2 Chronicles 29

2 Chronicles 29:1

Grievous - It is probable, when Solomon had declined from God, that God left him to himself to act thus impolitically.

2 Chronicles 29:4

If thou be kind, &c. - Moderate counsels are generally best. Gentleness will do what violence will not do. Good words cost nothing but a little self - denial, and yet they purchase great things.

2 Chronicles 29:13

See to thine own house - When public affairs are in a ferment, violent proceedings do but make ill worse. Many have been driven to the mischief they did not intend, by being too severely dealt with.

2 Chronicles 29:20

Son of Solomon - Intimating, that this was determined for the sin of Solomon, and therefore could not be reversed.

2 Chronicles 29:22

Built - Repaired, enlarged, and fortified them. They were built before.

2 Chronicles 29:31

Cast them off - They would not suffer them to instruct the Israelites in the worship of God, nor to go up to Jerusalem to worship in their courses: and these priests would not join with them in the worship of the calves, as they were commanded to do; and therefore they, willingly forsook all their patrimonies and possessions for God’s sake. No secular advantages whatsoever should detain us there, where we are in danger of making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience.

2 Chronicles 29:32

High places - Or, for the high places, both for the devils (the Baals, or false gods, which divers of his people worshipped, whom he encouraged to do so, giving them liberty to do anything but to serve God at Jerusalem) and for the calves. So he erected two sorts of high places, some for Baal, and some for the true God, whom be pretended to worship, in and by the calves.

2 Chronicles 29:33

Set their heart - Such as loved and feared God in truth.

2 Chronicles 29:34

So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah - Not only by the addition of so many persons to it: but by their piety and prayers they procured a blessing upon the kingdom which was a sanctuary to them. They made him strong three years; for so long he served God; but when he forsook God, none could strengthen him. We retain our strength as long as we cleave to God and our duty, and no longer. And Solomon - This honourable mention of Solomon, as a pattern of piety, is a considerable evidence of his true repentance before his death.