SOLOMON THROWS HIMSELF WHOLEHEARTEDLY INTO IDOLATRY BECAUSE OF HIS WIVES (1 KINGS 11:1). Solomon's obsession with his own glory inevitably resulted in his beginning to feel that he was so great that he could do what he liked, for it is one of the sad traits of mankind that the more they prosper bec... [ Continue Reading ]
YHWH'S VERDICT AND JUDGMENT ON THE HOUSE OF SOLOMON (1 KINGS 11:9). Solomon had no doubt appeased his conscience by persuading himself that he was still honouring YHWH at the regular feasts when he took up his position as Intercessor of Israel, not realising that in fact by that very compromise he... [ Continue Reading ]
“ Notwithstanding in your days I will not do it, for David your father's sake, but I will rend it out of the hand of your son.” Nevertheless, for the sake of David to whom YHWH had given such wonderful promises about Solomon (2 Samuel 7:12; 2 Samuel 12:24), this would not take place while Solomon w... [ Continue Reading ]
“ However that may be I will not rend away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.” Furthermore, because He had promised to David that his throne and his kingship would last for ever and had guaranteed the pe... [ Continue Reading ]
HADAD THE EDOMITE (1 KINGS 11:14). The first adversary was Hadad, the Edomite. He was of the royal family of Edom and had escaped the retaliatory massacre that necessarily followed an Edomite raid on Israel that had produced many dead. Joab had, in retaliation, carried out an extermination campaign... [ Continue Reading ]
YHWH RAISES UP THREE ADVERSARIES TO SOLOMON (1 KINGS 11:14). At the commencement of his reign Solomon had had to deal with three rebels against the throne, Adonijah, Abiathar and Joab and Shimei (1 Kings 2:13). Now we learn of three adversaries whom, during the course of his reign, YHWH ‘raised up'... [ Continue Reading ]
JEROBOAM THE REBEL (1 KINGS 11:26). Because Solomon had not responded to YHWH's chastening and had grievously sinned YHWH, now raised up one who was to be given the large part of Solomon's kingdom. His name was Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, and he was an Israelite, an Ephraimite from Zeredah. He had... [ Continue Reading ]
“ 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 what is right in my eyes, and to keep my statutes and my ordinances, as did David his fat... [ Continue Reading ]
“ However that may be 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,” However, because of His promise to David His chosen king, and for David's sake, and beca... [ Continue Reading ]
“ And I will take you, and you shall reign according to all that your soul desires, and will be king over Israel.” So YHWH would take Jeroboam and make him reign in accordance with all the desires of his inner life, and establish him as king over Israel. If he fulfilled YHWH's conditions he would h... [ Continue Reading ]
“ And it shall be, if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, that I will be with you, and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.”... [ Continue Reading ]
“ And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.” Meanwhile the house of David would be restricted before YHWH to only ruling Judah, and even in the end to ruling nothing at all, although in accordance to His promise to David that would one day be put right, something which happen... [ Continue Reading ]
COMMENTS IN RESPECT OF THE CLOSE OF SOLOMON'S REIGN (1 KINGS 11:41). It will be noted that some of the information which will in future be given at the commencement of a king's reign here comes at the end of Solomon's reign (see also 1 Kings 11:6). This will also partially be so with Rehoboam (1 Kin... [ Continue Reading ]