2 Chronicles 1 · a question people ask
Was Solomon wrong to bring horses out of Egypt?
The chapter ends with Solomon's chariots and horsemen (1:14), silver and gold "as common as stones in Jerusalem" (1:15), and horses "brought out of Egypt and from Kue" (1:16), and it passes no verdict on any of it. Moses' law had said of a king, "Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he may multiply horses" (Deuteronomy 17:16), and "He shall not greatly multiply to himself silver and gold" (Deuteronomy 17:17). 1 Kings tells the same things (1 Kings 10:26-29), and its honest question there sets out two main ways Christians read them. The same two readings are given here, each from its verses. Both agree that God promised Solomon "riches, wealth, and honor" (1:12), and that this chapter gives no verdict of its own.
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
The promise of 1:12, kept
Those who read it this way note that 1:14-17 comes straight after God's promise, "I will give you riches, wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you" (1:12). The same things are told again at the end of Solomon's reign, beside "So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom" (9:22) and "his wisdom, which God had put in his heart" (9:23): silver "as common in Jerusalem as stones" (9:27), and horses "out of Egypt and out of all lands" (9:28). They note too that 2 Chronicles doesn't tell what 1 Kings tells of Solomon's wives turning his heart (1 Kings 11:3-4). On this reading 1:14-17 shows the promise of 1:12 kept.
2 Chronicles 1:12 · 2 Chronicles 9:22-23 · 2 Chronicles 9:27-28 · 1 Kings 11:3-4
A gift, with the law's warning beside it
Those who read it this way set 1:14-17 beside Deuteronomy 17:16-17, noting that the chapter counts what that law names for a king: silver and gold (1:15), and horses "brought out of Egypt" (1:16), where the law had said a king should not "cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he may multiply horses" (Deuteronomy 17:16). The riches were promised (1:12), and David had charged Solomon, "If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever" (1 Chronicles 28:9). And 1 Kings, which tells the same horses (1 Kings 10:28), goes on, "When Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods" (1 Kings 11:4). On this reading 1:14-17 shows the gift with the law's warning already beside it.
2 Chronicles 1:14-17 · Deuteronomy 17:16-17 · 2 Chronicles 1:12 · 1 Chronicles 28:9 · 1 Kings 10:28 · 1 Kings 11:4
The verses
“Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. The king made silver and gold to be as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars to be as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland. The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt and from Kue. The king’s merchants purchased them from Kue.”
“Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he may multiply horses; because the LORD has said to you, “You shall not go back that way again.” He shall not multiply wives to himself, that his heart not turn away. He shall not greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.”
“therefore wisdom and knowledge is granted to you. I will give you riches, wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you, and none after you will have.””