CHAPTER XI _Solomon's attachment to strange women, and consequent idolatry_, 1, 2. _Number of his wives and concubines_, 3. _In his old age they turn away his heart from God_, 4. _He builds temples to idols, burns incense and sacrifices to_ _them_, 5-8. _The Lord is angry with him, and threat... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 11:3. _HE HAD SEVEN HUNDRED WIVES, PRINCESSES_] How he could get so many of the blood royal from the different surrounding nations, is astonishing; but probably the daughters of _noblemen,_ _generals_, c., may be included. _AND THREE HUNDRED CONCUBINES_] These were _wives of the secon... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 11:7. _THE HILL THAT IS BEFORE JERUSALEM_] This was the _Mount_ _of Olives_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 11:9. _THE LORD WAS ANGRY WITH SOLOMON_] Had not this man's delinquency been strongly marked by the Divine disapprobation, it would have had a fatal effect on the morals of mankind. Vice is _vice_, no matter who commits it. And God is as much displeased with sin in Solomon as he can b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 11:11. _FORASMUCH AS THIS IS DONE OF THEE_] Was not this another warning from the Lord? And might not Solomon have yet recovered himself? Was there not mercy in this message which he might have sought and found?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 11:13. _WILL GIVE ONE TRIBE - FOR DAVID MY SERVANT'S SAKE_] The line of the _Messiah_ must be preserved. The _prevailing lion_ must come out of the tribe of Judah: not only the tribe must be preserved, but the _regal line_ and the _regal right_. All this must be done for the _true Davi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 11:14. _THE LORD STIRRED UP AN ADVERSARY_] _A satan_, שטן. When he sent to Hiram to assist him in building the temple of the Lord, he could say, _There was no satan_, see 1 Kings 5:4; and all his kingdom was in peace and security, - _every than dwelt under his_ _vine, and under his fig... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 11:15. _WAS GONE UP TO BURY THE SLAIN_] The slain Edomites; for Joab had in the course of six months exterminated all the males, except Hadad and his servants, who escaped to Egypt. Instead of _bury the slain_, the Targum has to _take the spoils of the slain_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 11:17. _HADAD_ BEING _YET A LITTLE CHILD._] נער קטן _naar_ _katan, a little boy_; one who was apprehensive of his danger, and could, with his father's servants, make his escape: not an infant.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 11:18. _THESE AROSE OUT OF MIDIAN_] They at first retired to Midian, which lay to the southwest of the Dead Sea. Not supposing themselves in safety there, they went afterwards to _Paran_ in the south of Idumea, and getting a number of persons to join them in Paran, they went straight t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 11:22. _LET ME GO IN ANY WISE._] It does not appear that he avowed his real intention to Pharaoh; for at this time there must have been peace between Israel and Egypt, Solomon having married the daughter of Pharaoh.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _REZON THE SON OF ELIADAH_] Thus God fulfilled his threatening by the prophet Nathan: _If he commit iniquity, I will_ _chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the_ _children of men_; 2 Samuel 7:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _AND REIGNED IN DAMASCUS._] Rezon was one of the captains of Hadadezer, whom David defeated. It seems that at this time Rezon escaped with his men; and; having lived, as is supposed, some time by plunder, he seized on Damascus, and reigned there till David took Damascus, when he subdued Sy... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _JEROBOAM THE SON OF NEBAT_] From the context we learn that Jeroboam while a young man was employed by Solomon to superintend the improvements and buildings at _Millo_, and had so distinguished himself there by his industry and good conduct as to attract general notice, and to induce Solom... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _WHEN JEROBOAM WENT OUT OF JERUSALEM_] On what errand he was going out of Jerusalem, we know not. _AHIJAH THE SHILONITE_] He was one of those who wrote the history of the reign of Solomon, as we find from 2 Chronicles 9:29, and it is supposed that it was by him God spake twice to Solomon;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _TAKE THEE TEN PIECES_] The _garment_ was the symbol of the _kingdom of Israel_; the _twelve pieces_ the symbol of the _twelve_ _tribes_; the _ten pieces_ given to Jeroboam, of the _ten tribes_ which should be given to him, and afterwards form the _kingdom_ of _Israel_, ruling in Samaria,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 36. _THAT DAVID MY SERVANT MAY HAVE A LIGHT ALWAY_] That his posterity may never fail, and the regal line never become extinct. This, as we have already seen, was in reference to the Messiah. He was not only _David's light_, but he was a _light to enlighten the_ _Gentiles_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 37. _ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THY SOUL DESIRETH_] It appears from this that Jeroboam had affected the kingdom, and was seeking for an opportunity to seize on the government. God now tells him, by his prophet, _what he shall have_, and _what he shall not have_, in order to prevent him from attempt... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 39. _BUT NOT FOR EVER._] They shall be in affliction and distress till the Messiah come, who shall sit on the throne of David to order it and establish it in judgment and justice for ever. Jarchi says, on this verse, "When the Messiah comes, the kingdom shall be restored to the house of David.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 11:40. _SOUGHT - TO KILL JEROBOAM._] He thought by this means to prevent the punishment due to his crimes. _UNTO SHISHAK KING OF EGYPT_] This is the first time we meet with the _proper name_ of an Egyptian king, _Pharaoh_ being the common name for all the sovereigns of that country. S... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 11:41. _THE BOOK OF THE ACTS OF SOLOMON?_] These acts were written by Nathan the prophet, Ahijah the Shilonite, and Iddo the seer; as we learn from 2 Chronicles 9:29. Probably from these were the Books of Kings and Chronicles composed; but the original documents are long since lost.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 11:42. _SOLOMON REIGNED - FORTY YEARS._] Josephus says _fourscore_ _years_, which is sufficiently absurd. Calmet supposes him to have been _eighteen_ years old when he came to the throne, and that he died A.M. 3029, aged _fifty-eight_ years; and, when we consider the excess in which he... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 11:43. _SOLOMON SLEPT WITH HIS FATHERS_] He died in almost the flower of his age, and, it appears unregretted. His government was no blessing to Israel; and laid, by its exactions and oppressions, the foundation of that schism which was so fatal to the unhappy people of Israel and Juda... [ Continue Reading ]