8. Solomon’s Building and Trading Activity (2Ch 8:1–18)

OVERVIEW

The presentation of the Solomonic accomplishments listed here is consistent with an ancient Near Eastern literary genre known as “summary inscription.” In such texts, the information is not necessarily presented in a chronological/sequential format, and large gaps of time may be present between the events noted in one verse and those in the next. Such texts function to present a succinct list of the king’s accomplishments during the course of his reign in a summary fashion. For a further discussion of the literary genre of Chronicles, see the Introduction.

1At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built the temple of the LORD and his own palace, 2Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram had given him, and settled Israelites in them. 3Solomon then went to Hamath Zobah and captured it. 4He also built up Tadmor in the desert and all the store cities he had built in Hamath. 5He rebuilt Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon as fortified cities, with walls and with gates and bars, 6as well as Baalath and all his store cities, and all the cities for his chariots and for his horses—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled.

7All the people left from the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites (these peoples were not Israelites), 8that is, their descendants remaining in the land, whom the Israelites had not destroyed—these Solomon conscripted for his slave labor force, as it is to this day. 9But Solomon did not make slaves of the Israelites for his work; they were his fighting men, commanders of his captains, and commanders of his chariots and charioteers. 10They were also King Solomon’s chief officials—two hundred and fifty officials supervising the men.

11Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, “My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the LORD has entered are holy.”

12On the altar of the LORD that he had built in front of the portico, Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings to the LORD, 13according to the daily requirement for offerings commanded by Moses for Sabbaths, New Moons and the three annual feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. 14In keeping with the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their duties, and the Levites to lead the praise and to assist the priests according to each day’s requirement. He also appointed the gatekeepers by divisions for the various gates, because this was what David the man of God had ordered. 15They did not deviate from the king’s commands to the priests or to the Levites in any matter, including that of the treasuries.

16All Solomon’s work was carried out, from the day the foundation of the temple of the LORD was laid until its completion. So the temple of the LORD was finished.

17Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and Elath on the coast of Edom. 18And Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own officers, men who knew the sea. These, with Solomon’s men, sailed to Ophir and brought back four hundred and fifty talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon.

COMMENTARY

1–2 The relationship between these verses and 1 Kings 9:10–14, where Solomon is described as giving Hiram twenty cities in the region of Galilee (the tribal territory assigned to Asher), is uncertain. One possibility is that the land was given to Hiram as collateral (temporary ceding of territory) during the massive flow of Phoenician supplies and workmanship into Israel (1Ki 9:10–14), with the return of this land following the settling of debts (via the significant quantities of Israelite agricultural products; cf. 2:3–16) recorded at 8:2.

3 Solomon’s taking of Hamath Zobah and his subsequent building of storage cities (cf. vv.4–6) indicate a significant expansion of Israelite political control and economic hegemony achieved through the control of trade routes and the receipt of tribute payments and tax revenue. Solomon’s geographical hegemony extended north, deep into northern Syria, and bordered the west bank of the Euphrates River to the northeast. The name of this area (Hamath Zobah) suggests that Hamath had gained prominence over the Aramean (or perhaps Neo-Hittite) kingdom of Zobah. David’s earlier conflict with Zobah is noted in 1 Chronicles 18:3–6 (2Sa 8:3–8; also see comments on 2Ch 9:26).

4 Tadmor (also known as Palmyra) was an important caravan city in northern Syria nearly three hundred miles from Jerusalem. Tadmor was situated to the south of the region of Hamath on the diagonal trade route linking northeastern Aram and Mesopotamia on the end of the Aramean desert. As with Hamath Zobath (see comments on v.3), the fortification of Tadmor reflects Solomon’s extensive control over important commercial trade routes.

5–6 The fortification of Upper and Lower Beth Horon as well as Baalath are related to national oversight of lucrative trade routes as well as protection of access routes to the heart of Israel. Lower Beth Horon (Beit Ur et-Tahta) and Upper Beth Horon (Beit Ur el-Foqa) were strategically located on the main east-west route linking the coastal highway and the central Judean hill country about twelve and fourteen miles from Jerusalem, respectively.

The designations “Upper” and “Lower” reflect the fact that Upper Beth Horon was approximately one thousand feet higher in elevation than Lower Beth Horon. Baalath (also known in the OT as Kiriath Jearim, Kiriath Baal, and Mahaneh Dan) was located on a secondary road leading from the coastal plain to the interior and was situated about six miles to the south of Upper and Lower Beth Horon, close to the boundary between the tribal territories of Judah and Dan. On Solomon’s development of a chariot force see comments on 1:14. For the area of Lebanon and the extent of Solomonic hegemony, see the comments on 8:3 and 9:26.

7–10 On the organization of peoples conscripted for the nationalized labor force as well as the particular role played by Israelites in national service, see the extended discussion at 2:2.

11 The construction of a separate palace for the daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh provides a hint of Israelite-Egyptian relations during the Solomonic period. Solomon’s alliance with Egypt is first noted in 1 Kings 3:1 and is connected with Solomon’s marriage to the daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh, a scenario that implies a combination of Israelite strength and Egyptian weakness. The boast of the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III that no daughter of an Egyptian pharaoh was ever given in marriage was made more than four hundred years before Solomon’s reign and hence should not be used against the notion of Solomon’s having an Egyptian princess as a wife.

The pharaoh in view is probably Siamun, one of the last pharaohs of the Twenty-First Dynasty. Around this time (although recorded in 1Ki 9:16), Egypt conquered the Canaanite-held Shephelah city of Gezer (an invasion supported by archaeological data) and gave the city to Solomon as a dowry for his daughter. Solomon’s construction of a separate palace for the Egyptian princess reflects her high status within the royal harem (see A. Malamat, “A Political Look at the Kingdom of David and Solomon and Its Relations with Egypt,” in Studies in the Period of David and Solomon and Other Essays [ed. T. Ishida; Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 1982], 189–204).

12–16 Within the regnal summary of this chapter, these verses concisely summarize the crowning achievement of Solomon’s reign—the construction of a functioning temple complex that operated in accordance with divine instructions revealed through Moses and David. Thus these verses condense much of the content of chs. 2–7. For more on calendar festivals and offerings, see comments on 2:4; 4:8; 7:8–10. On the distinctions between Levites and priests, see comments on 5:4–6, 12–13.

17–18 The port at Ezion Geber may have actually been located on a small island located at the head of the Gulf of Aqabah known as Jezirat Faraun, also referred to as Coral Island and Pharaoh’s Island. This location, about eight miles south of modern-day Eilat, featured a natural harbor that was enhanced with a breakwater and boat mooring facilities. Another option for Ezion Geber is Tell el-Kheleifeh, a seaport on the northern shore of the Gulf of Aqabah; however, archaeological evidence from the time of Solomon is lacking. Some have identified Eilat/Elath/Elat with modern Aqabah, but this identification is not certain. In fact, it is possible that Ezion Geber and Eilat/Elath/Elat are names for the same place (see Note). With such an understanding the passage would read, “Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber (that is, Elath) on the coast of Edom” (cf. G. Pratico, “Where Is Ezion-Geber?” BAR 12 [1986]: 24–35). On the location of Ophir, see comments on 1Ch 29:1–5.

Solomon’s arrangements for Phoenician expertise and craftsmanship extended to maritime trade, with the Phoenicians supplying both ships and experienced sailors. The Phoenicians were noted sailors in the ancient world. The Egyptian language even came to include the term “Byblos Ship” to denote high-quality vessels from Phoenicia (cf. L. Casson, Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World [Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 1995]). Commercial shipping was attested in the ancient Near East from at least as early as the third millennium BC, including the shipping routes along the Mediterranean coast between Egypt and ports in Phoenicia (e.g., Byblos, Tyre, Sidon), Syria (e.g., Ugarit), and beyond (e.g., Anatolia and the Aegean world), as well as routes from Egypt to Arabia.

The description in 2Ch 9:21 of these ships as “ships of Tarshish” or “ships that go to Tarshish” (see NIV note in 9:21; cf. “trading ships” in NIV text) together with their three-year trading journey implies that these ships could manage the high seas and undertake long-distance sea travel. The specific location of Tarshish is uncertain but seems to be a distant western Mediterranean seaport (perhaps Tartessus, Spain). The trading connection between Phoenicia and Tarshish is reflected in the oracle against Tyre in Ezekiel 27 (e.g., Eze 27:12, 25; cf. Isa 23:1, 14). Trading vessels ranged from forty to eighty feet in length and could cover twenty-five to forty miles per day. In addition to the exchange of normal trade items such as agricultural products, metals, and timber, such maritime journeys also featured the acquisition of exotic cargo (note the apes and baboons mentioned at 9:21).

NOTES

1–2 For another proposal of how this passage might fill in further details from the account of Cabul in 1 Kings 9:10–14 and possibly parallel ancient Near Eastern accounts, see Kitchen, 113–15.

4 A textual issue raises the possibility that the city of Tamar to the south of the Dead Sea is intended here instead of Tadmor. In short, while the text here in v.4 and the indicated reading (Qere) of 1 Kings 9:18 is “Tadmor,” the written text (Kethiv) of 1 Kings 9:18 is “Tamar.” Tamar (En Haseva) is situated on a hill next to the southern bank of Nahal Hazeva at the intersection of major trade routes to the northwest (Beersheba, Arad, Hebron, Jerusalem), south (Ezion Geber), east (Edom), and west (Kadesh Barnea). This pivotal location kept Tamar near the center of regional social, political, military, and economic activities during the Iron Age. Tamar is mentioned in 1 Kings 9:17–18 as being fortified by Solomon, presumably to protect the valuable trade routes through the Negev and to protect the southern flank of Judah.

17 In the proposal that Ezion Geber is another name for Eilat (Elath), the conjunction “and” is understood as functioning as an epexegetical waw (, w), as is the case in 1 Chronicles 5:26: “Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria),” which is literally “Pul king of Assyria and Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria.” With such an understanding the passage would read, “Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber (that is, Elath) on the coast of Edom.”

18 In the Chronicler’s account Hiram sends ships to Solomon, while in 1 Kings 9:26–27 the text notes that Hiram sent sailors and Solomon built the ships. This difference of vantage point can probably be best understood in analogy to the temple, where the biblical text may in some instances (cf. 2Ch 8:16) note that “Solomon’s work” was finished, but in actuality it was the work of Huram and others that was finished. Thus one can accurately state that “Solomon built the temple,” “Huram-Abi built the temple,” and “Phoenician craftsmen built the temple.” Also, it is possible that ship-building materials were imported overland from Phoenicia (Tyre), with their final assembly accomplished under the oversight of Solomon’s officials in/around Eilat/Elath/Elat.

9. Visit of the Queen of Sheba (2Ch 9:1–12)

1When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. Arriving with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all she had on her mind. 2Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her. 3When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, as well as the palace he had built, 4the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, the cupbearers in their robes and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed.

5She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 6But I did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard. 7How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 8Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the LORD your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them, to maintain justice and righteousness.”

9Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

10(The men of Hiram and the men of Solomon brought gold from Ophir; they also brought algumwood and precious stones. 11The king used the algumwood to make steps for the temple of the LORD and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Nothing like them had ever been seen in Judah.)

12King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.

COMMENTARY

1 The visit and subsequent declarations of the Queen of Sheba showcase God’s blessing on David’s son, most notably in the areas of wisdom and wealth. The location of Sheba is identified with ancient Saba, a trading depot located in the vicinity of modern Yemen in the south of the Arabian peninsula, some 1,400 to 1,500 miles from Jerusalem. Sheba was famous for its wares, spice caravans, and trading skill. In addition, Sheba was noted in extrabiblical sources as having female rulers, as reflected here. The southern provinces of Arabia were noted for species of trees and shrubs whose aromatic resin was used to produce a number of spices, gums, and balms (cf. G. W. van Beek, “The Land of Sheba,” in Solomon and Sheba [ed. J. B. Pritchard; London: Phaidon, 1974], 40–63).

2–3 On Solomon’s wisdom (cf. vv.2–3, 5–7), see comments at 1:10; 9:22–23.

4 The Queen of Sheba was impressed by the food, setting, and attendants at Solomon’s palace (v.4). Such royal banquets were an important aspect of life in the biblical world, as reflected in numerous texts and iconography. In these settings, the variety of dishes served, the number of guests that could be accommodated, the number of servants and attendants on hand, and the like all speak to wealth and prestige—and, by extension, evidence of divine favor and blessing.

5–9 On Solomon’s wisdom (cf. vv.2–3, 5–7), see comments at 1:10; 9:22–23. The queen’s declaration of Yahweh’s delight and love for Solomon and Israel (vv.5–8) recalls the outreach element of divinely given wisdom reflected in Deuteronomy 4:6: “Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’”

The delighted and awed Queen of Sheba responds by giving Solomon 120 talents of gold (v.9). As noted above (see comments on 3:8–9), a talent of gold weighed in the range of 65 to 75 pounds, meaning that this gift exceeded four tons of gold. It is possible that this large “gift” was part of a broader commercial trading agreement/treaty negotiated between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. It is interesting to note that Hiram is also recorded as having given Solomon 120 talents of gold (cf. 1Ki 9:14). For more on Solomon’s massive acquisition of gold, see the extended comments on 3:8–9.

10–11 This parenthetical remark largely echoes earlier statements regarding Solomon’s material acquisitions and building efforts. On gold from Ophir (v.10), see comments on 1Ch 29:1–5. On algumwood (vv.10–11) and other precious wood sourced for Solomon’s building projects, see comments on 2:8–9. On music and musical instruments (v.11), see comments on 5:12–13. For the maritime efforts facilitating many of these acquisitions, see comments on 8:17–18.

12 Although the phraseology is uncertain, one possible understanding of this verse (as reflected in the NIV) is that Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba more than she had brought to him. Recall that the exchange of “gifts” may be part of a trade agreement.

10. Summary of Solomon’s Wealth (2Ch 9:13–31)

13The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents, 14not including the revenues brought in by merchants and traders. Also all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land brought gold and silver to Solomon.

15King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred bekas of hammered gold went into each shield. 16He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold, with three hundred bekas of gold in each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.

17Then the king made a great throne inlaid with ivory and overlaid with pure gold. 18The throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them. 19Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom. 20All King Solomon’s goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s day. 21The king had a fleet of trading ships manned by Hiram’s men. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.

22King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. 23All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 24Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift—articles of silver and gold, and robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules.

25Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 26He ruled over all the kings from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. 27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. 28Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from all other countries.

29As for the other events of Solomon’s reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the records of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat? 30Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31Then he rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.

COMMENTARY

13–14 This summary of Solomon’s royal revenue (excluding profits made from trade and other income per v.14) is impressive and reflects the economic clout ancient Israel was able to develop by exerting hegemony over neighboring countries and regions. This regional hegemony enabled Israel to control numerous trade routes and leverage Israel’s geographical position as a “land bridge” linking the continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe. These trade routes include those in the northern reaches of Syria (gateway to Mesopotamia), the Negev (gateway to trade with the Arabian states and access to maritime trade from Ezion Geber), the region of Transjordan (King’s Highway; gateway to Damascus), and the Coastal Highway (also known as the Great Trunk Route and the Via Maris; gateway to Egypt in the south and Phoenicia to the north). The 666 talents of gold received by Solomon is equal to 46,620 pounds (23.3 tons), using 70 pounds to the talent (cf. A. R. Millard, “Solomon in All His Glory,” VE 12 [1981]: 5–18; also see comments on 3:8–9).

15–16 These opulent ceremonial weapons were not intended for battle but instead provided tangible proof of a kingdom’s wealth and prestige. Numerous gold ceremonial weapons have been uncovered in archaeological digs, particularly in the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh King Tutankhamun. The palace known as the “Palace of the Forest of Lebanon” (v.16) is given further description in 1 Kings 7 and probably derives its name from dozens of cedar pillars inside the palace (which would create a tree-like appearance). This palace may have functioned as an alternative residence (such as a summer palace) for the king, as well as a more convenient place to meet trading partners and dignitaries from the north.

17–19 Solomon’s regnal throne was a magnificent work of art that featured stylistics seen in other thrones from the biblical world. Given the Chronicler’s remark at v.19, these common motifs and materials were brought together in such a way as to attain a level of elegance not seen before. Animal images such as the twelve lions on each side of the six steps to Solomon’s throne and the lions stationed next to each armrest were also common ancient Near Eastern royal motifs, as these noble beasts project strength, power, and fortitude. Solomon’s throne was also inlaid with ivory, a material prized in the ancient world for its smoothness and warmth. The use of ivory in art and architecture was an area of Phoenician expertise and was prominent in other royal buildings in the biblical world.

20 As with other statements in ch. 9, these remarks largely echo earlier statements regarding Solomon’s material acquisitions and wealth. On the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon, see comments on vv.15–16. On the abundance of gold and silver during the time of Solomon, see comments on 1:15; 3:8–9. For specifics of gold articles, see comments on 4:19–22.

21 See comments on Solomon’s maritime efforts at 8:17–18.

22–23 This statement functions as a conclusion that wraps up the visit of the Queen of Sheba and the wisdom aspect of that visit. It is significant to note that Solomon’s wisdom is described at v.22 as being greater “than all other kings of the earth.” Similarly, 1 Kings 4:30 notes that Solomon’s wisdom was “greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.” This comparison implies an ample level of exposure to such wisdom traditions.

The description of Solomon’s wisdom noted in 1 Kings 4:32–33 is similar to the areas of knowledge and expertise gained by those in the intelligentsia of ancient biblical cultures, such as scribes, merchants, and royalty. As with that of his Egyptian and Mesopotamian counterparts, Solomon’s wisdom involved understanding the world in areas such as botany, zoology, music, law, diplomacy, flora, fauna, literature, and other elements of the cultured life. In addition to such areas of knowledge, wisdom for a king had particular functionality in the important areas of temple building and governing. With respect to governing, note that Solomon’s request for wisdom is connected with his ability to judge (govern) God’s people and facilitate an ordered society. See further comments on 1:10 above.

24 As noted earlier (cf. 9:9), God’s blessing is reflected in the stream of foreign dignitaries bringing gifts and tribute payments to Israel (cf. Jehoshaphat [17:10–11]). On the related aspect of Solomon’s control of key trade routes, see comments on 9:13–14.

25 On Solomon’s horses and chariots, see comments on 1:14.

26 Solomon is noted as having authority over the regions across “the River” (southwest of the Euphrates) and over kings from Tiphsah on the Euphrates in the northeast to the border of Egypt in the southwest (cf. 1Ki 4:24 [5:4]). The geographical expansion that took place during the time of Solomon extended Israelite control over the Coastal Highway in the west (along the Mediterranean Sea) and the Transjordanian King’s Highway in the east—meaning that the King’s Highway was controlled from the maritime port of Ezion Geber to Tiphsah on the Euphrates. This expansion allowed Israel to profit from the lucrative trade activity flowing between Egypt, Arabia, and Mesopotamia (1Ki 9:26–27; 10:14–29; for more on trade routes see comments on 2Ch 9:13–14).

This being noted, the northern boundary of Israel on the coast did not extend north of Sidon, though it clearly extended north of this point in the interior. Nevertheless, Judah and Israel are described as dwelling safely “from Dan to Beersheba” during the days of Solomon—the nomenclature for describing the north-south expanse of Israel even when Israel’s geographical control extended much farther.

Solomon received resources from his twelve taxation districts, as well as tribute payment from vassals and trade route revenue from traveling merchants, traders, and “all the kings of Arabia,” not to mention income from maritime trade and middleman operations such as horse brokering (see comments on 1:16–17). Solomon’s districts indicate that Israel during Solomon’s reign extended in the west to the Mediterranean Sea from just north of (and excluding) Joppa to the Mount Carmel region just south (and excluding) the Plain of Acco.

Finally, the structure of Solomon’s taxation and administration districts is reminiscent of Egyptian governmental practice (see D. B. Redford, “Studies in Relations between Palestine and Egypt during the First Millennium BC, 1: The Taxation System of Solomon,” in Studies on the Ancient Palestinian World [ed. J. W. Wevers and D. B. Redford; Toronto Semitic Texts and Studies 2; Toronto: Univ. of Toronto Press, 1972], 141–56).

27 For the abundance of silver and cedar in Jerusalem, see comments on 1:15.

28 On the acquiring of horses from Egypt, see the comments on 1:16–17.

29–31 This is the common literary formula for summarizing royal reigns in Kings and Chronicles (see that of David in 1Ch 29:26–30). These royal summaries provide basic regnal information, including the length of reign, name of successor, place of burial, and a reference to the source of the information and/or a reference to a source where more information about this king’s reign can be gleaned. Oftentimes, the source is attributed to a specific prophet as here (“the records of Nathan the prophet”), thus implying a close link between the prophetic office and regnal annotations in ancient Israel. Moreover, these summaries set up the narrative(s) to follow by providing royal succession information.

NOTES

26 Solomon’s districts imply three distinct districts in Transjordan (the Mishor/Tableland in the south; the central area from Jazer to Mahanaim including all of the eastern Jordan Valley; and the northern area from Ramoth Gilead to the Argob area of Bashan. On the topic of Solomon’s districts, see A. Rainey, 174–79; P. S. Ash, “Solomon’s District List,” JSOT 67 [1995]: 67–86; R. S. Hess, “The Form and Structure of the Solomonic District List in 1 Kings 4:7–19,” in Crossing Boundaries and Linking Horizons: Studies in Honor of M. C. Astour [ed. G. D. Young et al.; Bethesda, Md.: CDL, 1997], 279–92).

23–28 Note that most of the details of these verses repeat those found in 1:12–16. See the overview to 2 Chronicles 1–9, above.