Solomon: Wisdom and Kingdom Building

1. #16

2. A review from the last lesson • David died Reigned 40 years Lived 70 years • His last charge to Solomon: Be strong and courageous Obey the Lord’s commandments Joab; do not let him go to the grave in peace Barzillai; show kindness to his sons Shimei; bring him down to the grave in blood

3. Adonijah Put To Death1 Kings 2:13-25 • Adonijah wanted Abishag for his wife • Still bitter that he was not king • Went to Bathsheba to get her to ask for Solomon’s permission • Solomon outraged at the request • Saw through the scheme • Knew what it would mean if granted • Benaiah was told to kill Adonijah

4. Abiathar Banished1 Kings 2:26-27 • Abiathar had helped Adonijah • Spared the death sentence • Removed from the priesthood • Fulfilled God’s promise at Shiloh that the priesthood would depart from Eli’s house (1 Sam. 2:13-35) • City of Anathoth became his prison • Zadok made priest - returned the priesthood to the family of Eliezer

5. Joab Put To Death1 Kings 2:28-35 • Joab heard Adonijah was killed and Abiathar banished – he knew his fate! • Took refuge in the tabernacle to plead for mercy • Joab had killed men (Abner and Amasa) who were better than him • Benaiah was told to killed Joab • remember the rule of Ex. 21:14 • Benaiah became commander of the army

6. Shimei Put To Death1 Kings 2:36-46 • Solomon “grounded” Shimei in his house • After 3 years, Shimei violated his parole • Solomon reminded him of his oath to God • Shimei was put to Death • Solomon has now “cleaned house” of his father’s enemies

7. A Treaty With Egypt1 Kings 3:1 • Solomon made treaties • Usually resulted in him marrying a foreign wife – this was not wise (even forbidden) • Used alliances for strength – not God • Solomon/Pharaoh sealed the deal • Solomon would marry his daughter • “Special” house built for her (2 Chron. 8:11) • Pharaoh would give them Gezer (See 1 Kings 9:16)

8. Solomon Asked For Wisdom1 Kings 3:2-15; 2 Chron. 1:1-13 • Israel offered sacrifices in various high places • Solomon offered sacrifices at Gibeon • God: Solomon, what can I give you? • Solomon’s request: • Gave thanks for several things • Asked for wisdom to guide the people • Knowledge of right and wrong • Solomon granted wisdom and riches

9. Two Women And One Baby1 Kings 3:16-28 • Two prostitutes came before Solomon • One claimed: • She gave birth to a child • She said other woman had a child • But, she smothered her own child and swapped the boys • Other woman denied the charges • Solomon, in his wisdom, found out to whom the child really belonged • People were in awe of his wisdom

10. Till There Was No Remedy The Divided Kingdom 1 Kings 12:21-14:18; 2 Chron.11:1 – 12:14

11. Solomon Organizes His Kingdom1 Kings 4:1-28 • Divided the kingdom into 12 districts • Each district had a prince in charge • Each district provided food for one month of the year for the king • Surrounding kings paid him tribute • Prosperity and happiness abounded • Peace in the land • People were “eating, drinking and making merry” • His kingdom was large (See Gen. 15:18)

12. Solomon’s Wisdom1 Kings 4:29-34 • Solomon’s wisdom far exceeded the wise men of his day • Solomon’s fame: • Wrote 3,000 proverbs (wrote most of the book of Proverbs) • 1,005 songs • Wrote: • Song of Solomon • Ecclesiastes • And a couple of psalms

13. The United Kingdom, Part 2 Solomon Builds The Temple 1 Kings 5-7 “Give Us A King”

14. Review… • Solomon “cleaned” house of his father’s enemies • Adonijah killed for asking for one of David’s wives • Abiathar, the priest, demoted and restricted to the city of Anathoth • Joab and Shimei killed • God gave Solomon wisdom and riches

15. Solomon Prepares To Build The Temple1 Kings 5:1-18; 7:13-14; 2 Chron. 2:1-18 • Hiram, king of Tyre, sent congratulations to Solomon • Solomon made a request to Hiram: • I will build a great temple for Jehovah • Send me cedar logs and timber • Our men will work together • I will supply the food for the workers • I need a skilled craftsman to work with metals, lumber and fine cloth

16. Solomon Prepares To Build The Temple1 Kings 5:1-18; 7:13-14; 2 Chron. 2:1-18 • Hiram’s response: • Rejoiced in hearing from Solomon • Would send a skill craftsman whose mother was an Israelite • Would send the lumber needed via rafts • In return, Solomon was to send wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine as compensation

17. Solomon Prepares To Build The Temple1 Kings 5:1-18; 7:13-14; 2 Chron. 2:1-18 • Things went well between the two men • Solomon supplied the food and 30,000 men to work in the mountains • 3,300 supervisors of the work • Solomon figured the number of aliens and put them to work; 70,000 transporters; 80,000 hewers • Stones and timbers prepared • Now ready for the work to begin

18. The Construction of the Temple1 Kings 6:1 - 7:50; 2 Chron. 3:1 - 4:22 • Located on the threshing floor of Araunah • Place where Abraham offered Isaac • Work started • Fourth year of Solomon’s reign • Took 7 years to finish the building • Some features of the tabernacle retained • Remember God’s covenant with them • It was a magnificent structure

19. The Exterior of the Temple • Dimensions • 30 feet wide by 45 feet high by 90 feet deep • Porch was 30 x 45 with two great pillars on each side of the huge doors • Three floors of rooms attached to three sides of the building • No noise made at the site for fashioning the timber and stones

20. The Inside of the Temple • Divided into two rooms • The outer room (30w x 45d x 60h): • Stone walls covered with cedar paneling • Floors covered with pine wood • Floors, walls and ceilings covered with gold plating! • Contained windows, two doors, ten tables and ten lampstands

21. The Inside of the Temple • The inner room (30w x 30d x 30h): • Walls, ceiling and floor covered with gold • Two huge cherubims (15 feet high) • Ark of the covenant placed in front of the cherubims • The wall between the rooms had doors, a veil and a gold chain • The altar of incense located in the inner room, or close to it

22. The Courtyard of the Temple • Surrounded by a wall • Furniture and vessels made of bronze • Great sea of cast bronze • Ten basins of water • Two huge pillars in front of the temple • Many items molded in the clay of the plains of the Jordan

23. The Ark Brought to the Temple1 Kings 8:1-9 • Took 7 years to build the temple (6:37-38) • The ark, with the covenant, and holy vessels brought to the temple during a festival • David’s treasures placed in the temple (7:51) • Countless sacrifices made by the priests • Ark was set in the Most Holy Place under the wings of the two cherubim • Levite singers sang; priests blew trumpets (2 Chron. 5:12-13)

24. Dedication of the Temple1 Kings 8:10-21 • Then, smoke filled the temple • Remember the same effects with the tabernacle, Exodus 40:34-35 • Solomon spoke to the people • He acknowledged God’s presence • Declared the fulfillment of God’s promises • Offered up a very appropriate prayer

25. Solomon’s Prayer1 Kings 8:22-53 • Asked for mercy and intervention of God when people pray toward the temple • Seven situations mentioned: • Oaths when one word against another • In defeat • In drought • In famine • For strangers • In battle • In captivity

26. Solomon Blessed the People1 Kings 8:54-61 • The Lord had given them rest • Not one word of His promise to Moses failed • Let Him not leave us nor forsake us • May He turn our hearts to seek Him always • May God hear our prayer • And, Solomon exhorted them to keep all the commandments of God

27. Special Sacrifices Offered1 Kings 8:62-66 • Then, fire came from heaven and consumed the offerings and sacrifices (2 Chron. 7:1-3) • Remember the same effects with the tabernacle (Lev. 9:23-24) • Large numbers of sacrifices were made • A great celebration took place • People came from all over Canaan • The festival lasted for 7 days in addition to the Feast of the Tabernacles

28. Solomon Builds His Palace Complex1 Kings 7:2-12; 10:18-20 • He built his own house • 150 feet long; 75 feet wide; 45 feet high • Took 13 years to build • Walls made of cut stones; beams, posts and roof made of cedar • He built a courthouse • Throne made of ivory and gold; lions on each armrest and on each side of the six steps (1 Kings 10:18-20 & 2 Chron. 9:17-19) • He built a house for Pharaoh’s daughter

29. God Appears To Solomon1 Kings 9:1-9; 2 Chron. 7:11-22 • God accepted the temple as a house of sacrifice for as long as they: • Humbled themselves, and pray • Seek God and turn from wicked ways • Then, He will hear them, forgive them, and will heal their land • Solomon must walk like his father and keep God’s commandments

30. God Appears To Solomon1 Kings 9:1-9; 2 Chron. 7:11-22 • But, IF • They turn from God, • Forsake God’s commandments, • Go and serve other gods, • Then: • He will cut off Israel from the land, • He will cast this house out of His sight, • He will make it a proverb and byword among all the nations

31. King Hiram Unhappy With Solomon1 Kings 9:10-14; 2 Chron. 8:1-2 • The construction projects took 20 years • Hiram given 20 cities in Galilee as payment for the trees and 4 ½ tons gold • Hiram, displeased, gave the cities back as being worthless • He called the cities “Cabul” (dirty, sandy, dry )

32. Other Works of Solomon1 Kings 9:15-27; 2 Chron. 8:3-10, 17-18 • His building projects continued • Captured, fortified and enlarged several cities • Collected taxes from non-Israelites • Used Israelites for soldiers, servants, officers, commanders, etc. • Operated a navy in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea

33. The High Point in Israel’s History • God had blessed them greatly • Peace was on all sides • The magnificent temple was finished • The people were serving God • Territory was at it’s largest size • Solomon rich beyond comprehension • People were prosperous and happy • Israel, the most powerful nation at the time!

34. The United Kingdom – Part 2Solomon Falls Away From God 1 Kings 10–11 “Give Us A King”

35. The High Point in Israel’s History • God had blessed them greatly • Peace was on all sides • The magnificent temple was finished • The people were serving God • Territory was at it’s largest size • Solomon rich beyond comprehension • People were prosperous and happy • Israel, the most powerful nation at the time!

36. The Wealth of Solomon1 Kings 10:11-12, 14-29; 2 Chron. 9:13-28 • The honor guards had shields of gold • His navy brought in tons of gold from trades, taxes, tributes and fees • Traded horses and chariots • People came from everywhere to: • see his kingdom • to hear his wisdom • to bring gifts

37. The Queen of Sheba1 Kings 10:1-13; 2 Chron. 9:1-12 • Sheba - located in southwestern part of Arabia • The Queen - • Brought spices, gold, and precious stones to Solomon • Tested Solomon’s wisdom • In awe of Solomon’s wealth and wisdom • Solomon gave her gifts as she desired

38. Solomon Falls Away From God1 Kings 11:1-8 • Solomon’s weakness – foreign women • Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, Hittites and the Egyptian wife • Traded for them (sealed treaties) • 700 wives; 300 concubines • His wives turned his heart from the true God • Built altars (high places) for the various gods of surrounding nations to please his wives

39. Solomon Falls Away From God1 Kings 11:9-13 • God was angered with Solomon • He had to know what God’s law – Deut. 7:3-4 • God appeared to him twice • Received warnings from his father, David (1 Kings 2:1-4) • Received warnings from God himself (1 Kings 3:14 and 9:1-9) • Admitted earlier there was only one God (1 Kings 8:60)

40. God’s Anger Against Solomon1 Kings 11:9-13 • God had warned the Israelites about intermarrying with other nations (Deut. 7:3-4) • If they did, they would turn to other gods • Solomon did not heed this warning • God was angry with him • The kingdom would be taken from him • One tribe was left to his son for David’s sake and for Jerusalem’s sake

41. Solomon’s Adversaries1 Kings 11:14-40 • Hadad, an Edomite, was a problem • Son of an Edomite king • Fled to Egypt when all males killed by Joab • Married Pharaoh's sister-in-law • Asked to return to home country • He is ready to rebel against Solomon • Rezon, son of Eliadah, was a problem • Captain over an army in Damascus, Syria • Joined with Hadad in harassing Solomon

42. Solomon’s Adversaries1 Kings 11:14-40 • Jeroboam, son of an Ephrathite, • A mighty man of valor • Ahijah met him leaving Jerusalem • Ahijah tore Jeroboam’s new coat into 12 pieces • He gave Jeroboam ten pieces; he would rule over 10 tribes • One tribe left for Solomon’s son • Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam • He fled to Egypt until Solomon died

43. The Sum of Solomon’s Life –The Four “W’s” • Wisdom • Works • Wealth • Wives

44. The Death of Solomon1 Kings 11:41-43 • Reigned over all Israel for 40 years • Buried in the City of David • He probably died in the age range of 50-59 • 1 Kings 3:7, he said that he was “but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in.” His death ends another period of Bible history.

45. The Kingdom Becomes Divided • Rehoboam, his son, reigned after him • Israel would now become a divided nation • Another of God’s promises is fulfilled

46. Summary • The Story of the Divided Kingdom • And the Prophets of the Period • Will See The Prophets Address Problems in Israel (North) and Judah (South) • Will get a general feel for the kings of North and South

47. All The Prophets Fit After The Kingdom Divided

48. The Kingdom Divides • 1 Kings 12:1-20; 2 Chron.10:1-19 • Judah (Southern Kingdom) – 2 Tribes • Rehoboam – 17 Years (evil) • Israel (Northern Kingdom) – 10 Tribes • Jeroboam – 22 Years (evil)

49. 1 Kings 12 • (1-5) The elders of Israel offer Rehoboam the throne of Israel. • Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king • Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it • Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father

50. 1 Kings 12 • (6-7) The counsel from Rehoboam's older advisors. • Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived • you will be a servant to these people today . . . then they will be your servants forever • (8-11) The counsel from Rehoboam's younger advisors.