The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

CHAP. IV, V. 2 CHRON. I. vers. 14, 15, 16, 17. And II. all.

[Solomon 2] THE matter of the fourth Chapter of Kings, and the conclusion of [Solomon 3] 1 Chron. 1. is not of a fixed and determinate date, tied to any one year, but it runneth through the story of many years; for it sheweth the growth and continuance of Solomons strength, establishment, and prosperity in his Kingdom, and the evidencing of his wisdom, all his time till his declining to Idolatry: And therefore as for the method and place of it, it might be laid even any where in the Story of all that time, this construction being made of it where∣soever it is laid. But the Holy Ghost hath laid it in the beginning of his Histo∣ry, that that general matter concerning his power and prosperity, might be con∣cluded before the relation come to speak of particular actions. It is no doubt but the transfaction of business betwixt Solomon and Hiram King of Tyre, was very early in Solomons reign, because he would not loose time towards the building of the Temple. But the Text would dispatch the other before, as a general thing, that particular Stories might be fallen upon, and receive no in∣terruption.

Hiram or Hirom or H••ram, King of Tyre, [for all these ways his name is written] confesseth God the Creator, 2 Chron. 2. 12. maketh a Covenant with Solomon; supplieth him with necessaries for his building, and sendeth him a choice workman, Hiram. This Hirams father was of the Tribe of Naphtali,

1 King. 7. 14. but said to be a Tyrian because he dwelt there, [as Obed-Edom a Levite is said to be a Gittite] his mother was of the Tribe of Dan, 2 Chron. 2. 14. the place of Idolatry.

Solomon setteth one hundred fifty three thousand six hundred Proselites to frame materials for the Temple, seventy thousand to bear burdens, eighty thousand to be hewers in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred over∣seers, 2 Chron. 2. 18. that is, three thousand three hundred overseers of the one hundred and fifty thousand Workmen, 1 King. 5. 16. and three hundred overseers of them and all.

The Princes of Solomon at home, and his chief Officers for his houshold pro∣vision reckoned, 1 King. 4. Azariah the Son of Zadok, ver. 2. that is, the Son of Ahimaaz the Son of Zadok, 1 Chron. 6. 8, 9. is chief of the Sanhedrin. Za∣dok and Abiathar, are Priests ver. 4. though Abiathar was expelled by Solomon from the High Priesthood, Chap. 2. 26. Yet might he exercise the Function of a Priest at Gibeon, till the Temple was built. There were twelve Officers for the twelve Months 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 vers. 19. which the Rabbins interpret, And one Officer which was in the Land for the Leap-year, or for the thirteenth Month which befel every third year. Solomon had four thousand Stables of Horses and Chariots, 2 Chron. 9. 25. that is forty thousand Stalls of Horses for his Chariots, 1 King. 4. 2. one Horse in every Stall, and ten Horses to a Chariot, and in a Stable. So seven hundred Chariots, 2 Sam. 10. 18. is rendred seven thousand, 1 Chron. 19. 18. that is, seven thousand men with seven hundred Cha∣riots, ten to a Chariot. Solomon is said to be wiser then Heman, and Ethan, and Chalcol, and Darda, that is, in humane learning; for these men lived in Egypt in the time of Israels affliction there, and it seemeth were singularly skilled in all the wisdom of the Egyptians: Yet Solomon went beyond them in Philosophy.