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Vers. 2. ANd these were the Princes which he had.] That is, these were his chiefe Nobles and such as were in highest places about him whilst he sate in the throne of Israel; especially, in the first beginning of his reigne, for though there are two here mentioned, to wit the sonne of Abinadab, vers. 11. and Ahi∣maaz, vers, 15. that married the two daughters of Solomon, Taphah and Bazmach,
yet that may be because they did some yeares after marry them; for when Solomon came to the crowne, we read not of any child he had born, but only Rehoboam, and much lesse could he have any daughter mariageable.
Azariah the son of Zadok the priest.] Azariah the son, that is, the grand child of Zadok (for he was the son of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, 1 Chro. 6.8.9.) is here said to have been the priest, that is, Solomons priest, because it seems he was continually imployed for him (as our Princes houshold Chaplaines are for them) in those things that concerned the worship and service of God. Or it may be meant of the son of some other Zadok; for the word here translated Priest, may also be translated chiefe Officer, as is expressed in the margin of our Bibles.
Vers. 3. Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sonnes of Shisha, Scribes.] We read but of one Scribe, or Secretary of State that David had, 2 Sam. 20.25. but Solomon had two; which shewes, that the dominion and royaltie of Solomons Kingdome was greater than his fathers, and so therewith the state affaires must needs increase.
Jehoshaphat the sonne of Ahilud the Recorder.] He held therefore the same place still which he had in Davids time. 2 Sam. 20.24.
Vers. 4. And Zadok and Abiathar the Priests.] That is, they were the two chiefe of the two families of the priests, (according to Davids division, 1 Chro. 24.3, 4.) for Abiathar did not cease to be a priest, though he were restrained from the execution of his office, and confined to his owne house in Anathoth. And besides, that he had been the chiefe among them, is sufficient to make him be reckoned here amongst those that were in eminent place whether in Church or Common-wealth, in the first yeares of Solomons reigne.
Vers. 5. And Azariah the sonne of Nathan was over the officers, &c.] Some conceive that these were the sonnes of Nathan the sonne of David, but the most hold, that they were the sons of Nathan the prophet, preferred by Solomon, partly out of a gratefull respect which he bare to their father, partly because he had had his educa∣tion with them under the tutouridge of Nathan their father, as the Hebrews hold.
Vers. 10. To him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher.] A tract of land in the tribe of Judah, so called, from Hepher the sonne of Asher of the posterity of Hezron, 1 Chron. 4.6.
Vers. 11. The sonne of Abinadab in all the region of Dor.] Which was Manas∣ses portion, Josh. 17.11. as was also Taanach and Bethshean and Megiddo, menti∣oned vers. 12.
Vers. 12. Even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam.] Which was in the bor∣ders of Zebulon: Josh. 19.11.
Vers. 19. Geber the sonne of Uri was in the countrey of Gilead, &c.] That is, in all the rest of the countrey of Gilead, and in the countrey which belonged to the kingdomes of Sihon and Og without Jordan: to wit, besides that before menti∣oned, vers. 13. which was the charge of the sonne of Geber: and because it was so great a circuit of land which was allotted to him, therefore it is said in the close of this verse, and he was the only officer that was in the land, that is, there was no other officer to gather up provision for the Kings houshold in this land before menti∣oned, but he only.
Vers. 20. Judah and Israel were many, as the sand, &c.] And herein was Solo∣mons
kingdome a type of Christs, whose people by the confluence of the Gentiles, should become innumerable like the sand of the sea-shore; but especially in that which follows, concerning the comfortable condition, wherein the people lived un∣der Solomons reigne, eating and drinking, and making merry: for this did no∣tably shadow forth the joyfull estate of Christians, partly in this world, but especial∣ly in heaven, the kingdome of God is not meat and drink, but righteousnesse, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, Rom. 14.7. though they be often afflicted, yet they rejoyce in tribulation, Rom. 5.3. the pardon of their sinnes, the light of Gods countenance, and the hope of an incorruptible crown of glory, is sufficient to make them rejoyce in affliction, even with joy unspeakable, and full of glory; and much more then shall their joy be great, when all tears shall be wiped from their eyes, and they shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdome of hea∣ven, Matt. 8.11.
Vers. 21. And Solomon reigned over all kingdomes, from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt.] That is, from the river Euphrates (which because it lay northeast of the land of Canaan, is the onely limit here men∣tioned of Solomons kingdome, on those two quarters) unto the land of the Phili∣stines (which was the western bounds, as lying all along by the Mediterranean sea) and unto the border of Egypt, where was the river Sihor, Josh. 13.3. which was the south bounds; and thus was that promise made to Abraham fulfilled, Gen. 15.18. Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt, unto the great river, the river Euphrates; and in this exceeding glory of his kingdome, was Solo∣mon also a type of Christ, concerning whose royalty and kingdome, so many glori∣ous things are spoken, as where it is said, Ephes. 1.21, 22. that he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, farre above all principality and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not onely in this world, but also in that which is to come. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church: and Philip. 2 9, 10, 11, Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name, which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that ev••ry tongue should confesse, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father: and again, Psal. 2.8. Ask of me, and I shall give thee, the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Vers. 24. And he had peace on all sides round about him.] And herein vas So∣lomon also a type of Christ, the Prince of peace, Esa. 9.6. whence is that, Luke 2.14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards m••n: John 14.27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the word giveth, give I unto you.
Vers. 25. And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine, and under his figtree, &c.] That is, not onely in the fenced cities, but also in the open countrey, they lived without fear of enemies, following their husbandry, and enjoy∣ing with much cheerfulnesse, choice, and plenty of Gods good blessings.
Vers. 26. And Solomon had fourty thousand stalles of horses for his chariots.] In 2. Chron. 9.25. it is four thousand, but the word in the Originall (here transla∣ted
stalles) doth signifie both stables, wherein many horses are kept together, and al∣so the stalles, or sever'd petitions, for each horse in those stables, and so it is taken here: whereas in the 2. Chron. 9.25. by stalles is meant stables containing at least ten stalles, or severall partitions for horses a piece, for so in four thousand stables, there might stand fourty thousand horses in their severall stalles, as is here expressed: indeed a farre lesse number would have sufficed for fourteen hundred chariots, and we reade of no more that Solomon had, 2. Chron. 1.14. and Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen, and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, &c. but first, those horses that were fit for service in the chariots, might also be imployed in his carriages for the building of the temple, &c. and secondly, herein lay his magni∣ficence, that he had such choice and store of horses; and as herein it seems he trans∣gressed the commandment of God, Deut. 17.16. He shall not multiply horses: himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: so it is likely that hereby he overburthened his people, and gave too just an occasion to that complaint of the Israelites, chap. 12.4. Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
Vers. 29. And God gave Solomon wisedome and understanding, exceeding much, and largenesse of heart, even as the sand, &c.] That is, the Lord gave him such a vast capacity, an extraordinary measure of understanding, judgement, memory, that the knowledge which he had, seemed even infinite, nor was there any thing almost which he was not able to reach, and comprehend: see the note, chap. 3.12.
Vers. 3••. And Solomons wisedome exclled the wisdome of all the chil∣dren of the east countrey, and all the wisedome of Egypt.] By the children of the east, is meant the Arabians, or Chaldeans, who were at this time famous for their learning: especially for Philosophy, Astronomy, and other the liberall sciences, as were also the Egyptians, whence is that concerning Moses, Acts 7.22. And Moses was learned in all the wisedome of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds; and hereby it appears therefore that Solomon excelled in this kind of learning
Vers. 31. For he was wiser then all men; then Ethan the Ezrahite, and He∣n••n, &c.] Who it seems were the famous men, for learning and wisdome, in these tines amongst the Israelites; for these I conceive, are the same that are mentioned amongst the posteritie of Judah, the sonnes of Zerah, 1. Chron. 2.6. and that there∣fore ••than is here called the Ezrahite: it seems by were famous also, for their poetry, if these were that Ethan and Heman, mentioned in the titles of the 88. and and 89. Psalmes.
Vers. 32. And he spake three thousand proverbs, &c.] So it is said in next verses, th••t he spake of trees, &c. and that he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes, and that there came of all people to heare the wisdome of Solomon, whereby it is evident, that though he were a king of so great majestie and glory, yet he read lectures of naturall and morall Philosophy, and of Divinitie too▪ for the instruction of those that would come to heare him.
Vers. 34. And there came of all people to heare the wisedome of Solomon from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisedome.] That i••, from all the kings, which were any thing near about him.