V.28 Solomon undoubedly carried the Israelite kingdom to its highest pitch of worldly glory. His completion of the temple, the centralizing of the national worship at Jerusalem, with all going up three times a year. But, his reign had a disastrous influence upon the people, and the example of his deplorable idolatries, the connections he formed with foreign princes, the commercial speculations he entered into, and the luxuries intoduced into the land, seem in a great measure to have altered and deteriorated that which David had established.

There is surely a foretaste of Christ's Kingdom in the riches and wisdom of Solomon, and in the honour paid to him by "all the kings of the earth" 2Chron 9:23,24.

V.18 Was Solomon's throne configuration a microcosm of the kingdom?  Were the six steps to the throne indicative of the six days of creation before reaching God's rest (six time-periods before reaching the coming kingdom)?  Were the twelve lions symbolic of the twelve tribes who will be represented in the kingdom?   

V.29 The prophets who were responsible for the books in their present form had at their disposal many contemporary records from which their selection was made.The book of Nathan; the prophecy of Ahijah; the visions of Iddo. We are not suggesting that they were not directed by the Hand of God.

9:23-24  The way that the kings of the earth both sought Solomon’s wisdom and brought gifts prefigures Jesus’ kingdom. All nations shall go up ‘from year to year …’ Zech 14:15 and they will bring the wealth of the Gentiles Isa 60:11

V.1The location of Sheba is not known with certainty.  There is some evidence that it might have been in Ethiopia, but stronger evidence suggests that it was on the Arabian Peninsula, probably in the area of present-day Yemen.

V.29 Ezra has been accredited traditionally with writing Chronicles (Chron. 1 and Chron. 2 were originally one book).  The account used other sources in its compilation.  Isaiah and Samuel are notable examples, who, themselves, have their own writings.  But, the writings of other contributors such as Nathan, Ahijah and Iddo did not become scriptural canon.   

9:2 Psa 19:6 says that nothing is hid from the sun – typical of the leader of the Jewish people. So when we read that nothing of what the Queen of Sheba asked was hid from Solomon we see that this Psalm is being applied to his judgement.

9:24 In bringing presents the kings fulfil the promise that God made through David to his son – Psa 72:11

9:3 Notice whilst the queen of Sheba saw all the splendour God’s kingdom it is said that she ‘saw’ the wisdom of Solomon – so she must have seen some of his acts of judgement. Rather like a picture of the kingdom when the nations will see the judgements of Christ and glorify God.

9:6 In not believing what she had been told but was only convinced when she saw the Queen of Sheba is rather like Thomas - John 20:25

2Chron 9:1 - "Sheba" [(7614) means "seven, (or) an oath"] perhaps reminds us of the seventh millenial day of rest when Christ will reign on earth as promised (Isa 2:2-4).

2Chron 9:1-2 - hard questions...talked with him about all she had on her mind may be compared with a future face to face clarification and full knowledge (1Cor 13:9-12). 

2Chron 9:22-23 - greater in riches and wisdom than all other kings and all kings of the earth seeking audience with him has almost a Messianic feel.

2Chron 9:8 - has almost a Messianic echo with the king to rule on God's throne...establish Israel for ever..."Judgement" [Heb. "mishpat" (4941) means "verdict, justice, judgment"], "justice" [Heb. "tsedaqah" (6666) means "righteousness, justice"].

2Chron 9:7 - happiness just as there will be great joy when Christ rules on earth.

2Chron 9:12 - the idea of receiving more from the king than is given sounds almost Messianic.

The emphasis on gold which some feel represents a refining and perfecting. But along with that gold were mentions of  "6" (2Chron 9:13,18,19) which some feel represent man, fleshly nature, and of horses (2Chron 9:25,28;Deut 17:16). Solomon's kingdom already had spiritual cracks and would develop more.

44:4 see ... eyes ... hear ... ears Isaiah 6:10
44:21 neither shall ... the inner court Leviticus 10:9
44:23 they shall teach ... the clean Leviticus 10:10
44:25 and ... [not] defile themselves Numbers 19:11
44:28 I am ... their inheritance Numbers 18:20
44:28 I am their possession Deuteronomy 18:2
44:29 every ... shall be theirs Numbers 18:14

44:9 The promises that there would be no Canaanite in Jerusalem draws on the promise of Joel 3:17 Which is echoed in Ezekiel, a prophet of the exile, when speaking of the future temple. Ezekiel 44:9
A prophet after the exile Zechariah 14:21 Uses the same imagery to encourage the returning exiles in troublesome times.

V.11 "charge of the gates"  Better to be "a doorkeeper in the house of God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness"(Psa 84:10). Though standing as a mere doorkeeper, it is in the house of God, which hath foundations: whereas he who dwells with the wicked, dwells in but shifting tents. 

Eze 44:12-13
Here we see the lower status of the Levites in the Kingdom Age due to their past performance. They are to "bear their iniquity".  This carries on thematically with Eze 43:10-11 where they are to be "ashamed of their iniquities."
Lets review the process...Yahweh separated the Priests unto himself and made a covenant with them(Num 25:13). He gave them the responsibility of teaching His people(Lev 10:11), but they failed miserably.(Mal 2:1-8). This sad state of affairs is to change in the future as the sons of Levi will offer unto Yahweh an offering in righteousness(Mal 3:2-4). He will take the tribe of Levi from regathered Israel to serve as mortal priests.(Isa 66:21).
The sons of Zadok are highlighted in Eze 44:15,-16. They are given the wonderful privilidge of ministering right at the altar since the sons of Levi failed in this aspect(Mal 1:7, Psa 69:22, Rom 11:9).
Distinguishing between the language of ministering to the altar or ministering to the people/house is the key to understanding differnce between the two classes.

44:9  The fact that no uncircumcised in heart of flesh will enter the temple that Ezekiel describes has it’s counterpart today. Fellowship is a precious thing that must not be compromised. Israel compromised their worship and were punished for it. The same constraint rest onus. Obviously we are not talking of physical circumcision. The application today relates to those who are not in covenant relationship with God through baptism after a true confession of faith.

V.21 Priests had to be in full control of their faculties in order to perform their duties.  Therefore, drinking of wine was not permitted. This law was first initiated after the presumptuous act of Nadab and Abihu in offering unauthorized fire (Lev 10:1).  Nadab and Abihu were probably intoxicated and thus emboldened to act foolishly. 

Hence, the prohibition of drinking wine was introduced (Lev 10:9). As priests (in training) of the New Covenant, we are not forbidden to take alcohol, but being drunk is not permitted (Luke 21:34; Rom 13:13; 1Cor 5:11; Gal 5:21). 

44:21,23,25  in quoting respectively Lev 10:9,10, 21:1 shows that there will be a re institution of a system of worship like the law of Moses when the temple which Ezekiel describes is built.

44:23 In describing the work of these priests as being ‘to teach my people ...’ we see that we have a mortal priesthood in the temple teaching a mortal population of Jews living in the land of Israel.

44:28 In saying ‘I am their inheritance’ the priesthood are being reminded of what God had told the priests under the law of Moses – Num 18:20. The priests here in Ezekiel are mortal Jews ministering in God’s temple

v15: This reference to Zadok the priest specifically refers to Ezra who led the re-establishment of correct worship in the new temple which we've just read about. In Ezra 7:1-6 we see that he was a direct descendant of Zadok and Aaron, and that God had appointed him to this role. It appears that his forefathers had always remained faithful to God no matter what was going on around them. For example, v10,12 mention how the rest of the Levites had offered to idols instead of God. This "peer pressure" must have been immense, especially when temple worship was turned round completely to idols instead of the LORD, as in the days of Manasseh (2Chron 33:1-9).

44:23 The priest, teaching the people, highlights the principle that the prophet – Mal 2:7 – presents to the priesthood after their return from Babylon

11:54 The things which took place between Jesus leaving Bethany and returning (12:1) are recorded only in Luke - Luke 10:42 - 18:14

V.24 Note the order:  first the resurrection, then the life; because resurrection opens the gate to immortal life. It is also worth noting that this is one of seven times that John records the phrase I AM spoken by Jesus. The others are John 6:35, John 8:12, John 10:9, John 10:11, John 14:6, John 15:5.

11:44  That Lazarus came out of the grave in the grave clothes by contrast with Jesus whose grave clothes were left in the tomb, indicates that Lazarus’ resurrection was only to mortal life.

Vs.46-48 The raising of Lazarus, by Jesus, troubled the Pharisees.  Then the High Priest of that year, Caiaphas (Greek name for Josef Bar Kayafa), set in motion a plot to kill Jesus (vs.49-53).  Jesus replied to Caiaphas and the Pharisees and indicted them through the parables of the Unjust Steward and the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16). 

John 11:6  If we extrapolate from the delay of Jesus in going to Bethany, to our situation today, we understand that an apparent delay in answer to prayer has reasons, & those reasons are the same as the reasons for the disciples: That whatever happens should be to show God's glory, & that we may believe. v 4,14

11:32 ‘Jesus wept’ not because Lazarus was dead out of sorrow for the loss of a close friend. Jesus wept because the people did not recognise him as Messiah.

11:48 ‘If we leave him thus alone’ highlights the Jews political motivations. They were more concerned with their present state than the future kingdom. How often are our motives coloured by our concerns for the here and now?

11:7-8 The disciples knew that Judas was sick and the Jesus loved Lazarus but clearly returning back to Bethany was not even in their minds at all. Clearly they were concerned with safety, not surprisingly. So they must have viewed the idea of returning to Bethany with great trepidation.

11:16 The concerns of the disciples expressed in verse:8 has not been removed by Jesus’ words. But e see a group of men who were willing to risk their lives for Jesus. How committed are we?

"Ossuary of Caiaphas"

John 11:49-53;18:13,14,24,28 - in 1990 bones believed to be of Caiaphas, the High Priest who questioned Jesus, were found in an old Jerusalem ossuary.