The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 5 · Section 12
SECT. XII.
SOlomon now flouriſhes in all ſplendor and glory, which will plainly appear to us if we conſider theſe things:
1. The Extent of his Dominions.
2. His great wealth and riches.
3. His Grandeur and Magnificence.
1. Let us conſider the Extent of his Dominions: He reigned over all the Kingdoms round about Iſrael, from the river Euphrates, the North-Eaſt Coaſt of the land of Canaan, even from Tipſah a City on that river to Azzah or Gaza [ſee Jer. 25.10.] in the land of the Philiſtines their Weſtern bounds, and unto the border of Egypt (which was the river Sihor, Joſh. 13.3.) which was the South bounds.
From all theſe Coaſts they brought preſents to him in teſtimony of fealty, and ſerved Solomon, paying him tribute as long as he lived. And thus was that promiſe fulfilled which was made to Abraham, Gen. 15.18. Ʋnto thy ſeed have I given this land from the river of Egypt unto the great river, even the river Euphrates. Solomon had alſo peace (a)Indeed God ſtirred up ſome adverſaries againſt him after his Apoſtaſie. See Ch. 11.14, 15, 16. but they did more hurt unto his poſterity than unto him.on all ſides round about him, and Judah and Iſrael were many as the ſand which is on the Sea-ſhore for multitude; and ſo that promiſe was fulfilled, Gen. 22.17. I will multiply thy ſeed as the ſtars, and as the ſand which is on the ſea-ſhore. And they lived in a very comfortable condition, every man dwelling ſafely under his own vine, and under his own fig-tree *The like bleſſing was not granted to any King of Iſrael before him or after him. David had many troubles, ſo had Aſà, Jehoſhaphat, Hezekiah, and Joſiah, which were the moſt flouriſhing Kings that ſucceeded him., eating and drinking, and making merry, even from Dan to Beerſheba, all the days of Solomon. 1 King. 4.20, 21, 24, 25. 2 Chron. 9.26.
2. Let us conſider his great riches and wealth: Solomon had for divers years one after another brought in by his ſhips that went to Ophir and Tarſhiſh, Six hundred threeſcore and ſix Talents of Gold. For though from Ophir there were brought in but four hundred and fifty Talents, 2 Chron. 8.18. yet from Ophir, Tarſhiſh, and other places, he might receive ſix hundred ſixty ſix Talents in a year, which amounts to two millions, four hundred ninety ſeven thouſand, five hundred pounds. Beſides what he had of Merchantmen, Factors, and Cuſtomers, and by the Traffick of the Spice-merchants, whoſe commodities being precious, they paid ('tis like) great cuſtom to him for liberty to bring in ſome, and carry out other commodities. And furthermore all the petty Kings and Lords of Arabia (that were ſubdued by David, and ſo brought under his dominion) paid him tribute, and brought him rich preſents, viz. veſſels of ſilver, and veſſels of gold, rich veſts, harneſs, ſpices, horſes, mules; every year they brought a proportion of theſe preſents, 2 Chron. 9.13, 14, 24. 1 King. 10.14, 15. Thus Solomon made ſilver and gold in Jeruſalem to be as plenteous as ſtones, and Cedar-trees as Sycamores that grew in every field. So that this was the golden age of the Iſraelites under the peaceable and flouriſhing reign of Solomon. 1 King. 10.14, 15, 25, 27. 2 Chron. 1.15. 2 Chron. 9.13, 14. & 23.24, 27.
3. Let us conſider his Grandeur and Magnificence: Solomon got for himſelf Chariots and Horſes, and had a thouſand and four hundred Chariots, and four thouſand (a)There being in each ſtall a horſe, and four horſes for every Chariot, the 4000 ſtalls will ſtand with a 1000 Chariots. As for the 400 Chariots overplus, they poſſibly were appointed to be in readineſs when any of them failed or were our of repair.ſtalls for his Horſes and Chariots, [ſee 1 King. 9.19.] and twelve thouſand Horſemen whom he beſtowed in his Chariot-cities; he ordered ſome of them to be in his own Court or near it. If any one ſhall wonder how Solomon came by all thoſe Horſes, they may conſider that they brought him horſes out of all lands near him, eſpecially his Merchants and Factors did buy Horſes for him, and Linnen yarn (b)Horſes and Linnen yarn were the chiefeſt Commodities of Egypt, Cant. 1.9. Ezek. 17.7. And 'twas by the special favour of Pharaoh, whoſe daughter Solomon had married, that he enjoy'd that Traffick.in Egypt. The Linnen yarn at ſuch a price as was agreed upon between the Egyptians and them, and the Horſes coſt one Horſe 150 ſhekels, and therefore ſo many Horſes as us'd to draw one Chariot, viz. four coſt four times as much, viz. ſix hundred ſhekels of ſilver. And theſe Merchants bought Horſes not only to ſerve their own Prince and Country, but alſo for other bordering Kings and Kingdoms. How far his multiplying of Horſes and his multiplying of Wives, [1 King. 11.3.] and his multiplying of Gold and Silver ſo exceſſively, [1 King. 10.21, 27.] did agree with that law made for Kings, Deut. 17.16, 17. poſſibly Solomon in that height of his proſperity did not conſider.
1 King. 1.14, 16, 17.
1 King. 10.26, 28, 29.
2 Chron. 41.14, 16, 17.
2 Chron. 9.25, 28.