I Kings 9 Commentary
And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do,
That the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.
And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:
Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:
Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:
And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and to this house?
And they shall answer, Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the Lord brought upon them all this evil.
And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord, and the king’s house,
(Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.
And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.
And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold.
And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the Lord, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon’s wife.
And Solomon built Gezer, and Beth–horon the nether,
And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land,
And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel,
Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day.
But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.
These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.
But Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo.
And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto the Lord, and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before the Lord. So he finished the house.
And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion–geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.
And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.
I Kings 9 recounts God's second appearance to Solomon, solidifying the covenant established earlier, and detailing Solomon's various achievements and potential pitfalls. This chapter serves as a pivotal point, highlighting the blessings of obedience and the severe consequences of disobedience, while also showcasing Solomon's growing kingdom and wealth. It offers valuable lessons about faithfulness, the dangers of idolatry, and the importance of maintaining a heart of integrity before God. Let's delve deeper into this chapter.
God's Covenant Renewed and a Solemn Warning (I Kings 9:1-9)
Following the completion of the temple and his palace, God appeared to Solomon in a dream for the second time (I Kings 9:1-2; see also I Kings 3:5-15). This divine encounter echoed their previous conversation, but with a sharper focus on the conditional nature of God's promises. God acknowledged Solomon's prayer and dedication of the temple, promising to establish David's royal line forever, provided that Solomon remained faithful.
The Lord promised to establish Solomon’s royal throne and the kingly line of David forever—provided that the king would walk before God with a heart of integrity (I Kings 9:4-5). This promise, however, came with a stark warning. God declared that if Solomon or his descendants turned away from Him, embracing idolatry and serving other gods, He would reject the temple and uproot Israel from the land He had given them (I Kings 9:6-7). The magnificent temple, the pride of Israel, would become a ruin, a symbol of God's judgment (I Kings 9:8). The surrounding nations would then recognize that Israel's downfall was a direct result of abandoning their God (I Kings 9:8-9).
This passage underscores a crucial theological point: God's blessings are contingent upon obedience. While God is gracious and merciful, He is also just and holy. He cannot overlook sin, especially the sin of idolatry, which strikes at the very heart of the covenant relationship. The warning serves as a reminder to all believers that maintaining a relationship with God requires constant vigilance and a commitment to living according to His commands.
It's easy to wonder how a nation that had witnessed God's power so vividly could turn to idols. Yet, the history of Israel is filled with such instances. Even the generation that Moses led out of Egypt, despite witnessing miraculous signs and wonders, repeatedly rejected God. Sadly, this pattern would continue, and even Solomon himself would later succumb to the temptation of idolatry.
Solomon's Achievements and Wealth (I Kings 9:10-28)
The remainder of I Kings 9 shifts focus to Solomon's accomplishments, highlighting the vastness of his kingdom, his renowned wisdom, and his immense wealth. By the time Solomon completed the temple and his palace after twenty years of construction (I Kings 9:10), he had reached the midpoint of his forty-year reign.
King Hiram of Tyre, a long-time ally of David, provided Solomon with abundant cedar and cypress logs, as well as gold, for his building projects. In return, Solomon gave Hiram twenty towns in the region of Galilee (I Kings 9:11). However, Hiram was not pleased with this gift, calling the area "the land of Cabul," which means "good for nothing" or "disappointing" (I Kings 9:13). This detail might suggest that the land was infertile or strategically unimportant. While Hiram had given Solomon nine thousand pounds of gold (I Kings 9:14), Solomon's offering was deemed inadequate, perhaps hinting at a growing imbalance in their relationship and a potential flaw in Solomon's character.
The text also details Solomon's extensive use of forced labor to complete his building projects (I Kings 9:15). Some workers came from his father-in-law, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who captured Gezer and gave it to his daughter as a dowry (I Kings 9:16). Solomon then rebuilt Gezer and fortified other cities throughout the land (I Kings 9:17-19). The forced laborers were primarily descendants of the non-Israelite peoples who remained in the land (I Kings 9:20-21). While Israelites were not enslaved, they were conscripted for military service and other duties (I Kings 9:22-23). The heavy burden of labor imposed by Solomon would later contribute to discontent among the people and ultimately lead to the division of the kingdom (see I Kings 12:2-4).
Despite the seeds of future problems being sown, Solomon remained faithful in his early years, offering sacrifices three times a year (I Kings 9:25) in accordance with the Law (Exodus 23:14-16). He also established a navy, utilizing the expertise of Hiram's sailors to acquire gold from distant lands (I Kings 9:26-28).
I Kings 9 offers a complex portrait of Solomon's reign. While he achieved great things, building the temple and establishing Israel as a major power, the seeds of his future downfall were already present. The chapter serves as a reminder that even the most blessed individuals are not immune to temptation and that faithfulness requires constant vigilance. The chapter also highlights that the blessings of God are conditional, tied to obedience and a heart devoted to Him.
And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do,
That the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.
And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:
Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:
Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:
And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and to this house?
And they shall answer, Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the Lord brought upon them all this evil.
And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord, and the king’s house,
(Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.
And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.
And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold.
And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the Lord, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon’s wife.
And Solomon built Gezer, and Beth–horon the nether,
And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land,
And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel,
Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day.
But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.
These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.
But Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo.
And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto the Lord, and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before the Lord. So he finished the house.
And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion–geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.
And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.
I Kings 9 recounts God's second appearance to Solomon, solidifying the covenant established earlier, and detailing Solomon's various achievements and potential pitfalls. This chapter serves as a pivotal point, highlighting the blessings of obedience and the severe consequences of disobedience, while also showcasing Solomon's growing kingdom and wealth. It offers valuable lessons about faithfulness, the dangers of idolatry, and the importance of maintaining a heart of integrity before God. Let's delve deeper into this chapter.
God's Covenant Renewed and a Solemn Warning (I Kings 9:1-9)
Following the completion of the temple and his palace, God appeared to Solomon in a dream for the second time (I Kings 9:1-2; see also I Kings 3:5-15). This divine encounter echoed their previous conversation, but with a sharper focus on the conditional nature of God's promises. God acknowledged Solomon's prayer and dedication of the temple, promising to establish David's royal line forever, provided that Solomon remained faithful.
The Lord promised to establish Solomon’s royal throne and the kingly line of David forever—provided that the king would walk before God with a heart of integrity (I Kings 9:4-5). This promise, however, came with a stark warning. God declared that if Solomon or his descendants turned away from Him, embracing idolatry and serving other gods, He would reject the temple and uproot Israel from the land He had given them (I Kings 9:6-7). The magnificent temple, the pride of Israel, would become a ruin, a symbol of God's judgment (I Kings 9:8). The surrounding nations would then recognize that Israel's downfall was a direct result of abandoning their God (I Kings 9:8-9).
This passage underscores a crucial theological point: God's blessings are contingent upon obedience. While God is gracious and merciful, He is also just and holy. He cannot overlook sin, especially the sin of idolatry, which strikes at the very heart of the covenant relationship. The warning serves as a reminder to all believers that maintaining a relationship with God requires constant vigilance and a commitment to living according to His commands.
It's easy to wonder how a nation that had witnessed God's power so vividly could turn to idols. Yet, the history of Israel is filled with such instances. Even the generation that Moses led out of Egypt, despite witnessing miraculous signs and wonders, repeatedly rejected God. Sadly, this pattern would continue, and even Solomon himself would later succumb to the temptation of idolatry.
Solomon's Achievements and Wealth (I Kings 9:10-28)
The remainder of I Kings 9 shifts focus to Solomon's accomplishments, highlighting the vastness of his kingdom, his renowned wisdom, and his immense wealth. By the time Solomon completed the temple and his palace after twenty years of construction (I Kings 9:10), he had reached the midpoint of his forty-year reign.
King Hiram of Tyre, a long-time ally of David, provided Solomon with abundant cedar and cypress logs, as well as gold, for his building projects. In return, Solomon gave Hiram twenty towns in the region of Galilee (I Kings 9:11). However, Hiram was not pleased with this gift, calling the area "the land of Cabul," which means "good for nothing" or "disappointing" (I Kings 9:13). This detail might suggest that the land was infertile or strategically unimportant. While Hiram had given Solomon nine thousand pounds of gold (I Kings 9:14), Solomon's offering was deemed inadequate, perhaps hinting at a growing imbalance in their relationship and a potential flaw in Solomon's character.
The text also details Solomon's extensive use of forced labor to complete his building projects (I Kings 9:15). Some workers came from his father-in-law, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who captured Gezer and gave it to his daughter as a dowry (I Kings 9:16). Solomon then rebuilt Gezer and fortified other cities throughout the land (I Kings 9:17-19). The forced laborers were primarily descendants of the non-Israelite peoples who remained in the land (I Kings 9:20-21). While Israelites were not enslaved, they were conscripted for military service and other duties (I Kings 9:22-23). The heavy burden of labor imposed by Solomon would later contribute to discontent among the people and ultimately lead to the division of the kingdom (see I Kings 12:2-4).
Despite the seeds of future problems being sown, Solomon remained faithful in his early years, offering sacrifices three times a year (I Kings 9:25) in accordance with the Law (Exodus 23:14-16). He also established a navy, utilizing the expertise of Hiram's sailors to acquire gold from distant lands (I Kings 9:26-28).
I Kings 9 offers a complex portrait of Solomon's reign. While he achieved great things, building the temple and establishing Israel as a major power, the seeds of his future downfall were already present. The chapter serves as a reminder that even the most blessed individuals are not immune to temptation and that faithfulness requires constant vigilance. The chapter also highlights that the blessings of God are conditional, tied to obedience and a heart devoted to Him.