2 Chronicles - Chapter 8

2 Chronicles 8.1 And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house, 2 Chronicles 8.2 That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there. 2 Chronicles 8.3 And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it. 2 Chronicles 8.4 And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath. 2 Chronicles 8.5 Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars; 2 Chronicles 8.6 And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion. 2 Chronicles 8.7 As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel, 2 Chronicles 8.8 But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day. 2 Chronicles 8.10 And these were the chief of king Solomon’s officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people. 2 Chronicles 8.11 And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come. 2 Chronicles 8.12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the LORD on the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch, 2 Chronicles 8.13 Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles. 2 Chronicles 8.14 And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded. 2 Chronicles 8.15 And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures. 2 Chronicles 8.16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected. 2 Chronicles 8.17 Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom. 2 Chronicles 8.18 And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.

2 Chronicles : Chapter 8

Solomon's Accomplishments: A Prosperous Kingdom

In 2 Chronicles, chapter 8, we discover the impressive accomplishments of Solomon, the wise king of Israel. This sacred text sheds light on how a prosperous kingdom can develop, highlighting the cities Solomon built, his military and commercial conquests, and the organization of Temple worship. Throughout this chapter, important themes emerge, such as national expansion, administrative wisdom, and faithfulness to divine commandments.

Solomon embodies a harmonious balance between material development and spiritual devotion. 2 Chronicles 8 thus offers us valuable insight into the apogee of the united kingdom of Israel. Let us reflect together on five biblical passages that highlight the eternal principles of this panoramic chapter.

1. Relationship between Solomon and Hiram

1 Kings 9:10-14: "After twenty years, during which Solomon had been building the two buildings, the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, King Solomon gave Hiram, king of Tyre, twenty cities in Galilee, because Hiram had provided him with all the cedar and pine timber and all the gold he wanted. Hiram, king of Tyre, went to see the cities Solomon had given him, but he was not satisfied. "What are these cities that you have given me, my brother?" he asked. And he called them the land of Kabul, a name they bear to this day. Hiram had sent the king four tons of gold." This passage provides additional details about the relationship between Solomon and Hiram, thus completing the account in 2 Chronicles 8:1-2.

2. Covenant with Pharaoh

1 Kings 3:1: "So Solomon made a covenant with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. He brought her into the City of David until he had finished building his palace, the temple of the Lord, and the walls around Jerusalem." This verse mentions Solomon's marriage to Pharaoh's daughter, thus providing the context for 2 Chronicles 8:11.

3. Prohibition of Alliances Exodus 23:32-33: "Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods. Do not allow them to dwell in your land, lest they tempt you to sin against me, for you will surely fall into the service of their gods, and that will be a snare for you." This commandment contrasts with Solomon's actions described in 2 Chronicles 8, where he formed alliances with foreign nations. 4. Instructions for the Kings of Israel Deuteronomy 17:16-17: "The king must not acquire a large number of horses for himself, nor force the people to return to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the Lord said to them, 'You shall never return this way again.' Nor should he take many wives for himself, lest his heart be led astray. You shall not hoard a large amount of silver and gold." These instructions to the kings of Israel contrast with the actions of Solomon, who accumulated wealth and entered into foreign alliances, as shown in 2 Chronicles 8.

5. The Temple of God Within Us

1 Corinthians 3:16-17: "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, him God will destroy; for you are God's temple." The apostle Paul uses the metaphor of the temple, central to 2 Chronicles 8, to describe believers as God's dwelling place, thus emphasizing the importance of our spiritual life in the context of our relationship with the Lord.