Bible Commentaries

And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God [was] with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom. — Defying the opposition of Adonijah and his accomplices. See 1 Kings 1:4-10 .

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Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.

Then Solomon spake unto all Israel. — As David had done before him. 1 Chronicles 28:1 ; 1 Chronicles 29:1

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So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that [was] at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.

Went to the high place. — This word is usually taken in an ill sense: but here in a good. Vatab. See on 1 Kings 3:4 .

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But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to [the place which] David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

But the ark. — See on 2 Samuel 6:2 , …

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Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.

He put, — i.e., Moses put.

And Solomon and all the congregation sought unto it. — Or, Unto him, i.e., the Lord; there they did their devotions to him: they diligently sought him, as the word signitieth. Compare Hebrews 11:6 .

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And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which [was] at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.

The tabernacle of the congregation. — Which was so called, because there the people met to serve God.

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In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

In that night. — See on 1 Kings 3:5 .

Did God appear. — That this was a divine dream, Solomon was sufficiently sensible, by the great wisdom wherewith he found himself indued when he awoke.

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And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.

Thou hast showed, … — God must be praised for the kindness he hath showed to our ancestors also. See on 1 Kings 3:6 .

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