2 Chronicles 8:1-13 ▼

1 It took Solomon 20 years to build the LORD's Temple and his own palace.

2 During this time, he also rebuilt the towns that Hiram had restored to him, and he settled Israelis in them.

3 After this, Solomon traveled to Hamath-zobah and captured it.

4 Then he rebuilt Tadmor in the desert, along with supply centers that he had built in Hamath.

5 He also built upper and lower Beth-horon as fortified cities, installing walls, gates, and bars,

6 and he rebuilt Baalath and its supply centers that belonged to Solomon, along with all the cities that he utilized to garrison his chariots and cavalry forces. Solomon was pleased also to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in every territory that he controlled.

7 All of the survivors who remained living in the land but who were not Israelis (including Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)

8 were descendants of the nations whom the people of Israel had not eliminated. Solomon put them to work as conscripted laborers, which they continue to do to this day.

9 However, Solomon never made conscripted laborers from among the Israelis, but they did serve as his army, as his chief captains, and as commanders in charge of his chariots and cavalry.

10 King Solomon appointed 250 chief officers to command his army.

11 Later, Solomon moved Pharaoh's daughter from the City of David to the palace that he had constructed to house her, because he reasoned, |My wife isn't going to live in the palace where King David of Israel lived, because wherever the ark of the LORD entered is holy.|

12 Solomon offered burnt offerings to the LORD on the LORD's altar that he had built in front of the porch of the Temple,

13 acting in compliance with the daily rule by offering them in conformity to commands issued by Moses for the Sabbaths, the New Moons, the three annual festivals (the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Tents).