2 Chronicles 8:11

And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because [the places are] holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come.

And Solomon {H8010} brought up {H5927} the daughter {H1323} of Pharaoh {H6547} out of the city {H5892} of David {H1732} unto the house {H1004} that he had built {H1129} for her: for he said {H559}, My wife {H802} shall not dwell {H3427} in the house {H1004} of David {H1732} king {H4428} of Israel {H3478}, because the places are holy {H6944}, whereunto the ark {H727} of the LORD {H3068} hath come {H935}.

Shlomo brought up Pharaoh's daughter from the City of David to the house he had built for her; because he said, "No wife of mine is going to live in the house of David king of Isra'el, since the [buildings] where the ark of ADONAI has been are holy."

Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her. For he said, “My wife must not live in the house of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the LORD has entered are holy.”

And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her; for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of Jehovah hath come.

Context

This verse, 2 Chronicles 8:11, provides a glimpse into King Solomon's reign, specifically after the completion of his monumental building projects, including the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem and his own elaborate palace. Solomon had taken Pharaoh's daughter as a wife early in his reign, a strategic political alliance that is first mentioned in 1 Kings 3:1. Initially, she likely resided in the City of David, the ancient part of Jerusalem that King David had conquered and established as his capital. This verse records Solomon's decision to move her from there to a dedicated house he had built for her, outside the immediate vicinity of the sacred areas.

Key Themes

  • Holiness and Separation: The central theme is Solomon's recognition of the sanctity of the City of David. He declared that "the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come." The Ark of the LORD symbolized God's manifest presence among His people and was the most sacred object in Israel. Its presence consecrated the ground, making it unsuitable for common dwelling, especially for a foreign queen who likely had different religious practices.
  • Respect for God's Presence: Solomon's action demonstrates a degree of reverence for the divine presence. He understood that areas touched by the Ark's presence or designated for sacred worship required a higher standard of purity and separation from the secular or potentially defiling.
  • Distinction Between Sacred and Profane: This verse highlights the biblical principle of distinguishing between what is holy (set apart for God) and what is profane (common or unclean). While Solomon's later life was marked by compromises, particularly with his many foreign wives leading him to idolatry (1 Kings 11:1), this particular act shows an early understanding of this critical distinction.

Linguistic Insights

The key Hebrew word here is qodesh (קֹדֶשׁ), translated as "holy." It signifies something that is set apart, consecrated, or dedicated exclusively for God's use or presence. It implies a moral and ritual purity that distinguishes it from the common or secular. Solomon's statement emphasizes that the ground itself was imbued with this sacred quality because of the Ark's temporary dwelling there.

Practical Application

For believers today, this verse serves as a reminder of the importance of holiness and separation. While we no longer have a physical Ark or a designated holy city in the same way, the principle remains: God's presence demands reverence and purity. The New Testament teaches that believers themselves are now the "temple of the Holy Ghost" (1 Corinthians 6:19). This implies that our lives, our bodies, and our actions should reflect the sacredness of God's indwelling Spirit. Just as Solomon sought to keep the physical space around the Ark pure, we are called to maintain spiritual purity in our lives, distinguishing between what honors God and what does not. It encourages us to be mindful of the environments we create and inhabit, ensuring they are conducive to God's presence and not compromised by anything that would dishonor His name.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Kings 7:8

    And his house where he dwelt [had] another court within the porch, [which] was of the like work. Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken [to wife], like unto this porch.

  • 1 Kings 3:1

    ¶ And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

  • 1 Kings 9:24

    But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which [Solomon] had built for her: then did he build Millo.

  • Exodus 3:5

    And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy ground.

  • Exodus 29:43

    And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and [the tabernacle] shall be sanctified by my glory.

  • Ezekiel 21:2

    Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop [thy word] toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,

  • 2 Peter 1:18

    And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

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