THE LORD APPEARS TO SOLOMON SOLOMON’S OTHER ACTIVITIES...

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THE LORD APPEARS TO SOLOMON

SOLOMON’S OTHER ACTIVITIES

1 KINGS 9:1-28

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The Lord Appears to Solomon

Solomon’s Other Activities

Text: 1 Kings 9:1-28, 1. When Solomon had finished building the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had achieved all he had desired to do, 2. the LORD appeared to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3. The LORD said to him: “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. 4. “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, 5. I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ 6. “But if you or your descendants turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 7. then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 8. This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’



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9. People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why the LORD brought all this disaster on them.’” 10. At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built these two buildings—the temple of the LORD and the royal palace— 11. King Solomon gave twenty towns in Galilee to Hiram king of Tyre, because Hiram had supplied him with all the cedar and juniper and gold he wanted. 12. But when Hiram went from Tyre to see the towns that Solomon had given him, he was not pleased with them. 13. “What kind of towns are these you have given me, my brother?” he asked. And he called them the Land of Kabul, a name they have to this day. 14. Now Hiram had sent to the king 120 talents of gold. 15. Here is the account of the forced labor King Solomon conscripted to build the LORD’s temple, his own palace, the terraces, the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, Megiddo and Gezer. 16. (Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire. He killed its Canaanite inhabitants and then gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. 17. And Solomon rebuilt Gezer.) He built up Lower Beth Horon, 18. Baalath, and Tadmor in the desert, within his land, 19. as well as all his store cities and the towns for his chariots and for his horses—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled. 20. There were still people left from the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites (these peoples were not Israelites). 21. Solomon conscripted the descendants of all these peoples remaining in the land—whom the Israelites could not exterminate—to serve as slave labor, as it is to this day.



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22. But Solomon did not make slaves of any of the Israelites; they were his fighting men, his government officials, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and charioteers. 23. They were also the chief officials in charge of Solomon’s projects—550 officials supervising those who did the work. 24. After Pharaoh’s daughter had come up from the City of David to the palace Solomon had built for her, he constructed the terraces. 25. Three times a year Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar he had built for the LORD, burning incense before the LORD along with them, and so fulfilled the temple obligations. 26. King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea. 27. And Hiram sent his men—sailors who knew the sea—to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s men. 28. They sailed to Ophir and brought back 420 talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon. (NIV) Introduction: I. “Both this and chapter 10 magnify the splendor and glory of the reign of Solomon; . . .”, Coffman wrote. II. Solomon’s accomplishments were due to the blessings of God and were achieved through his:

A. alliance with Hiram who supplied essential materials, . . . B. forced labor of subject people, . . . C. voyages of his maritime fleet.



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Commentary:

The Lord Appears to Solomon

1 Kings 9:1, When Solomon had finished building the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had achieved all he had desired to do, (NIV) I. When Solomon had finished building the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and . . .

A. Among Solomon’s many construction projects, God’s temple and the royal palace were the most illustrious.

II. had achieved all he had desired to do, . . .

A. Solomon’s prime construction projects had now been completed.

1. 2 Chronicles 7:11, When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, (NIV)

1 Kings 9:2, the LORD appeared to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. (NIV) I. the Lord appeared to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon.

A. The Lord now appeared to Solomon a second time, this appearance being at Jerusalem. (Hamilton)



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1. 2 Kings 6:11, This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” (NIV) 2. 1 Kings 11:9, The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. (NIV) 3. 1 Kings 3:4-15, The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. “Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what



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you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court. (NIV)

B. Gibeon (pertaining to a hill) was a city in the territory of Benjamin about six (6) miles northwest of Jerusalem. (Youngblood) C. Clarke expressed the view that God appeared to Solomon in a dream on this occasion as he had previously appeared to Solomon at Gibeon.

1 Kings 9:3, The LORD said to him: “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. (NIV) I. The Lord said to him: . . .

A. 2 Chronicles 7:12-22, the LORD appeared to him at night and said: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my



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name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.’ “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’” (NIV)

II. “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; . .

A. God told Solomon that he had heard Solomon’s prayer at the temple dedication and had both accepted and sanctified the temple.

III. I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever.



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A. God told Solomon that he had consecrated the temple and had put his (God’s) name there forever.

1. 1 Kings 8:11, 16-19, 29, And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple. ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, but I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.’ “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. But the LORD said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’ May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. (NIV) 2. Exodus 29:43, there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory. (NIV) 3. Deuteronomy 12:11, Then to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the LORD. (NIV)

IV. My eyes and my heart will always be there.



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A. God promised to watch over the temple and to always love the temple.

1. God promised that his all seeing eyes and his all caring heart would be present every day and every night at the temple. (See DeVries.)

1 Kings 9:4, “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, (NIV) I. As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, . . .

A. God’s commitment to the temple was conditional and was dependent on Solomon’s and his descendants’ walking faithfully before God as David had done. (Long)

1. 1 Kings 2:1-12, When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ “Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether.



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He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace. “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom. “And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.” Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. He had reigned forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established. (NIV)

2. 2 Kings 3:4, Now Mesha king of Moab raised sheep, and he had to pay the king of Israel a tribute of a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams. (NIV) 3. 1 Kings 6:12, “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. (NIV)



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II. as David your father did, . . .

A. Long stated that David is the standard by which the kings of Israel and Judah are measured.

1. 1 Kings 3:3, 14, Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” (NIV) 2. 1 Kings 11:4, 6, 34, 38, As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done. “‘But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon’s hand; I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose and who obeyed my commands and decrees. If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you. (NIV) 3. 2 Kings 14:3, He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. (NIV)



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4. 2 Kings 18:3, He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. (NIV) 5. Psalm 18:20-24, The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I am not guilty of turning from my God. All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. (NIV)

III. and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, . . .

A. 1 Kings 2:3-4, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ (NIV) B. To obtain God’s blessing, all, not just some, of God’s commands are to be obeyed . . .to the best of our abilities.

1 Kings 9:5, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ (NIV) I. I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, . . .



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A. 2 Samuel 7:16, Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” (NIV) B. 1 Kings 2:4, and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ (NIV) C. 1 Kings 8:26, And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true. (NIV)

II. as I promised David your father when I said, . . .

A. “But again it is with Solomon and the Davidic line that is the ultimate concern.” (See DeVries.)

1. “God will not cut off any king from this line so long as each king remains obedient to his commandments,” DeVries wrote.

III. ‘You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’

A. 2 Samuel 7:12, 16, When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” (NIV) B. 1 Kings 2:4, and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if



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they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ (NIV) C. 1 Kings 6:12, “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. (NIV) D. Psalm 132:12, If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.” (NIV)

1 Kings 9:6, “But if you or your descendants turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, (NIV) I. But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, . . .

A. 2 Chronicles 7:19, “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, (NIV) B. 2 Samuel 7:14-15, I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. (NIV) C. Exodus 20:5, You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to



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the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, (NIV) D. Deuteronomy 5:9, You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, (NIV) E. Deuteronomy 13:2, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” (NIV)

1 Kings 9:7, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. (NIV) I. then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple (house) I have consecrated for my Name.

A. Deuteronomy 4:26-27, I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you. (NIV) B. 2 Kings 25:11, 21, Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the rest of the populace and those who had deserted to the king of Babylon. There at Riblah, in



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the land of Hamath, the king had them executed. So Judah went into captivity, away from her land. (NIV) C. Jeremiah 7:14, Therefore, what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears my Name, the temple you trust in, the place I gave to you and your ancestors. (NIV) D. Unfaithfulness would leave the temple in ruins, the promised land deserted and the people mocked. (See DeVries.)

1. Micah 3:12, Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets. (NIV) 2. Jeremiah 26:18, “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: “‘Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.’ (NIV)

II. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples.

A. Deuteronomy 28:36-37, The LORD will drive you and the king you set over you to a nation unknown to you or your ancestors. There you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone. You will become a thing of horror, a byword and an object of ridicule among all the peoples where the LORD will drive you. (NIV)



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B. Isaiah 14:4, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended! (NIV) C. Micah 6:16, You have observed the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their traditions. Therefore I will give you over to ruin and your people to derision; you will bear the scorn of the nations.” (NIV) D. Deuteronomy 4:45, These are the stipulations, decrees and laws Moses gave them when they came out of Egypt (NIV)

1 Kings 9:8, This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ (NIV) I. And though this temple is now imposing, . . .

A. The temple was indeed at that time a magnificent structure built upon “the highest eminence in Jerusalem.” (See Coffman.)

II. all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, . . .

A. Deuteronomy 26:19, He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised. (NIV) B. Deuteronomy 28:1, If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you



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today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. (NIV) C. Jeremiah 19:8, I will devastate this city and make it an object of horror and scorn; all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff because of all its wounds. (NIV) D. Jeremiah 49:7, Concerning Edom: This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed? (NIV) E. Job 27:23, It claps its hands in derision and hisses him out of his place.” (NIV)

III. ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’

A. Deuteronomy 29:24-25, All the nations will ask: “Why has the LORD done this to this land? Why this fierce, burning anger?” And the answer will be: “It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt. (NIV)

B. Jeremiah 22:8, “People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?’ (NIV)

1 Kings 9:9, People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why the LORD brought all this disaster on them.’” (NIV)



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I. People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and . . .

A. Deuteronomy 29:25, And the answer will be: “It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt. (NIV)

II. have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them— . . .

A. Israel had embraced, taken hold, of other gods.

III. that is why the Lord brought all this disaster on them.’ ”

A. Sin leads to disaster, sooner or later, every time!

Solomon’s Other Activities

1 Kings 9:10, At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built these two buildings—the temple of the LORD and the royal palace— (NIV) I. At the end of twenty (20) years, during which Solomon built these two (2) buildings – the temple of the Lord and the royal palace –

A. Solomon’s construction of the temple took seven and one-half (7 ½) years and the construction of his royal palace took twelve and a half (12 ½) years for a total of twenty (20) years.

1. 1 Kings 7:1, It took Solomon thirteen years, however, to complete the construction of his palace. (NIV)



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2. 2 Chronicles 8:1, At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built the temple of the LORD and his own palace, (NIV)

1 Kings 9:11, King Solomon gave twenty towns in Galilee to Hiram king of Tyre, because Hiram had supplied him with all the cedar and juniper and gold he wanted. (NIV) I. King Solomon gave twenty (20) towns (villages) in Galilee to Hiram king of Tyre, because Hiram had supplied him with all the cedar and pine and gold he wanted.

A. Clarke was of the opinion that Solomon did not give these cities to Hiram for annexation, but for Hiram to use their produce toward the payment of Solomon’s debt.

1. Leviticus 25:23, “‘The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers. (NIV) 2. Deuteronomy 17:15, be sure to appoint over you a king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. (NIV)

B. Either Hiram did not accept these cities or he returned them to Solomon after Hiram had used their production to pay what was owed him.

1. 2 Chronicles 8:2, Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram had given him, and settled Israelites in them. (NIV)



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C. 1 Kings 5:8-10, “I have received the message you sent me and will do all you want in providing the cedar and juniper logs. My men will haul them down from Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate them and you can take them away. And you are to grant my wish by providing food for my royal household.” In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and juniper logs he wanted, (NIV)

1 Kings 9:12, But when Hiram went from Tyre to see the towns that Solomon had given him, he was not pleased with them. (NIV) I. But when Hiram went from Tyre to see the towns that Solomon had given him, he was not pleased with them.

A. Tyre (rock) was an ancient seaport city of the Phoenicians situated north of Israel, about thirty-five (35) miles north of Carmel. B. What Hiram needed was fertile farm land by means of which he could feed his people.

1. The land Solomon offered Hiram was mountainous, not suited for agriculture.

1 Kings 9:13, “What kind of towns are these you have given me, my brother?” he asked. And he called them the Land of Kabul, a name they have to this day. (NIV) I. “What kind of towns are these you have given me, my brother?” he asked.



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A. Hiram thought Solomon had “short changed” him, not paid him enough for what he had done to help Solomon. B. 1 Kings 5:1-12, When Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father David, he sent his envoys to Solomon, because he had always been on friendly terms with David. Solomon sent back this message to Hiram: “You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD put his enemies under his feet. But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster. I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the LORD my God, as the LORD told my father David, when he said, ‘Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.’ “So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My men will work with yours, and I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set. You know that we have no one so skilled in felling timber as the Sidonians.” When Hiram heard Solomon’s message, he was greatly pleased and said, “Praise be to the LORD today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation.” So Hiram sent word to Solomon: “I have received the message you sent me and will do all you want in providing the cedar and juniper logs. My men will haul them down from Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate them and you can take them away. And you are to grant my wish by providing food for my royal household.” In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and juniper logs he wanted, and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths of pressed olive oil.



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Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year. The LORD gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him. There were peaceful relations between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty. (NIV) C. 1 Kings 20:32, Wearing sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says: ‘Please let me live.’” The king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.” (NIV)

II. And he called them the Land of Cabul, a name they have to this day.

A. “Cabul” indicates that Hiram regarded these towns as “like nothing,” (Hamilton), or “good for nothing district.” (Moffatt) B. Hamilton wrote that, “Royal gift giving was a prominent feature of international diplomacy in the ancient Near East.”

1. Due to the location of these cities, some believe Cabul means border or boundary. 2. However, the meaning of Cabul is uncertain. (The Pulpit Commentary)

C. Evidently Hiram was so dissatisfied with these cities that he gave them back to Solomon. (Coffman)

1. 2 Chronicles 8:1-2, At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built the temple of the LORD and his own palace, Solomon rebuilt the villages



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that Hiram had given him, and settled Israelites in them. (NIV) 2. In the New Testament, Coffman quoting the Wycliffe Bible Commentary, states this is the area known as “Galilee of the Gentiles.” (Matthew 4:15)

D. Cabul was the name of a town and a district in the Old Testament. (Youngblood)

1. Cabul was a border town in the territory of Asher located about nine (9) miles southeast of Acre.

a. Joshua 19:27, It then turned east toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El, and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Kabul on the left. (NIV)

2. Cabul was a district in Galilee (or Naphtali) made up of twenty (20) cities. After Hiram, King of Tyre, received these cities as a gift from King Solomon, he gave the name Cabul to this region.

1 Kings 9:14, Now Hiram had sent to the king 120 talents of gold. (NIV) I. Now Hiram had sent to the king 120 talents of gold.

A. This appears to have been the gold mentioned in verse 11 above. B. Coffman wrote that Solomon ceded part of Israel’s territory to Hiram evidently as payment of a debt which Solomon was unable otherwise to pay.



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1. “Solomon’s grandiose building schemes were more expensive than he could actually afford,” Coffman wrote quoting The Interpreter’s Bible. 2. The cities were in payment for the gold, payment for timber, stone and labor had been paid by agricultural products which Tyre badly needed. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

1 Kings 9:15, Here is the account of the forced labor King Solomon conscripted to build the LORD’s temple, his own palace, the terraces, the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, Megiddo and Gezer. (NIV) I. Here is the (reason for the forced labor, levy) account of the forced labor King Solomon conscripted to build the Lord’s temple, his own palace, the supporting terraces, the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, Megiddo and Gezer.

A. Israel had failed to exterminate all the heathens living in the land.

1. On occasion these became slaves.

a. 1 Kings 9:20-21, There were still people left from the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites (these peoples were not Israelites). Solomon conscripted the descendants of all these peoples remaining in the land—whom the Israelites could not exterminate—to serve as slave labor, as it is to this day. (NIV)

B. The “supporting terraces” (The Millo), the filling of a ravine in Jerusalem, derives from a Hebrew word meaning



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“to fill,” and probably refers to some kind of earthen rampart or terracing made by “filling in” with dirt and “the wall of Jerusalem” had defensive purposes. (See Hamilton.)

1. Solomon increased Jerusalem’s defenses. 2. Solomon added to the defenses David had previously constructed.

a. 2 Samuel 5:9, David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward. (NIV)

C. Hazor (enclosure) was an ancient Canaanite fortress city in northern Palestine situated ten (10) miles northwest of the Sea of Galilee. It was located on the main Egypt-Syria road. (Youngblood)

1. Joshua 11:10, At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword. (Hazor had been the head of all these kingdoms.) (NIV)

D. Megiddo was a walled city east of the Carmel Mountain range where many important Old Testament battles were fought. Megiddo was located on the main Egypt to Syria route overlooking the Valley of Jezreel. (Youngblood)

1. Joshua 12:21, the king of Taanach one the king of Megiddo one (NIV) 2. Judges 5:19, “Kings came, they fought, the kings of Canaan fought. At Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo, they took no plunder of silver. (NIV)



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E. Gezer (portion, division) was an ancient Canaanite city twenty (20) miles west of Jerusalem. (Youngblood)

1. Joshua 10:33, Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army—until no survivors were left. (NIV) 2. 1 Chronicles 20:4, In the course of time, war broke out with the Philistines, at Gezer. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaites, and the Philistines were subjugated. (NIV)

Note: Solomon fortified Jerusalem and strategically located cities in the northern, central and southern parts of the nation.

F. Clarke quoting Calmet identified Millo (the supporting terraces) as a deep valley between Mount Zion and what was called the city of Jebus, which Solomon filled up, and it was built on, and became a sort of fortified place, and a place for public assemblies.

1 Kings 9:16, (Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire. He killed its Canaanite inhabitants and then gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. (NIV) I. (Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer.

A. Joshua had captured Gezer, but evidently the Canaanites had retaken the city.



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1. Joshua 16:10, They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor. (NIV)

B. Pharaoh then conquered Gezer and gave it as a dowry for his daughter. (Clarke)

II. He had set it on fire. He killed its Canaanite inhabitants and then gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.

A. 1 Kings 3:1, Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem. (NIV) B. 1 Kings 7:8, And the palace in which he was to live, set farther back, was similar in design. Solomon also made a palace like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had married. (NIV) C. 1 Kings 11:1, King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. (NIV) D. Pharaoh’s daughter is mentioned rather frequently as Solomon’s wife indicating, perhaps, that her relationship with Solomon was special.

1. Remember that Solomon had seven hundred (700) wives and three hundred (300) concubines.



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E. Grooms by custom gave dowries to the bride’s family, but it was not unusual in royal marriages for the bride’s family to give presents.

1 Kings 9:17, And Solomon rebuilt Gezer.) He built up Lower Beth Horon, (NIV) I. And Solomon rebuilt Gezer.)

A. Solomon rebuilt the destroyed Gezer which was a politically expedient thing to do to cultivate a positive relationship with Pharaoh, his father-in-law. B. Gezer was also strategically located for protection of Solomon’s southern boundary.

II. He built up Lower Beth Horon, . . .

A. Lower Beth Horon (house of the god Horon). Upper and Lower Beth Horon were separated by only a few miles, the words Upper and Lower referring to the elevation at which they were located. The towns were situated at the west end of the Ephraimite mountains on the boundary line between the territories of Benjamin and Ephraim.

I Kings 9:18, Baalath, and Tadmor in the desert, within his land, (NIV) I. Baalath, and Tadmor in the desert, within his land, . . .

A. Tadmor (Palmyra) was an oasis in the Syrian desert located one hundred twenty (120) miles northeast of Damascus on the main east-west trade route that ran from Mesopotamia to Canaan.



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1. Palmyra was located on a fertile plain surrounded by a barren desert. (Clarke) 2. Tadmor may here refer to Tamer, a city in Judah, Hamilton stated.

B. Baalath (lady, mistress) was on the border of Dan, a town near Gezer that became one of Solomon’s storage cities. (Youngblood)

1. 2 Chronicles 8:6, as well as Baalath and all his store cities, and all the cities for his chariots and for his horses—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled. (NIV)

1 Kings 9:19, as well as all his store cities and the towns for his chariots and for his horses—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled. (NIV) I. as well as all his store cities and the towns for his chariots and for his horses— . . .

A. 1 Kings 10:26-29, Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and



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fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans. (NIV) B. These store cities contained military equipment against attacks from enemies and food against famine.

1. Genesis 41:35, They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. (NIV) 2. Exodus 1:11, So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. (NIV) 3. 1 Kings 4:26, Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses. (NIV)

II. whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled.

A. This must have produced a tremendous tax burden upon the people. (See Clarke.) B. Some of these were for personal satisfaction, not governmental use.

1. Song of Solomon 7:4, Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are the pools of Heshbon by the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon looking toward Damascus. (NIV)



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2. Ecclesiastes 2:4-7, I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. (NIV)

1 Kings 9:20, There were still people left from the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites (these peoples were not Israelites). (NIV) I. The people left were the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites . . .

A. Amorites (Westerners) were inhabitants of the land west of the Euphrates River, which included Canaan, Phoenicia, and Syria. “Amorites” and “Canaanites” are sometimes used as synonyms in the Old Testament. (Youngblood) B. Hittites derived their name from Hatti, another name for Anatolia, the capital of which was Hattusha. Later they spread into northern Syria and migrated into Canaan. (Youngblood) C. Perizzites (villagers) were inhabitants of the territories assigned to the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Judah. They entered into marriages with their conquerors and seduced the Israelites into idolatry. (Youngblood) D. Hivites descended from Canaan. No references to the Hivites exists outside the Bible. Some believe “Hivites” is a corruption of “Horites”. Others think the Hivites were a smaller group within the Horites. (Youngblood)



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E. Jebusites is the name of the original inhabitants of the city of Jebus, the name of ancient Jerusalem. (Youngblood) F. Scriptures:

1. Judges 1:21, 27-36, The Benjamites, however, did not drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites. But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land. When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely. Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, but the Canaanites continued to live there among them. Neither did Zebulun drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron or Nahalol, so these Canaanites lived among them, but Zebulun did subject them to forced labor. Nor did Asher drive out those living in Akko or Sidon or Ahlab or Akzib or Helbah or Aphek or Rehob. The Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land because they did not drive them out. Neither did Naphtali drive out those living in Beth Shemesh or Beth Anath; but the Naphtalites too lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, and those living in Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath became forced laborers for them. The Amorites confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain. And the Amorites were determined also to hold out in Mount Heres, Aijalon and Shaalbim, but when the power of the tribes of Joseph increased, they too were pressed



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into forced labor. The boundary of the Amorites was from Scorpion Pass to Sela and beyond. (NIV) 2. Judges 3:5, The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. (NIV)

II. (these peoples were not Israelites), . . .

A. Those conscripted were not Israelites, but natives of Canaan.

1 Kings 9:21, Solomon conscripted the descendants of all these peoples remaining in the land—whom the Israelites could not exterminate—to serve as slave labor, as it is to this day (NIV) I. that is, their descendants remaining in the land, whom the Israelites could not exterminate—. . .

A. 1 Chronicles 22:2, So David gave orders to assemble the foreigners residing in Israel, and from among them he appointed stonecutters to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God. (NIV)

II. these Solomon conscripted for his slave labor force, as it is to this day.

A. DeVries wrote, “Solomon may indeed be admired for his energy and ambition, but hardly for his sensitivity to human values. Like every other ruler in the ancient world, he believed in the exploitation of his fellow human beings. Solomon was quite willing to profit from the violent expropriation of other people’s property.”

1 Kings 9:22, But Solomon did not make slaves of any of the Israelites; they were his fighting men, his government officials,



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his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and charioteers. (NIV) I. But Solomon did not make salves of any of the Israelites; . . .

A. His rule over Israel was, however, harsh and, on occasion, some Israelites were required to serve.

1. 1 Kings 5:13-14, King Solomon conscripted laborers from all Israel—thirty thousand men. He sent them off to Lebanon in shifts of ten thousand a month, so that they spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. (NIV) 2. 1 Kings 12:1-24, Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then come back to me.” So the people went away. Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He



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asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” The young men who had grown up with him replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’” Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word the LORD had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite. When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, Israel! Look after your own house, David!” So the Israelites went home. But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them. King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. When all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly



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and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David. When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered all Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand able young men—to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam son of Solomon. But this word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, to all Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, ‘This is what the LORD says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the word of the LORD and went home again, as the LORD had ordered. (NIV) 3. 1 Kings 11:28, Now Jeroboam was a man of standing, and when Solomon saw how well the young man did his work, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the tribes of Joseph. (NIV) 4. Coffman observed there were forced labor battalions raised from the Israelites themselves on occasion. 5. The Pulpit Commentary stated Israelite service was compulsory, but not servile because bondage was forbidden.

a. Leviticus 25:39, “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves. (NIV)

II. they were his fighting men, his government officials, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and charioteers.



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A. Evidently, while these were not here called slaves, they were servants, probably drafted into Solomon’s service. (See Coffman.)

1 Kings 9:23, They were also the chief officials in charge of Solomon’s projects—550 officials supervising those who did the work. (NIV) I. They were also the chief officials in charge of Solomon’s projects—. . .

A. Supervisors over all of Solomon’s projects were Israelites.

II. 550 officials supervising the men who did the work.

A. Coffman called these officials “the slave-drivers with their rods and whips.”

1 Kings 9:24, After Pharaoh’s daughter had come up from the City of David to the palace Solomon had built for her, he constructed the terraces. NIV) I. After Pharaoh’s daughter had come up from the City of David to the palace Solomon had built for her, he constructed the supporting terraces (Millo).

A. Pharaoh’s daughter was provided a special house, a palace Solomon built especially for her.

1 Kings 9:25, Three times a year Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar he had built for the LORD, burning incense before the LORD along with them, and so fulfilled the temple obligations. (NIV)



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I. Three (3) times a year Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar he had built for the Lord, . . .

A. Exodus 23:15-17, “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt. “No one is to appear before me empty-handed. “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. “Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field. “Three times a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD. (NIV) B. Deuteronomy 16:16, Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the LORD empty-handed: (NIV) C. 2 Chronicles 8;12, On the altar of the LORD that he had built in front of the portico, Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings to the LORD, (NIV) D. The three (3) feasts were the Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles.

II. burning incense before the Lord along with them, and so fulfilled the temple obligations.

A. The Pulpit Commentary strongly holds that Solomon did not usurp the role of the priests by personally offering these sacrifices and burning the incense.



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B. Solomon, as others, came to worship with appropriate gifts which were then offered in the prescribed manner by the priests. C. Some do, however, believe Solomon did in fact assume the role of priest in this matter.

1 Kings 9:26, King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea. (NIV) I. King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea.

A. Hamilton noted, “Israelite kings normally did not establish navies (because the Philistines normally occupied the coastal areas, not the Israelites).

1. The Phoenicians were famous mariners and they, led by Hiram, assisted Solomon in this ship building venture.

B. Coffman took the position that “Red Sea” (Yam Sup) actually means “End Sea,” a proper name for the Indian Ocean during that historic period.

1. Coffman located this port at the northen end of the Gulf of Aqaba.

C. Ezion Geber (backbone of a man) was located on the northern shore of the Gulf of Aqaba, the eastern arm of the Red Sea. (Youngblood)



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1. Numbers 33:35-36, They left Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber. They left Ezion Geber and camped at Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin. (NIV) 2. Deuteronomy 2:8, So we went on past our relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion Geber, and traveled along the desert road of Moab. (NIV)

D. Elath (palm grove) was a seaport town on the northeast corner of the Gulf of Elath or Aqaba on the Red Sea. (Youngblood) E. Edom had been subjugated by Israel prior to this time. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

1. 2 Samuel 8:14, He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went. (NIV)

1 Kings 9:27, And Hiram sent his men—sailors who knew the sea—to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s men. I. And Hiram sent his men—sailors who knew the sea—to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s men.

A. Phoenicians were famous as sailors and maritime traders.

1. 2 Chronicles 8:18, And Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own men, sailors who knew the sea. These, with Solomon’s men, sailed to Ophir and brought back four hundred and fifty talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon. (NIV)



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B. Tyre and Sidon were on the Mediterranean Sea which provided ready access to all the surrounding countries with access to the Atlantic.

1. This alliance with Solomon with a port at Ezon Geber would open western Africa and the east to India. 2. This alliance had great potential for both Solomon and Hiram!

1 Kings 9:28, They sailed to Ophir and brought back 420 talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon. (NIV) I. They sailed to Ophir and brought back four hundred and twenty (420) talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon.

A. 1 Kings 10:11-12, (Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir; and from there they brought great cargoes of almugwood and precious stones. The king used the almugwood to make supports for the temple of the LORD and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. So much almugwood has never been imported or seen since that day.) (NIV) B. 1 Kings 22:47-49, There was then no king in Edom; a provincial governor ruled. Now Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail—they were wrecked at Ezion Geber. At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my men sail with yours,” but Jehoshaphat refused. (NIV) C. 2 Kings 14:22, He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors. (NIV)



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D. 2 Kings 16:6, At that time, Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram by driving out the people of Judah. Edomites then moved into Elath and have lived there to this day. (NIV) E. Job 22:24, and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, (NIV) F. Job 28:16, It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli. (NIV) G. Psalm 45:9, Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. (NIV) H. Isaiah 13:12, I will make people scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir. (NIV) I. 1 Chronicles 29:4, three thousand talents of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, (NIV) J. “Ophir is usually located in southwestern Arabia; some scholars . . .locate it in India.” (See Wycliffe Commentary via Coffman.) The exact location of Ophir is a mystery. Guesses as to the location of Ophir range from India to Africa, Somaliland, the Arabia peninsula, et. al. (Youngblood) K. The Pulpit Commentary states the two (2) most popular opinions as to the location of Ophir are in India and in Sheba in Southern Arabia.



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1. Psalm 72:15, Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long. (NIV) 2. Ezekiel 27:22, “‘The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold. (NIV)

L. DeVries wrote, “Ophir is not southwestern Arabia, as many claim, but Somaliland, the same as the land of Punt mentioned in Egyptian literature.”

Conclusion: I. The temple and the Davidic dynasty are the prime concerns of verses 1-9.

A. Faithfulness was absolutely essential for the continuance of the Davidic dynasty. B. The ultimate Davidic king was Jesus Christ. C. David’s earthly dynasty ended in apostacy, destruction and captivity.

II. Solomon was a master builder which involved religious, governmental, military civic and personal structures.

A. Hiram king of Tyre was a tremendous help in these building projects. B. Solomon was harsh in his forcing non-Israelites to work as slaves in these construction projects.



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C. Interestingly, Solomon in his opulence and his forcing non-Israelites into slave labor, still fulfilled his religious temple obligations three (3) times a year. D. “Gold” is a key word in this chapter which ends with Solomon’s building a navy by means of which he brought gold from fabled Ophir to Israel.

III. In some ways Solomon was a great success while in other ways he was a great failure.

A. It is very difficult, impossible perhaps, to be successful in every area of our lives but with God all things are possible.

1. Matthew 19:25-26, When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (KJV)



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Questions

on

1 Kings 9:1-28

(Questions based on NIV text.)

1. Chapters 9 and 10 ____________________ the _____________ ____________________ and _________________________ of the ________________ of ______________________. 2. ______________________’s accomplishments were due to the _____________________ of ______________________ and were achieved through his _________________ with ______________, ________________ ___________________ of _______________ ___________________________ ______________________, and __________________________ of his _____________________ ________________________. 3. When and how did God appear to Solomon a second time? Where had God previously appeared to Solomon? _____________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. What did God say to Solomon during this second appearance? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



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____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Which of these promises were conditional and which were unconditional? _________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. What were the conditions on which certain promises were based? ________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. How did David walk before God? Wasn’t he both a murderer and an adulterer? _______________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. How many of the Lord’s commands do we have to obey to please God? Can anyone do this? __________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________



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__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. What would happen to Solomon and his sons if they turned away from obeying God’s commands and decrees? ____________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10. What would people say when they saw disaster come upon the temple and Israel? ______________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11. Why did Solomon give Hiram twenty (20) villages/towns in Galilee? What was Hiram’s attitude toward this gift? What did Hiram do with these towns? _______________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12. Define Cabul. What was Cabul? _______________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



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13. Define The Millo. __________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 14. Solomon used ____________________ __________________ to build the __________________’s _______________________, his own ______________________, the _____________________ _______________________, the ________________________ of ________________________, and _________________________, ________________________ and _________________________. 15. Was God pleased with the use of slave labor to build the temple, God’s house? Give reasons for your answer. ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 16. Who were these slaves? _______________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 17. Locate Hazor, Megiddo and Gezer. Why were these particular towns fortified by Solomon? ______________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



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____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 18. What had Pharoah done with Gezer? Why did he do this? ____ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 19. Locate Lower Beth Horon, Baalath and Tadmor. Why did Solomon build up these towns? ____________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 20. What did Solomon’s store cities contain? _________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 21. Solomon built “whatever he desired to build.” What were the things he built? Were these constructions all for government use? Explain your answer. ____________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



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22. Who were the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites? _____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 23. What use did Solomon make of these people? _____________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 24. Were Israelites ever conscripted by Solomon for involuntary forced labor? How did Israelites serve? (See verse 22-23.) ______ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 25. Solomon had seven hundred (700) wives and three hundred (300) concubines. Why was his wife, Pharaoh’s daughter, given so much special notice? What was her name? ___________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 26. At what three (3) times each year did Solomon sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings? Did he conduct himself appropriately on these occasions? Why or why not? ___________



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______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 27. Where did Solomon build ships? Name and locate this place? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 28. Why was building ships unusual for Israel? Who helped Solomon in this undertaking? Why was he especially qualified to help Solomon with this endeavor? __________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 29. Where was Ophir? For what was it known in the Old Testament era? _________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 30. In what ways was Solomon a great success? In what ways was Solomon a great failure? _________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



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THE LORD APPEARS TO SOLOMON SOLOMON’S OTHER ACTIVITIES...

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