LIBRARY REFERENCES. The tract, Parley the Porter (Am. Tract Soc. N. Y.), is a capital illustration. So is the story of the Trojan Horse, in Homer and Virgil (see series Ancient Classics for English Readers). On the danger of riches and long-continued prosperity, see Spurgeon's Feathers for Arrows. Land and Book, new ed., Vol. II., pp. 17, 18, for moral condition of Jerusalem in Solomon's time; Vol. I., pp. 324-327, for Solomon's prodigality; Van Lennep's Bible Lands, p. 211, on Solomon's chariots. PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS. 1. Neither age nor experience brings release from temptation. 2. The best worldly gifts of God, the very rewards of virtue, bring with them peculiar temptations. The higher one climbs the farther it is possible for him to fall. The more sensitive one is to pleasure, the more sensitive also to pain. 3. The fall of men is usually preceded by sins that have been preparing the fall. "Nemo repente purpissimus fuit." "It is the little rift within the lute That by and by shall make its music mute."-Hammond. 4. Sins are social. One sin is almost always accompanied by many others. 5. Wisdom and knowledge are not a sufficient safeguard against sins of the heart. 6. Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. 7. "He whose song on the power of genuine love is surpassed by no human compo sition," fell because he did not live up to his own wise judgment. 8. There are few partnerships which are so lightly entered into as the one which lasts for all life. And yet how completely is a man's honor, prosperity, and peace in his wife's keeping (and a woman's in her husband's). — Pulpit Com. 9. A man may preach to others and yet be a castaway (1 Cor. 9:27). Solomon's Prayer (chap. 8), Psalm (Ps. 127), and Proverbs, should be studied in the light of his fall. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 10. 11. God puts many barriers in the way of the sinner, conscience, vision of the consequences, the Word, the Holy Spirit, his Providence, the example of others, of the transgressor shall be so hard that he will turn away from it. - that the way 12. Guilt is aggravated by the warnings and influences in spite of which it is committed. 13. No one can sin and avoid the consequences of his sin, to himself or to others. 14. They that sin must eat of the fruit of their own way. SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS. REVIEW. FORM A CLEAR IDEA of Solomon's wisdom and greatness. TIME. PLACE. SUBJECT, THE DOWNWARD COURSE. I. THE TEMPTATIONS (ver. 4) many and great, insidious, gradual. Illustration. One of the best illustrations is found in the tract, Parley the Porter. The porter of an enclosed estate first went near the hedge, then talked with Flatterer, the spokesman of the robbers without, then made a small opening that he might see without, and finally opened the door, through which the robbers poured, ready to kill, burn and destroy. Illustration of wealth or pleasure hiding from our hearts the great spiritual realities. "A finger's breadth at hand will mar A world of light in heaven afar, Illustration. The fable of the camel who begged to be allowed to put his head into the window, and then gradually entered with his whole body, driving out the owner. Illustration. Sometimes temptation comes to us like an army with open attack, but more often like a malaria. We breathe in the poisoned air from neighboring marshes; we bring the deadly sewer-gas into our houses by the very triumph of modern conveniences; cesspools in hundreds of yards send up their malaria to enter every open window in summer; and then in winter, to save coal, we shut up every crack and crevice lest God's pure air enter our rooms, till our whole systems are poisoned, and in some hour of weakness or overwork suddenly we are consumed with a burning fever. If the fever had come like a deadly serpent, we would have avoided it; if it had come like the north wind, we would have sheltered ourselves from it; if in battle array, we could fight it. But it has come with our daily breath, its footsteps unheard, without knocking at the door, and has insidiously poisoned our whole system before we were aware of our danger. — P. II. THE SIN (vers. 4-8). The commandments which Solomon broke; the cluster of sins. Those of his sins which were the source of others. III. THE BARRIERS (vers. 9, 10). The various influences with which God sought to prevent Solomon from falling. What God has done to make the way of transgressors hard. IV. THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN (vers. 11-13). (1) To Solomon; (2) to the nation. CLOSE OF SOLOMON'S REIGN. I KINGS II: 26-43. GOLDEN TEXT. — Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.. ECCL. 12: 13. PRONUNCIATIONS. — Ahi'jǎh; Ash'torĕth; Che'mosh (Kemosh); Eph'răthite; Eli'ădă; Ha'dăd; Hădădē'zĕr; Jĕrobo'ăm; Mil'com; Mil'lō; Mo'ăbites; Ne'bat; Rehobo'ăm; Rēzon; Shi'lo'nite; Shi'shǎk; Zĕrē'dă (or Zĕr'ědă); Zĕrū'ăh; Zidō'niăn. EXPLANATORY. I. Solomon's Sin; a Review. In our last lesson we watched the progress of Solomon's fall before the many temptations to which he was exposed, upon the dizzy heights of his worldly prosperity. His heart was turned away from God; he disobeyed God's direct command, and married many heathen princesses; he yielded to their influence and built altars to idols, within sight of the temple itself, thus being guilty of disloyalty, almost treason, to the real king of Israel; he grew extravagant and proud, and to support his extravagance, he oppressed the people with heavy burdens. NOTE. Solomon's sins were such as would hardly be noted in any heathen emperor of that day. They are so black by contrast with his privileges and opportunities and wisdom. So a great blotch of mud is scarcely noticed on a very muddy garment, while the smallest spot shows as great defilement on a pure white one. II. Consequences to Himself. (1) Solomon lost God's especial favor. God was indignant at his disloyalty and disobedience. He could no longer bless with his favor any one who was openly disobedient to his laws. God did not change, but Solomon changed from the sunshine of God's favor to the shadows and darkness of his anger. (2) Solomon must have had troubles at home. James Sime well says, that no palace, however large, could keep the number of "women, gathered together by Solomon, from quarrelling with each other; from fanning the embers of their neighbor's quarrels into a flame; from planning crime, and from executing terrible deeds of villany or vengeance." Perhaps it was from this cause that Solomon was induced to aid in their idolatry. The fact that, so far as is known, "Solomon had but one son, and he was a fool," marks also a disappointment in his family life. (3) Enemies without. In the verses previous to our lesson (II: 14-25), two enemies of Solomon are described, Hadad, the king of Edom, and Rezon, king of Damascus and that part of Syria. These were two implacables, whom neither the wisdom nor the power of Solomon could cause to become friends. "These hostile neighbors, who had been long kept in check by the traditional fame of David's victories, took courage, and breaking out toward the latter end of Solomon's reign, must have not only disturbed his kingdom by their inroads, but greatly crippled his revenue by stopping his lucrative traffic with Tadmor and the Euphrates." — J., F. and B. Thus as often happens, industry, skill, and honesty, produce wealth, wealth lessens the virtues, and as a consequence is diminished or scattered. (4) The loss of the larger part of his kingdom from his family. "Civil discord was the only ingredient wanted to fill the cup of Solomon's misery to the brim." — Sime. (5) The going down to posterity with this stain upon his character; a warning when he might have been an example. 26. And Jeroboam,' the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite" of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king. 2 d 27. And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father. 28. And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. 29. And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet1 Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field : 30. And Ahijah caught" the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: Rev. Ver.: a. Ephraimite; b. a servant of Solomon; c. he also; d. breach; e. saw; f. and he gave him charge over all the labor of; g. now Ahijah had clad himself; h. laid hold of. 11 Kings 12: 2. 2 Chron. 13: 6. 2 2 Sam. 20: 21. 31 Kings 9: 24. 41 Kings 14: 2. 51 Sam. 15:27; 24: 5. III. Consequences to the Kingdom. - Vers. 26-35. The ground disgraced by the heathen altars was afterwards called "the Mount of the Destroyer (corruption)." Thrice only is the word previously found in history; once when it expresses the Destroyer who passed through Egypt on the Passover night; again when it denotes the Destroyer who went out from the Philistine camp to spoil the homesteads of Israel in the war of independence; and next, when it denotes the Destroyer who smote 70,000 in the end of David's reign. Solomon is described in that one word as introducing among his people a Destroyer, causing more terrible ruin than the Passover angel, or the Philistine plunderers, or the Destroyer's sword over Mt. Moriah. Seldom is one word found to describe so truly the consequences of a king's policy. ·James Sime. (1) All the evil consequences which fell on Solomon fell also on his kingdom. (2) His moral delinquencies affected unfavorably the morals of the kingdom. (3) His kingdom was rent in twain. 26. And Jeroboam (whose people are many) the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite [i.e., Ephraimite; cf. Judg. xii. 5; 1 Sam. i. 1]. Ephraim was the ancient rival of Judah, and by reason of its numbers, position, etc., might well aspire to the headship of the tribes (Gen. 48: 17-19; 49: 26; Deut. 33: 17).-Pulpit Com. Of Zereda, a town of Ephraim, location unknown. Solomon's servant: rather, officer. Lifted up his hand: rebelled, came in opposition to. 27. Solomon built Millo, and repaired (rather closed up) the breaches (or ravine, a part unbuilt) of the city. Probably the breach referred to was that caused by the ravine, the future Tyropeon, which separated Zion from Moriah and Ophel, and the Millo was the bank or rampart which closed it along the line of the north wall. So Keil, and Pulpit Com. 28. Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. A man of unusual power, and ability, both in war and in peace. Made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. Solomon, i.e., made Jeroboam superintendent of all the forced labor exacted from his tribethe tribe of Ephraim, the son of Joseph- during the time that he was building Millo and fortifying the city of Jerusalem (see 1 Kings 9: 15).— Cook. The tribe of Ephraim, with its constant envy of Judah, must have been mortified to find themselves employed - though it was but in the modified service of Israelites - on the fortifications of Jerusalem. Their murmurings revealed to Jeroboam the unpopularity of Solomon, and perhaps suggested thoughts of overt rebellion to his mind. - Pulpit Com. 29. When Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem: perhaps toward his own home in Ephraim. The prophet Ahijah: perhaps the one who made known to Solomon God's message on account of his sins. The Shilonite: belonging to Shiloh. The prophet Ahijah was of the same tribe as Jeroboam, for Shiloh was in the tribe of Ephraim, north of Bethel, south of Lebonah (Judg. 21: 19), and was the seat of the tabernacle from Joshua to Eli (Josh. 18: 1; 1 Sam. 21: 3). They no doubt knew each other well. - Lange. And he (the prophet) had clad himself with a new garment: probably similar to the Arabian burnos; a large square piece of cloth, thrown over the shoulders and almost covering the whole person in the daytime, and used at night for a coverlet. — Keil. 30. And Ahijah caught the new garment. A new garment is one that is whole and complete, integer, without a rent or hole; the kingdom was hitherto without split or divis 31. And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee. 32. (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel :) 33. Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. 34. Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: 35. But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes. 36. And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David2 my servant may have a light' alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. 37. And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel. Rev. Ver. i. god of Moab; k. and they have; 7. a lamp. 11 Kings 12:16, 17. 2 Kings 8: 19. Ps. 132: 17. 21 Kings 15: 4. ion. Lange. It indicates the newness; i.e., the still young and vigorous condition of the kingdom. Thenius. And rent it in twelve pieces: each piece representing a tribe. 31. Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel. Thus showing plainly to Jeroboam the source from which the gift came, and presenting strong motives for his adhering to the service of God. I will rend the kingdom: as the prophet had rent his mantle. It was done by God because it was according to his providence, and the laws he had made and upheld. And will give ten tribes to thee: all except Judah and Benjamin. 32. But he shall have one tribe. Neither Benjamin nor Judah alone was meant here, or in ver. 13, by "one tribe," but both together (cf. chap. 12: 20, 21, 23; 2 Chron. 11:3. Little Benjamin, over against Judah, came scarcely into consideration; and as, besides, the capital of the kingdom (Jerusalem) lay on the borders of both tribes, they might very well be reckoned as one. Lange. Many of the best people also came into Judah from the ten tribes, but all became absorbed into what was known for ages as the kingdom of Judah, from which our word "Jews" was derived. Levi is not counted in this classification, for it had no tribal territory. 33. Because, etc. See last lesson. IV. Mercy with Judgment. Vers. 34-39. (1) 34. I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand. Although Solomon had so grievously sinned, yet he had not gone wholly astray like Saul, and therefore his punishment was not like Saul's, the loss of the whole kingdom. (2) But I will make him prince all the days of his life. The rending of the kingdom should not take place till after Solomon had died, but in the reign of his son whom he had not trained as a wise man should, and whose folly was in part due to Solomon's polygamy. For David my servant's sake. God had made a solemn covenant with David, and a promise which could not be broken (2 Sam. 7: 10-16). 36. That David my servant may have a light alway before me. The idea is not that of a home (Rawlinson), but family, issue. We speak of the extinction of a family (Bähr). In Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there (2 Sam. 7: 10, 13). David's family never was extinct, for it lives forever in "his greater Son" Jesus, the eternal King. And Jerusalem still exists, and will be completed and rendered eternal in the New Jerusalem, the city of our God. 37. Thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth. We are not justified in concluding from these words that Jeroboam then had ambitious designs upon the throne. - Keil. They rather mean, "as king, all thy desires shall be gratified." - Pulpit Com. It was the putting before him of all the possibilities and hopes the most eager soul could desire, and showing him the one only way in which they could be realized. 38. And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that" is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I1 will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee. 39. And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever. 40. Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And" Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon. 41. And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? 42. And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. 43. And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam" his son reigned in his stead. Rev. Ver.: m. that which is right in mine eyes; n. But; o. Now. 32 Chron. 9: 29. 4 2 Chron. 9: 30. 1 Josh. 1: 5: 52 Chron. 9: 31. 22 Sam. 7:11, 27. 6 Matt. 17. 38. If thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee. The new kingdom could be successful on the same conditions on which David and Solomon had succeeded. And build thee a sure house: secure perpetuity to his family in the kingdom. As he had promised 39. I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever. to David, that "if his son should commit iniquity he would chasten him with the rod of men (2 Sam. 7: 14), a temporal and human punishment. (3) There was mercy, under the circumstances, in the division of the kingdom. The very punishment contained within itself influences which would tend to reform; just as after Adam had sinned in Paradise, it was best for him and his descendants that they should be driven out of Eden, and be condemned to labor with the sweat of the brow. A small kingdom might be held to obedience, when a large one could not. Each of the two kingdoms could learn by the experience of the other, and see clearly in the other what it might fail to see in itself, the fact that success depended on obedience, and failure was the result of disobedience. Thus there were two experiments, two lines of training, and increased hope that one at least would be true. God would have two good kingdoms, small, and not so glorious or influential as one would have been, since the people refused to be loyal and obedient in one. — P. Vers. 40-43. 40. V. Solomon's Death. Solomon sought therefore. This is a continuation of ver. 26, the intervening verses being an explanation of the statement that Jeroboam lifted his hand against Solomon. To kill Jeroboam. It would appear from this passage, combined with ver. 26, that the announcement of Ahijah was followed within a little while by something like overt acts of rebellion on the part of Jeroboam. - Cook. He should have waited, like David in the time of Saul, till Solomon's end had come. If Solomon knew what Ahijah had said to Jeroboam then his course did not show the right feeling toward God. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt. The most natural place of refuge. Probably there was a new dynasty since Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter, and the Egyptians, perceiving the weakening of the kingdom in Solomon's later days, and longing for the immense wealth gathered in his kingdom, were quite willing to welcome any enemy of Solomon. Shishak king of Egypt. Shishak is, beyond doubt, the Sheshonk I. of the monuments, and is the first of the Pharaohs who can be identified with certainty (see Dict. Bib. 3, p. 1288). The date of his accession appears to be somewhere between 988 and 980 B.C. Pulpit Com. 42. Solomon reigned . . . forty years. He must have died when about 60 years old. He forfeited the promise of long life by not fulfilling the conditions. It is somewhat remarkable, but affords no just ground for suspicion, that each of the first three kings of Israel should have reigned just forty years. "Such numerical coincidences occur in exact history. Saosduchinus, Chiniladanus, and Nabopolassar, three consecutive kings of Babylon, reigned each 21 years.". - Rawlinson, in Pulpit Com. DID SOLOMON REPENT? Nothing is said one way or the other, but it does not seem probable that he, with all his wisdom, and with such promises as he had received, should fall |