II Chronicles 1:14

Solomon's chariots, horses, and riches. - In order to prove by facts the fulfilment of the divine promise which Solomon received in answer to his prayer at Gibeon, we have in Kg1 3:16-28 a narrative of Solomon's wise judgment, then in 2 Chron 4 an account of his public officers; and in Ch2 5:1-14 the royal magnificence, glory, and wisdom of his reign is further portrayed. In our Chronicle, on the contrary, we have in Ch2 1:14-17 only a short statement as to his chariots and horses, and the wealth in silver and gold to be found in the land, merely for the purpose of showing how God had given him riches and possessions. This statement recurs verbally in Kg1 10:26-29, in the concluding remarks on the riches and splendour of Solomon's reign; while in the parallel passage, 2 Chron 9:13-28, it is repeated in an abridged form, and interwoven with other statements. From this we see in how free and peculiar a manner the author of the Chronicle has made use of his authorities, and how he has arranged the material derived from them according to his own special plan. (Note: The assertion of Thenius on Kg1 10:26., that he found this section in his authorities in two different places and in different connections, copied them mechanically, and only towards the end of the second passage remarked the repetition and then abridged the statement, is at once refuted by observing, that in the supposed repetition the first half (Ch2 9:25-26) does not at all agree with Kg1 10:26, but coincides with the statement in Kg1 5:6-7.) For the commentary on this section, see on Kg1 10:26-28. Ch2 1:14-15 Ch2 1:14, Ch2 1:15, with the exception of one divergence in form and one in matter, correspond word for word to Kg1 10:26 and Kg1 10:27. Instead of ויּנחם, he led them (Kings), there stands in Ch2 1:15,…

In the close of the foregoing book we read how God magnified Solomon and Israel obeyed him; God and Israel concurred to honour him. Now here we have an account, I. How he honoured God by sacrifice (Ch2 1:1-6) and by prayer (Ch2 1:7-12). II. How he honoured Israel by increasing their strength, wealth, and trade (Ch2 1:13-17).

1:14-17 The illustration of Solomon’s wealth and power (expanded on in 9:25-28) comes from the summary of his kingdom in 1 Kgs 10:26-29. In Kings, the summary of Solomon’s wealth provided a transition to the negative aspects of Solomon’s rule (1 Kgs 11). Here, Solomon’s amassing of wealth showed the fulfillment of God’s promise (2 Chr 1:12).