2 Chronicles 8: Solomon's building, his workers, and the ships to Ophir
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
After twenty years of building Yahweh's house and his own, Solomon rebuilds the cities Huram gave him, settles Israelites in them, wins against Hamath Zobah, and builds Tadmor, Beth Horon, Baalath and many storage and chariot cities. The people left over from the nations in the land he puts to forced labor, but he makes no slaves of Israelites. He brings Pharaoh's daughter to a house of her own, offers on the altar according to the commandment of Moses, and sets the priests, Levites and doorkeepers in their divisions as David commanded. Huram then sends him ships and servants who know the sea, and they bring four hundred and fifty talents of gold from Ophir.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. In verse 11 Solomon speaks and gives his reason for moving Pharaoh's daughter out of David's city; those are his own words. The commandments mentioned in verses 13 and 14 (of Moses and of David) are reported, not quoted. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built Yahweh’s house and his own house,
In plain English: At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built Yahweh's house and his own house,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
2Solomon built the cities which Huram had given to Solomon, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.
In plain English: Solomon rebuilt the cities that Huram had given to Solomon, and he made the children of Israel live there.
Good to know: This is the other way round in and : there Solomon gives Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee, and Hiram comes out to see them and is not pleased with them. This verse says Huram gave cities to Solomon. The Hebrew spells the king's name Huram here and Hiram in 1 Kings 9. The text does not explain the difference.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
3Solomon went to Hamath Zobah, and prevailed against it.
In plain English: Solomon went to Hamath Zobah and prevailed (or: overpowered) against it.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
4He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the storage cities, which he built in Hamath.
In plain English: He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the storage cities that he built in Hamath.
Good to know: The Hebrew text of has Tamar (the WEB reads "Tamar in the wilderness"), where this verse has Tadmor. The name Tadmor is in this verse only. The text does not say whether they are one place.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
5Also he built Beth Horon the upper and Beth Horon the lower, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars;
In plain English: He also built Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon, cities fortified with walls, gates and bars,
Good to know: names "Beth Horon the lower" among the places Solomon built. This verse names both Upper and Lower Beth Horon, and says they were fortified with walls, gates and bars.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
6and Baalath, and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
In plain English: and Baalath, and all the storage cities that Solomon had, all the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his rule.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
7As for all the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel—
In plain English: As for all the people left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
8of their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel didn’t consume—of them Solomon conscripted forced labor to this day.
In plain English: that is, their descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel had not destroyed (literally: finished off), Solomon brought them up (the WEB says: conscripted) to forced labor, to this day.
Good to know: says the children of Israel "were not able utterly to destroy" these people, and that Solomon "raised a levy of bondservants" from them "to this day". This verse says the children of Israel "didn't consume" them. The Hebrew word here is kalah, which the dictionary says can mean "to cease, be finished, perish" or "to complete, prepare, consume". The other verse uses a different word.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
9But of the children of Israel, Solomon made no servants for his work, but they were men of war, chief of his captains, and rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen.
In plain English: But of the children of Israel Solomon made no slaves (or: servants) for his work. They were men of war, commanders of his officers, and commanders of his chariots and his horsemen.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
10These were the chief officers of King Solomon, even two-hundred fifty, who ruled over the people.
In plain English: These were the chief officers of King Solomon, two hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people.
Good to know: The number is two hundred and fifty here. says "five hundred fifty" for the chief officers over Solomon's work. The text does not explain the difference.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
11Solomon brought up Pharaoh’s daughter out of David’s city to 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 where Yahweh’s ark has come are holy.”
In plain English: Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from David's city to the house that he had built for her. For he said, "My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, because the places where Yahweh's ark has come are holy."
Good to know: These are Solomon's own words, so they are not in gold. has Pharaoh's daughter coming up from David's city to the house Solomon had built for her, and does not quote these words. says he brought her into David's city until he had finished building his own house, Yahweh's house and the wall around Jerusalem.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
12Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to Yahweh on Yahweh’s altar which he had built before the porch,
In plain English: Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to Yahweh on Yahweh's altar, which he had built in front of the porch,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
13even as the duty of every day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, three times per year, during the feast of unleavened bread, during the feast of weeks, and during the feast of booths.
In plain English: as the duty of each day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, three times a year: at the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of weeks, and the feast of booths.
Good to know: This verse names the three yearly feasts: unleavened bread, weeks and booths. says "three times per year" and does not name them. names the same three feasts.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
14He appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, the divisions of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their offices, to praise and to minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required, the doorkeepers also by their divisions at every gate, for David the man of God had so commanded.
In plain English: He appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, the divisions of the priests for their service, and the Levites for their duties, to praise and to serve before the priests as each day required, and the doorkeepers by their divisions at each gate, for so David the man of God had commanded.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
15They didn’t depart from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter or concerning the treasures.
In plain English: They did not turn aside from the king's command to the priests and Levites about anything, or about the treasuries (the WEB says: treasures).
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
16Now all the work of Solomon was accomplished from the day of the foundation of Yahweh’s house until it was finished. So Yahweh’s house was completed.
In plain English: All the work of Solomon was accomplished (or: set in order) from the day the foundation of Yahweh's house was laid until it was finished. So Yahweh's house was completed.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
17Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and to Eloth, on the seashore in the land of Edom.
In plain English: Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and to Eloth (or: Elath), on the shore of the sea in the land of Edom.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
18Huram sent him ships and servants who had knowledge of the sea by the hands of his servants; and they came with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and brought from there four hundred fifty talents of gold, and brought them to King Solomon.
In plain English: Huram sent him ships by the hand of his servants, and servants who knew the sea. They went with Solomon's servants to Ophir and took from there four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought it to King Solomon.
Good to know: This verse says Huram sent ships and servants who knew the sea, and that they went with Solomon's servants to Ophir and brought back four hundred and fifty talents of gold. and say Solomon made the fleet at Ezion Geber and Hiram sent his servants in it, and says "four hundred and twenty talents". The text does not explain the two numbers.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.