But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, [and] Hittites; Ver. 1. _But king Solomon loved many strange women._] _Praeceps ruit in libidinem,_ as if he had been born _pro l'amore delle donne,_ - as Boccace... [ Continue Reading ]
Of the nations [concerning] which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: [for] surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. Ver. 2. _Solomon clave unto these in love,_] _i.e., _ In lust... [ Continue Reading ]
And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. Ver. 3. _And he had seven hundred wives._] _Numerum effraenem._ Fewer they were by far at first, as some do gather from Song of Solomon 6:8, threescore queens, and fourscore concubines - w... [ Continue Reading ]
For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, [that] his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as [was] the heart of David his father. Ver. 4. _For it came to pass, when Solomon was old._] And therefore the less to be excused, because his so... [ Continue Reading ]
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Ver. 5. _For Solomon went after Ashtoreth,_] _i.e., _ Venus, as some will have it, or Juno, as others. _ And after Milcom,_] i.e., Saturn, as it is thought. _Hinc patet Solomonem vere... [ Continue Reading ]
And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as [did] David his father. Ver. 6. _And Solomon did evil._] Howbeit that evil one touched him not, 1Jn 5:18 _sc., _ with a deadly touch: he was not transformed into sin's image. _ And went not fully after the Lord._]... [ Continue Reading ]
Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that [is] before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. Ver. 7. _For Chemosh._] _Unde_ Kωμος _et Comessatio._ Some take it to be Bacchus, others Pluto. _ In the hill that is before... [ Continue Reading ]
And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. Ver. 8. _And likewise did he for all, &c._] After that he had once gratified his mistresses of Moab, the rest of his women would needs have the like courtesy done them.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, Ver. 9. _And the Lord was angry with Solomon._] Though he were his Jedidiah, his darling. His chastisements laid on his children are the fruits of love displeased. The A... [ Continue Reading ]
And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. Ver. 10. _And had commanded him._] To despise God's express command, is a foul offence. 2Sa 12:9 _See Trapp on "_ 2Sa 12:9 _"_ "Rebellion is" as bad "as witchcraft." 1... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Ver. 11. _Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon._] He said it, and he d... [ Continue Reading ]
Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: [but] I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. Ver. 12. _Out of the hand of thy son,_] _i.e., _ Rehoboam, the only son that Solomon had by so many wives and concubines, _quod prodigii instar est,_ saith one, which may well... [ Continue Reading ]
Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; [but] will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen. Ver. 13. _I will not rend away all._] Here is a second mitigation of the sentence. See 1 Kings 11:12. The Lord is gracious and full of compas... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he [was] of the king's seed in Edom. Ver. 14. _And the Lord stirred up an adversary to Solomon._] So that we may say of him, as Pliny _a_ did of Metellus, _qui infelix dici non debet, felix non potest,_ since “ _Ante obitum feli... [ Continue Reading ]
For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom; Ver. 15. _When David was in Edom._] See 2 Samuel 8:14, _See Trapp on "_ 2Sa 8:14 _"_ To bury the slain.] David's garrison soldiers, say some, left t... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Kings 11:16 (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:) Ver. 16. _Until he had cut off every male,_] viz., That was taken in the heat of the fight. 1Ch 18:12... [ Continue Reading ]
That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad [being] yet a little child. Ver. 17. _That Hadad fled._] So did Muleasses, king of Tunis, to Charles V, who protected him: so did Zemes, the great Turk's younger brother, to the Pope, who for money b... [ Continue Reading ]
And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land. Ver. 18. _Who gave him a house, &c._] As not knowing but that himself might one day... [ Continue Reading ]
And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. Ver. 19. _So that he gave him to wife, &c._] Orphans are God's clients: he ordinarily pitieth outcasts, as he did Ishmael, and promiseth to do to his poor... [ Continue Reading ]
And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh. Ver. 20. Whom Taphenes weaned in Pharaoh's house.] This implieth, saith an interpreter, that though she was a princess, yet she gave suck... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country. Ver. 21. _Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country._] _Patriam quisque amat, non quia pulchram, sed quia... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise. Ver. 22. _Howbeit let me go in any wise._] Heb., No, but in sending send me away. _Fugiamus et nos ad clarissimarn patriam:_... [ Continue Reading ]
And God stirred him up [another] adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah: Ver. 23. _And God stirred him up, &c._] See on 1 Kings 11:14 . _ Which fled from his lord Hadadezer._] Whom David had beaten. 2 Samuel 10:18 _; _ 2Sa 8:3-4 False friends will be... [ Continue Reading ]
And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them [of Zobah]: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus. Ver. 24. _He gathered men unto him._] He rallied his master's scattered forces, and therewith, after a while, he thrust out David's g... [ Continue Reading ]
And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad [did]: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria. Ver. 25. _All the days of Solomon._] But stirred not much till he saw Solomon effeminate, infatuated and become contemptible. See Hosea 13:1, _See Trapp o... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name [was] Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up [his] hand against the king. Ver. 26. _And Jeroboam the son of Nebat._] Not of Shimei, whom Solomon slew, as some Rabbis fabled. _ An Ephrathite,_] _i.e., _... [ Continue Reading ]
And this [was] the cause that he lifted up [his] hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, [and] repaired the breaches of the city of David his father. Ver. 27. _And this was the cause that he lifted up._] Vatablus readeth it thus, And this was the word whereby he lifted up his hand; that is, mad... [ Continue Reading ]
And the man Jeroboam [was] a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. Ver. 28. _A mighty man of valour._] Able and also active, and so the fitter to be the head of a faction. _ And Solomon seeing t... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two [were] alone in the field: Ver. 29. _When Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem,_] _sc,_ To take this prefectureship or... [ Continue Reading ]
And Ahijah caught the new garment that [was] on him, and rent it [in] twelve pieces: Ver. 30. _And rent it._] This he did for a sign. See 1 Kings 11:11, where the kingdom is likened unto a glorious mantle upon the king's shoulders, as 1 Samuel 15:28 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: Ver. 31. _I will rend the kingdom._] I who am the absolute disposer of the kingdom newly erected in the house of D... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Kings 11:32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) Ver. 32. For my servant David's sake.] See on 1 Kings 11:13 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do [that which is] right in mine eyes, and [to keep] my statutes and my judgments, as [did]... [ Continue Reading ]
Howbeit 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, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: Ver. 34. _Howbeit I will not._] See on 1 Kings 11:13 . _ But I will make him prince all the day... [ Continue Reading ]
But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, [even] ten tribes. Ver. 35. _But I will take the kingdom, &c._] And accordingly he did; 1Ki 12:12-19 whence some begin the three hundred and ninety days in Ezekiel 4:5. Others, distinguishing between God's decree and his... [ Continue Reading ]
And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. Ver. 36. _May have a light alway._] This was most properly fulfilled in Christ, who was "a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel. Ver. 37. _And thou shalt reign._] This the bramble held a goodly business, not so the vine and fig tree. Jdg 9:8-15 _ According to all that thy soul desireth._] God oft gratifieth the... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do [that is] right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto t... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever. Ver. 39. _But not for ever._] For some kings of Judah - as Asa, Hezekiah, Josiah - grew very great; but especially is this to be understood of Christ, in whom the glory was restored to David's house, such as never any mortal king had.... [ Continue Reading ]
Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon. Ver. 40. _Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam._] And with him Ahijah also, as saith the Chaldee Paraphrast, whereupon they both fled int... [ Continue Reading ]
And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, [are] they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? Ver. 41. _And all that he did._] His repentance is not expressly recorded, but may be evidently gathered from other texts of Scripture. as 2Ch 11:17 Psa 89:33, 2 Samu... [ Continue Reading ]
And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel [was] forty years. Ver. 42. _And the time._] Heb., Days; one of the shortest measures of time. Solomon Ecc 3:2 alloweth men a time to be born, and a time to die, but no time to live. _Punctum est quod vivimus et puncto minus._ _a_ a Se... [ Continue Reading ]
And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead. Ver. 43. _And Rehoboam his son._] Who was both a fool and unfortunate; as Solomon feared, and hinted as much. Ecc 2:18-19 Yet afterwards this Epimetheus is said to deal wis... [ Continue Reading ]