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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
The Officers of the Army. (b. c. 1015.)
THE OFFICERS OF THE ARMY. (B. C. 1015.) We have here an account of the regulation of the militia of the kingdom. David was himself a man of war, and had done great things with the sword; he had brought into the field gr…
The Military Force. (b. c. 1015.)
THE MILITARY FORCE. (B. C. 1015.) We have here an account, I. Of the princes of the tribes. Something of the ancient order instituted by Moses in the wilderness was still kept up, that every tribe should have its prince…
David's Charge to the People. (b. c. 1015.)
DAVID'S CHARGE TO THE PEOPLE. (B. C. 1015.) A great deal of service David had done in his day, had served his generation according to the will of God, Acts 13:36. But now the time draws night that he must die, and, as a…
David's Charge to Solomon. (b. c. 1015.)
DAVID'S CHARGE TO SOLOMON. (B. C. 1015.) As for the general charge that David gave his son to seek God and serve him, the book of the law was, in that, his only rule, and there needed no other; but, in building the temp…
Presents for the Temple. (b. c. 1015.)
PRESENTS FOR THE TEMPLE. (B. C. 1015.) We may here observe, I. How handsomely David spoke to the great men of Israel, to engage them to contribute towards the building of the temple. It is our duty to provoke one anothe…
David's Prayer to God; Sacrifices Offered. (b. c. 1015.)
DAVID'S PRAYER TO GOD; SACRIFICES OFFERED. (B. C. 1015.) We have here, I. The solemn address which David made to God upon occasion of the noble subscriptions of the princes towards the building of the temple (1 Chronicl…
Solomon Magnified. (b. c. 1015.)
SOLOMON MAGNIFIED. (B. C. 1015.) These verses bring king Solomon to his throne and king David to his grave. Thus the rising generation thrusts out that which went before, and says, "Make room for us." Every one has his…
God's Goodness to Solomon. (b. c. 1015.)
GOD'S GOODNESS TO SOLOMON. (B. C. 1015.) Here is, I. Solomon's great prosperity, 2 Chronicles 1:1. Though he had a contested title, yet, God being with him, he was strengthened in his kingdom; his heart and hands were s…
Matthew Henry on 2 Chronicles 1:13-17
Here is, 1. Solomon's entrance upon the government (2 Chronicles 1:13): He came from before the tabernacle, and reigned over Israel. He would not do any acts of government till he had done his acts of devotion, would no…
Preparations to Build the Temple. (b. c. 1015.)
PREPARATIONS TO BUILD THE TEMPLE. (B. C. 1015.) Solomon's wisdom was given him, not merely for speculation, to entertain himself (though it is indeed a princely entertainment), nor merely for conversation, to entertain…
Solomon's Treaty with Hiram. (b. c. 1015.)
SOLOMON'S TREATY WITH HIRAM. (B. C. 1015.) Here we have, I. The return which Huram made to Solomon's embassy, in which he shows a great respect for Solomon and a readiness to serve him. Meaner people may learn of these…
The Temple Built. (b. c. 1012.)
THE TEMPLE BUILT. (B. C. 1012.) Here is, I. The place where the temple was built. Solomon was neither at liberty to choose nor at a loss to fix the place. It was before determined (1 Chronicles 22:1), which was an ease…
Matthew Henry on 2 Chronicles 3:10-17
Here is an account of 1. The two cherubim, which were set up in the holy of holies. There were two already over the ark, which covered the mercy-seat with their wings; these were small ones. Now that the most holy place…
The Furniture of the Temple. (b. c. 1012.)
THE FURNITURE OF THE TEMPLE. (B. C. 1012.) David often speaks with much affection both of the house of the Lord and of the courts of our God. Both without doors and within there was that which typified the grace of the…
Matthew Henry on 2 Chronicles 4:11-22
We have here such a summary both of the brass-work and the gold-work of the temple as we had before (1 Kings 7:13-51, &c.), in which we have nothing more to observe than, 1. That Huram the workman was very punctual: He…
The Ark Placed in the Temple. (b. c. 1004.)
THE ARK PLACED IN THE TEMPLE. (B. C. 1004.) This agrees with what we had 1 Kings 8:2-10, &c., where an account was given of the solemn introduction of the ark into the new-erected temple. 1. There needed no great solemn…
The Temple Filled with Glory. (b. c. 1004.)
THE TEMPLE FILLED WITH GLORY. (B. C. 1004.) Solomon, and the elders of Israel, had done what they could to grace the solemnity of the introduction of the ark; but God, by testifying his acceptance of what they did, put…
Solomon's Prayer to God. (b. c. 1004.)
SOLOMON'S PRAYER TO GOD. (B. C. 1004.) It is of great consequence, in all our religious actions, that we design well, and that our eye be single. If Solomon had built this temple in the pride of his heart, as Ahasuerus…
Matthew Henry on 2 Chronicles 6:12-42
Solomon had, in the foregoing verses, signed and sealed, as it were, the deed of dedication, by which the temple was appropriated to the honour and service of God. Now here he prays the consecration-prayer, by which it…
God's Gracious Answer to Solomon. (b. c. 1004.)
GOD'S GRACIOUS ANSWER TO SOLOMON. (B. C. 1004.) Here is, I. The gracious answer which God immediately made to Solomon's prayer: The fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, 2 Chronicles 7:1. In this way Go…
God's Promises to Solomon. (b. c. 1004.)
GOD'S PROMISES TO SOLOMON. (B. C. 1004.) That God accepted Solomon's prayer appeared by the fire from heaven. But a prayer may be accepted and yet not answered in the letter of it; and therefore God appeared to him in t…
Solomon's Buildings. (b. c. 992.)
SOLOMON'S BUILDINGS. (B. C. 992.) This we had 1 Kings 9:10-24, and therefore shall only observe here, I. Though Solomon was a man of great learning and knowledge, yet he spent his days, not in contemplation, but in acti…
Solomon's Devotion. (b. c. 992.)
SOLOMON'S DEVOTION. (B. C. 992.) Here is, I. Solomon's devotion. The building of the temple was in order to the service of the temple. Whatever cost he was at in rearing the structure, if he had neglected the worship th…
The Queen of Sheba Visit Solomon. (b. c. 992.)
THE QUEEN OF SHEBA VISIT SOLOMON. (B. C. 992.) This passage of story had been largely considered in the Kings; yet, because our Saviour has proposed it as an example to us in our enquiries after him (Matthew 12:42), we…