The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 7

the parallel acquaintll us (e.g. 1 Kin,;s iii. 16 1 81\m, viii. 11; 1 Kings :n. 20; 2 Kinga -28), only in different order. We now, ii. 12; Isa. xxi. 7. Twelve thouaand horae- however, begin a rapid and self-contained men. These probably purport what we "Should ooll horse-eoldiera, or cavalry. And sketoh of the reign of Solomon to his very it is likely that thoy come to designate death (eh. ix.)-the sketch one of marked these in virtue of the Hebrew word here characteristics, aud in consistent keeping used (o•~:;,~) meaning horses of the oe.valry with the presumable objects of this work. so,·t (see Gesenius, 'Lexicon," sub 11000). For it is very much monopolized by the The chariot cities. In eh. viii. 5, 6 we a.re account of the temple. expressly told that Solomon "built" pur- posely these cities, for the ohariots and for Ver. H.-The oontents of this and the tha horsemen, just o.s he built the "store" following three verses are identiool with cities (see also 1 Kings ix. 17-19; Xenoph., the parallel I Kings x. 26-29, except that 'A nab.,' i. 4. § 10). the words, "and ~old," ofourver. I5(ch.ix. Ver, 15.-And gold. The omission of 20) are not found there. The position of these words in the parnllel (1 Kings x. 27) these fonr verses in the parallel, towards is remarkable in the light of what we read in the close of the account of Solomon, would eh. ix. 20. We find the contents of this verse seem more natural than their position here, again iu eh. ix. 27; as e.lso in the parallel which has somewhat the appearance of a (I Kings x. 27), just quoted with the excep- fragment interpolated, as on the other baud tion already named. Cedar trees, The the account of the harlot-mothers there. meaning is felled trunks of cedar (I Chron. Solomon gathered cha.riots and horsemen. :uii. 4) (o'):;,~)- Whether the wood in• The chariot was no institution of Israel tended is the· cedar of Lebanon (Pinus (so Dent. xx.. I), neither of their earliest cednu, or Cedrus conifera), "tall" (Isa. ii. ancestors, nor of those more proximate. 13; xx:xvii. 24; Amos ii. 9), "widespreo.d- The ea.rliest occasions of the mention of it ing" (Ezek. xxxi. 3), odoriferous, with very (Gen. xii. 43; xlvi. 29; 1. 9) are in con- few knots, and wonderfully resisting decay, nection with Egypt, and almost all subse- is considered by authorities on such subjects quent occasions for a long stretch of time still uncertain. Gesenius, in bis 'Lexicon,' show it in connection with some foreign sub floe., may be consulted, and the various nation, till we read (2 Sam. viii. 4 ; Bible dictionaries, especially Dr. Smith's, 1 Chron. xviii. 4) of Do.vid "reserving under" Cedar;" and Dr. Kitto's •Cyclopredia,' horses" unhoughed "for a hundred under "Eres." The writer in Dr. Smith's chariots,'' apparently also "reserved" out ' Dictionary ' suggests that under the one of the very much larger number which he word "cedar," the PinUB cedrus, Pinus had taken in battle from Hadadezer King deodara, Yew, Ta:i:us baccata, and Pinua of Zobah. The very genius of the ~haracter sylveatris (Sootch pine) were referred to of God's people, a pilgrim-genius, ae well e.s popularly, and were employed when build- their long-time pilgrim-life, quite accounts ing purposes are in question. That the said for the "chariot," though it be a war-chariot, variety was employed is likely enough, but having never ranked among their treasures that we are intended to understand this (Deut. xvii 16; I Sam. viii 11). Now, when the word "cedar"isusedeeemsunlikely however, Solomon thinks it the time to ( see for further indication of this unlikeliness, make it a feature of the nation's power and the instancing of "firs" uccasionally with splendour. He gives the large order for "cedars," 1 Kings v. 10; ix. 11; eh. ii. 8). fourteen hundred chariots apparently to Bycomore trees (o•i;>P,t?)- This word is found Egypt (ver. 17; also eh. ix. 28), the appro- always in its preseiit masc. plur. form ex- priate number of horBCs to which would be cept once, Ps. lxxviii. 47, where the plur. probably four tholll!Bnd (eh. ix. 25; comp. 1 fem. form is found. The Greek equivalent Kings iv. 26, where note the corrupt numeral in the Septuagint ie always tTu1t6.µwos; but forty thousand, :x.. 26). Solomon's fourteen in the New Testament, and in the same hundred chariots were probably intended treatise, i.e. the Gospel according to St. to exceed the numbers of the Egyptian king Luke, we find both tTuicd.µwos and ,,-u,coµc,,pe11 ( eh. xii 1:1 ; comp. eh. xiv. 6), of Hadadezer's (Luke xviL 6 and xix. 4 respectively), (2 Sam. viii. 4; 1 Chron. xviii. 4), and of Now, the former of these trees is the well- the Syrians (2 Se.m. x. 18). But, on the known mulberry tree. But the latter other hand, see 1 Se.m. xiii 5 and 1 Chron. is what is called the M-mulberry, or the xi.x. 7, unless, as seelDII very probable, the sycamore-fig; and this 1B the tree of the numemle in these placee are age.in incorrect. Old Testament. Its fruit resembles the fig, Dr. Smith's• Dictiona.ry of the Bible' con- grows on sprigs shooting out of the thick tains e.n interesting article on the chariot stems themselves of the tree, and each fruit (vol. i. 295). For significant allusions to needs to be punctured e. few de.ye before 1;be horsemen, reference me.y be made to gathering, if it is to be acceptable eating orr. r. 1-17.J THE SECOND BOOK OF TilE CHRONICLES. 7