2 Cronache 1-5
Jehovah’s Word Is Alive
Highlights From the Book of 1 Chronicles
CHAPTER 1
POINT TMS – What did Solomon’s request at 2 Chronicles 1:10 reveal about
him, and what might we learn by analyzing our personal prayers to Jehovah? (2
Chron. 1:11, 12) [Nov. 23, w05 12/1 p. 19 par. 6]
1:11, 12. Solomon’s request showed Jehovah that gaining wisdom and knowledge
was close to the king’s heart. Our prayers to God indeed reveal what is close to our heart.
We are wise to analyze their content.
*** w13 4/15 p. 10 par. 15 Receive Full Benefit From Reading the Bible ***
15
Like King Solomon, pray to Jehovah for wisdom in carrying out theocratic
responsibilities. (2 Chron. 1:7-10) As did the prophets of old, make “a diligent inquiry and
a careful search” of God’s Word for accurate knowledge of Jehovah and his will. (1 Pet.
1:10-12) The apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to nourish himself “with the words of the
faith and of the fine teaching.” (1 Tim. 4:6) By your doing so, you will be in an excellent
position to help others spiritually. At the same time, you will build up your own faith.
*** w11 12/15 p. 19 pars. 7-8 Faithful Ones of Old—Guided by God’s Spirit ***
7 Another testimony that Bezalel and Oholiab were guided by God’s spirit is the
amazing durability of their work. Their productions were still in use some 500 years later.
(2 Chron. 1:2-6) Unlike modern-day manufacturers, Bezalel and Oholiab had no interest
in leaving their signature or trademark on their work. All credit went to Jehovah for their
accomplishments.—Ex. 36:1, 2.
8 Today, we may be faced with daunting tasks requiring special skills, such as
building, printing, organizing conventions, administering disaster relief, and
communicating with doctors and hospital personnel about our Scriptural position on the
use of blood. At times, these deeds are performed by skilled workers, but more often they
are carried out by volunteers without much background in a specific field. God’s spirit
makes their efforts succeed. Have you held back from accepting an assignment in
Jehovah’s service, feeling that others were more qualified than you? Remember,
Jehovah’s spirit can enhance your knowledge and abilities and help you to fulfill any
assignment he gives you.
*** w05 2/15 p. 19 pars. 9-10 Safeguarding Our Christian Identity ***
It would not be enough for young Solomon to watch how his own father built faith in
Jehovah. He had to get to know Jehovah for himself, and he did. He beseeched God:
“Give me now wisdom and knowledge that I may go out before this people and that I may
come in.”—2 Chronicles 1:10.
Strong faith is built on knowledge. “Faith follows the thing heard,” stated Paul.
(Romans 10:17) What did he mean by that? He meant that by feeding on God’s Word, we
build our faith and confidence in Jehovah, his promises, and his organization. Asking
honest questions about the Bible can lead to reassuring answers.
10
*** w03 5/1 p. 11 par. 14 Do You Ask, “Where Is Jehovah?” ***
14
Before his death, David counseled
his son Solomon: “If you search for
[Jehovah], he will let himself be found by
you.” (1 Chronicles 28:9) Upon taking the
throne, Solomon went to Gibeon, where
the tent of meeting was located, and
sacrificed to Jehovah. There Jehovah
invited Solomon: “Ask! What shall I give
you?” In response to Solomon’s request,
Jehovah freely gave him wisdom and
knowledge to judge Israel, and to that He
added riches and honor. (2 Chronicles 1:312) Using the architectural plan provided
by Jehovah to David, Solomon built a
magnificent temple. But in the matter of his
own marital affairs, Solomon failed to search for Jehovah. Solomon married women who
were not worshipers of Jehovah. In his later years, they inclined his heart away from
Jehovah. (1 Kings 11:1-10) No matter how prominent, wise, or knowledgeable we may
seem to be, it is important to “keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord”!
*** w01 10/15 p. 24 par. 9 Safeguard Your Heart ***
9 In response to young King Solomon’s request for wisdom and knowledge, Jehovah
said: “For the reason that this has proved to be close to your heart and you have not
asked for wealth, riches and honor . . . , the wisdom and the knowledge are being given
you; also wealth and riches and honor I shall give you.” (2 Chronicles 1:11, 12) From
what Solomon asked for and did not ask for, Jehovah knew what was close to Solomon’s
heart. What do our communications with God reveal about our heart? Do our prayers
disclose our thirst for knowledge, wisdom, and discernment? (Proverbs 2:1-6; Matthew
5:3) Are Kingdom interests close to our heart? (Matthew 6:9, 10) If our prayers have
become mechanical and perfunctory, this could be an indication of the need to take time
to meditate on Jehovah’s deeds. (Psalm 103:2) All Christians ought to be alert to discern
what their prayers reveal.
*** w99 11/15 p. 26 “Jehovah Himself Gives Wisdom” ***
King Solomon was renowned for his wisdom. (1 Kings 4:30-32) The Scriptures reveal
that he had knowledge of a variety of subjects, including plants, animals, human nature,
and God’s Word. The discernment he displayed as a young king in settling the dispute
between two women, each claiming to be the mother of the same child, helped to bring
him international fame. (1 Kings 3:16-28) What was the source of his great learning?
Solomon prayed to Jehovah for “wisdom and knowledge” and the ability “to discern
between good and bad.” Jehovah granted him these.—2 Chronicles 1:10-12; 1 Kings 3:9.
We too should pray for Jehovah’s help as we diligently study his Word. The psalmist
prayed: “Instruct me, O Jehovah, about your way. I shall walk in your truth. Unify my heart
to fear your name.” (Psalm 86:11) Jehovah approved of that prayer, for he had it recorded
in the Bible. We can be confident that our earnest and frequent prayers for his help to find
spiritual treasures in the Bible will not go unanswered.—Luke 18:1-8.
*** w92 2/1 p. 11 pars. 12-13 Jehovah’s Gift of Holy Spirit ***
Still later, Solomon was granted
(2 Chronicles 1:12, 13) Under him,
condition became a pattern for the
Millennial Reign of Christ Jesus, the
2:3, 4; 11:1, 2; Matthew 12:42.
special wisdom as king of God’s chosen people.
Israel prospered as never before, and its happy
blessings that God’s people will enjoy under the
Greater Solomon.—1 Kings 4:20, 25, 29-34; Isaiah
13 What a blessing it is that Jehovah makes that same spirit available to us! When we
feel inadequate to fulfill an assignment or engage in the preaching work, we can ask
Jehovah to give us the same spirit that he gave to Bezalel. When we suffer sickness or
endure persecution, the same spirit that gave Samson extraordinary strength will fortify
us—though not, of course, miraculously. And when we face difficult problems or have to
make important decisions, we can ask Jehovah, who gave Solomon extraordinary
wisdom, to help us act wisely.
*** w74 15/1 pp. 44-45 par. 15 Coltivate l’amicizia di Dio ***
Come Salomone, dovremmo pregare per avere “sapienza e conoscenza”, affinché
apprezziamo pienamente il paradiso spirituale di Geova. (2 Cron. 1:7-12) In armonia con
tali preghiere, vorremo riservare regolarmente del tempo allo studio personale e familiare,
inclusa la preparazione per le adunanze di congregazione. Con appropriata
predisposizione, possiamo rendere adatto allo studio il nostro ambiente.
CHAPTER 2
*** w14 4/1 p. 13 Did You Know? ***
Why was ancient Phoenicia famous for its purple dye?
Phoenicia, which roughly corresponded to
modern-day Lebanon, was noted for its Tyrian
purple dye, named after the city of Tyre. King
Solomon of ancient Israel furnished his temple
with “purple wool” produced by an artisan from
Tyre.—2 Chronicles 2:13, 14.
Tyrian purple was the most precious dye of
its time, in large part because of the labor
required to produce it. First, fishers collected
murex shellfish from the sea in large numbers.
As many as 12,000 were used to produce the
dye for a single garment. Next, these marine
snails were removed from their shells so that
their dye glands could be extracted. Dye makers
combined these with salt and exposed the
mixture to the open air and the sun for three days. Then they placed the mass in a
covered vat and simmered it with seawater for several more days.
For hundreds of years, through their commerce and colonizing, the Phoenicians
maintained both the market for Tyrian purple and their capacity to produce it. Relics of
their dye production have been found around the Mediterranean Sea and as far west as
Cádiz, Spain.
*** w05 12/1 p. 19 pars. 1-2 Highlights From the Book of Second Chronicles ***
2:14—Why is the lineage of the craftsman described here different from the one
found at 1 Kings 7:14? First Kings refers to the craftsman’s mother as “a widowed
woman from the tribe of Naphtali” because she had married a man of that tribe. She
herself, though, was from the tribe of Dan. After her husband’s death, she married a man
of Tyre, and the artisan was an offspring of that marriage.
2:18; 8:10—These verses state that the number of deputies serving as overseers
and as foremen over the labor force was 3,600 plus 250, whereas according to
1 Kings 5:16; 9:23, they numbered 3,300 plus 550. Why do the numbers differ? The
difference seems to be in the way the deputies are classified. It may be that Second
Chronicles differentiates between 3,600 non-Israelites and 250 Israelite deputies, while
First Kings distinguishes 3,300 foremen from 550 chief supervisors of higher rank. In any
case, the total number of those serving as deputies was 3,850.
CHAPTER 3
*** w89 3/1 p. 16 Jerusalem—Center of Biblical Events ***
Other sacrifices came to the fore later when Solomon built a magnificent temple to
Jehovah on a leveled site about where the domed buildings now are. (2 Chronicles 3:1)
Try to imagine Israelites coming here from all parts of the land with their animal sacrifices
for the annual festivals.
*** it-2 p. 75 Jewels and Precious Stones ***
When Solomon built the temple, he “overlaid the house with precious stone for
beauty,” or studded it with precious stones.—2Ch 3:6.
CHAPTER 4
*** w08 2/1 p. 15 Did You Know? ***
What was the size of the molten sea at Solomon’s temple?
The account at 1 Kings 7:26 refers to the sea as containing
“two thousand bath measures” of water used by the priests,
whereas the parallel account at 2 Chronicles 4:5 speaks of it as
containing “three thousand bath measures.” This has led to the
claim that the difference is the result of a scribal error in the
Chronicles account.
However, the New World Translation helps us understand
how these two texts can be harmonized. First Kings 7:26 reads:
“Two thousand bath measures were what it would contain.”
Notice that 2 Chronicles 4:5 says: “As a receptacle, three
thousand bath measures were what it could contain.” So
2 Chronicles 4:5 refers to the maximum capacity of the temple
basin, what it could contain, whereas 1 Kings 7:26 states the
quantity of water that was usually put into the temple basin. In
other words, it was never filled to maximum capacity. It appears
that it was customarily filled to only two thirds of its capacity.
*** w08 6/1 p. 13 Water Bubbling Up to Impart Everlasting Life ***
Later, at the temple in Jerusalem, Solomon made a “molten sea” of copper that
normally held over 11,500 gallons [44,000 L] of water, enough to meet the cleansing
requirements of God’s Law. (2 Chronicles 4:2, 6) What meaning does such use of water
have for Christians today?
The apostle Paul explained that Jesus had cleansed the Christian congregation “with
the bath of water by means of the word.” Like water, which cleanses physically, the truth
of God’s Word has power to carry out moral and spiritual cleansing. This cleansing leaves
Christ’s disciples “holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27) Thus, all who desire
God’s favor must work to keep themselves morally and spiritually “spotless and
unblemished.”
*** w05 12/1 p. 19 pars. 3-4 Highlights From the Book of Second Chronicles ***
4:2-4—Why was the representation of bulls used in the construction of the base
of the molten sea? In the Scriptures, bulls are a symbol of strength. (Ezekiel 1:10;
Revelation 4:6, 7) The choice of bulls as a representation was fitting because the 12
copper bulls supported the huge “sea,” which weighed some 30 tons. The making of bulls
for this purpose did not in any way violate the second commandment, which prohibited
the making of objects for worship.—Exodus 20:4, 5.
4:5—What was the total capacity of the molten sea? When filled, the sea could
hold three thousand bath measures, or about 17,400 gallons [66,000 L]. The normal
level, however, was probably about two thirds of its capacity. First Kings 7:26 states:
“Two thousand bath measures [11,600 gallons [44,000 L]] were what [the sea] would
contain.”
*** lv chap. 8 pp. 87-88 pars. 6-7 God Loves Clean People ***
6
Another reason why we need to keep clean is that Jehovah, our Sovereign Ruler,
requires cleanness of his worshippers. Under the Law that Jehovah gave to Israel,
cleanness and worship were inseparable. The Law specified that on the Day of
Atonement, the high priest had to bathe not once but twice. (Leviticus 16:4, 23, 24)
Officiating priests were required to wash their hands and feet before offering sacrifices to
Jehovah. (Exodus 30:17-21; 2 Chronicles 4:6) The Law outlined some 70 causes of
physical uncleanness and ceremonial defilement. While in an unclean state, an Israelite
could not have any part in worship—in certain cases, under penalty of death. (Leviticus
15:31) Anyone refusing to undergo the required purifying procedure, including bathing his
body and washing his clothes, was to be “cut off from the congregation.”—Numbers
19:17-20.
Although we are not under the Mosaic Law, it gives us insight into God’s thinking on
matters. Clearly, the Law emphasized that cleanness was required of those who
worshipped God. Jehovah has not changed. (Malachi 3:6) Our worship cannot be
acceptable to him unless it is “clean and undefiled.” (James 1:27) We thus need to know
what he expects of us in this regard.
7
CHAPTER 5
*** w10 12/15 p. 22 par. 9 Sing to Jehovah! ***
During Solomon’s reign,
music was featured in pure
worship in a large way. At the
inauguration of the temple,
there was a full-scale orchestra,
with a brass section composed
of
120
trumpets.
(Read
2 Chronicles 5:12.) The Bible
tells us that “the trumpeters
[who were all priests] and the
singers were as one in causing
one sound to be heard in
praising and thanking Jehovah,
. . . ‘for he is good, for to time indefinite is his loving-kindness.’” As soon as that joyful
sound had gone up, “the house itself was filled with a cloud,” indicating Jehovah’s
approval. How thrilling, how awe-inspiring it must have been to hear the sound of all
those trumpets along with thousands of singers blending as one!—2 Chron. 5:13.
9
*** w09 11/15 pp. 18-19 Cheerful Giving From the Heart ***
When the temple was to be constructed centuries later, God’s people again had the
opportunity to show their support for pure worship. King David made a large personal
contribution toward the project and invited others to participate in giving. They did so
eagerly. Why, the contribution of gold and silver alone was worth more than 100 billion
dollars at current values! The people rejoiced over their making voluntary offerings to
Jehovah.—1 Chron. 29:3-9; 2 Chron. 5:1.
*** w05 12/1 p. 19 par. 5 Highlights From the Book of Second Chronicles ***
5:4, 5, 10—What furniture from the original tabernacle became part of
Solomon’s temple? The only item from the original tent of meeting that was kept in
Solomon’s temple was the Ark. After the construction of the temple, the tabernacle was
taken from Gibeon to Jerusalem and was apparently stored there.—2 Chronicles 1:3, 4.