Wesley Corpus

Chapter IX God in a vision answers Solomon's prayer, ver. 1 - 9. The mutual presents of Solomon and Hiram, ver. 10 - 14. His workmen and buildings, ver. 15 - 24. His devotion, ver. 25. His navy, ver. 26 - 28. For ever - As long as the Mosaic dispensation lasts; whereas hitherto my worship has been successively in several places. Eyes - My watchful and gracious providence. Heart - My tender affection. Shall be there - Shall be towards this place and people. Then - Upon that condition; for my promise to David was conditional. High - Glorious and renowned. Astonished - At its unexpected and wonderful ruin. Hiss - By way of contempt and derision. Galilee - Or, near the land of Galilee, bordering upon it; in those parts which were near, and adjoining to Hiram's dominions: with the cities, understand the territories belonging to them. These cities, though they were within those large bounds which God fixed to the land of promise, Gen 15:18 Josh 1:4, yet were not within those parts which were distributed by lot in Joshua's time. It is probable they were not inhabited by Israelites, but by Canaanites, or other Heathens; who being subdued, and extirpated by David or Solomon, those cities became a part of their dominions; and afterwards were reckoned a part of Galilee, as Josephus notes. Cabul - That is, of dirt, as most interpret it. Because, though the land was very good, yet being a thick and stiff clay, and therefore requiring great pains to manure it, it was very unsuitable to the disposition of the Tyrians, who were delicate, and lazy, and luxurious, and wholly given to merchandise. And on his returning them, there is no doubt but Solomon gave him an equivalent more to his taste. Sent - And this seems to be here added, both to declare the quantity of the gold sent, which had been only named before, ver.11, and as the reason why he resented Solomon's action, because so great a sum required a better recompense. Raised - Both the levy of men; of which, chap.5:13, and the levy of money upon his people and subjects. He raised this levy, both to pay what he owed to Hiram, and to build the works following. Those - He used them as bondmen, and imposed bodily labours upon them.