1 Kings 11:14-40

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' to be a thorn in Solomon's side, Hadad the Edomite (1 Kings 11:14), Rezon of Damascus (1 Kings 11:23), and Jeroboam, the son of Nebat (1 Kings 11:27). The narratives are not in chronological order (chronologically the first two mainly occurred before YHWH's judgment on Solomon) but in topical order. They are gathered together at the end of the narrative so as to demonstrate the opposition that had been growing continually towards Solomon because of his ways, and what it would eventually lead to. Thus even while Solomon had been moving on to greater and greater arrogance, YHWH had been giving him warnings about his vulnerability.

It is significant that two of these adversaries were sheltered by Egypt. Solomon had courted Egypt by marrying Pharaoh's daughter, and now Egypt was ready to stab him in the back. His compromise with Egypt had thus had limited benefits. It may well be that Siamun, the father of Solomon's wife, had died, and that the Pharaoh who sheltered Hadad was his successor Psusennes II. It will, however, be noted that the Pharaoh had no belligerent intentions against Solomon, and in fact did not want Hadad to return to Edom. He was simply sheltering a royal refugee with whom he had established good relations. Shishak, the Pharaoh who would later take in Jeroboam, was from a new and more enterprising dynasty whose aim was to destabilise Israel. It is noticeable, however, that even he did not dare to threaten Israel while Solomon was still alive, only foment trouble for him with the hope of destabilising Israel, something which was later achieved for him satisfactorily by Rehoboam's folly. He then walked in and said ‘thank you very much'. But Solomon, instead of taking warning, went heedlessly on.