2 Chronicles 8

2 Chronicles 8

The big picture

2 Chronicles 8 opens in verse 1 with “And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were…”, and closes in verse 18 with “And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge…” Repeated or prominent terms include Solomon, built, cities, house, LORD. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.

Scripture beside the summary

2 Chronicles · King James Version · 18

2 Chronicles 8:1-6

1–6: It came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built…

2 Chronicles 8:1–6 opens with “And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD…” and reaches “And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 8 develops its own movement around Solomon, built, cities, house, LORD, with particular weight carried by cities, Solomon, built.

Context that brings the passage to life

“And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD , and his own house,” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

2 Chronicles 8:1-6

King James Version

1And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD , and his own house,

2That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.

3And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah, and prevailed against it.

4And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath.

5Also he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;

6And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.

2 Chronicles 8:7-12

7–12: As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites…

2 Chronicles 8:7–12 opens with “As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and…” and reaches “Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the LORD on the altar of the LORD , which he had built…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 8 develops its own movement around Solomon, built, cities, house, LORD, with particular weight carried by Israel, Solomon, children.

Context that brings the passage to life

“As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the…” Naming Amorites and Hittites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did…” Naming Israel and Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

2 Chronicles 8:7-12

King James Version

7As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel,

8But 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.

9But 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.

10And these were the chief of king Solomon’s officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.

11And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come.

12Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the LORD on the altar of the LORD , which he had built before the porch,

2 Chronicles 8:13-18

13–18: Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the…

2 Chronicles 8:13–18 opens with “Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the…” and reaches “And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 8 develops its own movement around Solomon, built, cities, house, LORD, with particular weight carried by Solomon, feast, priests.

Context that brings the passage to life

“Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or…” Naming Levites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

2 Chronicles 8:13-18

King James Version

13Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.

14And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.

15And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.

16Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD , and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.

17Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom.

18And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.

Details worth noticing

18verses in this reading
3major movements
1verses with speech

The opening image

2 Chronicles 8:1 begins with “And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD , and his own house,”

Where the chapter turns

2 Chronicles 8:9 forms a natural hinge: “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…”

The final note

2 Chronicles 8:18 leaves the reader with “And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and…”

A word trail through the chapter

The words Solomon, built, cities, house, LORD, Israel help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.

Why does the waiting matter?

Noah receives signs of progress but does not confuse partial improvement with the completed deliverance.

What remains unchanged after the flood?

Human inclination toward evil remains, according to verse 21; preservation rests on God's commitment.

KJV words made clear

dominion
responsibility or rule
unto
to
hath
has

Text first

Where readers differ

The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.

The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.

Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.