2Chronicles 8

Solomon’s Achievements

8It took Solomon twenty years to build the Temple and his palace.H7093H6242H8141H8010H1129H1004H3068H10042He also rebuilt the cities that King Hiram had given him, and sent Israelites to settle in them.H5892H2361H5414H8010H8010H1129H1121H3478H34273He captured the territory of Hamath and ZobahH8010H3212H2578H23884and fortified the city of Palmyra in the desert. He rebuilt all the cities in Hamath that were centers for storing supplies.H1129H8412H4057H4543H5892H1129H25745Solomon also rebuilt the following cities: Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon (fortified cities with gates that could be barred),H1129H1032H5945H1032H8481H4692H5892H2346H1817H12806the city of Baalath, all the cities where he stored supplies, and the cities where his horses and chariots were stationed. He carried out all his plans for building in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and throughout the territory that he ruled over.H1191H4543H5892H8010H7393H5892H5892H6571H8010H2836H2837H1129H3389H3844H776H44757Solomon employed at forced labor all the descendants of the people of Canaan whom the Israelites had not killed when they took possession of the land.H5971H3498H2850H567H6522H2340H2983H34788These included Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, whose descendants continue to be slaves down to the present time.H1121H3498H310H776H1121H3478H3615H8010H5927H4522H31179Israelites were not used at forced labor, but served as soldiers, officers, chariot commanders, and cavalry troops.H1121H3478H8010H5414H5650H4399H582H4421H8269H7991H8269H7393H657110There were 250 officials in charge of the forced labor working on the various building projects.H8269H4428H8010H5324H5333H3967H2572H7287H597111Solomon moved his wife, the daughter of the king of Egypt, from David's City to a house he built for her. He said, "She must not live in the palace of King David of Israel, because any place where the Covenant Box has been is holy."H8010H5927H1323H6547H5892H1732H1004H1129H559H802H3427H1004H1732H4428H3478H6944H727H3068H93512Solomon offered sacrifices to the LORD on the altar which he had built in front of the Temple.H8010H5927H5930H3068H4196H3068H1129H6440H19713He offered burnt offerings according to the requirements of the Law of Moses for each holy day: Sabbaths, New Moon Festivals, and the three annual festivals - the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Harvest Festival, and the Festival of Shelters.H1697H3117H5927H4687H4872H7676H2320H4150H7969H6471H8141H2282H4682H2282H7620H2282H552114Following the rules laid down by his father David, he organized the daily work of the priests and of the Levites who assisted the priests in singing hymns and in doing their work. He also organized the Temple guards in sections for performing their daily duties at each gate, in accordance with the commands of David, the man of God.H5975H4941H1732H1H4256H3548H5656H3881H4931H1984H8334H3548H1697H3117H3117H7778H4256H8179H1732H376H430H468715The instructions which David had given the priests and the Levites concerning the storehouses and other matters were carried out in detail.H5493H4687H4428H3548H3881H1697H21416By this time all of Solomon's projects had been completed. From the laying of the foundation of the LORD's Temple to its completion, all the work had been successful.H4399H8010H3559H3117H4143H1004H3068H3615H1004H3068H800317Then Solomon went to Eziongeber and Elath, ports on the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba, in the land of Edom.H1980H8010H6100H359H3220H8193H776H12318King Hiram sent him ships under the command of his own officers and with experienced sailors. They sailed with Solomon's officers to the land of Ophir and brought back to Solomon about sixteen tons of gold.H2361H7971H3027H5650H591H591H5650H3045H3220H935H5650H8010H211H3947H702H3967H2572H3603H2091H935H4428H8010