A house for the name of the Lord - A temple for the worship of Jehovah.

A house for his kingdom - A royal palace for his own use as king of Israel.

And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord,.... For the worship and service of God, and for his honour and glory, being directed, enjoined, and encouraged to it by his father David:

and an house for his kingdom; for a royal palace for him, and his successors, first the one, and then the other; and in this order they were built.

(2 Chronicles 1:18). The account of these is introduced by 1:18: "Solomon thought to build." אמר with an infinitive following does not signify here to command one to do anything, as e.g., in 1 Chronicles 21:17, but to purpose to do something, as e.g., in 1 Kings 5:5. For יהוה לשׁם, see on 1 Kings 5:17. למלכוּתו בּית, house for his kingdom, i.e., the royal palace. The building of this palace is indeed shortly spoken of in 2 Chronicles 2:11; 2 Chronicles 7:11, and 2 Chronicles 8:1, but is not in the Chronicle described in detail as in 1 Kings 7:1-12.

(2:1). With 2 Chronicles 2:1 begins the account of the preparations which Solomon made for the erection of these buildings, especially of the temple building, accompanied by a statement that the king caused all the workmen of the necessary sort in his kingdom to be numbered. There follows thereafter an account of the negotiations with King Hiram of Tyre in regard to the sending of a skilful architect, and of the necessary materials, such as cedar wood and hewn stones, from Lebanon (2 Chronicles 2:2-15); and, in conclusion, the statements as to the levying of the statute labourers of Israel (2 Chronicles 2:1) are repeated and rendered more complete (2 Chronicles 2:16, 2 Chronicles 2:17). If we compare the parallel account in 1 Kings 5:5., we find that Solomon's negotiation with Hiram about the proposed buildings is preceded (1 Kings 5:5) by a notice, that Hiram, after he had heard of Solomon's accession, had sent him an embassy to congratulate him. This notice is omitted in the Chronicle, because it was of no importance in the negotiations which succeeded. In the account of Solomon's negotiation with Hiram, both narratives (2 Chronicles 2:2-15 and 1 Kings 5:16.) agree in the main, but differ in form so considerably, that it is manifest that they are free adaptations of one common original document, quite independent of each other, as has been already remarked on 1 Kings 5:5. On 2 Chronicles 2:2 see further on 1 Kings 5:15.

And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.

2:1 His kingdom - A royal palace for himself and his successors.

CHAPTER 2

2Ch 2:1, 2. Solomon's Laborers for Building the Temple.

1. Solomon determined to build-The temple is the grand subject of this narrative, while the palace-here and in other parts of this book-is only incidentally noticed. The duty of building the temple was reserved for Solomon before his birth. As soon as he became king, he addressed himself to the work, and the historian, in proceeding to give an account of the edifice, begins with relating the preliminary arrangements.

2:1-18 Solomon's message to Huram respecting the temple, His treaty with Huram. - Solomon informs Huram of the particular services to be performed in the temple. The mysteries of the true religion, unlike those of the Gentile superstitions, sought not concealment. Solomon endeavoured to possess Huram with great and high thoughts of the God of Israel. We should not be afraid or ashamed to embrace every opportunity to speak of God, and to impress others with a deep sense of the importance of his favour and service. Now that the people of Israel kept close to the law and worship of God, the neighbouring nations were willing to be taught by them in the true religion, as the Israelites had been willing in the days of their apostacy, to be infected with the idolatries and superstitions of their neighbours. A wise and pious king is an evidence of the Lord's special love for his people. How great then was God's love to his believing people, in giving his only-begotten Son to be their Prince and their Saviour.