(b) THE FORCED LABOUR OF THE CANAANITES

(2Chronicles 8:7-10).

With this section comp. 1Kings 9:20-23, and the Notes there. In Kings it stands in more obvious connection with what precedes; for there the account of Solomon's buildings is headed by the words, "And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised, for to build the house of the Lord," &c. (1Kings 9:15).

(7) As for all the people that were left.--The verse agrees with 1Kings 9:20.

(8) But.--Omit. The of also is wanting in 1Kings 9:21. So Syriac, but not LXX. and Vulgate.

Consumed not.--1Samuel 15:18. Kings, "were not able to exterminate." The chronicler's reading is probably due to the fading of letters in his MS. authority.

Them did Solomon make to pay tribute.--On them did Solomon levy a tribute. Kings has the fuller expression, mas 'ob?d, "tribute of labourers." "Solomon en fit de levees pour la corvee" (Reuss).

(9) But of the children of Israel.--See 1Kings 9:22. The Heb. text has the relative ('asher) after "children of Israel." But some few MSS., and the ancient versions, omit it. It is, perhaps, an accidental repetition from the beginning of 2Chronicles 8:8.

According to Diod. Sic. i. 56, Sesostris (Rameses II.), the great Egyptian monarch, was wont to inscribe over the temples he built, "No native hath laboured hereon."

After "men of war," Kings adds, "and his servants," which is omitted here as unsuitable, after the preceding statement. It means, however, courtiers and officers.

Chief of his captains.--Heb., captains of his knights; which appears to be incorrect. Read, "his captains and his knights," or "aides-de-camp." as in Kings. LXX., ??? ???????? ??? ???????.

(10) The chief of king Solomon's officers.--"Captains of the overseers," or "prefects," i.e., chief overseers, or inspectors of works (Comp. 1Chronicles 18:13, and 2Chronicles 17:2, for the word n'cibim, prefects.) The Heb. margin suggests niccabim, the word used in Kings.

King Solomon's.--Literally, Who were to king Solomon. Kings, who were over the work for Solomon. Clearly the latter has been corrupted into the form presented by our text through a confusion of m?l?k?h, "work," with melek, "king."

Two hundred and fifty.--See 2Chronicles 2:17, and 1Kings 9:23. In the latter place 550 is the number. The number here is an error of transcription, ??, i.e., 550, having been mistaken for ??, i.e., 250 (Kennicott).

Bare rule.--They were taskmasters. (Comp. Syriac, "who made the people work who were working at the works.")

The people--i.e., the Canaanite remnant (2Chronicles 8:7). Kings adds, who were labouring at the work. (See Syriac.)

Verses 7-10. - These verses, corresponding very nearly exactly with the parallel (1 Kings 9:20-23), betray how it was a thing never to be forgotten, if only as a fact, that the extermination of the old possessors of the land had not been entire; so that allusion to it is not omitted even by a post-Captivity compiler. The parallel charitably "whom the children of Israel were not able to destroy utterly," where our text shows with exacter fidelity, whom the children of Israel consumed not. The parallel also uses the words, "levy a tribute of bond-service," for our more ambiguous make to pay tribute (Judges 3:1-7). In the words, until this day, the copyist, shall we say, too slavish, is again detected (ver. 9). The "levy "in ver. 21 of the parallel probably explains the suddenly mentioned similar language of its fifteenth verse, and again betrays the collected and copied nature of the historic material, the carefulness of sequence not being as observable in selection as might be desired. The distinction between the remnant of aliens and the people of Israel was manifestly that the menial and the laborious service was put on the former. Useful but familiar references to this whole subject are found in Judges 1:21-36; Judges 3:1-5; 1 Chronicles 22:2; 1 Kings 5:13-18. For our two hundred and fifty (which gives the number of overseers over Israelites only) the parallel reads, "five hundred and fifty." It will be remembered that an analogous difference occurs between our 2 Chronicles 2:18 and 1 Kings 5:16. Whether it were the determining reason or not in these two places, it is very imaginable that it would be of less importance in the ages of the post-Captivity annalist to dwell on the minutiae of the different treatment of the aliens.

8:1 - 18 Solomon's buildings and trade. - It sometimes requires more wisdom and resolution to govern a family in the fear of God, than to govern a kingdom with reputation. The difficulty is increased, when a man has a hinderance instead of a help meet in the wife of his bosom. Solomon kept up the holy sacrifices, according to the law of Moses. In vain had the altar been built, in vain had fire come down from heaven, if sacrifices had not been constantly brought. Spiritual sacrifices are required of us, which we are to bring daily and weekly; it is good to be in a settled method of devotion. When the service of the temple was put into good order, it is said, The house of the Lord was perfected. The work was the main matter, not the place; the temple was unfinished till all this was done. Canaan was a rich country, and yet must send to Ophir for gold The Israelites were a wise people, but must be beholden to the king of Tyre for men that had knowledge of the seas. Grace, and not gold, is the best riches, and acquaintance with God and his law, the best knowledge. Leaving the children of this world to scramble for the toys of this world, may we, as the children of God, lay up our treasure in heaven, that where our treasure is, our hearts also may be.And Baalath,.... See 1 Kings 9:18. From hence, to the end of 2 Chronicles 8:11, it is the same with 1 Kings 9:19. See Gill on 1 Kings 9:19. 1 Kings 9:20. 1 Kings 9:21. 1 Kings 9:22. 1 Kings 9:23. 1 Kings 9:24.