2 Chronicles 8 11

2 Chronicles 8:11 kjv

And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come.

2 Chronicles 8:11 nkjv

Now Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh up from the City of David to the house he had built for her, for he said, "My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy."

2 Chronicles 8:11 niv

Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, "My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the LORD has entered are holy."

2 Chronicles 8:11 esv

Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, "My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy."

2 Chronicles 8:11 nlt

Solomon moved his wife, Pharaoh's daughter, from the City of David to the new palace he had built for her. He said, "My wife must not live in King David's palace, for the Ark of the LORD has been there, and it is holy ground."

2 Chronicles 8 verses

2 Chronicles 8 11 Meaning

2 Chronicles 8:11 records King Solomon's decision to move his Egyptian wife, Pharaoh's daughter, from the City of David into a separate house he had constructed for her. The stated reason was that the City of David had been made holy by the presence of the Ark of the Lord. This act reflects a recognition of the distinct sacredness conferred upon a place where God's presence, specifically represented by the Ark, had resided.

2 Chronicles 8 11 Context

Chapter 8 of 2 Chronicles summarizes Solomon's achievements after the dedication of the temple, focusing on his building projects and administrative arrangements. These include rebuilding cities, military organization, and forced labor from non-Israelite peoples. The chapter emphasizes Solomon's prosperity and obedience to certain aspects of God's law. Verse 11 specifically addresses a domestic matter related to Solomon's foreign wife, Pharaoh's daughter. This particular detail is unique to the Chronicler's account, not found in 1 Kings, indicating its significance to the Chronicler's theological perspective, which frequently emphasizes ritual purity, the sanctity of Jerusalem and the Temple, and adherence to divine instruction. The historical context shows Solomon, despite his wisdom, engaging in foreign alliances through marriage, a practice specifically prohibited in the Mosaic Law for its potential to lead to idolatry and defilement.

2 Chronicles 8 11 Word analysis

• But Solomon: Signifies a transition or qualification from the preceding narrative. It points to a specific action by the king.
• brought: (הֶעֱלָה, he'eláh) More than merely "moving"; it carries a nuance of "causing to ascend" or "raising up." This may suggest moving from a perceived "lower" (less sacred) place to a higher (more appropriate) one.
• the daughter of Pharaoh: Identifies Solomon's primary foreign wife (1 Kgs 3:1). Her status as a foreign royal, particularly Egyptian, posed challenges to Israel's distinct identity and purity.
• out of the City of David: This refers to Jerusalem's oldest fortified area, Mount Zion, captured by David, which became his royal residence and later hosted the Ark of the Lord before the Temple was built. It was a site deeply connected to Israel's national and religious identity.
• to the house which he had built for her: Highlights Solomon's extensive building activities (2 Chr 8:1-6, 1 Kgs 7:1-12) and indicates a separate dwelling provided specifically for the queen. This new house was outside the traditional royal dwelling connected to David's legacy.
• for he said: Introduces Solomon's direct rationale, demonstrating his conscious decision and theological reasoning behind the move.
• “My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel”: This is Solomon's decree. The "house of David" refers to the royal palace/dwelling associated with David's lineage and, by extension, the center of Israel's divinely appointed kingship. Solomon believed this residence, given its connection to the Ark, was unsuitable for his foreign queen.
• “because the places to which the ark of the Lord has come are holy.”: This is the theological principle underpinning Solomon's action.
  • the ark of the Lord: The central symbol of God's presence and covenant with Israel. It represented His throne, His law, and His power. Its very presence consecrated any location it occupied.
  • has come: (בָּא, ba') Denotes an active entry or arrival.
  • are holy: (קֹדֶשׁ, qōdeš) Sacred, set apart for God's exclusive use, demanding ritual purity. The Chronicler emphasizes holiness, implying that any place touched by the Ark's presence became permanently sanctified.

Words-group analysis

• "Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh out of the City of David": This action demonstrates a physical separation and relocation of the queen. It's a pragmatic step by Solomon to address a perceived tension between her presence and the sanctity of the old royal residence.
• "to the house which he had built for her": This phrase emphasizes Solomon's capacity to build grand structures and also implies a degree of forethought in preparing a suitable, distinct dwelling, not improvising.
• "My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel": This declarative statement reveals a deliberate choice and policy by Solomon concerning his household and the sanctity of his lineage's residence. It prioritizes the purity of the "house of David" over spousal convenience.
• "because the places to which the ark of the Lord has come are holy": This is the theological justification. Solomon links the sanctity of a physical location directly to the transient presence of the Ark, implying that holiness, once conferred by God's manifest presence, endures. This underscores the Chronicler's deep reverence for the Ark and its consecrating power. It also subtly critiques the broader act of marrying Pharaoh's daughter, as even Solomon acknowledges a need for separation due to a disparity in spiritual purity.

2 Chronicles 8 11 Bonus section

This verse is notably absent from the parallel account in 1 Kings 9:24, suggesting the Chronicler's particular theological agenda. The Chronicler frequently emphasizes the temple, the priesthood, worship, and the Davidic covenant's purity. By including this verse, the Chronicler may have sought to:

• Mitigate Solomon's initial disobedience: Presenting Solomon as someone who, at least in this instance, respected holiness, offering a more positive gloss than solely focusing on his unholy foreign alliances.
• Underscore the permanence of holiness: A place where God's Ark resided became enduringly holy, a powerful theological point for a community rebuilding the Temple and re-establishing sacred boundaries after exile.
• Purity concerns: It highlights the concern over mixing what is set apart for God with that which might be ritually defiled, foreshadowing later struggles against syncretism and foreign influences within the Israelite faith. The presence of Pharaoh's daughter, potentially adhering to pagan practices, would inherently render her, by Israelite standards, ritually impure for dwelling in a highly sacred zone.

2 Chronicles 8 11 Commentary

2 Chronicles 8:11 serves as a significant insight into Solomon's understanding of holiness, specifically concerning the sanctifying power of God's presence. The Chronicler, writing to a post-exilic community concerned with purity, worship, and Israel's relationship with God, deliberately includes this verse to highlight Solomon's specific act of reverence for sacred space. While Solomon's marriage to Pharaoh's daughter was a direct transgression of Deuteronomic law (Deut 7:3-4) and ultimately led to his downfall (1 Kgs 11), this verse uniquely portrays him in a moment of piety. He correctly discerned that the very ground where the Ark of the Covenant had rested—the City of David—was permanently hallowed by divine presence. His rationale indicates an understanding that something common or, by implication, ritually unclean, should not defile what God has set apart. This stands as a paradoxical wisdom, demonstrating an awareness of ritual purity, even while he compromised on marital purity. It reflects a nuanced portrayal where good decisions can coexist alongside deeper failures, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the places dedicated to God's glory and distinctness from foreign influences.