Day 134-11

IX - The Reign of Solomon - 985-945 B.C.
A. Solomon's good beginning (3 years)
1. His reign begins - 1 Kings 2:12; 1 Chronicles 29:23-25
2. God was with him - 2 Chronicles 1:1
3. Adonijah, Abithar, Joab killed or removed - 1 Kings 2:13-38
4. Brings Pharaoh's daughter to Jerusalem - 1 Kings 3:1; Psalm 45:1-17
5. His love of the Lord - 1 Kings 3:2-3
6. Sacrifice at Gibeon - 1 Kings 3:4; 2 Chronicles :2-6
7. Asks God for wisdom - 1 Kings 3:5-15; 2 Chronicles 1:7-12
8. Returns to Jerusalem - 2 Chronicles 1:13

{pages 588 - 592}

And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife. And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king. (1 Kings 2:17-18)

I do not get how Bathsheba missed this, Absalom thumbed his nose at his father by going into the concubines left to keep the house.

Gill:

that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife; which was contrary to the law of God, Lev_18:8; which surely Adonijah must have been ignorant of, and Bathsheba likewise; or the one would never have made such a request, nor the other have undertaken to try to obtain it; but perhaps they did not take her to be David's wife, or the marriage to be consummated, because he knew her not: but yet not being returned to her father's house, and being at the dispose of Solomon, prove that she must be a concubine wife, and which became the property of the next heir and successor; see 2Sa_12:8; nor did Adonijah apply to her or her friends; which, if he was really in love with her, he would have done, if at her own or their disposal; but this he knew, that she was solely at the disposal of Solomon, to whom he did not care to apply himself, but makes use of his mother.

Leviticus 18:8 - The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.

How could either of them not know?  Or be aware of something so basic.  Then the question returns to me, what have or am I missing about the Word?  Where have I strayed and/or not studied well?

And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.  (1 Kings 1:3)

affinity - H2859 - A primitive root; to give (a daughter) away in marriage; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage.

My! There it is again! To give a daughter in marriage. It is the father's responsibility to give his daughter to a worthwhile man.

I am sure Pharaoh considered Solomon a *good catch* for his daughter; however, were the Israelites to intermarry with those of the nations around them? No.

Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.  (Deuteronomy 7:3)

That verse is specifically related to the nations that Israel was to rout out of the land, but would seem to be applicable to Egypt as well, seeing they had been delivered from it.

God came to Solomon in a dream and spoke with him.

And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.  (1 Kings 3:15)

In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. (2 Chronicles 1:7)

Solomon asks for and receives, wisdom.

Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?  (1 Chronicles 1:10)

Would that we should ask for, and receive, wisdom from God. O Lord, help us Your people to seek after Your wisdom that we might deal well in this wicked and perverted generation.

Day 133-11

VIII - The Reign of David - 1025-985 B.C. ~ cont.

D. David's last days ~ cont.

8. David's last words

a. Prophetic words - 2 Samuel 23:1-7

b. To Solomon - 1 Kings 2:1-9

9. Death of David (70 years) - 1 Kings 2:10; 1 Chronicles 29:28-30

10. Unclassified Psalms of David - Psalm 37:1-40; 138:1-8

{pages 585 - 588}

Was David being vengeful?

Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.  (1 Kings 2:6 - speaking of Joab)

Gill:

and let not his hoary head go down to the grave in peace; that is, let him not die a natural, but a violent death; and let not his grey hairs be any argument for sparing him, or any reason for delaying the taking of him off, because he would in course die quickly; for he must be now an old man, as old as David, or perhaps older; since he had been his general forty years, even all the time of his reign; see 2Sa_2:13.

Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.  (1 Kings 2:9 - speaking of Shimei)

Gill:

but his hoary head bring thou down to the grave with blood; spare him not on account of his age, but put him to death whensoever he shall be found guilty, let him not die a natural death.

hoar head - H7872 - Feminine of H7869; old age.

• H7869 - From H7867; old age.
• H7867 - A primitive root; properly to become aged, that is, (by implication) to grow gray.

So what happened to Joab and Shimei?

And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.  (1 Kings 2:29)

The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;  And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever. So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.  (1 Kings 2:44-46)

Benaiah - H1141 - From H1129 and H3050; Jah has built; Benajah, the name of twelve Israelites.

• H1129 - A primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively).
• H3050 - Contracted for H3068, and meaning the same; Jah, the sacred name.

In 1st Kings only - Benaiah does not align himself with Adonijah, was not called out by Adonijah, called by David, partook of Solomon's coronation ceremony, served Solomon, slew Joab, placed in a room over the host by Solomon, slew Shimei.

Which reminds me of the eternal King and how He deals with His enemies.

The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  (Matthew 13:41-42)

Day 132-11

VIII - The Reign of David - 1025-985 B.C. ~ cont.

D. David's last days ~ cont.

7. David's instructions and prayer to the assembly convened ~ cont.

c. To Solomon concerning building of temple - 1 Chronicles 28:11-21; Psalm 104:1-35; 124:1-8; 133:1-3; 86:1-17

d. To the assembled people concerning contributions - 1 Chronicles 29:1-9

e. David's thanksgiving and prayer - 1 Chronicles 29:10-19; Psalm 72:1-20

f. The close of the proceedings - 1 Chronicles 29:20-22

{pages 580 - 585}

All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.  (1 Chronicles 28:19)

This verse reminded me of when Moses was given the *blueprint* for the tabernacle.

According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.  (Exodus 25:9)

Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.  (Hebrews 8:5)


I have been pondering over covenants, who is in them, was the new a continuation of the old?  The verse in Hebrews is an echo of Jeremiah 31.  A new covenant, a heavenly home.  Lots to think about.

I thought this verse intriguing:

He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.  (Psalm 104:13)

God keeps the waters in His chambers?


chambers - H5944 - Feminine from H5927; something lofty, that is, a stair way; also a second story room (or even one on the roof); figuratively the sky.

• H5927 - A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or active (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literally and figuratively.

Thought JFB commentary interesting:

Once destructive, these waters are subjected to the service of God’s creatures. In rain and dew from His chambers (compare Psa_104:3), and fountains and streams, they give drink to thirsting animals and fertilize the soil. Trees thus nourished supply homes to singing birds, and the earth teems with the productions of God’s wise agencies,

Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.  (1 Chronicles 29:1)

I think we sometimes lose sight, or I do, that this life is not about me, or what I hope, think, etc.  It is about giving glory to God.  Not just with our words or actions, but our entire beings.  This life is not about accomplishing my goals, but in seeking to fill the goals and plans He has foreordained for me from the foundation of the world.

For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.  (1 Chronicles 29:15)

We have so little time.  O Father, help us Your people to redeem the time you have given us.  Help us Lord to spend our time in a way which causes Your name and all that You are to receive glory and honor.