Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 8

Verse 1

twenty. The number of Expectancy and Waiting, 2 Chronicles 21:1 . Divine completeness (21) minus one (1). ( App-10 ). Compare Genesis 31:38 , Genesis 31:41 .Judges 4:3 ; Judges 15:20 ; Judges 16:31 . 1 Samuel 7:2 .

Verse 2

restored = given. Evidently these had been previously given by Solomon as pledges or "security" (1 Kings 9:10-14 ).

children = sons.

Verse 5

built = rebuilt. Compare Joshua 16:3 , Jos 16:5 ; 1 Chronicles 7:22-24 .

gates = double doors.

Verse 8

consumed not = destroyed not.

make to pay tribute = raise a levy of bondmen.

Verse 11

the daughter of Pharaoh. Taking it for granted that we know she was Solomon's wife.

for he said. The reason is complementary to 1 Kings 9:24 .

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

the ark. See note on 1 Chronicles 13:3 .Exodus 25:22 .

Verse 12

offered = offered up. Hebrew. 'alah, App-43 .

Verse 13

three times. Compare Exodus 23:14 .Deuteronomy 16:16 .

Verse 14

courses. Compare 1 Chronicles 24:1 .

porters = gatekeepers. Compare 1 Chronicles 9:17 .

the man of God. See App-49 .

God. Heb Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 15

commandment: or commandments.

treasures = treasuries.

Verse 16

unto. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read "from".

Verse 18

by the hands of. Figure of speech Pleonasm.

ships. From Tyre, in the Mediterranean, to the Red Sea. To show that this was not insuperable (as some have imagined) the next clause is added.

that had knowledge of the sea. This is the explanation of the possibility of such voyages being possible. And why not?

Ophir. First occurrence Genesis 10:29 , where Ophir, the son of Joktan, was the ancestor of several Arabian tribes. Rhodesia is probably the land indicated. About five hundred ruins are scattered over a large area. There are evidences' of gold-smelting in the great Zimbawe buildings, where the ancient ruins resemble the ruins in Syria, temple and fortress being combined. Tharshish ships for Ezion-geber sailed thither to Fast Africa, as well as to Arabia and India. The Queen of Sheba being mentioned in close connection with Ophir (2 Chronicles 8:10 ), as hearing about Solomon, furnishes further evidence. Compare 1 Kings 9:28 .