Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 9:19
And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
19. and all the cities of store ] In 2Ch 8:4 the expression is store-cities, which reads better here, and is clearer in sense. These places would be provided so that surplus produce which could be preserved, as corn, oil, wine, &c. might be stored in times of plenty to be ready when need should require. We read that Hezekiah made some similar provision (2Ch 32:28).
and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen ] Special places must have been needed for these, when we consider the great number of them (see below 1Ki 10:26). In 1Ch 4:31 there is a place called ‘town-of-chariots’ Beth-marcaboth, and another ‘court-of-horses’ Hazar-susim. The injunction of Deu 17:16 against the multiplication of horses by the king was apparently forgotten or disregarded. But the absence of any allusion to the command has been made by some an argument for the later date of Deuteronomy.
and that which Solomon desired to build ] The force of the literal rendering on the margin of A. V. ‘the desire of Solomon which he desired to build’ is better brought out in the text of R.V. ‘that which Solomon desired to build for his pleasure.’ The noun is the same as in 1Ki 9:1 of this chapter, and the writer here is evidently distinguishing these later-named works from the former. The first in the list were either fortifications, or strongholds, or store-cities, but the others are for the king’s own pleasure and enjoyment. (Cf. on the whole subject, Ecc 2:4-8.)
and in Lebanon ] The place of all others to which for relaxation the king would retire. The scorching heat of the lower plains could there be escaped, while the fragrance of the vegetation made a residence there most enjoyable. The writer of Solomon’s Song paints for us the loveliness of the spot, ‘a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters and streams from Lebanon’ (1Ki 4:15), and again, ‘his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars’ (1Ki 5:15), and ‘the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon’ (1Ki 4:11). But it has been supposed by some that Lebanon is mentioned here as being an important military post.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The cities of store contained provisions stored up for the troops (compare 2Ch 32:28). They seem to have been chiefly in the north – in Hamath 2Ch 8:4 and Naphtali 2Ch 16:4. On the cities for his chariots, see 1Ki 10:26 note.
By that which Solomon desired to build (see the margin) seem to be intended pleasaunces in or near the capital, and in the Lebanon range, built especially for the enjoyment of the king.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 19. And all the cities of store] Though, by the multitude and splendour of his buildings, Solomon must have added greatly to the magnificence of his reign; yet, however plenteous silver and gold were in his times, his subjects must have been greatly oppressed with the taxation necessary to defray such a vast public expenditure.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The cities of store; to lay up arms and ammunition for war, and corn or other provisions against a time of scarcity. See Exo 1:11.
In Lebanon; either in the mountain of Lebanon, which being the border of his land, he might build some forts or a frontier city in it; or in the house of the forest of Lebanon; of which see 1Ki 7:2.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
15-24. this is the reason of thelevyA levy refers both to men and money, and the necessity forSolomon making it arose from the many gigantic works he undertook toerect.
Millopart of the fortof Jerusalem on Mount Zion (2Sa 5:9;1Ch 11:8), or a row of stonebastions around Mount Zion, Millo being the great corner tower ofthat fortified wall (1Ki 11:27;2Ch 32:5).
the wall of Jerusalemeitherrepairing some breaches in it (1Ki11:27), or extending it so as to enclose Mount Zion.
Hazorfortified onaccount of its importance as a town in the northern boundary of thecountry.
Megiddo(nowLeijun)Lying in the great caravan road between Egypt and Damascus,it was the key to the north of Palestine by the western lowlands, andtherefore fortified.
Gezeron the westernconfines of Ephraim, and, though a Levitical city, occupied by theCanaanites. Having fallen by right of conquest to the king of Egypt,who for some cause attacked it, it was given by him as a dowry to hisdaughter, and fortified by Solomon.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And all the cities of store that Solomon had,…. In which were his magazines of corn, arms, and ammunition; and these were built in Hamath, 2Ch 8:4
and cities for his chariots; chariots of war, iron chariots, which were kept in times of peace, in case of necessity, of which Solomon had 1400, 1Ki 10:26,
and cities for his horsemen; of which he had 12,000, a standing cavalry:
and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem; besides the temple and his own palace before mentioned; see Ec 2:4,
and in Lebanon; the house of the forest of Lebanon, which Junius on 1Ki 7:2 thinks he built after he had taken Hamathzobah, a royal city of Lebanon; see 2Ch 8:3 or fortresses on Mount Lebanon, which was the northern border of his kingdom:
and in all the land of his dominions; where he might repair or fortify cities, or erect new forts for the safety of his kingdom; now for the doing of all this was the levy both of men and money raised, and of whom next follows.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(19) That which Solomon desired to build.See, in Ecc. 2:4-10, the description of the vineyards, and gardens, and orchards, in Jerusalem, with trees of all manner of fruits and pools of water, whatsoever mine eyes desired; and in Son. 2:10-13; Son. 4:8; Son. 7:11-13, the vivid pictures of the pleasure-gardens of Lebanon. The text seems evidently to refer to these, in contradistinction from the cities of commercial and military importance previously mentioned.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. Cities of store In which were deposited corn, wine, and oil, (2Ch 32:28,) and probably wares for purposes of trade, and provisions for the army.
Cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen Rather, for his cavalry. See note on 1Ki 4:26. These cities for his chariots and his horses were probably “identical in part with the magazine-cities, and several of them situated on the northern boundary of his kingdom in the region of Hamath and on Lebanon, as must be inferred partly from the importance of the northern border to the security of the whole kingdom, partly from the consideration that Solomon had an adversary in Rezon of Damascus, (1Ki 11:23,) who might easily excite to rebellion the northern provinces which were first incorporated into the kingdom by David, and partly from the express statement of 2Ch 16:4, according to which there were magazine-cities in the land of Naphtali.” Keil.
That which Solomon desired to build That is, whatever in the way of buildings, gardens, or parks he desired. Compare Ecc 2:1-9.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 9:19. And in Lebanon That is, in the palace which was styled of the forest of Lebanon, near Jerusalem; for Solomon built nothing in mount Lebanon, nor do we any where read that any part of that mountain was within his jurisdiction. Houbigant.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Ki 9:19 And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
Ver. 19. And cities for his chariots. ] Which he had ready, in case war should fall out. Queen Elizabeth likewise provided for war, when she was at perfect peace with all men. a
And that which Solomon desired.
a Camden.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the cities of store: 1Ki 4:26-28, Exo 1:11
that which Solomon desired: Heb. the desire of Solomon which he desired, 1Ki 9:1, Ecc 2:10, Ecc 6:9
Reciprocal: 1Ki 7:2 – General 2Ch 8:6 – the store cities 2Ch 16:4 – the store cities Son 7:4 – the tower
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
9:19 And all the cities {g} of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
(g) Cities for his ammunition.