“And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house,”
After. Septuagint, “in which.”
“That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.”
Given back (Tirinus) as he refused to accept of the present. Some think that (Calmet) Hiram gave these cities in exchange for the others. (Salien) (Menochius)
“And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it.”
Emath, or Emesa, on the Orontes. This city had belonged to Thou, who cultivated the friendship of David, 2 Kings viii. 9. But after the death of these princes, it had given some offence to Solomon, who took it, as well as Palmira, or Thadmor, though not perhaps in person.
“And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath.”
Strong. Hebrew, “the cities of tents,” Exodus i. 11. (Calmet) — Protestants, “store-cities,” (Haydock) for corn, &c.
“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.”
Tributaries. Hebrew also, “to work,” at cutting stones, &c., 1 Paralipomenon xxii. 2. Some of their descendants returned from captivity, 1 Paralipomenon ix. 2.
“And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers , even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.”
Fifty. These were different from the 550 overseers, 3 Kings ix. 23.
“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. holy: Heb. holiness”
Into it. It was deemed improper for a pagan woman to reside in the same place. (Calmet) — She had perhaps pretended, at first, to be converted, but had lately given some signs of relapse. (Salien) — Solomon was as yet far from communicating with infidels. (Worthington)
“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. so had David: Heb. so was the commandment of David the man of God”
And gate, at their respective posts. See 1 Paralipomenon xxvi. (Haydock)
“And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.”
Treasures. The regulations of David were exactly observed. (Calmet)
“Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom. Eloth: also called, Elath, Deut.2.8.”
Asiongaber, which was called Bernice, (Josephus, [Antiquities?] viii. 2.) and now Suez. (Tirinus)
“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.”
Ships; not perhaps from Tyre, but from the Red Sea. (Calmet) — Others think that he sent them by a canal, which opened a communication between the Mediterranean and Suez, (Huet) the distance of about ninety miles. (Pliny, [Natural History?] ii. 68.) — But this canal seems to have been made after the age of Solomon. Hence others imagine that the ships were taken in pieces, or conveyed by land, as has been sometimes done. Mahomet II transported ships across the isthmus of Corinth. Alexander the Great conveyed on chariots the ships which had been used to cross the Indus, as far as the Hydaspes. (Arrian vii.) (Calmet) — Skilful mariners. They were the most expert, and the inventers of navigation. Prima ratem ventis tradere docta Tyrus. (Tibul.) See Wisdom xiv. 6. — Ophir, the kingdom of Pegu, in the East Indies, (Tirinus) or some other distant land. (Haydock) — Fifty. Thirty are omitted, 3 Kings ix. 28., as they were expended in the voyage. (Calmet) — Yet the Hebrew letters for twenty and fifty are extremely similar. (Du Hamel)