2 Chronicles 8:9

[See comments on 2 Chronicles 8:6].

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. No JFB commentary on these verses.

2 Chronicles 8:9 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they [were] men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen.Ver. 9. But of the children of Israel.] See 1 Kings 9:22.

(b) THE FORCED LABOUR OF THE (2 Chronicles 8:7-10). With this section comp. 1 Kings 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. (1 Kings 9:15). (7) As for all the people that were left.—The verse agrees with 1 Kings 9:20. (8) But.—Omit. The of also is wanting in 1 Kings 9:21. So Syriac, but not LXX. and Vulgate. Consumed not.—1 Samuel 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 ‘τbηd, “tribute of labourers.” “Solomon en fit de levιes pour la corvιe” (Reuss).(9) But of the children of Israel.—See 1 Kings 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 2 Chronicles 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., καὶἄρχοντεςκαὶδυνατοὶ.(10) The chief of king Solomon’s officers.—“Captains of the overseers,” or “prefects,” i.e., chief overseers, or inspectors of works (Comp. 1 Chronicles 18:13, and 2 Chronicles 17:2, for the word n’ηξbξm, prefects.) The Heb. margin suggests niηηabξm, 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 mĕ ?lβkβh, “work,” with mθlek, “king.” Two hundred and fifty.—See 2 Chronicles 2:17, and 1 Kings 9:23. In the latter place 550 is the number. The number here is an error of transcription, γπ, i.e., 550, having been mistaken for επ, 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 (2 Chronicles 8:7). Kings adds, who were labouring at the work. (See Syriac.)

Verse 9. But of the children of Israel] 1Kg 9:21.

9. and chief of his captains] Read (with 1 Kings 9:22) and his princes and his captains. The statements of this verse must be read in connexion with 1 Kings 5:13 ff; 1 Kings 12:4 ff., whence it appears that though Solomon did not actually reduce any Israelite to permanent slavery, yet he imposed upon his own people a corvée which was felt to be very burdensome.