Page:The Books of Chronicles (1916).djvu/231

Rh offerings unto the, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel; and did eat and drink before the on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the to be prince, and Zadok to be priest. Then Solomon sat on the throne of the as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him. And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king. And the magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.

22. the second time] Cp. xxiii. 1. The first time which is described in 1 Kin. i. 39 (Solomon hastily anointed in order to assert his claim to the throne against his brother Adonijah) is omitted in Chron., unless perhaps the vague phrase of xxiii. 1 "Now David made Solomon his son king over Israel" is intended to refer to it.

Zadok] One of Solomon's earliest acts seems to have been to put an end to the double priesthood by deposing Abiathar; cp. 1 Kin. ii. 27, 35. The Chronicler appears to have this in mind, but he avoids narrating anything so derogatory to the high-priesthood.

23—25.&emsp;

23. the throne of the ] See xxviii. 5, note.

24. the mighty men] Cp. 1 Kin. i. 10, 38, from which it is clear that the faithfulness of Benaiah and the Cherethites and Pelethites was the main factor in the elevation of Solomon to the throne.

all the sons] The Chronicler here glances at the submission of Adonijah (1 Kin. i. 53).

25. such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel] Strictly speaking, the comparison is limited to Solomon on the one side, and his predecessors, David and Saul (Ishbosheth is ignored in Chron.) on the other, but we may suppose that the Chronicler is writing somewhat loosely from his own standpoint, and really means to say that Solomon was surpassed in glory by no king of Israel. It is just possible (cp. Job xxxiv. 19) to render the Heb. royal majesty which was not on any king more than on him in Israel.