2 Chronicles 8 - 10 and Psalm 125
In summary:
Israel’s history changes completely from Solomon’s glory to Rehoboam’s folly.
Israel’s history changes completely from Solomon’s glory to Rehoboam’s folly.
In more detail:
We have observed many times that the Chronicler, having many more sources at his disposal than we have, omits or adds details and events to the narrative of 1 Kings, all for the purpose of portraying David and Solomon as exemplary leaders to the community that centuries later is returning from exile. From today’s reading in 2 Chronicles, Solomon’s numerous wives and concubines who led his heart astray into idolatry disappear. There is no mention of the foreign enemies whom Yahweh lifted up to
punish him. Jeroboam’s flight disappears almost completely. Notice that the Chronicler does not deny these events – in fact, we can say that he puts them in the footnotes so to speak when he says, “Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, are they not written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?” (2 Chronicles
9:29). This information does not serve his purpose of portraying the characteristics that the new settlers of Jerusalem and Judah should imitate, giving them a vision of what Yahweh can achieve through them if they devote themselves completely to Him.
Therefore, the positive aspects of Solomon’s reign shine forth. There are many references to his construction and the geographic extension of his projects, information that would encourage and direct the exiles to build new towns as they return to the
Promised Land. And following Solomon’s example, they should not oppress their countrymen in order to build them (2 Chronicles 8:7-9). The Chronicler mentions Solomon’s Egyptian wife and adds the reason why he built a separate house for her: “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy” (2 Chronicles 8:11). The new community also must respect Yahweh’s holiness and not allow Gentiles to enter (as we will see in Nehemiah 13). Just like Solomon, they must prioritize the daily ministry in the temple (2 Chronicles 8:12-16). And after putting these urgent needs into practice, perhaps Yahweh will bless them with economic and diplomatic success similar to what they read about in the rest of
Solomon’s reign.
And a key part of this new society will be the attention and mercy shown toward the fellow Israelites under their authority: “Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you” (2 Chronicles 10:4). When Rehoboam rejects this request, a large portion of the glory of Solomon’s reign vanishes, never to be restored. Of course, Yahweh’s hand directed these events: “The king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the LORD might fulfill his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat (2 Chronicles 10:15). But the Chronicler does not go into more detail to blame Solomon; he only tells us about Rehoboam’s harsh reply and his failed attempt to impose his authority over the northern tribes. The lesson for the new settlers is that they not build their new society at the expense of compassion and brotherhood; harshness against their brothers will serve only to undermine their plans. We will see this lesson again when we read Nehemiah 5.
We have observed many times that the Chronicler, having many more sources at his disposal than we have, omits or adds details and events to the narrative of 1 Kings, all for the purpose of portraying David and Solomon as exemplary leaders to the community that centuries later is returning from exile. From today’s reading in 2 Chronicles, Solomon’s numerous wives and concubines who led his heart astray into idolatry disappear. There is no mention of the foreign enemies whom Yahweh lifted up to
punish him. Jeroboam’s flight disappears almost completely. Notice that the Chronicler does not deny these events – in fact, we can say that he puts them in the footnotes so to speak when he says, “Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, are they not written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?” (2 Chronicles
9:29). This information does not serve his purpose of portraying the characteristics that the new settlers of Jerusalem and Judah should imitate, giving them a vision of what Yahweh can achieve through them if they devote themselves completely to Him.
Therefore, the positive aspects of Solomon’s reign shine forth. There are many references to his construction and the geographic extension of his projects, information that would encourage and direct the exiles to build new towns as they return to the
Promised Land. And following Solomon’s example, they should not oppress their countrymen in order to build them (2 Chronicles 8:7-9). The Chronicler mentions Solomon’s Egyptian wife and adds the reason why he built a separate house for her: “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy” (2 Chronicles 8:11). The new community also must respect Yahweh’s holiness and not allow Gentiles to enter (as we will see in Nehemiah 13). Just like Solomon, they must prioritize the daily ministry in the temple (2 Chronicles 8:12-16). And after putting these urgent needs into practice, perhaps Yahweh will bless them with economic and diplomatic success similar to what they read about in the rest of
Solomon’s reign.
And a key part of this new society will be the attention and mercy shown toward the fellow Israelites under their authority: “Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you” (2 Chronicles 10:4). When Rehoboam rejects this request, a large portion of the glory of Solomon’s reign vanishes, never to be restored. Of course, Yahweh’s hand directed these events: “The king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the LORD might fulfill his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat (2 Chronicles 10:15). But the Chronicler does not go into more detail to blame Solomon; he only tells us about Rehoboam’s harsh reply and his failed attempt to impose his authority over the northern tribes. The lesson for the new settlers is that they not build their new society at the expense of compassion and brotherhood; harshness against their brothers will serve only to undermine their plans. We will see this lesson again when we read Nehemiah 5.
