As Ezra was leading the children of Judah out of Babylon, and back to Jerusalem, after several days of traveling on the road; he stopped to take account of the people that were with him, and the goods that they had. We note from Ezra 8:15, that amongst the over three hundred priests in the group, not one of them were of the tribe of Judah, the priestly tribe. These Kenites that were forced into service back in the days of David, and they had come to a completely take over the Levitical priesthood.

Ezra 8:20 "Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name."

The "Nethinims" were the strangers to God's people that David assigned to do the building of the Temple, and some of the duties of the priests. These foreigners were sons of Cain are now sitting in the seat that God assigned to Aaron and his sons, and doing the duties of the priests. At the beginning of the journey, Ezra refused to accept soldiers and protection from the king, however now that he knew that God may not be with them, Ezra had a change of mind, and sought protection from the soldiers for their journey. The reason that I point out these things from the book of Ezra, is that these Nethinim Kenite scribes are the ones that are doing the work that God assigned to the Levites, and the sons of Aaron, and they are the ones that are writing the record that we are reading here in first and second Chronicles.

After the Temple was built and priesthood of these Nethinims were established, these two books of the Chronicles were considered one book. This was the same that was applied to the two books of Samuel, and the two books of Kings. In the early Hebrew MS texts, or earlier editions, there simply was no division between the two books as given today. Chronicles then was one book consisting of sixty five (65) chapters, and came under the same treatment as Samuel and Kings.

Chronicles was dividing into twenty five readings or "Sadarim", meaning cycles of readings, and the reading that begins with First Chronicles 28:10, ends with Second Chronicles 2:2 thus showing no break in the text. So in this second book of Chronicles we are looking at the life of Solomon as God dealt with this great man, and it continue on through all the kings of Judah. After the death of king Solomon, the kingdom of Israel ended. Israel then split into the two separate nations or houses. The nation or House of Israel comprised the ten tribes to the north, and the nation of the House of Judah was made up from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The tribe of Benjamin was completely wiped out in a war, as we read of in Judges 19-21, and the six hundred men of Benjamin that were left alive, took wives from the tribe of Judah. Thus the tribe of Benjamin was rebuilt into a new tribe with their mothers being of Judah. At the time of king Solomon, the two nations were still one nation, However at Solomon's death, the twelve tribes split into two nations, called houses.

If you are wondering what Jesus thought of these people called the Kenites? and if He knew their identity. Read John 8:44 when Jesus was speaking directly to them. These were the Jewish Kenite leaders that were confronting Jesus from the temple. "Jesus said, "Ye are of your father the devil [Satan], and the lusts of your father [Satan] ye will do. He [Cain, Genesis 4:8-10] was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there was no truth in him [Genesis 4:10]. When he [Satan] speaketh a lie, he [Satan] speaketh of his own [the Kenites]: for he is a liar, and the father of it." Satan plants the lie in their minds and they speak the lie Satan planted.

Though we have said these things in the introduction, as we read through this book, lets continually refer back to the words of the Prophets, and see what happened within those events of the kings of Judah. Remember that Judah would carry the promise that God made both to David, and to Jacob back in Genesis 49:8-10.

Genesis 49:8 - 10 "Judah, art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee." [8] "Judah is a lions whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up" [9] "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be." [10]

This promise continues even today with Queen Elizabeth II on the throne of England. Shiloh is when our Lord returns to this earth at the seventh and final trump. So lets get into the tracing of this throne of David, through Solomon, that will continue until Shiloh, the end of this earth age.

2 Chronicles 1:1 "And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly."

As we read in I Kings chapters one and two, as David lay near death in his house, His son Adonijah exalted himself, saying, "I will be king". He prepared his horsemen and chariots, with fifty men to run through the streets promoting him to be the next king after David. He planned and gave a great feast for all the men of authority in the kingdom, but he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah and his mighty men, nor Solomon his brother. Why, because he knew that they would not approve of his appointment to be the king of all Israel.

As the feast of Adonijah was building into quite an event at the edge of town, Nathan the prophet spoke to Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon, and reminded her that Solomon, not Adonijah was God's chosen to be king. Bath-sheba went in before king David, and told him what was going on, and that if Solomon was to be king, he had to be anointed and made king immediately. Bath-sheba reminded David that if Adonijah was crowned that night, all their lives would be in danger. At this warning David made a commitment that we read of in I King 1:29, 30.

I Kings 1:29, 30 "And the king sware, and said, "As the Lord liveth, That hath redeemed my soul out of all distress," [29] "Even as I sware unto thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, `Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day." [30]

Bath-sheba bowed her head in thankfulness, and David called Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet to bring in Solomon, and prepare for the ceremony to crown Solomon as king that day. The party down the street at Adonijah ended upon the news that Solomon was king, and all the leaders that were at the feast fled for their lives, for being at such a place for that purpose was considered treason. This is why it is written in this verse "Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord was magnified in him [Solomon]. Do you think for one moment that Adonijah, the brother of Solomon would magnify the Lord over himself. Solomon was a humble man, and completely given to the Lord, and for His service. Adonijah on the other hand hired all these horsemen and chariots, with the fifty men running out front shouting the praises of Adonijah.

2 Chronicles 1:2 "Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers."

Before Solomon went before these leaders of Israel, he dealt with the wickedness of his brother Adonijah. Adonijah had headed for the Tabernacle and the altar of God, when he heard that Solomon was king. He knew that His life was in danger, and he pleaded with both God and his brother for mercy. Solomon listened to his brother's plea and granted him mercy on one condition.

I Kings 1:52 "And Solomon said, "If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die."

This statement seamed quite fair, go out and live a pure life, and you will not be harmed. Then Solomon told Adonijah, "Go to your house". However before Solomon also approached these men of Israel, he went back to his father David, and there David gave his son his message and blessing.

I Kings 2:2 "I Go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;" [2] "And Keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:" [3]

This would be good advise even for a father to give his son today, for we want our sons to be strong in the Lord and to show himself to be a man of character. This can only be done by following the ways, commandments, and judgments of God; and those testimonies and instructions are written in the Word of God. David went on to say;

I Kings 2:4 "That the Lord may continue His word which He spake concerning me [David], saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before Me [YHVH our heavenly Father] in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee' `a man on the throne of Israel.' "

This was an eternal covenant between God and David that is spoken of here. That as long as the king on the throne follows the ways of God, His commandments and judgments, there will be a son or daughter of David's lineage on the throne over Israel. Solomon did walk in the truth and ways of the Lord, and three of the books of God's holy Word were written at the hand of Solomon, by God. Those were the books of "Proverbs", "the Song of Solomon", and "Ecclesiastes". "The Song of Solomon" was written to show the love relationship that our Lord has for His bride and wife, the believers. The book of Ecclesiastes discusses in detail the "man that walketh under the sun", here in our flesh bodies on this earth. Value of life in these flesh bodies ends with the soul returning to the Father that gave that life, when the soul departs from these flesh bodies at death.

We see that God truly gave Solomon great wisdom and understanding as we read and study Solomon's great wisdom in the book of Proverbs. With all its wisdom and instruction: for Solomon writes; "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Today we see how men and women are falling away from God's wisdom from His Word and doing many foolish things, because they are void of God's Wisdom. God's wisdom comes from what is written in our holy Bible.

2 Chronicles 1:3 "So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness."

This great meeting took place in Gibeon, the place of the Tabernacle, where sacrifices are offered to YHVH our heavenly Father. That night after the sacrifices, God appeared to Solomon in a dream, as given in I Kings 3:5, 6.

I Kings 3:5, 6 "In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, "Ask what I shall give thee." [5] "And Solomon said, "Thou hast shewed unto Thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before Thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with Thee; and Thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that Thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day." [6]

Solomon is showing YHVH, God, gratitude for the mercy that He granted to his father David. So this is Solomon's request to our heavenly Father:

I Kings 3:7 "And now, O Lord my God, Thou hast made Thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in."

I Kings 3:8 "And Thy servant is in the midst of Thy People which Thou hast chosen, a great People, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude."

I Kings 3:9 "Give therefore Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy People, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this Thy so great a People?"

Because of Solomon's humble request, God promised him this.

I Kings 3:11 "And God said unto him, "Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies: but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;"

I Kings 3:12 "Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee."

I Kings 3:13 "And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days."

I Kings 3:14 "And if thou wilt walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days."

And Solomon awoke from his dream, to find that God had kept his promise to him. Now remember that David was the one to bring the Ark of the Covenant back from the land of the Philistines, and moved it to a tent in Jerusalem. Yet God would not allow David to build the temple for Him, but did allow David to gather the materials and labor for doing the job of building this temple of God.

2 Chronicles 1:4 "But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjath-jearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem."

2 Chronicles 1:5 "Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the Lord: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it."

It is important to notice that the word "brasen" was added by these Kenites, for it is not given in the text of I Kings 3. "Brasen" in the Strong's Hebrew dictionary is number #5178, meaning that it was made out of copper. Remember that the altars to God were to be made from stone, not the filthy metal of Copper, to downgrade our Lord and His altar. Remember that "the high place" is where the Tabernacle of God was, and thus that is where the altar of God was as well as the Holy of holies where God met and communed with His people. God's altar was exactly as God said it was to be made, in His instructions to Moses some five hundred years earlier back in the wilderness, at the foot of Mount Sinai.

2 Chronicles 1:6 "And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it."

Once again, the Kenite scribes offered the addition of the word "brasen" to the Scriptures. This offering was given to God as written in I Kings 3:4.

2 Chronicles 1:7 "In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, "Ask what I shall give thee."

The request was given and answered in I Kings 3:5 - 10, as is given above in this chapter, and we see that these Scribes did a good job in stating that dream correctly.

2 Chronicles 1:8 "And Solomon said unto God, "Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead."

2 Chronicles 1:9 "Now, O Lord God, let Thy promise unto David my father be established: for Thou hast made me king over a People like the dust of the earth in multitude."

2 Chronicles 1:10 "Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this People: for who can judge this Thy People, that is so great?"

2 Chronicles 1:11 "And God said to Solomon, "Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life: but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge My People, over whom I have made the king:"

2 Chronicles 1:12 "Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the hings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like."

2 Chronicles 1:13 "Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem from before the tabernacle of the congregation and reigned over Israel."

Solomon truly had the wisdom of God, as we read of this wisdom from the pages of the books of Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes that only a man like Solomon, enlightened by God, could write.

2 Chronicles 1:14 "And Solomon hathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem."

2 Chronicles 1:15 "And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycamore trees that are in the vale for abundance."

This phrase given referring to the wealth of Solomon, comparing the stones and the sycamore trees was a "hyperbole", and expression give that stretches the truth a bit, to stress a point. Sure there were great amounts of gold and silver, but not as great as the stones on the street, or the sycamore trees in the land.

2 Chronicles 1:16 "And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarns at a price."

I Kings 10:28, 29 "And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price." [28] "And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means." [29]

Jerusalem was a very rich place under King Solomon, and the underlining message of this chapter is that when you follow the laws and commandments of God, then you can ask for a blessing and expect to receive it. When you put the things and way of God before the things and way of this world, God adds that what you did not ask for in his blessings to you. The riches of Solomon did not happen by accident, but were given to him for the Glory of God and His people. Solomon gave God the glory, and God gave Solomon the wisdom and understanding along with the riches.

2 Chronicles 1:17 "And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means."