Sanctifying Solomon

2 Chronicles 1-2

            The Chronicler introduces Solomon with his prayer for wisdom at Gibeon. In 1 Kings, Giben is described as the chief high place. There is no mention of the tabernacle or the Lord’s altar. In 1 Kings, the location is a bit of foreshadowing about Solomon’s later trouble with idolatry, and that fits that book’s agenda, which is to demonstrate that the only measure of a king of Israel is his faithfulness to the Lord.

            Here, we are told that the tabernacle was at Gibeon (1:3) and that not just any altar by Bezalel’s altar—the original from the wilderness—was there. Here we see the Chroniclers’ agenda, namely, emphasizing the faithfulness of Solomon. Just as he skipped over David’s trouble with Bathsheba, here he adds some details that minimize Solomon’s flaws. (Probably Gibeon was a mixed bag. Sure, the tabernacle was there but it was also identified as a high place. Probably both the Lord and Baal were worshiped there. That would certainly fit Israel’s problem with syncretism, about which we’ve talked.)