1 Kings 11:38

_AND I WILL TAKE THEE, AND THOU SHALT REIGN ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THY SOUL DESIRETH, AND SHALT BE KING OVER ISRAEL._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

26-40 In telling the reason why God rent the kingdom from the house of Solomon, Ahijah warned Jeroboam to take heed of sinning away his preferment. Yet the house of David must be supported; out of it the Messiah would arise. Solomon sought to kill his successor. Had not he taught others, that whatever devices are in men's hearts, the counsel of the Lord shall stand? Yet he himself thinks to defeat that counsel. Jeroboam withdrew into Egypt, and was content to live in exile and obscurity for awhile, being sure of a kingdom at last. Shall not we be content, who have a better kingdom in reserve?...

Verse 38. _AND BUILD THEE A SURE HOUSE_] He would have continued his posterity on the throne of Israel, had he not by his wickedness forfeited the promises of God, and thrown himself out of the protection of the Most High....

See the marginal references. To “build a sure house,” or “give a house,” is to give a continuity of offspring, and so secure the perpetuity of a family. The promise, it will be observed, is conditional; and as the condition was not complied with, it did not take effect (see 1 Kings 14:8). The entire house of Jeroboam was destroyed by Baasha 1 Kings 15:29....

EXPOSITION SOLOMON'S ADVERSARIES.—As the historian has collected together in 1 Kings 6:1; 1 Kings 7:1; 1 Kings 8:1, all the information he can convey respecting the _temple, _and in 1 Kings 9:1; 1 Kings 10:1. all the scattered notices respecting Solomon's _power _and _greatness, _so here he arranges in one section the history of Solomon's _adversaries_._ _It must not be supposed that the following records stand in due chronological order. The enmities here mentioned did no

AND IT SHALL BE, IF THOU WILT HEARKEN UNTO ALL THAT I COMMAND THEE,.... And be obedient thereunto: AND WILT WALK IN MY WAYS; directed to in the law of Moses: AND DO THAT IS RIGHT IN MY SIGHT, TO KEEP MY STATUTES, AND MY COMMANDMENTS; those particularly respecting divine worship: AS DAVID MY SERVANT DID; who very diligently and constantly attended to the ordinances of religion: THAT I WILL BE WITH THEE; to guide and direct, protect and defend, prosper and succeed: AND BUILD THEE A SURE HOUSE, AS I BUILT FOR DAVID; continue the succession of the kingdom in his posterity: AND WILL GIVE ISRAEL UNTO THEE; TO RULE OVER THEM....

7. SOLOMON'S FAILURE: JUDGMENT ANNOUNCED AND THE BEGINNING OF DISRUPTION CHAPTER 11 _ 1. Solomon's polygamy and departure from God (1 Kings 11:1)_ 2. Hadad the Edomite (1 Kings 11:14) 3. Rezon the second adversary (1 Kings 11:23) 4. Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:26) 5. Solomon's reign and death (1 Kings 11:41) “But--.” An ominous word with which this chapter begins. It introduces us to the sad picture of Solomon's great apostasy. “He shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people

SIN OF SOLOMON, AND THE ADVERSARIES RAISED UP IN CONSEQUENCE. From various differences in the arrangement of the earlier verses in the LXX and Heb., it has been supposed that in its original form the narrative merely recorded the fact that Solomon had a number of wives, and that he built sanctuaries and offered sacrifice to their gods. In its present form the influence of a Deuteronomic editor is unmistakable. But the account of Solomon's adversaries (1 Kings 11:14 ff.) must be derived from an earlier source; and even as it stands does not necessarily mean that they were raised up in punishment of his sin. Hadad, the Edomite (1 Kings 11:14) must have troubled him early in his reign (1 Kings 11:21 f.), and Rezon wa

IF THOU WILT HEARKEN. Same conditions as in 1 Kings 9:4. A SURE HOUSE: i.e.. long and unbroken line of descendants....

_And it shall be_&c. The condition on which Jeroboam is set up is the same as that laid down for the family of David. As in their case transgression involved a downfall. _and will give Israel unto thee_ These words and the whole of 1 Kings 11:39 are omitted in the LXX....