2 Chronicles 8 10

2 Chronicles 8:10 kjv

And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.

2 Chronicles 8:10 nkjv

And others were chiefs of the officials of King Solomon: two hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people.

2 Chronicles 8:10 niv

They were also King Solomon's chief officials?two hundred and fifty officials supervising the men.

2 Chronicles 8:10 esv

And these were the chief officers of King Solomon, 250, who exercised authority over the people.

2 Chronicles 8:10 nlt

King Solomon appointed 250 of them to supervise the people.

2 Chronicles 8 verses

2 Chronicles 8 10 Meaning

This verse specifies a critical element of King Solomon's vast and efficient government: 250 elite "chief officers" (śārê han-nəṣîḇîm). These officials were directly under Solomon's authority and had the significant role of ruling and overseeing "the people" of Israel. The detailing of their number and function underscores Solomon's strategic and comprehensive organization, reflecting his wisdom in establishing a hierarchical administration necessary for the prosperity and stability of his thriving kingdom and the execution of grand national projects.

2 Chronicles 8 10 Context

2 Chronicles chapter 8 delineates the substantial growth and systematic organization of King Solomon's realm after his monumental building projects, including the Temple. Verses 1-6 outline the fortified cities and supply centers he constructed or rebuilt throughout his kingdom. Verses 7-8 differentiate between the forced labor of foreign remnants and the specialized roles of native Israelites in Solomon's workforce. Verse 9 further clarifies that no Israelites were enslaved for his projects; rather, they served as warriors, commanders, and cavalry officers. Against this backdrop of significant national achievement and structural development, verse 10 hones in on a specific, higher tier of Israelite administrators. It provides detail about the precise human resource management that enabled such vast undertakings, underscoring Solomon's exceptional administrative wisdom and capacity to govern "the people" through a well-ordered system, in keeping with God's provision for His kingdom.

2 Chronicles 8 10 Word analysis

• These: Refers to a particular, specified category of leaders within the king's vast organizational structure, differentiating them from other types of workers or officials mentioned.
• were: Defines their role and identity within the Solomonic hierarchy, emphasizing their fixed and official capacity.
• the chief officers: Hebrew: śārê han-nəṣîḇîm (שָׂרֵי הַנְּצִיבִים).
  • śārê (chiefs/princes/officials): Signifies a position of significant authority, placing them at the top echelon of the administration, distinct from common supervisors or laborers. It suggests noble or royal appointment.
  • han-nəṣîḇîm (the appointed/standing ones/governors/prefects): Indicates officials who were permanently designated and highly reliable, tasked with oversight, governance, or particular functions across various domains of the kingdom. This term denotes their established authority and direct commission.
• of King Solomon: Affirms that their authority and rank flowed directly from the reigning monarch, underscoring the centralized and divinely appointed nature of Israel's kingship during this period.
• 250 of them: A precise numerical detail provided by the Chronicler. This number contrasts with the 550 mentioned in 1 Kgs 9:23, likely pointing to a different tier of authority or a specific administrative class, such as those explicitly overseeing the Israelite populace rather than purely project labor. This precision highlights the kingdom's detailed organization.
• who ruled: Hebrew: hā-rōḏîm (הָרֹדִים), from the verb radah, meaning "to rule," "to have dominion." This powerfully conveys their primary function as active administrators, exercising direct and authoritative governance, rather than merely being advisers or technicians.
• over the people: Hebrew: bā-‘ām (בָּעָם). Defines their jurisdiction. This emphasizes their administrative oversight extended to the entire Israelite populace, encompassing civil management, legal processes, and ensuring general order and welfare within the kingdom, reflecting Solomon's far-reaching and systematic leadership.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "These were the chief officers": Identifies a specific, senior administrative body essential for the smooth operation of Solomon's kingdom, signaling their critical function and elevated status.
• "of King Solomon": Explicitly attributes their appointment and authority to Solomon, reinforcing the structure where all governance ultimately emanated from the king's central power and wisdom.
• "250 of them": Highlights a highly organized and stratified administrative system within Solomon's reign, where distinct groups of officials had specified roles and numbers. This speaks to the wisdom in governance.
• "who ruled over the people": Pinpoints the direct governmental and managerial function of this particular group, indicating their broader role in civic administration, upholding order, and overseeing the Israelite citizens of the kingdom, vital for its stability and prosperity.

2 Chronicles 8 10 Bonus section

• Chronicles' Perspective on Leadership: The Chronicler, writing to a post-exilic audience, often emphasized themes of faithful leadership and divinely ordained order. By detailing the structured administration of Solomon, he presented a model of governance that brought blessing and stability, in contrast to the later fragmentation and decline. This administrative system showcased God's blessing on a righteous king who valued order and delegation.
• Management Principle: This verse, though ancient, illustrates enduring principles of effective management: delegation of authority, establishment of clear hierarchies, and the appointment of qualified leaders (even with differing responsibilities or scopes, as hinted by numerical discrepancies with Kings). Solomon understood that no single individual, however wise, could manage a vast and complex kingdom without capable and trustworthy subordinates.
• Theological Implication of Order: The careful detailing of administrative structure in the Bible, like here, often subtly points to the orderly character of God Himself. God is not a God of chaos, but of order, and the leaders He raises up (like Solomon when obedient) tend to reflect this divine attribute in their governance. This order contributed to a society conducive to worship and adherence to God's law.

2 Chronicles 8 10 Commentary

2 Chronicles 8:10 offers a glimpse into the operational brilliance of King Solomon's reign, focusing on the 250 "chief officers." These were high-level administrators, likely comprising wise and able Israelites, distinct from the broader foremen mentioned elsewhere, who exercised direct rule and oversight "over the people." Their existence underscores the strategic administrative capacity of Solomon, whose wisdom, provided by God, extended far beyond the construction of the Temple and palaces into the daily, organized governance of his kingdom. The Chronicler highlights this effective administration as evidence of Solomon's divinely blessed and ordered reign, setting a precedent for systematic and just rule. This verse is not just an administrative detail; it portrays how sound leadership and delegated authority were fundamental to Israel's prosperity, peace, and capacity to undertake vast national endeavors under God's blessing. Such organized rule was crucial for upholding justice and order among God's people.