Tanak Foundations-Concepts in First Kings-Part 4

In 1 Kings 4.1-34 we have an account of the riches and honor Solomon had (see 1 Kings 3.13), and it talks about his princes, food providers for his court and family, the extent of his kingdom and the overall peace and prosperity that was enjoyed. It was under these conditions that the Temple could be built and the influence of the King of Israel was seen by the other nations. This influence reflected back on the Lord as king over the earth, and the Temple was symbolic of that.

Solomon’s officials were Azarah, the son of Zadok, as High Priest (actually he was the grandson-1 Chr 16.8). Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha (Shua) were Secretaries (scribes). Jehoshaphat was the recorder (Secretary of State) and he served under David (2 Sam 8.16; 20.24). We also have Abiathar as a priest in v 4. Solomon could reassign Abiathar in responsibility, but he could not take away his title or duties as a priest.
Benaiah was over the army and Azariah, the son of Nathan the prophet, was over the deputies listed in v 7-19. His other son Zabud was the chief minister. Ahishar was chief steward over the household and Abda was over collecting the tribute.

Solomon had twelve deputies that furnished food from the twelve districts in the land. One district would provide food each month. These provisions were for the king and his family, and the court. These deputies (officers) allude to the twelve Talmidim of Yeshua who were appointed to provide spiritual food (the Word of God) to God’s (the king) family (the believers). If there was a thirteenth month, then there was an officer fixed who could take food from anywhere. This thirteenth officer alludes to Paul, to make thirteen Talmidim who provided spiritual food to the king’s (God) family.

Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand of the seashore and were eating and drinking and rejoicing (like in the messianic kingdom). Solomon ruled over the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt, and this also alludes to messianic times (Psa 72.8). Israel and Judah dwelt safely, every man under his fig tree. This is an idiom for the Messianic Kingdom (John 1.48; Isa 36.16; Zech 3.10).

1 Kings 4.22-23 gives Solomon’s daily provisions, and in 1 Kings 4.24-28 it talks about the political stability of his kingdom. In 1 Kings 4.26 it says there were 40,000 stalls for his horses, and in 2 Chr 9.25 it has 4000 stalls. There is an extra “yod” (number “10” in Hebrew) indicating that this is referring to the number of horses in 1 Kings 4.26. In 2 Chr 9.25 the 4000 does not have the extra “yod” indicating these are the number of stalls. There are some who say this could also be a scribal error. But this also shows that Solomon did not follow the instruction in Deut 17.16 where the Torah says that a king was not to multiply horses for themselves. The horse was symbolic of military power, the more horses you had the powerful you looked. But the kings of Israel did not need military power, they had Yehovah, and the Lord did not need horses. To multiply horses meant you did not trust the Lord in a sense.

1 Kings 4.29-34 tells us that God gave Solomon wisdom, discernment and breadth of spirit. His wisdom surpassed the wisdom of Persia, Arabia, Babylon (“sons of the east” in Matt 2.2) and the wisdom of Egypt. He is wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite (wrote Psa 89) and Heman (wrote Psa 88 and a musician in 1 Chr 6.33, 25.4-7, Psa 16.42). Then the verse also mentions Chalcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. They are mentioned in 1 Chr 2.6, and Darda is called “Dara.” Solomon also wrote 3000 proverbs, some of which are in the Book of Proverbs, and his songs (psalms) numbered 1005.

Then v 33 says that he spoke of trees, from the cedar (the greatest) to the hyssop (the least). This is like saying “from A to Z.” He also spoke about animals (Zoology) and fish (Ichthyology) and creeping things (Entomology). People came from all the peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon (Philosophy).

In 1 Kings 5.1-18 it says Solomon prepares to build the Temple, with help from Hiram of Tyre. Hiram is an abbreviation of the word “Ahiram” meaning “my exalted brother.” He was a friend of David and had built an alliance with him. Archaeologists have found his royal sarcophagus. Solomon told him spiritual things and explains why his father could not build the Temple “for the name of Yehovah his God” until all the enemies that surrounded him had been dealt with. Hiram initiates the contact with Solomon and this is a sign of foreign acceptance. The fact that Solomon would build the Temple is not a rejection of David, but it is in acceptance of what David did because he had safe borders, an established order and a dynasty that could transfer power. Now a Temple could be rebuilt.

When the Bible talks about David being a “man of war” it is not criticizing him. Yehovah never condemned David for the wars he fought. They were fought in defense of his people and were the right thing to do. However, the killing of anyone leaves a person “spiritually” scarred and that is why the Torah says that the Altar should not be made with stones that are hewn or had a sword or metal tool upon them (Exo 20.22).

Solomon uses the phrase “For the name of Yehovah” for the Temple because this was not going to be like the pagan temples, where the pagan deity actually “lived.” He knew the heavens could not contain Yehovah, much less a house of stone. He wanted Hiram to cut down cedar trees for the Temple. Tyre and Sidon were known as wood craftsmen.

Now, we have a concept here. The Mishkan was built by the hand of the Jewish people. But this Temple will be built with aid from the non-Jews. The Temple is a house of prayer for all nations, and this alludes to the eschatological congregation of Yeshua made up of Jews and non-Jews (Eph 2.11-22). When Hiram heard Solomon’s words, he rejoiced and blessed Yehovah for giving such a wise son to reign over Israel. In return, Solomon provided food for the household of Hiram (v 9). So the wood was brought down from Lebanon by rafts and unloaded at Joppa (2 Chr 2.16). They would be carried away from there. As long as the work lasted, Solomon gave 60 tons of wheat and 6 tons of beaten oil for Hiram’s household year by year. 2 Chr 2.10 says he also gave portions to the workmen.
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1 Kings 5.13-14 tells us that Solomon had a force of freemen who were conscripted to work on the Temple from all Israel. They were not fighting wars so they could do this, and this is another reason why peace had to be established by David before the Temple could be built. 30,000 men were used, and 10,000 were used at a time, with the the other 20,000 going home. Adoniram was in charge of this project. Solomon’s wisdom is displayed in how he used this workforce. He delegated responsibility and he did not make these workmen work constantly away from home.

Solomon also used 70,000 transporters and 80,000 hewers of stone. According to history, not one workman died or was sick working on this project. Solomon also had 3,300 chief deputies (middle management) who were over the project. 2 Chr 2.18 says there were 3,600 deputies, meaning 300 supervised the 3,300. Then Solomon commanded that great stones be quarried (quality stones) for the foundation, and these stones were to be ones that were never seen. But Solomon was not cutting corners. Though out of sight, the Temple was to be built on a solid foundation (Isa 54.11; Rev 21.14). So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites cut the stones and prepared the timbers to be used in the Temple.

So, as we can see, the Jews and the non-Jews worked together to build a physical Temple. Spiritually, it is the same thing. We are the stones of Messiah’s Spiritual Temple (1 Pet 2.5) being “cut out” by the expert workmen God has placed in our lives and by Yeshua himself. We should keep in mind that all of this is a picture of the Messianic Kingdom and the building of Ezekiel’s Temple by Yeshua.

We will pick up in 1 Kings 6 in Part 5.

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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