2 Chronicles 8 4

2 Chronicles 8:4 kjv

And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath.

2 Chronicles 8:4 nkjv

He also built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the storage cities which he built in Hamath.

2 Chronicles 8:4 niv

He also built up Tadmor in the desert and all the store cities he had built in Hamath.

2 Chronicles 8:4 esv

He built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the store cities that he built in Hamath.

2 Chronicles 8:4 nlt

He rebuilt Tadmor in the wilderness and built towns in the region of Hamath as supply centers.

2 Chronicles 8 verses

2 Chronicles 8 4 Meaning

This verse details a specific aspect of King Solomon's extensive building programs. It highlights his strategic acumen by reporting the construction of Tadmor in the wilderness and numerous store cities in the Hamath region. These projects demonstrate Solomon's vast dominion, administrative efficiency, and control over crucial trade routes and annexed territories during the peak of Israel's unified kingdom.

2 Chronicles 8 4 Context

2 Chronicles chapter 8 continues the account of Solomon's prosperous reign, particularly focusing on his extensive building activities following the completion of the Temple and his own palace, as mentioned in verse 1. This chapter showcases Solomon's wise governance, strategic foresight, and the magnificent scale of his kingdom's infrastructure development. Verse 4 fits within this broader narrative by detailing specific locations of these critical constructions: Tadmor in the wilderness, establishing control over distant trade routes, and numerous store cities in the recently subjugated Hamath region, signifying his northern territorial expansion and administrative consolidation. This building program highlights the wealth, security, and administrative capacity of the kingdom under Solomon's rule, cementing Israel's position as a dominant power.

2 Chronicles 8 4 Word analysis

• And he built: (Hebrew: וַיִּבֶן, vayyiven) – This conjunction and verb highlight the direct action and agency of King Solomon. The repetitive use of "he built" throughout 2 Chronicles 8 (vv. 1, 4, 5, 6) emphasizes the magnitude and systematic nature of his construction projects, underscoring his personal initiative and powerful executive control.
• Tadmor: (Hebrew: תַּדְמֹר, Tadmor) – This city is later known as Palmyra in Greek and Roman times, a significant oasis city situated in the Syrian desert. Its name is possibly linked to date palms (tamar), indicative of its nature as a vital watering point. Solomon's construction here was highly strategic, as Tadmor lay on crucial caravan routes connecting Mesopotamia to Syria and the Mediterranean. Building this city signified his control over, and interest in, extensive desert trade and military logistics far to the north-east of his traditional territory.
• in the wilderness: (Hebrew: בַּמִּדְבָּר, bammidbar) – This refers specifically to the vast Syrian Desert. Locating a major construction project like Tadmor in such an arid and desolate region underscores the ambitious scope of Solomon's kingdom. It showcases his engineering capability and determination to establish control and provide logistical support even in harsh, remote environments, indicating the immense resources and authority at his disposal.
• and all the store cities: (Hebrew: וְאֵת כָּל־עָרֵי הַמִּסְכְּנוֹת, ve'et kol-arei hammiskenot) – The term "store cities" (literally "cities of storehouses/granaries") refers to fortified centers built for the collection and storage of state resources—including grain, wine, oil, tribute, and military supplies. The use of "all" implies a comprehensive and widespread network. These cities were essential administrative and logistical hubs, critical for supporting a large royal household, maintaining a sizable army, and managing a kingdom with diverse agricultural output. They reflect a sophisticated central economy.
• which he built: (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר בָּנָה, asher banah) – This phrase, repeated from earlier in the verse, once again reinforces Solomon's direct involvement and oversight in these construction efforts. It removes any ambiguity about who initiated and completed these large-scale public works.
• in Hamath: (Hebrew: בַּחֲמָת, ba'Chamat) – Hamath was an important Aramean city-state located in the Orontes River valley, north of Israel's traditional borders. King David had subdued or allied with the kingdom of Hamath (2 Sam 8:9-10). Solomon's building of store cities within the territory of Hamath demonstrates his successful consolidation and administrative control over this key northern region, effectively integrating it into his expanding empire. These northern store cities would have been crucial for managing troops and trade routes leading further into Aram and even towards the Euphrates.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "And he built Tadmor in the wilderness": This phrase highlights Solomon's strategic ingenuity and expansionist vision. It reveals his control over valuable economic corridors far beyond Israel's geographical heartland, securing routes critical for long-distance trade. Building in a "wilderness" demonstrates a mastery of logistical challenges and resource allocation, enabling a vast and complex administration.
• "and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath": This emphasizes the practical application of Solomon's power through robust administrative infrastructure. The development of numerous "store cities" illustrates a highly organized kingdom capable of centralizing resources and sustaining extensive military and civil operations. Placing these within "Hamath" showcases the effective absorption and governance of newly acquired or controlled territories in the northern reaches of his dominion.

2 Chronicles 8 4 Bonus section

• While some biblical scholars have debated the exact location or identity of Tadmor in 2 Chronicles (sometimes confused with Tamar further south in the Arabah), the overwhelming scholarly consensus, particularly among archaeologists and historians, links Tadmor of 2 Chronicles 8:4 with the later celebrated desert oasis city of Palmyra due to its strategic position on critical east-west trade routes.
• Solomon's expansive building program required not only great wealth but also a massive workforce. While the text notes he did not make slaves of the Israelites (2 Chr 8:9), he did utilize non-Israelite populations for forced labor (2 Chr 8:7-8), indicating the large-scale societal mobilization required for such grand ventures.
• The meticulous planning reflected in the store cities demonstrates an early form of governmental economic and military planning, highlighting the sophistication of Israelite administration during this period. Such centralized collection and distribution were essential for sustaining an empire with vast territory and a complex economy.

2 Chronicles 8 4 Commentary

2 Chronicles 8:4 serves as a testament to the unparalleled strategic vision and administrative prowess of King Solomon, highlighting the extent of his golden age. The building of Tadmor (later Palmyra) in the wilderness demonstrates his astute recognition of the geopolitical and economic importance of key desert trade routes connecting the Levant with Mesopotamia. This was not a mere building project but a strategic fortification of economic lifelines, solidifying his kingdom's control over vast wealth. Concurrently, the establishment of "all the store cities" in the region of Hamath underscores his capability for comprehensive logistical planning and his successful territorial expansion into the vital northern reaches of Syria. These store cities were indispensable for managing agricultural surpluses, equipping his powerful army, and supplying his extensive civil projects and court. This verse portrays Solomon as a masterful architect of empire, blessed by God with the wisdom and resources to establish Israel as a preeminent power through meticulously planned infrastructure. It shows a highly centralized and economically self-sufficient state under his rule.