Day 99: 1 Kings 10-12

(The previous post covered Solomon's dedication of the temple and the increase of his wealth and power.)

1 Kings 10
¹ And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Jehovah, she came to prove him with hard questions.

(The Queen of Sheba, a nation in southern Arabia, came to test Solomon with hard questions. "Hard questions" was translated from one Hebrew word which meant "riddle, difficult question, parable, enigmatic saying or question, perplexing saying or question.")

² And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

(The queen came to Solomon with many gifts including sharing all of her heart with him.)

³ And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not anything hid from the king which he told her not.
⁴ And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,
⁵ and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of Jehovah; there was no more spirit in her.
⁶ And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom.
⁷ Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me; thy wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.

(The queen did not believe what she had heard about Solomon. However, Solomon’s wisdom exceeded what she expected, to the point where there was no more spirit in her.)

⁸ Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, that stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.

(She noticed his followers were happy.)

⁹ Blessed be Jehovah thy God, who delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because Jehovah loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do justice and righteousness.

(The queen recognized God's objective was to do Justice and Righteousness through Solomon towards Israel.)

¹⁰ And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
¹¹ And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug-trees and precious stones.

(Almug-trees consisted of precious wood.)

¹² And the king made of the almug-trees pillars for the house of Jehovah, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for the singers: there came no such almug-trees, nor were seen, unto this day.

(It appeared these trees had ceased to exist.)

¹³ And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants.
¹⁴ Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,

(In one year, the weight of gold given to Solomon was about 25 tons! According to the value of gold in 2015, it would be just under $1 billion dollars.)

¹⁵ besides that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mingled people, and of the governors of the country.
¹⁶ And king Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went to one buckler.
¹⁷ And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pounds of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
¹⁸ Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the finest gold.

(Solomon had great wisdom, but was he acting wisely? Was this a wise use of his fortune?)

¹⁹ There were six steps to the throne, and the top of the throne was round behind; and there were stays on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the stays.
²⁰ And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
²¹ And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
²² For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram: once every three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
²³ So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
²⁴ And all the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

(Solomon was brought many gifts. Was this in exchange for his wisdom? Solomon's wisdom was intended to be used to judge God's people righteously, not to personally benefit himself. Solomon multiplied silver and gold to himself, which he was warned not to do in Deuteronomy 17:17.)

²⁵ And they brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
²⁶ And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
²⁷ And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore-trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.

(Was Solomon unaware of the warnings in Deuteronomy 17:17 or was he ignoring them? There was so much silver present it was "as stones.")

²⁸ And the horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt; and the king's merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.
²⁹ And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty; and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.

(Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt. Deuteronomy 17:16 stated the king should not multiply horses to himself nor cause people to return to Egypt.)




1 Kings 11
¹ Now king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites;

(Deuteronomy 17:17 also stated that the king should not multiply wives to himself because it would turn his heart away from God.)

(Moab and Ammon were from Lot. Edom was from Esau. Amalek (from Esau) was not mentioned.)

² of the nations concerning which Jehovah said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go among them, neither shall they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
³ And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.

(Solomon loved many strange women including 700 wives and 300 concubines that turned his heart away from God. Deuteronomy 17:18 stated the king ought to write out his own copy of the Law so he would know these critical passages. It appeared that Solomon violated all the verses from Deuteronomy 17:16-19.)

⁴ For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as was the heart of David his father.
⁵ For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

(Solomon's heart was not perfect before God like David's. Solomon served other gods.)

⁶ And Solomon did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and went not fully after Jehovah, as did David his father.

(Not only was Solomon not perfect before God, he did evil.)

⁷ Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, in the mount that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon.

(The worship of Chemosh, which meant "subduer," was introduced into Jerusalem by Solomon. Remember Chemosh and Molech. These high places would not be torn down for hundreds of years.)

⁸ And so did he for all his foreign wives, who burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
⁹ And Jehovah was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice,
¹⁰ and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which Jehovah commanded.

(God was angry at Solomon because God told him to not go after other gods and Solomon did not obey.)

¹¹ Wherefore Jehovah said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.

(God would tear the kingdom from Solomon and give it to his servant. This was Right and Just.)

¹² Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it, for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.
¹³ Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to thy son, for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.

(However, none of this would happen to Solomon because God would always show Solomon lovingkindness/mercy. God would give one tribe (Judah) to Solomon's son, for David's sake. Solomon’s idolatry was the reason the kingdom eventually divided.)

¹⁴ And Jehovah raised up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.

(Hadad, an Edomite (from Esau) was raised up by God as an adversary to Solomon.)

¹⁵ For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, and had smitten every male in Edom;
¹⁶ (for Joab and all Israel remained there six months, until he had cut off every male in Edom);

(Joab was part of the reason Hadad was an adversary against Solomon and Israel. Even after Joab's death, he was still having an impact on the kingdom.)

¹⁷ that Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt, Hadad being yet a little child.
¹⁸ And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran; and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.
¹⁹ And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.
²⁰ And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house; and Genubath was in Pharaoh's house among the sons of Pharaoh.

(Hadad sought refuge among the Egyptians.)

²¹ And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.
²² Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit only let me depart.

(Hadad had escaped David's massacre of Moab and was set on going back to his home. Did he want vengeance?)

²³ And God raised up another adversary unto him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah.
²⁴ And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a troop, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.

(Rezon was another adversary of Solomon’s raised up by God.)

²⁵ And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, besides the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.
²⁶ And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow, he also lifted up his hand against the king.

(Jeroboam, an Ephraimite, was Solomon’s servant and became another adversary to Solomon. He was an adversary from within the nation of Israel. Was he the one God spoke of concerning Solomon’s kingdom being given to his servant?)

²⁷ And this was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breach of the city of David his father.
²⁸ And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon saw the young man that he was industrious, and he gave him charge over all the labor of the house of Joseph.

(Jeroboam wasn't merely a servant of Solomon's, he was a mighty man of valor and the leader of all the servants of the house of Joseph.)

²⁹ And it came to pass at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; now Ahijah had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field.
³⁰ And Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces.
³¹ And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces; for thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee;

(Ahijah the prophet told Jeroboam that God would give him ten tribes of Israel.)

³² (but he shall have one tribe, for my servant David's sake and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel);
³³ because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon; and they have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and mine ordinances, as did David his father.
³⁴ Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; but I will make him prince all the days of his life, for David my servant's sake whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes;
³⁵ but I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.

(God again restated He would not take this out of Solomon's hand, but out of Solomon's son's hand.)

³⁶ And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.
³⁷ And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.
³⁸ And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that which is right in mine eyes, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and will build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.
³⁹ And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.

(God promised Jeroboam a great kingdom, if he walked in God’s ways. The affliction against David’s seed would not last forever.)

⁴⁰ Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam; but Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

(Solomon wanted to kill Jeroboam. Did Solomon think this would stop his kingdom from being torn from him? Jeroboam fled to Egypt and did not return until Solomon's death.)

⁴¹ Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?

(The Book of the Acts of Solomon?)

⁴² And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.
⁴³ And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

(Solomon reigned for forty years and died. Rehoboam, his son, would be the first king of Judah after the division of Israel. Notice, Solomon, himself, did not lose the kingdom. Also, Solomon had three adversaries, but none of them afflicted Solomon within Solomon's kingdom. Even when God judged Solomon, Solomon did not feel the pain personally. Solomon had the highest level of understanding, yet he did not feel any punishment from experience. Was it Right and Just for God to lead Solomon completely with understanding? It wouldn't be if Solomon's understanding was flawed, however, it was not. It was Solomon's choice not to keep the Law. Did Solomon lack anything? Was God's lovingkindness good or bad for Solomon? Remember, David repented for his sins immediately after he was proven to be in sin. The result was David would not die (forfeit his Salvation), but there were still three curses pronounced on David. It appeared Solomon ended his life focused on facilitating his own purpose and progress at the expense of the people. 2 Kings 23 showed that Solomon never repented for his sins. Josiah was the one who took down Solomon's high places to the gods of the wives that led his heart astray.)




1 Kings 12
¹ And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.

(Since Jeroboam fled to Egypt, Rehoboam was made King of Israel. This was the cultural and logical way to continue the kingdom. Solomon succeeded David and now Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, would be the next king.)

² And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was yet in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt,
³ and they sent and called him), that Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,

(Jeroboam came back from Egypt. He and Israel spoke to Rehoboam…)

⁴ Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
⁵ And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
⁶ And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?

(The people complained that they had beared Solomon's pain, that they had facilitated Solomon's purpose and progress. They wanted to know if they were going to have another king that was not a leader. Rehoboam took counsel from the old men who stood with Solomon. He wanted to know what to do with Jeroboam and the people.)

⁷ And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
⁸ But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men that were grown up with him, that stood before him.

(The old men counseled Rehoboam to be a servant to the people and they would serve him forever, as an effect. Rehoboam ignored the old men and asked advice from the young men who stood with him.)

⁹ And he said unto them, What counsel give ye, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke that thy father did put upon us lighter?
¹⁰ And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou say unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou speak unto them, My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.

(The young men told Rehoboam to tell the people that his little finger was thicker than his father’s "loins." Basically, Rehoboam was a bigger "man" and would be able to force the people to facilitate his purpose and progress. This was making the people to serve him as a cause.)

¹¹ And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

(The young men counseled him to make the yoke heavier on the people. The young men told Rehoboam to tell the people he would make them bear more pain than they had for Solomon.)

¹² So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come to me again the third day.
¹³ And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him,
¹⁴ and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

(Rehoboam listened to the young men.)

¹⁵ So the king hearkened not unto the people; for it was a thing brought about of Jehovah, that he might establish his word, which Jehovah spake by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

(God knew the causes were in place that would result in Rehoboam and the young men misleading the people. Did Solomon teach Rehoboam how to lead? Did Rehoboam ignore this advice? Was this more proof that Solomon was not thinking about anyone except himself right up until the day of his death?)

¹⁶ And when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
¹⁷ But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

(Rehoboam now reigned over Judah. Rehoboam was the second generation from David. Follow Judah because the kings of Judah were in the lineage of Christ.)

¹⁸ Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to taskwork; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
¹⁹ So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

(Rehoboam sent his man Adoram, whose job was to lead the other servants, to restore order. However, Israel killed Adoram and from that day refused to be ruled by a descendant of David.)

²⁰ And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was returned, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

(Jeroboam now reigned over Israel. The kingdom was officially divided.)

²¹ And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, that were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

(Judah and Benjamin were not enough for Rehoboam so he wanted to war with Israel.)

²² But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
²³ Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying,
²⁴ Thus saith Jehovah, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is of me. So they hearkened unto the word of Jehovah, and returned and went their way, according to the word of Jehovah.

(God told Rehoboam (through Shemaiah) not to war against Israel and they listened. Once again, there was a dispute where Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim were front and center.)

²⁵ Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and he went out from thence, and built Penuel.
²⁶ And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now will the kingdom return to the house of David:
²⁷ if this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem, then will the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.
²⁸ Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

(Jeroboam was insecure. He thought if the people left his kingdom to worship God in Jerusalem (which was in Judah), they would turn their hearts toward Rehoboam. Jeroboam’s solution was to construct two idols. He told his people that these golden calves were the gods that brought them out of Egypt.)

²⁹ And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.
³⁰ And this thing became a sin; for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
³¹ And he made houses of high places, and made priests from among all the people, that were not of the sons of Levi.

(Remember the story in Judges 17-18 concerning Micah (an Ephraimite) who hired a Levite to be priest over graven images? The Danites took the Levite and the graven images and set up a false temple in Laish which they renamed Dan. That story preceded the first Israelite king and symbolized the failings of the Judges. Now, this story symbolized the failings of the kings.)

³² And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he went up unto the altar; so did he in Beth-el, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places that he had made.
³³ And he went up unto the altar which he had made in Beth-el on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart: and he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and went up unto the altar, to burn incense.

(The last feast of God each year was the Feast of Tabernacles on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. Jeroboam created an eighth feast in the eighth month, one month to the day after the seventh feast.)

(This post covered Solomon's apostasy, his death, and his kingdom being split between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.)

Day 100