Grace Institute: The Writings : Chronicles Part 5

Chronicles Survey of the Old Testament: The Writings Fall 2006

The Reign of Solomon (2 Chronicles 1-9)

Solomon Obtains Wisdom (2 Chronicles 1)

2 Chronicles begins with Solomon's rule securely established (1:1). From the book of Kings we know that there was some significant court politics behind this, but in keeping with the positive tone of Chronicles, this is omitted.

His kingdom established, Solomon goes to Gibeon to offer sacrifices to the Lord. While the Ark of the Covenant had been moved to Jerusalem , the tabernacle of Moses remained in Gibeon and remained the appropriate place to offer sacrifices. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings (1:6).

While offering sacrifices, God spoke to Solomon, telling him that He would give Solomon whatever he asks. Solomon responds first with thanksgiving for making him king. He then asks for wisdom and knowledge so that he can rule over the people well ( 1:10 ). God grants Solomon his request because it was an unselfish request motivated by his concern for the people. Because of the unselfishness of the request, God gives, in addition to wisdom, riches and honor to Solomon ( 1:12 ).

According to 1 Kings 4:29-34, because of the gift of God, Solomon becomes more wise than all the wise men of the east and Egypt , and he becomes famous for his wisdom. He spoke more than 3,000 proverbs (375 of which are recorded for us in the book of Proverbs), and he wrote more than a thousand songs. He also was a great biologist, understanding things regarding trees and animals. Solomon's wisdom is so great that people from all over the world would hear and come visit Solomon to hear of his wisdom.

2 Chronicles 1 lays the background of the wisdom Solomon will share in the wisdom literature found in the bible. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon (as well as one Psalm) are all books written by Solomon demonstrating his great wisdom. Each exhibit a wide range of knowledge, yet are focused on a simple message.

Solomon's Temple (2 Chronicles 2-7)

The Construction of the Temple (2 Chronicles 2-4)

Two years into his reign, Solomon begins to build the temple to Yahweh. He begins by requesting from cedar timber and skilled workmen from Huram, the king of Tyre (2:3-10). Huram's answer to Solomon begins with a blessing to Yahweh. Huram recognizes Yahweh as the God who has made the heavens and the earth, and who provided Solomon with his wisdom ( 2:11 -12). Solomon's wisdom is already serving as a testimony to the greatness of Yahweh. Huram agrees, sending Huram-abi, who is half Israelite and half-Phoenician, and extremely skilled at working in precious metals, building materials and engravings. The chapter ends and begins by explaining that Solomon had 153,600 forced laborers build the temple, but that these were foreigners and not citizens of Israel ( 2:17 -18). The Chronicler makes it an important point that Solomon never used the sons of Israel as his forced laborers; only defeated foreigners (2 Chronicles 8:7-9).

Chapter 3 outlines the dimension of the temple. The foundation of the temple is only 30 x 90 feet, making the temple itself only 2700 square feet. While this is small, especially by modern standards, the interior decorations are extravagant. All the beams, walls, doors and thresholds were overlaid in gold. Inside the holy of holies, where the Ark would rest, Solomon built two statues of cherubim with their wings extending the width of the temple and providing a canopy over the ark. Then a veil of purple with embroidered cherubim was built and placed between the holy place and the holy of holies. In front of the temple were two pillars 52 feet tall.

Source: Bible Knowledge Commentary

Chapter 4 describes the furnishings and utensils for the temple. He also created a great water feature in the courtyard, a bronze sea and a large bronze altar. He also crated the items needed to build a fire and sacrifice animals on the altar. All of these items were made of the purest gold.

Dedication of the Temple (2 Chronicles 5-7)

Praise to Yahweh and His Glory Fills the Temple (Chapter 5)

In chapter 5, the temple is complete and the ark of the covenant is brought into the temple. The priests bring the ark out of the tent and place it in the holy of holies under the wings of the cherubim. Then all the Levitical singers, including Asaph and Heman, lift a song of praise to glorify Yahweh. This included 120 trumpeters, loud cymbals and a large chorus, all giving praise to Yahweh, for He is good, His love endures forever. This familiar refrain took place when the ark was first brought to Jerusalem and would be repeated when Zerubbabel laid the foundation for the second temple in Ezra 3.

In the midst of the celebration, a cloud comes and fills the temple. Just as in Exodus 40, when Moses built the tabernacle, the cloud representing the presence and guidance of the Lord descended on the tabernacle, so now God's glory was entering the temple, and it was so great that the priests could not enter the temple.

Solomon's Dedicatory Address and Prayer(Chapter 6)

In chapter 6, Solomon sees the descent of God's glory on the temple, and He explains to the people what this means. God has fulfilled His promise to David, and Solomon has fulfilled his vow to David to complete the temple.

Solomon then offers a deeply theological prayer to the Lord. He kneels before the people and prays aloud. First, Solomon affirms that this temple does not hold God. Indeed, the heavens themselves can not contain God ( 6:18 ). But Solomon does ask that God would use the temple as a symbol of his presence, so that when Israel prays facing the temple, He would answer their prayers.

Solomon, then, prophetically speaks of a time when Israel will rebel against God ( 6:36 -39). When God punishes them, and the people repent, offering their prayers while facing the temple, Solomon asks that God would accept this as a symbol of the repentance of the people and restore them. Because Chronicles is written to the remnant who have returned after the exile, this would have been an important part of Solomon's prayer. This remnant had indeed repented and had returned to the Lord. They had prayed facing the temple. Solomon's request that God would hear His people when exhibiting this repentance would be an assurance to the reader of Chronicles that God indeed had heard their prayers and that He would forgive and restore them.

When Solomon finished His prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifices on the altar, and all the Israelites there shouted out that God is good, his love endures forever!

After this, the Lord appeared to Solomon and reminded him of the covenant he had with David and his descendents. So long as the people humbled themselves in prayer and repented, then indeed, God would hear them, forgive them and heal their land (7:14). God is saying He has honored Solomon's request that the temple become the focal point of Israel 's worship and prayers. Indeed, if the people repent and pray towards the temple, God will hear them, and re-establish them. This promise of God would be of great comfort to the exiles.

Solomon's Kingdom (2 Chronicles 8-9)

In addition to the temple, Solomon built his own palace. He also built several storage cities and fortified cities throughout his kingdom. Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter and built her a house. However, note that the Chronicler states the reason for building her a house is so she does not enter into a place where the ark has entered.

Solomon's wisdom and wealth had made him a very famous person in his time. People from all over the world would come to see the greatness of this kingdom. The most famous of these was the Queen of Sheba. Sheba is located in present day Ethiopia . Her queen came with an amazing entourage, including camels and spices and gold. She quizzes Solomon to see if his wisdom is real. Solomon, of course, passes. The queen, having seen Solomon's wisdom and wealth blesses Yahweh your God and gives Solomon great gifts.

[Next: The Kingdom of Judah]