17At that time chariots from Egypt could be purchased for 600 pieces of silver,* and horses for 150 pieces of silver.* They were then exported to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.
Textual footnotes
- in Greek version and Latin Vulgate, and some Hebrew manuscripts. Masoretic Text reads he placed.
- to consult him.
- 1:3 Hebrew Tent of Meeting; also in 1:6, 13. 1:5a As
- 1:5b Hebrew
- 1:10 Hebrew fo go out and come in before this people.
- 1:15 Hebrew the Shephelah. _1:16a Possibly Muzur, a district near Cilicia; atso in
- 1:17a Hebrew 600 shekels of silver, about 15 pounds
- 1:17b Hebrew 150 shekels, about 3.8 pounds or 1.7 kilograms in weight.
Life Application Notes 6 notes
1:1More details about Solomon’s rise to the throne can be read in 1 Kings 1-2. Solomon’s Profile is found in 1 Kings 3, p. 519.
1:2-5The Tabernacle that Moses had built centuries earlier (Exodus 35-40) was still in operation although it had been moved several times. When Solomon became king, the Tabernacle was located at Gibeon, a town about six miles northwest of Jerusalem. All the Tabernacle furniture was kept at Gibeon except the Ark of God, which David had moved to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 13; 15-16). David wanted the Ark, the symbol of God’s presence, to reside in the city where he ruled the people. The Tabernacle at Gibeon, however, was still considered Israel's main religious center until Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem.
1:10Wisdom is the ability to make good decisions based on proper discernment and judgment. Knowledge, in this verse, refers to the practical know-how necessary for handling everyday matters. Wisdom applies knowledge. Solomon used his wisdom and knowledge not only to build the Temple from his father’s plans but also to put the nation on firm economic footing.
1:10God’s offer to Solomon stretches the imagination: “Ask, and I will give it to you!” (1:7). But Solomon put the needs of his people first and asked for wisdom rather than riches. He realized that wisdom would be the most valuable asset he could have as king. Later he wrote, “Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her” (Proverbs 3:15). The same wisdom that was given to Solomon is available to us; the same God offers it. How can we acquire wisdom? First, we must ask God, who “will not rebuke you for asking” (James 1:5). Second, we must devote ourselves wholeheartedly to studying and applying God’s Word, the source of divine wisdom, to our lives. (For more on Solomon's wisdom, read the notes on 1 Kings
1:11,12Solomon could have had anything, but he asked for wisdom to rule the nation. Because God approved of the way Solomon ordered his priorities, he gave Solomon wealth, riches, and honor as well. Jesus also spoke about priorities. He said that when we put God first, everything we really need will be given to us as well (Matthew 6:33). This does not guarantee that we will be wealthy and famous like Solomon, but it means that when we put God first, the wisdom he gives will enable us to have richly rewarding lives. When we have a purpose for living and learn to be content with what we have, we have greater wealth than we could ever imagine.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 668
God said that David's son Solomon would build the Temple. God allowed David to make the plans and preparations for the Temple (1 Chronicles 23-26; 28:11-19). David bought the land (2 Samuel 24:18-25; 1 Chronicles 22:1), gathered most of the construction materials (1 Chronicles 22:14-16), and received the plans from God (1 Chronicles 28:11, 12, 19}. It was Solomon’s responsibility to make the plans a reality. His job was made easier by his father’s exhaustive preparations. God’s work can be moved forward when the older generation paves the way for the younger. 2:3-12 Although Hiram was one of David's and Solomon's friendly allies, he was the ruler of a nation that worshiped many different gods. Hiram was happy to send materials for the Temple, and both David and Solomon used this occasion to testify about the one true God. 2:5, 6 We should try our best to build beautiful, accessible, and welcoming places of worship to be a testimony and credit to God. In so doing, however, we must remember that God cannot be contained in our building or lovely setting. He is far greater than any structure, so we must focus our praise on him and not merely on the place of worship. 2:7 Why use foreign craftsmen? The Israelites had great knowledge of agricutture but knew little about metalworking. So they found people who were experts in this area. It is not a sin to obtain secular expertise as we go about God’s work. He distributes talents as he chooses, and he often decides to give skill to non-Christians. When we hire secular contractors to build or repair our church buildings, we are recognizing that God gives Qifts liberally. We may also be gaining an opportunity to tell the workers about God.
SHIPPING RESOURCES FOR THE TEMPLE Solomon asked King Hiram of Tyre to provide supplies and skilled workmen to help build God's Temple in Jerusalem. The plan was to cut the cedar logs in the mountains of Lebanon, float them by sea to Joppa, then bring them inland to Jerusalem by the shortest and easiest route.
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