1 Kings 11:14-22

II. SOLOMON'S TROUBLES 11:14-40

While reading the preceding Chapter s, one has the impression that Solomon enjoyed a reign of uninterrupted peace and splendor. But here at the close of the account of this king the author has gathered all the significant information concerning Solomon's adversaries. Owing to the fact that these accounts stand at the end of his history, many students have jumped to the conclusion that all Solomon's troubles arose at the end of his reign. This conclusion is, however, not justified. The hated opposition of Hadad began at an early period of Solomon's reign. So also, it would seem did the opposition of Rezon. These accounts are placed here because (1) it is the habit of the author to collect into one passage material related to a particular facet of Solomon's reign;[303] (2) it was only in his later life that these adversaries materially affected Solomon's position and rule; and (3) because these troubles are regarded as a chastisement for Solomon's sin which has just been described. The accounts of Solomon's adversaries recall to mind the words of Nathan to David: ... if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men (2 Samuel 7:14). Solomon's ultimate punishment for his sins was the rending of the kingdom from his descendants. However before that, God sent adversaries against him to chasten him and stir him to repentance. In this section the author discusses the rebellions led by (1) Hadad the Edomite (1 Kings 11:14-22); (2) Rezon and Damascus (1 Kings 11:23-25); and (3) Jeroboam of Ephraim (1 Kings 11:26-40).

[303] Information respecting the Temple is gathered in Chapter s 6-8 and scattered notices respecting Solomon's power and greatness are grouped in Chapter s 9-10.

A. THE REBELLION OF HADAD 11:14-22

(14) And the LORD raised up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was of the royal seed in Edom. (15) For it had happened when David was in Edom,[304] and Joab the captain of the host had gone up to bury the slam, and he had smitten every male in Edom. (16) (For six months Joab remained there along with all Israel until he had cut off every male in Edom.), (17) that Hadad fled, he and certain men, Edomites from the servants of his father with him, to go to Egypt while Hadad was yet a young lad. (18) And they arose out of Midian and came to Paran; and they took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he gave to him a house, and ordered food for him and gave land to him. (19) And Hadad found great favor in the eyes of Pharaoh, so that he gave to him as a wife the sister of his wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. (20) And the sister of Tahpenes bare for him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in the midst of the house of Pharaoh; and Genubath was in the house of Pharaoh among the sons of Pharaoh. (21) When Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, then Hadad said unto Pharaoh, Dismiss me that I may go unto my land. (22) And Pharaoh said to him, But what have you been lacking with me that behold you are seeking to go unto your land? And he said, Nothing, but you must surely dismiss me!

[304] Literally, with Edom. Keil interprets: When David had to do with Edom. The Septuagint and Syriac read, when David smote Edom.

COMMENTS

The first adversary[305] raised up by God was Hadad (also spelled Adad) the Edomite. Edom, to the south of Israel, had been a vassal state from the time it had been subdued by Joab under David (2 Samuel 8:13-14). Apparently Hadad was the title by which the kings of Edom were designated rather than the personal name of this particular king[306] (1 Kings 11:14). This Hadad had become the implacable foe of Israel from the time when the armies of David had entered Edom and had slain a goodly portion of the male population. According to Chronicles, Abishai slew eighteen thousand (1 Chronicles 18:12), while the title of Psalms 60 represents Joab as having slain twelve thousand at the same time and place. Both of these brothers were commanders in the army of David, and it is uncertain whether the two figures should be combined or whether the smaller figure is included within the larger. In any case, this fierce Israelite attack against Edom apparently was brought-' on by a merciless Edomite invasion of Israel in which many Israelites were slain. It was after Joab had buried these dead Israelites that he led the armies of David into Edom in retaliation (1 Kings 11:15). It had taken Joab six months to complete this ruthless campaign even though he had at his disposal all Israel, i.e., the entire army of Israel. Every male (1 Kings 11:16) refers to men capable of bearing arms, who fell into the hands of the Israelites.

[305] Adversary is the English translation of the Hebrew word satan. In early Biblical literature satan is frequently used of human adversaries; in later Old Testament books it is a proper name of a superhuman adversary.

[306] Two kings of Edom before the time of the Hebrew monarchy bear this name (Genesis 36:31-39). Hadad was the proper name of the Canaanite god of thunder and rain who more frequently was simply called Baal, lord. The name Hadad was also a favorite among the kings of Aram as can be seen in the names Benhadad and Hadadezer.

Because of this Israelite invasion, the young crown prince and some of the royal servants fled toward Egypt (1 Kings 11:17). The party followed a somewhat unnatural route so as to escape the vigilant eyes of Joab's men. For a while they seem to have taken refuge in the trackless waste of Midian south of Edom. They may have spent several years there before passing on to Egypt. Eventually Hadad and his company pressed on toward Egypt stopping in Paran to secure guides who would lead them across the Sinaitic peninsula to the kingdom of the Pharaohs.

In Egypt Hadad and his party were graciously received, the Pharaoh giving to the young prince a house and land and provision for his table (1 Kings 11:18). In due time Pharaoh gave Hadad the hand of his sister-in-law, the sister of Tahpenes the queen consort (1 Kings 11:19). This action reflects the political hopes which the Egyptians pinned on the Edomite heir. The fact that the Biblical historiographer was familiar with the name (or title) of the queen of Egypt accords with the high position and political influence wielded by the wives of the Pharaohs of the twenty-first dynasty. The name Tahpenes has not been identified in the few existing contemporary Egyptian sources. However, some Egyptologists are inclined to relate it to a name of a princess appearing on a statue attributed to the twenty-first dynasty.[307]

[307] Malamat, BAR, II, 90-91. It has also been asserted that Tahpenes is not a proper name at all, but an Egyptian title for king's wife.

Hadad's Egyptian wife gave birth to a son who was named Genubath. The queen herself took charge of the great festivities which accompanied the weaning of this child (cf. Genesis 21:8). Furthermore, Genubath was reared in Pharaoh's palace and had all the privileges of the sons of Pharaoh (1 Kings 11:20).

When Hadad heard of the deaths of David and Joab, he requested that his Egyptian benefactor dismiss him in order that he might return to his own land (1 Kings 11:21). Pharaoh was reluctant to see Hadad, who had now been in Egypt for at least twenty-five years, leave his court. Nonetheless, Hadad insisted that he be allowed to return to Edom (1 Kings 11:22). Here the story abruptly ends; but 1 Kings 11:25 makes it clear that Hadad did return to his native land. At some point subsequent to his return Hadad led a rebellion against Solomon. Whether he succeeded in wresting any territory from Solomon's control or merely acted as a constant menace to the Israelite merchant caravans is unclear.