Tanak Foundations-Concepts in First Kings-Part 10

Now we come to 1 Kings 9.1-28 where Solomon has a second vision at Gibeon. He receives an answer to his prayer in 1 Kings 8.22-53, and this was probably the next night (v 1-3). Again, Yehovah says he put “my name there (the Temple) forever, and my eyes and my heart will be there perpetually.” Then in verse 4-5 he tells Solomon something very encouraging to us. He says, “And as for you, if you walk before me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep my statutes and my ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David.”

How could the Lord say that about David after all we have learned about just how “human” he was? Here is why. Although guilty of many sins and failings, David walked by emunah (faith) and was sincere and upright about the Torah and his relationship with the Lord. In addition, he was never involved with idolatry. If Solomon would do that, then the Lord will establish his throne over Israel forever. Previously in 1 Sam 1.22, we brought out some concepts relating to the word “forever” (olam), but let’s go over it again.

The Hebrew word “olam” (forever) seems to mean “indefinitely” with reference to the nature of the thing being discussed. If the nature is human, then “olam” is as long as that human lives. If the nature is relationships, then “olam” is as long as conditions which the relationship is based still hold. Olam does not mean “philosophic eternity” but is relative to some base.

For example, the ages of the Olam Ha Zeh and the Olam Haba are long periods of time (Deut 32.7, 33.15; Hab 3.6; Exo 14.13; Jer 17.4, 25.9; 1 Sam 2.30). So, “olam” does not mean “continues in force” throughout infinite time no matter what happens to the world, nor does it mean “irreversible” or something God cannot end if he wants to or should conditions change.

In 1 Kings 9.6-9 the Lord warns Solomon with a negative promise. If Solomon and his sons turn from Yehovah, then God will correct them. God will cast the Temple “out of my sight” and Israel will be chastised to the point that even the nations will be astonished. They would be a joke, an example and a proverb of disaster.

1 Kings 9.10-14 tells us of Solomon’s building projects and how Hiram of Tyre supplied wood and gold. It says in v 11 that Solomon gave Hiram 20 cities in Galilee, but there is problem with this wording. Solomon did not have the right to allot these cities to Hiram because they belonged to one of the tribes and it was their inheritance. Some think these cities were on the border and Solomon did not give Hiram the possession of these cities, but some think he gave the royalties and revenues of these cities until the debt he owed to Hiram was paid.

Others believe they were a “gratuity” and a full grant to them. They may have been cities David conquered and taken from those who lived there, so Solomon had a right to do what he wanted with them. It is clear that these cities were not inhabited by Israelites yet. However, these cities did not please Hiram, so he wrote to Solomon saying these were not suitable to him, so he gave them back in 2 Chr 8.2. Hiram had sent 120 talents of gold and this is the reason he could build, repair and defray expenses.

1 Kings 9.15-24 tells us of the projects Solomon had begun and the forced labor that was needed. The Millo was a fortress near the Temple and palace. He also built the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor was strategic in the north and Megiddo had a great fortress and controlled the major roads from the coast into the Valley of Jezreel to Carmel. Gezer is on the road from Joppa to Jerusalem. These verses also tell us that Solomon did not drive out the Ammonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites as commanded by the Lord. They were not to be used as slave laborers, but Solomon did it anyway. He did not make the Israelites do that work. They were used to oversee the work being done and used as warriors, princes, captains, chariot commanders and cavalry soldiers.

In 1 Kings 9.25-28 we learn that Solomon offered korbanot “three times a year” and this coincided with the three pilgrim festivals called the Shelosh Regalim (2 Chr 8.13). He provided the offerings and the priests officiated. He also built a fleet of ships in Ezion-geber, near Eilat on the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba. Hiram also sent sailors and ships to help bring gold from Ophir (420 talents) to Solomon (2 Chr 8.18).

1 Kings 10.1-13 tells us about the Queen of Sheba who heard about the fame of Solomon, so she came to see him for herself. This story alludes to how the non-Jews will hear about Yeshua as Messiah (Isa 11.10; Matt 12.42). This was a 1500 mile trip and came at great expense because she did not travel by herself, but had many with her for security. This was also a trade delegation, but she had to come herself because she had heard about his wisdom, and Solomon answered all her questions.

Now, as a queen, she was quite familiar with royal palaces and luxury, but what Solomon built overwhelmed her (v 5). She saw the Temple, the House of the Forest of Lebanon, his palace and the home he built for his wife. She had heard about all the wonderful things associated with Solomon, but seeing it all for herself brought her to the realization that reality was far greater than what she was told. She thought his men and servants were happy because Solomon was a wise and rich king. As a result, she gives the God of Israel glory, and this is what God wanted to do for Israel. If they followed him, he would bless them as he did Solomon. Then the world would notice and give God glory (Deut 4.6-8, 28.1,10). Yehovah wanted to reach the nations through an obedient king and nation. They were extensions of the Lord (1 Chr 29.23).

There is no record of her becoming a believer in Yehovah. She was impressed personally but without any expression of faith that is recorded. She was an impressed “seeker” who was impressed with the facilities, programs, organization and professionalism, but that isn’t what would save her. Many people today hear about Yeshua and his wisdom and go to a congregation and are impressed with the pastor, the facilities, the programs, the organization and professionalism but are never spiritually born again.

Yeshua did use the Queen of Sheba as an example of a “seeker” in Matt 12.42. His point was this. If she sought Solomon and his kingdom so diligently, with a lot of time and expense involved, how much more should people seek Yeshua and his kingdom, investing their time and expense. She will rise up in judgment against that generation (and ours).

In 1 Kings 10.11-13 we learn about the gifts exchanged between Solomon and the Queen. She gave a very great number of “almug” trees. This is a very aromatic wood and it is spelled “algum” in 2 Chr 9.9-11. In 1 Kings 10.14-29 we learn about Solomon’s great wealth. In one year he made 666 talents of gold, which is about 300 million dollars. This was just his base salary. The number “666” can be seen in Rev 13.18 and is associated with the False Messiah. Now, the accumulation of this gold violated the Torah in Deut 17.14-20. A king is not to multiply silver and gold for himself. God blessed Solomon but he allowed that blessing to corrupt him.

It is not a coincidence that the 666 talents of gold and Solomon’s wealth may be his turning point away from God. From here on he declines, and this number is associated with the love of money and the root of evil. It is also associated with idolatry and alluded to in Dan 3.1. Solomon is a royal merchant, and the number of the False Messiah is on buyers and sellers in Rev 13.7.

We will continue examining 1 Kings 10.14-29 in Part 11.

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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