CHAPTER VIII

Solomon's buildings, conquests, and officers, 1-10. He brings Pharaoh's daughter to his new-built palace, 11. His various sacrifices, and arrangement of the priests, Levites, and porters, 12-16. He sends a fleet to Ophir, 17, 18.

NOTES ON CHAP. VIII

Verse 1. At the end of twenty years] He employed seven years and a half in building the temple, and twelve and a half, or thirteen, in building his own house. - Compare this with 1 Kings vii. 1.

Verse 2. The cities which Huram had restored] See the note on 1 Kings ix. 11.

Verse 3. Hamath-zobah] "Emessa, on the river Orontes." - Calmet.

Verse 4. Tadmor] Palmyra. See the note on 1 Kings ix. 18, for an account of this superb city.

Verse 6. All the store cities] See the note on 1 Kings ix. 19.

Verse 9. But of the children of Israel] See the note on 1 Kings ix. 21.

Verse 11. The daughter of Pharaoh] "And Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh, Solomon brought up from the city of David to the palace which he had built for her." -T.

Because the places are holy] Is not this a proof that he considered his wife to be a heathen, and not proper to dwell in a place which had been sanctified? Solomon had not yet departed from the true God.

Verse 13. Three times in the year] These were the three great annual feasts.

Verse 15. The commandment of the king] The institutions of David.

Verse 17. Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber] See the notes on 1 Kings ix. 26-28, for conjectures concerning Ezion-geber and Ophir.