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 ]