Face, to appease me, that I may look down upon them in mercy. (Calmet) CHAPTER VII. After. Septuagint, "in which." Given back (Tirinus) as he refused to accept of the present. Some think that (Calmet) Hiram gave these cities in exchange for the others. (Salien) (Menochius) Emath, or Emesa, on the Orontes. This city had belonged to Thou, who cultivated the friendship of David, 2 Kings viii. 9. But after the death of these princes, it had given some offence to Solomon, who took it, as well as Palmira, or Thadmor, though not perhaps in person. Strong. Hebrew, "the cities of tents," Exodus i. 11. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "store cities," (Haydock) for corn, &c. Tributaries. Hebrew also, "to work," at cutting stones, &c., 1 Paralipomenon xxii. 2. Some of their descendants returned from captivity, 1 Paralipomenon ix. 2. Fifty. These were different from the 550 overseers, 3 Kings ix. 23. Into it. It was deemed improper for a pagan woman to reside in the same place. (Calmet) --- She had perhaps pretended, at first, to be converted, but had lately given some signs of relapse. (Salien) --- Solomon was as yet far from communicating with infidels. (Worthington) CHAPTER VIII. And gate, at their respective posts. See 1 Paralipomenon xxvi. (Haydock) Treasures. The regulations of David were exactly observed. (Calmet) Asiongaber, which was called Bernice, (Josephus, [Antiquities?] viii. 2.) and now Suez. (Tirinus) Ships; not perhaps from Tyre, but from the Red Sea. (Calmet) --- Others think that he sent them by a canal, which opened a communication between the Mediterranean and Suez, (Huet) the distance of about ninety miles. (Pliny, [Natural History?] ii. 68.) --- But this canal seems to have been made after the age of Solomon. Hence others imagine that the ships were taken in pieces, or conveyed by land, as has been sometimes done. Mahomet II transported ships across the isthmus of Corinth. Alexander the Great conveyed on chariots the ships which had been used to cross the Indus, as far as the Hydaspes. (Arrian vii.) (Calmet) --- Skilful mariners. They were the most expert, and the inventers of navigation. Prima ratem ventis tradere docta Tyrus. (Tibul.) See Wisdom xiv. 6. --- Ophir, the kingdom of Pegu, in the East Indies, (Tirinus) or some other distant land. (Haydock) --- Fifty. Thirty are omitted, 3 Kings ix. 28., as they were expended in the voyage. (Calmet) --- Yet the Hebrew letters for twenty and fifty are extremely similar. (Du Hamel) Saba. See 3 Kings x. 1. This queen resided in Arabia or Abyssinia. (Haydock) --- Questions. They were not of a trifling nature, as she is commended by Christ. (Du Hamel) House; the royal palace, or rather the temple, which was much more magnificent than any thing in the East. Virtues. Hebrew, "words," or of what regards thee (Calmet) and thy exploits. (Tirinus) Fame. Hebrew and Septuagint, "the fame which I had heard." (Haydock) King of the Lord. Hence the style, "By the grace of God, king of England," &c., has been adopted. Those deserve the name, who rule according to God's will. (Worthington) --- The kings of the Jews were more properly lieutenants of God, as the government was a theocracy, chap. xiii. 8., &c. Thyine-trees, very odoriferous. (Calmet) --- Hebrew algumim: 3 Kings almugim, as the letters are frequently transposed in Hebrew. (Du Hamel) --- Huet thinks these were citron-trees, which did not produce fruit, but were used to make costly tables, and were a species of cedar. Stairs. Hebrew, "hands," (Du Hamel) or banisters, from the palace to the temple. (Junius) And many. Hebrew, "besides that which she had brought unto the king." (Protestants) It is however certain that Solomon made use of many of her presents, and therefore he returned her others in greater profusion, or, as it is expressed, 3 Kings, besides what he offered her of himself of his royal bounty. (Haydock) Gold, each worth 5475 l. (Arbuthnot) so that this part of the revenue alone would amount to 3,646,350 l. sterling, annually. (Haydock) Beside. Hebrew, "besides that which chapmen and merchants brought." (Protestants) The deputies appear to be the tax-gatherers, 3 Kings x. 15. (Haydock) Pieces. In 3 Kings, we read, three pounds. --- Wood; or, "in the palace of the forest of Libanus," (3 Kings x. 17.; Calmet) as it is expressed in the Septuagint. (Tirinus) CHAPTER IX. Arms. Protestants, "stays." (Haydock) --- Hebrew in 3 Kings seems clearer and more correct. (Calmet) Days. We sometimes find the figure, hyperbole, used in Scripture for things unusual, chap. i. 16. (Worthington) Tharsis. Any distant place was so called. (Tirinus) Thousand. In 3 Kings, we read, 1400 chariots; and here Hebrew has, "4000 stables, (Calmet) or stalls for horses and chariots;" (Protestants) and the Septuagint, "4000 mares for the chariots, and 12,000 horsemen." (Haydock) --- There might be ten horses in each stable. (Du Hamel) Seer. The works of these three are not extant. (Menochius) --- The fall of Solomon is recorded, 3 Kings xi. (Worthington) Please. 3 Kings xii., "serve." By a little condescension, thou mayst establish thy throne. (Calmet) --- The people did not complain, till they saw the riches of the nation wasted on wicked women (Tirinus) and idols. (Du Hamel) Scorpions; thorns, or scourges armed with hooks. (Columellaiii. 10.) --- Roboam had not sense to despise the foolish advice of the young men. (Tirinus) Will of God: not that the king should act foolishly, or the people rebel, but to effect what he had promised. (Haydock) --- Syriac has well expressed the sense: "because this rebellion happened by the divine permission, that they might behold the truth of the prediction of Ahias;" (Calmet) and that the fault of Solomon might be punished. (Du Hamel) People. Hebrew, "and when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying: What portion have we in David?" (Protestants) --- Dwellings. Many ancient Latin manuscripts here insert 3 Kings xii. 20. (Lyranus, &c.) (Calmet)