2 Chronicles 2:11 - Exposition

Huram … answered in writing. It is impossible to argue with any but superficial plausibility that Solomon had not used writing. In the parallel of Kings an identical expression is used for the communications of both: "Solomon sent to Hiram" ( 2 Chronicles 2:2 ), and "Hiram sent to Solomon" ( 2 Chronicles 2:8 ). The productions of the forms of this correspondence by Josephus ('Ant. Jud.,' 8.2) and Eupolemus ('Ap. Praep. Evang.,' 9.33) are, of course, merely mythical. Because the Lord hath loved his people. This beautiful expression has parallels, not only in such passages as 2 Chronicles 9:8 ; 1 Kings 10:9 ; but in such as Deuteronomy 7:13 ; Deuteronomy 10:15 ; Psalms 47:4 ; Psalms 115:12 ; Jeremiah 31:3 ; Hosea 11:1 , Hosea 11:4 . These were all precursors of the fuller assertion and kinder demonstration of God's love repeated so often and in such tender connections in the Epistles of the New Testament. This verse and the following are also testimony to the indirect influences on surrounding nations of the knowledge of the one true Creator-God and Ruler-God, that was domiciled by special revelation and oracle ( Romans 3:2 ) with Israel. Where nations near were bitter foes, they often feared Israel's God, whereas now they were friends they could summon to their lips the highest of the outbursts of praise, not to say of adoration. The very noteworthy sympathy of Hiram with Israel may have owed something to his personal predilection for David ( 1 Kings 5:1 ). And this again is convincing testimony to the worth and usefulness of individual character which here influenced the destiny of two whole nations.