KINGS
1 KINGS
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 1
ADONIJAH MAKES HIMSELF KING:
1 Now King David was now very old. They covered him with blankets, but he could not keep warm, ADONIJAH MAKES HIMSELF KING:
2 So his servants told him, "We will look for you in finding a young virgin to help you stay warm at night. Then you will be able to stay warm.”
3 So they searched all over Israel for a beautiful young woman. They found Abishag. She was from the town of Shunem. They brought her to the king.
4 The woman was very beautiful. She took care of the king and served him. But the king didn't have sex with her.
5 Adonijah was the son of David and his wife Haggith. He came forward and announced, "I will be king:" So he got chariots and horses ready. He also got 50 men to run in front of him.
6 His father had never disciplined him at any time. His father had never asked him, "Why are you acting the way you do?" Adonijah was also very handsome. Now that Absalom was dead, Adonijah was David's oldest son.
7 Adonijah Conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest. They all agreed to help them become King.
8 But the priest Zadok and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, didn't join Adonijah. The prophet Nathan didn't join him. Shimei and Rei didn't join him. And neither did David's bodyguards.
9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle and fat calves. He sacrificed them at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all of his brothers, the king's sons, and all of the men of Judah who were royal officials.
10 But he didn't invite Benaiah or the prophet Nathan. He didn't invite the special guard or his brother Solomon either.
11 Nathan spoke to Solomon's mother Bathsheba. He asked, "Haven't you heard? Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has made himself king. And King David doesn't even know about it.
12 So, if you want to save your life and the life of your son Solomon, listened to my counsel.
13 Go at once to see King David. Say to him, 'You are my king and master(adoni). You swore to me as your wife that my son Solomon would rain after you and he shall sit on your throne. Why has Adonijah become king?'
14 While you are still talking to the king, I'll come in. I'll tell him that what you have said is true."
15 So Bathsheba went to see the old king in his room. Abishag, the Shunammite, was taking care of him there.
16 Bathsheba bowed low. She got down on her knees in front of the king. "What do you want?" the king asked.
17 She said to him, "My lord(adoni), you swore to me; in the name of the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos). You promised me, 'Your son Solomon will be king after me. He will sit on my throne.'
18 But now Adonijah has made himself king. And you don't even know about it.
19 He has sacrificed many cattle, fat calves and sheep. He has invited all of the king's sons. He has also invited the priest Abiathar and Joab, the commander of the army. But he hasn't invited your son Solomon.
20 You are my king and master(adoni). All of the people of Israel are watching to see what you will do. They want to find out from you who will sit on the throne after you.
21 If you do not act, I and my son Solomon will be treated like criminals. That will happen as soon as you are dead."
22 While she was still speaking with the king, the prophet Nathan arrived.
23 The king was told, "The prophet Nathan is here." So Nathan went to the king. He bowed down with his face toward the ground.
24 Nathan said, "You are my king and lord(adoni). Have you announced that Adonijah will be king after you? Have you said he will sit on your throne?
25 Today he has sacrificed large numbers of cattle, fat calves and sheep. He has invited all of the king's sons. He has also invited the commanders of the army and the priest Abiathar. Even now they are eating and drinking with him. They are saying, 'Long live King Adonijah.!'
26 But he didn't invite me. He didn't invite the priest Zadok or Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada. He didn't invite your son Solomon either.
27 King David, have you allowed all of that to happen? Did you do it without letting us know about it? Why didn't you tell us who is going to sit on your throne after you?"
DAVID MAKES SOLOMON KING :
28 King David said, "Call Bathsheba to come in." So she came and stood in front of the king.29 And the king swore and said, "The LORD(Jesus) has saved me from all of my troubles. You can be sure that he lives.
30 And you can be just as sure that I will do today what I promised in the name of the LORD(Jesus). He is the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel. I promised you that your son Solomon would be king after me. He will sit on my throne in my place."
31 Then Bathsheba bowed low with her face toward the ground. She got down on her knees in front of the king. She said, "King David, you are my lord(adoni). May you live forever!"
32 King David said, "Tell the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan to come in. Also tell Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, to come." So they came to the king.
33 He said to them, "Take my officials with you. Put my son Solomon on my own mule. Take him down to the Gihon spring.
34 Have the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan anoint him as king over Israel there. Blow the shofar(trumpet). Shout, 'Long live King Solomon!'
35 Then come back up to the city with him. Have him sit on my throne. He will rule in my place. I've appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah."
36 Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, answered the king. "Amen!" he said. "May the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos) make it come true.
37 You are my king and master. The LORD(Jesus) has been with you. May he also be with Solomon. King David, may the LORD(Jesus) make Solomon's kingdom even greater than yours!"
38 So the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan left the palace. Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, went with them. So did the Kerethites and Pelethites. They put Solomon on King David's mule. And they brought him down to the Gihon spring.
39 The priest Zadok had gotten a horn that was filled with olive oil. He had taken it from the Tabernacle. He anointed Solomon with the oil. The shofar was blown. All of the people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!"
40 Then they went up toward the city. Solomon was leading the way. The people were playing flutes. They were filled with great joy. The ground shook because of all of the noise.
41 Adonijah and all of his guests heard it. They were just finishing their meal. Joab heard the sound of the trumpet. So he asked, "What does all of that noise in the city mean?"
42 While Joab was still speaking, Jonathan arrived. Jonathan was the son of the priest Abiathar. Adonijah said, "Come in. I have respect for you. You must be bringing good news."
43 "No! I'm not!" Jonathan answered. "Our master(adoni) King David has made Solomon king.
44 David sent the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan along with Solomon. He also sent Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, with him. He sent the Kerethites and Pelethites with him too. They put him on the king's mule.
45 They took him down to the Gihon spring. There the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan anointed him as king. Now they've gone back up to the city. They were cheering all the way. The city is filled with the sound of it. That's the noise you hear.
46 "And that's not all. Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.
47 All of the Kings officials came to bless our master(adoni) King David and said, “ may God make the name of Solomon even greater than your name and make his throne greater than your throne.” and the King out of said in worship as he lay in his bed.
48 He said, 'I praise the LORD(Jesus). He is the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel. He has let me live to see my son sitting on my throne today as the next king.' "
49 When all of Adonijah's guests heard that, they were terrified and he got up and ran away.
50 Adonijah was afraid of what Solomon might do to him. So he went and grabbed hold of the horns that stuck out from the upper corners of the altar for burnt offerings.
51 Then Solomon was told, "King Solomon, Adonijah is afraid of you. He's holding onto the horns of the altar. He says, 'I want King Solomon to take an oath today. I want him to promise that he won't kill me with his sword.' "
52 Solomon replied, "Let him show that he's a man people can respect. Then not even one hair on his head will fall to the ground. But if I find out he's done something evil, he will die."
53 King Solomon got some men to bring Adonijah down from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon. Solomon said, "Go on home."
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 2
DAVID DIES; SOLOMON BECOMES KING:
The charge recorded here was given to Solomon just before his death and is different from the farewell address delivered in public some time before (1 Chronicles 28:2-9). It is introduced with great solemnity.
2 "I'm About to go to my grave in the ground and rest there like everyone else on earth must someday go. So be strong. Show how brave you are. This counsel is similar to the apostolic direction (1 Corinthians 16:13) and refers to the fortitude or strength of mind that was required to discharge the onerous functions of king.
3 Observe everything the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos) requires. Live a godly life. Obey his orders and Commandmentss. Keep his laws and regulations. Do everything that is written in the Law of Moses, so you may prosper in everything you do. You will succeed everywhere you go.
that is, the divine law in all its ceremonial as well as moral requirements. But particular reference was intended to its political institutions, as it was only by strictly maintaining the conduct that became the Hebrew monarch (Deuteronomy 17:10-20), that he would secure the blessing of peace and prosperity to his reign
4 The LORD(Jesus) will keep His word He made to me. He said, ' if your descendents carefully live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul. Then you will always have a man sitting on the throne of Israel.'
a man on the throne of Israel--a reference to the promise made to David of the sovereignty being vested perpetually in his lineage (2 Samuel 7:11-16), which was confirmed to Solomon afterwards (see 1 Kings 9:5), and repeated with reference to its spiritual meaning long after (Jeremiah 33:17).This promise that God gave to David is unconditional, and again goes to prove the identity of Israel today. The British Crown is the modern day fulfillment of this promise.
5 You yourself know what Joab, the son of Zeruiah, did to me. You know that he killed Abner, the son of Ner, and Amasa, the son of Jether. They were the two commanders in the army of Israel. He murdered them in a time of peace. It wasn't a time of war. Joab spilled the blood of Abner and Amasa. It stained the belt that was around his waist. It also stained the sandals on his feet.
6 Do with him as your wisdom dictates. So I leave him in your hands. Just don't let him live to become an old man. Don't let him die peacefully.
7 But be kind to the sons of Barzillai from Gilead. Provide all their needs. They were faithful to me when I had to run away from your brother Absalom.
8 Don't forget Shimei, the son of Gera. He's still around. He's from Bahurim in the territory of Benjamin. He called down bitter curses on me. He did it on the day I went to Mahanaim. Later, he came down to welcome me at the Jordan River. At that time I took an oath in the name of the LORD(Jesus). I promised Shimei, 'I won't put you to death with my sword.'
9 But now I want you to think of him as guilty. You are wise. You will know what to do to him. Don't let him live to become an old man. Put him to death."
10 David died and joined the members of his family who had already died. His body was buried in the City of David.
about six months after the coronation of Solomon (compare 2 Samuel 5:5, with 1 Chronicles 29:27). The interval was spent in developing his ideas and plans for the future glory of the kingdom and providing for the permanent worship of God within the precincts of cities. Jerusalem, however, formed an exception; and yet, even there, the privilege was reserved chiefly for the royal family (Acts 2:29). Tradition says that the bones of David repose on Mount Zion, and the minaret of a small mosque points out the spot which tradition has fixed. His was a noble, a wondrous, and a humbling history. He was a good man, yet his life was deformed by various crimes of a very gross character. But there were many bright and noble traits in his character; he was an earnest lover of the divine law; his reign was signalized by many important services that contributed to the glory of God and the exaltation of His kingdom; and his name, as the sweet Psalmist of Israel, will be held in honor to the latest age of the Church.(Jamieson)
11 He ruled Israel for 40 years. He ruled for seven years in Hebron. Then he ruled for 33 years in Jerusalem.
12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David. His position as king was made secure.
13 Adonijah was the son of David's wife Haggith. He went to Bathsheba. She was Solomon's mother. She asked Adonijah, "Have you come in peace?" He answered, "Yes. I've come in peace."
14 He added: "I want to ask you something." She replied: “Go ahead."
15 He replied, "As you know, the kingdom was once mine. The whole nation of Israel thought of me as their king. But now things have changed. The kingdom belongs to my brother. The LORD(Jesus) has given it to him.
16 But I have a favor to ask of you. Don't say no to me." And she replied, “what is it that you ask?”
17 He said, "Please ask King Solomon for a favor. He won't say no to you. Ask him to give me Abishag from Shunem to be my wife."
This is a cunning request that he is making to Bathsheba. The person who sleeps (has sex) with one of the king's wives would be viewed by the people as the right King! Bathsheba is fooled because as a wife of David, she was probably happy to see the young girl away from her site!
18 "OK," Bathsheba replied. "I'll speak to the king for you." 19 So Bathsheba went to King Solomon. She went to him to speak for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her. He bowed down to her. Then he sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for his mother. She sat down on his right side.
20 "I have one small favor to ask of you," she said. "Don't say no to me." The king replied, "Mother, go ahead and ask. I won't say no to you."
21 She said, "Let your brother Adonijah get married to Abishag, the Shunammite."
22 King Solomon answered, "Why are you asking for Abishag, the Shunammite, for Adonijah? You just as well ask me to give him the whole kingdom! After all, he's my older brother. And he doesn't want the kingdom only for himself. He also wants it for the priest Abiathar and for Joab, the son of Zeruiah."
23 Then King Solomon swore by the name of the LORD(Jesus). He said, "Adonijah will pay with his life because of what he has asked for. If he doesn't, may God(Elohim/Theos) punish me greatly.
24 The LORD(Jesus) has made my position as king secure. I'm sitting on the throne of my father David. The LORD(Jesus) has built a royal house for me, just as he promised. You can be sure that the LORD(Jesus) lives. And you can be just as sure that Adonijah will die today!”
25 So King Solomon ordered to Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada and he struck Adonijah down. And Adonijah died.
26 The king spoke to the priest Abiathar. He said, "Go to your fields in Anathoth. You should really be put to death but I won't do it now only because you carried the ark of the LORD(Jesus) and King. You did it for my father David. You shared all of his hard times."
27 So Solomon would not let Abiathar serve as a priest of the LORD(Jesus) anymore. That's how the message the LORD(Jesus) had spoken at Shiloh came true. He had spoken it about the family of Eli.
28 News of what Solomon had done reached Joab. Joab had any evil plans with Absalom, but he had joined with Adonijah. So he ran to the tent of the LORD(Jesus). He took hold of the horns that stuck out from the upper corners of the altar for burnt offerings.
29 King Solomon was told that Joab had run to the tent. He was also told that Joab was by the altar. Then Solomon gave the order to Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada. He told him, "Go! Strike him dead!"
30 So Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD(Jesus). He said to Joab, "The king says, 'Come on out!'” Joab answered, "No. I will die here." Benaiah told the king what Joab had said to him.
31 Then the king commanded him, "Do what he asks. Strike him dead. Bury his body. Then I and my family won't be held accountable for the blood Joab spilled. He killed people who weren't guilty of doing anything wrong.
32 The LORD(Jesus) will pay him back for the blood he spilled. Joab attacked two men. He killed them with his sword. And my father David didn't even know anything about it. "Joab killed Abner, the son of Ner. Abner was the commander of Israel's army. Joab also killed Amasa, the son of Jether. Amasa was the commander of Judah's army. Abner and Amasa were better men than Joab is. They were more honest than he is.
33 May Joab and his children after him be held forever accountable for spilling the blood of Abner and Amasa. "But may David and his children after him enjoy the LORD(Jesus)'s peace and rest forever. May the LORD(Jesus) also give his peace to David's royal house and kingdom forever."
34 So Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, went up to the LORD(Jesus)'s tent. There he struck Joab down. And he killed him. Joab's body was buried on his own land in the desert.
35 The king put Benaiah in charge of the army. Benaiah took Joab's place. The king also put the priest Zadok in Abiathar's place.
36 Then the king sent for Shimei. He said to him, "Build you house in Jerusalem. Live there. Don't go anywhere else.
37 You must not leave the city and go across the Kidron Valley. If you do, you can be sure you will die and it will be your own fault."
38 Shimei replied to the king, "You are my king and master. What you say is good. I'll do it." Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time.
39 Three years after Solomon had talked with Shimei, two of Shimei's slaves ran off. They went to Achish, the king of Gath. He was the son of Maacah. Shimei was told, "Your slaves are in Gath."
40 When Shimei heard that, he put a saddle on his donkey. Then he went to Achish at Gath to look for his slaves. Shimei found them and brought them back from Gath.
41 Solomon was told that Shimei had left Jerusalem. He was told he had gone to Gath and had returned.
42 So the king sent for Shimei. He said to him, "Didn't I make you take an oath in the name of the LORD(Jesus)? Didn't I warn you? I said, 'You must not leave the city and go somewhere else. If you do, you can be sure you will die.' At that time you said to me, 'What you say is good. I'll obey your command.'
43 So why didn't you keep your oath to the LORD(Jesus)? Why didn't you obey the command I gave you?
44 You know all of the wrong things you did to my father David. In your heart you know them. Now the LORD(Jesus) will pay you back for what you did.
45 But I will be blessed. The LORD(Jesus) will make David's kingdom secure forever."
46 Then the king gave the order to Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada who left the palace and struck Shimei down and killed him.
So the kingdom was now made secure in Solomon's hands.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 3
SOLOMON MARRIES PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER
1 Solomon made and alliance with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and married one of Pharoah's daughters. He brought her to the City of David. She stayed there until he finished building his palace, the LORD(Jesus)'s temple, and the wall around Jerusalem.
3 Solomon showed his love for the LORD(Jesus). He did it by obeying the laws his father David had taught him. But Solomon offered sacrifices at the high places. He also burned incense there.
4 The King went to the city of Gibeon to offer sacrifices. That's where the most important high place was. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on the altar that was there.
5 The LORD(Jesus) appeared to Solomon at Gibeon. He spoke to him in a dream during the night. God(Elohim/Theos) said, "Ask for anything you want me to give you."
SOLOMON ASKS FOR WISDOM:
6 Solomon replied, "You have been wonderfully kind to your servant David, my father because he was faithful to you. He did what was righteous. His heart was honest. And you have continued to be very kind to him. You have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
7 LORD(Jesus) my God(Elohim/Theos), you have now made me king. You have put me in the place of my father David. But I'm only a little child. I don't know how to carry out my duties.
8 I'm here among the people you have chosen. They are a great nation. They are more than anyone can count.
9 So give me a heart that understands so I can rule over your people and know the difference between right and wrong. Who can possibly rule over this great nation of yours?"
10 The LORD(Jesus) was pleased with what Solomon had asked for.
11 So God(Elohim/Theos) said to him: You have not asked for a long life, nor have you asked to be wealthy. You have not even asked to have your enemies killed. Instead, you have asked for understanding. You want to do what is right and fair when you judge people. Because that is what you have asked for,
12 I will give it to you. I will give you a wise and understanding heart. So here is what will be true of you. There has never been anyone like you. And there never will be.
13 And that is not all. I will give you what you also what you have not asked for. I will give you riches and honor. As long as you live, no other king will be as great as you are.
14 Live the way I want you to. Obey my laws and Commandmentss, just as your father David did. Then I will let you live for a long time.
15 Solomon woke up. He realized he had been dreaming. He returned to Jerusalem. He stood in front of the ark of the LORD(Jesus)'s covenant. He sacrificed burnt offerings and friendship offerings. Then he gave a big dinner for all of his officials.
SOLOMON JUDGES WISELY:
16 Some time later, two prostitutes came to the king. They stood in front of him.17 One of them said, "My master(adoni), this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me.
18 Three days after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone. There wasn't anyone in the house but the two of us.
19 During the night this woman's baby died. It happened because she was lying on top of him.
20 So she got up in the middle of the night. She took my son from my side while I was asleep. She put him by her breast. Then she put her dead son by my breast.
21 The next morning, I got up to nurse my son. But he was dead! I looked at him closely in the morning light. And I saw that it wasn't my baby."
22 The other woman said, "No! The living baby is my son. The dead one belongs to you." The first woman cried out, "No! The dead baby is yours. The living one belongs to me." So they argued in front of the king.
23 The king said, "One of you says, 'My son is alive. Your son is dead.' The other one says, 'No! Your son is dead. Mine is alive.' "
24 So Bring me a sword." So a sword was brought to him.
25 Then he gave an order. He said, "Cut the living child in two. Give half to one woman and half to the other."
26 The woman whose son was alive was filled with deep concern for her son. She said to the king, "My master(adoni), please give her the living baby! Don't kill him!" But the other woman said, "Neither one of us will have him. Cut him in two!"
27 Then the king made his decision. He said, "Give the living baby to the first woman. Don't kill him. She's his mother."
28 All of the people of Israel heard about the decision the king had given. That gave them great respect for him. They saw that God(Elohim/Theos) had given him wisdom. They knew that Solomon would do what was right and fair when he judged people.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 4
1 So King Solomon was king over all Israel.
4 Benaiah was the commander in chief. He was the son of Jehoiada. Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
5 Azariah was in charge of the local officials. He was the son of Nathan. Zabud was a priest. He was the king's personal officer and advisor. He was the son of Nathan.
6 Ahishar was in charge of the palace. Adoniram was in charge of those who were forced to work for the king. He was the son of Abda.
THE CALENDAR WITH 12 MONTHS!
7 Solomon also had 12 local governors over the whole land of Israel. They provided supplies for the king and the royal family. Each governor had to provide supplies for one month out of each year.
This is overlooked by most everyone who thinks that the true Hebrew calendar sometimes contains 13 months. Notice there is not 13th governor listed here! More proof again that the calendar given by Moses and followed by the ancients all away to the Babylonian captivity had only 12—30 day months!
8 Here are their names and areas. Ben-Hur's area was the hill country of Ephraim.
9 Ben-Deker's area was Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh and Elon Bethhanan.
10 Ben-Hesed's area was Arubboth. Socoh and the whole land of Hepher were included in his area.
11 Ben-Abinadab's area was Naphoth Dor. He got married to Solomon's daughter Taphath.
12 Baana's area was Taanach, Megiddo and the whole territory of Beth Shan. Beth Shan was next to Zarethan below Jezreel. Baana's area reached from Beth Shan all the way to Abel Meholah. It also went across to Jokmeam. Baana was the son of Ahilud.
13 Ben-Geber's area was Ramoth Gilead. The settlements of Jair, the son of Manasseh, were included in his area in Gilead. The area of Argob in Bashan was also included. That area had 60 large cities that had high walls around them. The city gates were made secure with heavy bronze bars.
14 Ahinadab's area was Mahanaim. He was the son of Iddo.
15 Ahimaaz's area was Naphtali. He had gotten married to Basemath. She was Solomon's daughter.
16 Baana's area was Asher and Aloth. He was the son of Hushai.
17 Jehoshaphat's area was Issachar. He was the son of Paruah.
18 Shimei's area was Benjamin. He was the son of Ela.
19 Geber's area was Gilead. He was the only governor over the area. He was the son of Uri. Gilead had been the country of Sihon and Og. Sihon had been king of the Amorites. Og had been king of Bashan.
20 The people of Judah and Israel were as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. They ate, drank and were happy.
21 Solomon ruled over all of the nations from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines. He ruled as far as the border of Egypt. All of those countries brought the gifts he required them to bring him. And Solomon ruled over those countries for his whole life.
22 Here are the supplies Solomon required every day.
185 bushels of fine flour
375 bushels of meal 23 ten head of cattle that had been fed by hand
20 head of cattle that had been fed on grasslands
100 sheep and goats
deer, antelopes and roebucks
the finest birds
24 Solomon ruled over all of the nations that were west of the Euphrates River. He ruled from Tiphsah all the way to Gaza. And he had peace and rest on every side.
25 While Solomon was king, Judah and Israel lived in safety. They were secure from Dan all the way to Beersheba. Each man had his own vine and fig tree.
26 Solomon had 4,000 spaces where he kept his chariot horses. He had a total of 12,000 horses.
27 The local officials provided supplies for King Solomon. They provided them for all who ate at the king's table. Each official provided supplies for one month every year. The officials made sure the king had everything he needed.
28 They also brought the barley and straw that was necessary for the royal horses in the stables
SOLOMON BECOMES WISE:
29 God(Elohim/Theos) gave Solomon great wisdom. His understanding was unmeasurable. It was like the sand on the seashore. People can't measure that either.30 Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all of the people of the east. It was greater than all of the wisdom of Egypt.
31 Solomon was wiser than any other man. He was wiser than Ethan, the Ezrahite. He was wiser than Heman, Calcol and Darda. They were the sons of Mahol. Solomon became famous in all of the nations that were around him.
32 He spoke 3,000 proverbs. He wrote 1,005 songs.
33 He could speak with authority about every kind of plant, from the cedar trees in Lebanon to the hyssop plants that grow out of walls. He taught about animals and birds. He also taught about reptiles and fish.
34 The kings of all of the world's nations heard about how wise Solomon was. So they sent their people to listen to him.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 5
SOLOMON BUILDS THE TEMPLE:
1 Hiram,Sent his servants to Solomon because he had heard that they had anointed him king the king after his father David. Hiram had always been David's friend. So Hiram sent his messengers to Solomon.2 Then Solomon sent a message back to Hiram. It said,
3 "As you know,David-my father, had to fight many battles. His enemies attacked him from every side. So he couldn't build a temple where the LORD(Jesus) his God(Elohim/Theos) would put his Name. That wouldn't be possible until the LORD(Jesus) had put his enemies under his control.
4 But now the LORD(Jesus) my God(Elohim/Theos) has given me peace and rest on every side. We don't have any enemies. And we don't have any other major problems either.
5 So I'm planning to build a temple to honor the Name of the LORD(Jesus) my God(Elohim/Theos). That's what he told my father David he wanted me to do. He said, 'I will put your son on the throne in your place. He will build a temple. I will put my Name there.'
6 So give your men orders to cut down cedar trees in Lebanon for me. My men will work along side with your men. I'll pay you for your men's work. I'll pay any amount you decide on. As you know, we don't have anyone who is as skilled in cutting down trees as the men of Sidon are."
7 When Hiram heard Solomon's message, he was very pleased. He said, "May the LORD(Jesus) be praised today. He has given David a wise son to rule over that great nation."
8 So Hiram sent a message to Solomon. It said, "I have received your message. I will do everything you ask and I will provide the cedar and pine logs.
The contract was drawn out formally in a written document (2 Chronicles 2:11), which, according to JOSEPHUS, was preserved both in the Jewish and Tyrian records.
9 My men will bring them from Lebanon down to the (Mediterranean) Sea. I'll make them into rafts. I'll float them to the place you want me to. When the rafts arrive, I'll separate the logs from each other. Then you can take them away. And here's all I want in return: Provide food for all of the people in my palace."
10 So Hiram supplied Solomon with all of the cedar and pine logs he wanted.
11 Solomon gave Hiram an annual payment of 100,000 bushels of wheat as food for the people in his palace. He also gave him 115,000 gallons of oil that was made from pressed olives.
This was an annual supply for the palace, different from that mentioned in 2 Chronicles 2:10, which was for the workmen in the forests.
12 The LORD(Jesus) made Solomon wise, just as he had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon. The two of them made a peace treaty.
13 King Solomon drafted men from all over Israel to work hard for him. There were 30,000 of them.
The renewed notice of Solomon's divine gift of wisdom (1 Kings 5:12) is evidently introduced to prepare for this record of the strong but prudent measures he took towards the accomplishment of his work. So great a stretch of arbitrary power as is implied in this compulsory levy would have raised great discontent, if not opposition, had not his wise arrangement of letting the laborers remain at home two months out of three, added to the sacredness of the work, reconciled the people to this forced labor. The carrying of burdens and the irksome work of excavating the quarries was assigned to the remnant of the Canaanites (1 Kings 9:20, 2 Chronicles 8:7-9) and war prisoners made by David--amounting to 153,600. The employment of persons of that condition in Eastern countries for carrying on any public work, would make this part of the arrangements the less thought of. (Jamieson)
14 He sent them off to Lebanon in groups of 10,000 each month. They spent one month in Lebanon. Then they spent two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the people who were forced to work.
15 Solomon had 70,000 people who carried things. He had 80,000 who cut stones in the hills.
16 and 3,600 men foremen to direct the workers.
17 At the king's command, they brought huge stones, costly stones in fact and shape them into blocks to provide a foundation for the temple.
The stone of Lebanon is "hard, calcareous, whitish and sonorous, like free stone" [SHAW]. The same white and beautiful stone can be obtained in every part of Syria and Palestine.
18 Solomon's workmen and Hiram's builders cut the logs and and shaped the stones. They would later be used in building the temple. The people of Byblos helped the workers.
These great bevelled or grooved stones, measuring some twenty, others thirty feet in length, and from five to six feet in breadth, are still seen in the substructures about the ancient site of the temple; and, in the judgment of the most competent observers, were those originally employed "to lay the foundation of the house."
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 6
THE TEMPLE:
1 480 years after the people of Israel had come out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's rule over Israel, Solomon began to build the Temple of the LORD(Jesus). He started in the second month. That was the month of Ziv. Zif or Ziv: The second month of the calendar. Literally from the root word meaning the month of flowers (in early spring early summer). Late-April in our calendar. This sentence was most probably inserted by EZRA and not Samuel because naming of the months did not start until after the Babylonian captivity.
2 The house King Solomon built for the LORD(Jesus) was 90 feet long. It was 30 feet wide. And it was 45 feet high.
The dimensions are given in cubits, which are to be reckoned according to the early standard (2 Chronicles 3:3), or holy cubit (Ezekiel 40:5, 43:13), a handbreadth longer than the common or later one. It is probable that the internal elevation only is here stated.
3 The porch of the Temple was in front of the main hall. The porch was as wide as the temple itself. It was 30 feet wide. It came out 15 feet from the front of the temple.
4 He (Solomon) made narrow windows high up in the temple walls.
5 Against the wall of the House, he built the walls of the outer hall and all away around the house.
On three sides, there were chambers in three stories, each story wider than the one beneath it, as the walls were narrowed or made thinner as they ascended, by a rebate being made, on which the beams of the side floor rested, without penetrating the wall. These chambers were approached from the right-hand side, in the interior of the under story, by a winding staircase of stone, which led to the middle and upper stories. (Jamieson)
6 The building was three stories high, the bottom floor being 7 1/2 feet wide, the second floor 9 feet wide, and the top floor 10 1/2 feet wide. The rooms were connected to the walls of the Temple by beams resting on ledges built out from the wall. So the beams were not inserted into the walls themselves.
7 All of the stones that were used for building the temple were shaped where they were cut. So hammers, chisels and other iron tools couldn't be heard where the temple was being built.
A subterranean quarry has been very recently discovered near Jerusalem, where the temple stones are supposed to have been hewn. There is unequivocal evidence in this quarry that the stones were dressed there; for there are blocks very similar in size, as well as of the same kind of stone, as those found in the ancient remains. Thence, probably, they would be moved on rollers down the Tyropean valley to the very side of the temple [PORTER, Tent and Kahn].
8 The entrance to the first floor was on the south side of the temple. A stairway led up to the second floor. From there it went on up to the third floor.
9 So he (Solomon) built the temple and finished it. He made its roof out of beams and cedar boards. 10 He built side rooms all along the temple. Each room was seven and a half feet high. They were joined to the temple by cedar beams.
11 The Word of the LORD(Jesus) came to Solomon saying”
probably by a prophet. It was very seasonable, being designed: first, to encourage him to go on with the building, by confirming anew the promise made to his father David (2 Samuel 7:12-16); and secondly, to warn him against the pride and presumption of supposing that after the erection of so magnificent a temple, he and his people would always be sure of the presence and favor of God. The condition on which that blessing could alone be expected was expressly stated. The dwelling of God among the children of Israel refers to those symbols of His presence in the temple, which were the visible tokens of His spiritual relation to that people. (Jamieson)
12 Concerning this house, which you are building, if you follow my decrees. Keep my Laws. Obey all of my Commandments. Then I will make the promise I gave your father David come true. I will do it through you.
13 I will live among my people Israel. I will never leave them.
14 So Solomon built the temple and finished it.
15 He put cedar boards on its inside walls. He covered them from floor to ceiling. He covered the temple floor with pine boards.
16 He put up a wall 30 feet from the back of the house (temple). He made it with cedar boards from floor to ceiling. That formed a room inside the temple. It was the Most Holy Place [Room].
In this entire chapter, God calls the Temple a “house.” It was the people's Temple, but God's House!
17 The main hall in front of the room was 60 feet long.
18 The inside of the temple was covered with cedar wood. Gourds and open flowers were carved on the wood. Everything was cedar. There wasn't any stone showing anywhere.
19 He prepared the Most Holy Place inside the house. That's where the ark of the covenant of the LORD(Jesus) would be placed.
20 The Most Holy Place was 30 feet long. It was 30 feet wide. And it was 30 feet high. Solomon covered the inside of it with pure gold. He prepared the cedar altar for burning incense. He covered it with gold.
The Most Holy Place, or The Holy of Holies, is a room at the rear of the Temple that stored the Ark and could only be entered once a year on the Day of Atonement by the High Priest. At Jesus' death, the curtain (veil) that departed this room from the rest of the Temple was ripped wide open and all the people could see that there was no presence of God OR THE ARK! God laid bare, the lying pens of the scribes for all to see!
21 So Solomon covered the inside of the main hall with pure gold. He placed gold chains across the front of the Most Holy Place. That room was covered with gold.
22 So Solomon covered the inside of the whole house with gold. He also covered the altar for burning incense with gold. It was right in front of the Most Holy Place.
23 For the Most Holy Room Solomon made a pair of cherubim. He made them out of olive wood. Each cherub was 15 feet high.
24 One wing of the first cherub was seven and a half feet long. The other wing was also seven and a half feet long. So the wings measured 15 feet from tip to tip.
25 The second cherub's wings also measured 15 feet from tip to tip. The two cherubim had the same size and shape.
26 Each cherub was 15 feet tall.
27 He set the cherubim inside the Most Holy Room in the house. Their wings were spread out. The wing tip of one cherub touched one wall. The wing tip of the other touched the other wall. The tips of their wings touched each other in the middle of the room.
28 He overlaid the cherubim with gold.
29 On the walls that were all around the temple he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers. He carved them on the walls of the Most Holy Room and the main hall.
30 He also covered the floors of those two rooms with gold.
31 For the entrance to the Most Holy Place he made two doors out of olive wood. Each doorpost had five sides.
32 The two olive wood doors he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers. He covered the cherubim and palm trees with hammered gold.
33 In the same way he made olive wood doorposts for the entrance to the main hall. Each doorpost had four sides.
34 He also made two pine doors. Each door had two parts. They turned in bases that were shaped like cups.
35 He carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers on the doors. He overlaid the doors with gold. He hammered the gold evenly over the carvings.
36 He used blocks of stone to build a wall around the inside courtyard. The first three layers of the wall were made out of stone. The top layer was made out of beautiful cedar wood.
37 The foundation of the LORD(Jesus)'s temple was laid in Solomon's fourth year. It was in the month of Ziv.
38 The temple was finished in his 11th year. It was in the month of Bul. That was the eighth month. Everything was finished just as the plans required. Solomon had spent seven years building the temple.
Bul: the eighth Hebrew month, corresponding to modern Oct-Nov .. Also probably inserted by Ezra.
Notes by Jamieson:
15-21. he built the walls of the house within--The walls were wainscotted with cedar-wood; the floor, paved with cypress planks; the interior was divided (by a partition consisting of folding doors, which were opened and shut with golden chains) into two apartments--the back or inner room, that is, the most holy place, was twenty cubits long and broad; the front, or outer room, that is, the holy place, was forty cubits. The cedar-wood was beautifully embellished with figures in relievo, representing clusters of foliage, open flowers, cherubims, and palm trees. The whole interior was overlaid with gold, so that neither wood nor stone was seen; nothing met the eye but pure gold, either plain or richly chased.
31-35. for the entering of the oracle--The door of the most holy place was made of solid olive tree and adorned with figures. The door of the holy place was made of cypress wood, the sides being of olive wood.
1 Kings 6:37,38. THE TIME TAKEN TO BUILD IT
39 In the fourth year was the foundation laid--The building was begun in the second month of the fourth year and completed in the eighth month of the eleventh year of Solomon's reign, comprising a period of seven and a half years, which is reckoned here in round numbers. It was not a very large, but a very splendid building, requiring great care, and ingenuity, and division of labor.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 7
SOLOMON'S PALACE:
1 But it took Solomon 13 years to finish constructing his own house.2 He built his house of the Forest of Lebanon. It was 150 feet long. It was 75 feet wide. And it was 45 feet high. It had four rows of cedar columns. They held up beautiful cedar beams.
3 Above the beams was a roof that was made out of cedar boards. It rested on the columns. There were three rows of beams with 15 in each row. The total number of beams was 45.
4 The windows of his house were placed high up in the walls. They were in groups of three. And they faced each other.
5 All of the doorways had frames that were shaped like rectangles. They were in front. They were in groups of three. And they faced each other.
6 He also made a porch with pillars. It was 75 feet long. And it was 45 feet wide. Its roof was held up by columns. In front of that were pillars and a roof that went out beyond them.
7 He then made the room for his Throne.. It was called the Hall of Justice. That's where he would serve as judge. He covered the hall with cedar boards from floor to ceiling.
8 The palace where he would live was set farther back. Its plan was something like the plan for the hall. Solomon had gotten married to Pharaoh's daughter. He made a palace for her. It was like the hall.
9 All of the buildings were made out of blocks of fine stone. They were cut to the right size. They were shaped with a saw on the back and front sides. Those stones were used for the outside of each building and for the large courtyard. They were also used from the foundations up to the roofs.
10 Large blocks of very fine stone were used for the foundations. Some were 15 feet long. Others were 12 feet long.
11 The walls that were above them were made out of very fine stones. The stones were cut to the right size. On top of them was a layer of cedar beams.
12 The large courtyard had a wall around it. The first three layers of the wall were made out of blocks of stone. The top layer was made out of beautiful cedar wood. The same thing was done with the inside courtyard of the LORD(Jesus)'s Temple and its porch.
13 King Solomon sent messengers to Tyre. He wanted them to bring Hiram back with them.
14 Hiram's mother was a widow. She was from the tribe of Naphtali. Hiram's father was from Tyre. He was skilled in working with bronze. Hiram also was very skilled. He had done all kinds of work with bronze. He came to King Solomon and did all of the work he was asked to do.
He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali--In 2 Chronicles 2:14 his mother is said to have been of the daughters of Dan. The apparent discrepancy may be reconciled thus: Hiram's mother, though belonging to the tribe of Dan, had been married to a Naphtalite, so that when married afterwards to a Tyrian, she might be described as a widow of the tribe of Naphtali. Or, if she was a native of the city Dan (Laish), she might be said to be of the daughters of Dan, as born in that place; and of the tribe of Naphtali, as really belonging to it.
15 Hiram made two bronze pillars. Each of them was 27 feet high. And each was 18 feet around.
16 Each pillar had a decorated top that was made out of bronze. Each top was seven and a half feet high.
17 Chains that were linked together hung down from the tops of the pillars. There were seven chains for each top.
18 Hiram made two rows of pomegranates. They circled the chains. The pomegranates decorated the tops of the pillars. Hiram did the same thing for each pillar.
19 The tops on the pillars of the porch were shaped like lilies. The lilies were 6 feet high.
20 On the tops of both pillars were 200 pomegranates. They were in rows all around the tops. They were above the part that was shaped like a bowl. And they were next to the chains.
21 Hiram set the pillars up at the House (Temple) porch. The pillar on the south he named Jakin. The one on the north he named Boaz.
House rendered Temple here by me.
22 The tops of the pillars were shaped like lilies. So the work on the pillars was finished.
23 Hiram made a huge metal bowl for washing. Its shape was round. It measured 15 feet from rim to rim. It was seven and a half feet high. And it was 45 feet around.
24 Below the rim there was a circle of gourds around the bowl. In every 18 inches around the bowl there were ten gourds. The gourds were arranged in two rows. They were made as part of the bowl itself.
25 The huge bowl stood on 12 bulls. Three of them faced north. Three faced west. Three faced south. And three faced east. The bowl rested on top of them. Their rear ends were toward the center.
26 The bowl was three inches thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup. The rim was shaped like the bloom of a lily. The bowl held 11,000 gallons of water.
27 Hiram also made ten stands out of bronze. They could be moved around. Each stand was six feet long. It was six feet wide. And it was four and a half feet high.
28 Here is how the stands were made. They had sides that were joined to posts.
29 On the sides between the posts were lions, bulls and cherubim. They were also on all of the posts. Above and below the lions and bulls were wreaths that were made out of hammered metal.
30 Each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles. Each one had a bowl that rested on four supports. They had wreaths on each side.
31 There was a round opening on the inside of each stand. The opening had a frame that was 18 inches deep. The sides were 26 inches high from the top of the opening to the bottom of the base. There was carving around the opening. The sides of the stands were square, not round.
32 The four wheels were under the sides. The axles of the wheels were connected to the stand. Each wheel was 26 inches across.
33 The wheels were made like chariot wheels. All of the axles, rims, spokes and hubs were made out of metal.
34 Each stand had four handles on it. There was one on each corner. They came out from the stand.
35 At the top of the stand there was a round band. It was nine inches deep. The sides and supports were connected to the top of the stand.
36 Hiram carved cherubim, lions and palm trees on the sides of the stands. He also carved them on the surfaces of the supports. His carving covered every open space. He had also carved wreaths all around.
37 That's how he made the ten stands. All of them were made in the same molds. And they had the same size and shape.
38 Then Hiram made ten bronze bowls. Each one held 225 gallons. The bowls measured six feet across. There was one bowl for each of the ten stands.
39 He placed five of the stands on the south side of the Temple. He placed the other five on the north side. He put the huge bowl on the south side. It was at the southeast corner of the Temple.
40 He also made the bowls, shovels and sprinkling bowls. So Hiram finished all of the work he had started for King Solomon. Here's what he made for the LORD(Jesus)'s Temple.
41 He made the two pillars. He made the two tops for the pillars. The tops were shaped like bowls. He made the two sets of chains that were linked together. They decorated the two bowl-shaped tops of the pillars.
42 He made the 400 pomegranates for the two sets of chains. There were two rows of pomegranates for each chain. They decorated the bowl-shaped tops of the pillars.
43 He made the ten stands with their ten bowls.
44 He made the huge bowl. He made the 12 bulls that were under it.
45 He made the pots, shovels and sprinkling bowls. Hiram made all of those objects for King Solomon for the LORD(Jesus)'s Temple. He made them out of bronze. Then he shined them up.
46 The king had made them in clay molds. It was done on the flatlands of the Jordan River between Succoth and Zarethan.
47 Solomon didn't weigh any of those things. There were too many of them to weigh. No one even tried to weigh the bronze they were made out of.
48 Solomon also made all of the articles that were in the LORD(Jesus)'s Temple. He made the golden altar. He made the golden table for the holy bread.
49 He made the pure gold menorahs. There were five on the right and five on the left. They were in front of the Most Holy Place. He made the gold flowers. He made the gold lamps and tongs.
50 He made the bowls, wick cutters, sprinkling bowls, dishes, and shallow cups for burning incense. All of them were made out of pure gold. He made the gold bases for the doors of the inside room. That's the Most Holy Place. He also made gold bases for the doors of the main hall of the Temple.
51 King Solomon finished all of the work for the LORD(Jesus)'s Temple. Then he brought in the things his father David had set apart for the LORD(Jesus). They included the silver and gold and all of the articles for the LORD(Jesus)'s Temple. Solomon placed them with the other treasures that were there.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 8
SOLOMON BRINGS THE ARK TO THE TEMPLE:
1 Then Solomon assembled all the leaders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the Chiefs of the paternal clans of the children of Israel. He told them to come to him in Jerusalem. Solomon wanted them to bring up the Ark of the LORD(Jesus)'s to the city of David, which is Zion. 2 All of Israel came together to where King Solomon was. It was at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. The feast was held in the month of Ethanim. That's the seventh month.
Month of Ethanim is the seventh month, corresponding to modern Oct. to Nov.; so named because permanent streams still flowed, again most likely added by Ezra during the captivity.
3 All of the leaders of Israel came. Then the priests picked up the Ark and carried it.
4 They brought up the Ark of the LORD(Jesus). They also brought up the Tabernacle of the Church and all of the sacred articles that were in the tent. The priests and Levites carried everything up.
5 The entire church of Israel had gathered around King Solomon. All of them were in front of the Ark. They sacrificed sheep. There were so many that they couldn't be recorded. In fact, they couldn't even be counted.
6 The priests brought the Ark of the LORD(Jesus)'s covenant to its place in the Most Holy Place of the Temple. They put it under the wings of the cherubim.
at the feast in the month Ethanim--The public and formal inauguration of this national place of worship did not take place till eleven months after the completion of the edifice. The delay, most probably, originated in Solomon's wish to choose the most fitting opportunity when there should be a general rendezvous of the people in Jerusalem; and that was not till the next year. That was a jubilee year, and he resolved on commencing the solemn ceremonial a few days before the feast of tabernacles, which was the most appropriate of all seasons. That annual festival had been instituted in commemoration of the Israelites dwelling in booths during their stay in the wilderness, as well as of the tabernacle, which was then erected, in which God promised to meet and dwell with His people, sanctifying it with His glory. As the tabernacle was to be superseded by the temple, there was admirable propriety in choosing the feast of tabernacles as the period for dedicating the new place of worship, and praying that the same distinguished privileges might be continued to it in the manifestation of the divine presence and glory. At the time appointed for the inauguration, the king issued orders for all the heads and representatives of the nation to repair to Jerusalem and take part in the august procession [1 Kings 8:1]. The lead was taken by the king and elders of the people, whose march must have been slow, as priests were stationed to offer an immense number of sacrifices at various points in the line of road through which the procession was to go. Then came the priests bearing the ark and the tabernacle--the old Mosaic tabernacle which was brought from Gibeon. Lastly, the Levites followed, carrying the vessels and ornaments belonging to the old, for lodgment in the new, house of the Lord. There was a slight deviation in this procedure from the order of march established in the wilderness (Numbers 3:31, 4:15); but the spirit of the arrangement was duly observed. The ark was deposited in the oracle; that is, the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim--not the Mosaic cherubim, which were firmly attached to the ark (Exodus 37:7,8), but those made by Solomon, which were far larger and more expanded. (Jamieson)
7 The cherubim's wings were spread out over the place where the Ark was. They covered the Ark. They also covered the poles that were used to carry it.
8 The poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the sanctuary. But they couldn't be seen from outside the Holy Place. They are still there to this very day.
Absolute proof that this was a late-added note. “To this day.” Which means to the day of Ezra.
9 There wasn't anything in the Ark except the two stone tablets. Moses had placed them in it at Mount Horeb. That's where the LORD(Jesus) had made a covenant with the Israelites. He made it after they came out of Egypt.
10 The priests left the Holy Room. Then the cloud filled the Temple of the LORD(Jesus).
11 The priests couldn't do their work because of it. That's because the glory(cloud) of the LORD(Jesus) filled his Temple.
the cloud filled the house of the Lord--The cloud was the visible symbol of the divine presence, and its occupation of the sanctuary was a testimony of God's gracious acceptance of the temple as of the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34). The dazzling brightness, or rather, perhaps, the dense portentous darkness of the cloud, struck the minds of the priests, as it formerly had done Moses, which such astonishment and terror (Leviticus 16:2-13, Deuteronomy 4:24, Exodus 40:35) that they could not remain. Thus the temple became the place where the divine glory was revealed, and the king of Israel established his royal residence.
12 Then Solomon said, "LORD(Jesus), you have said you would live in a dark cloud.
13 As you can see, I've built a beautiful house for you. You can live in it forever."
14 The whole Church of Israel was standing there. The king turned around And blessed the entire Church of Israel. ( and all the congregation(church) of Israel stood.)
15 Then he said, "Blessed be the LORD(Jesus), the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel. With his own mouth he made a promise to my father David. With his own powerful hand he made it come true. He said,
16 'I brought my people Israel out of Egypt. Ever since I did that, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel where a Temple could be built for my Name. But I have chosen David to rule over my people Israel.'
17 With all his heart David, my father wanted to build a Temple. He wanted to do it so in the name of the LORD(Jesus) God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel.
18 But the LORD(Jesus) spoke to my father David. He said, 'With all your heart you wanted to build a house for my Name. It is good that you wanted to do that.
19 But you will not build the house. Instead, your son will build the house for my Name. He is your own flesh and blood.'
20 The LORD(Jesus) has kept the promise he made. I've become the next king after my father David. Now I'm sitting on the throne of Israel. That's exactly what the LORD(Jesus) promised would happen. I've built the Temple where the LORD(Jesus) will put his Name. He is the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel.
21 I've provided a place for the Ark there. The tablets of the LORD(Jesus)'s covenant are inside it. He made that covenant with our people of long ago. He made it when he brought them out of Egypt."
Solomon Prays to Set the Temple Apart to the LORD:
22 Then Solomon stood in front of the LORD(Jesus)'s altar. He stood in front of the whole Church of Israel. He spread out his hands toward heaven.23 He said, "LORD(Jesus), you are the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel, there is no God(Elohim/Theos) like you in heaven above or on earth below. You keep your covenant with your children and show them grace, provided they live in your presence with all their heart.
24 You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. With your mouth you made a promise. With your powerful hand you have made it come true. And today we can see it.
25 Therefore, LORD(Jesus) God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel; Keep the promises you made to my father David. Do it for him. He was your servant. You said to him, 'You will always have a heir to sit on the throne of Israel in my sight. That will be true only if your sons are careful in everything they do. They must live in my sight the way you have lived.'
26 God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel, let your promise to my father David come true.
27 But will you really live on earth? After all, the heavens can't hold you. In fact, even the highest heavens can't hold you. So this Temple I've built certainly can't hold you!
28 But please pay attention to my prayer. LORD(Jesus) my God(Elohim/Theos), show me your favor as I make my appeal to you. Listen to my cry for help. Hear the prayer I'm praying to you today.
29 Let your eyes look toward this Temple night and day. You said, 'I will put my Name there.' So please listen to the prayer I'm praying toward this place.
30 Listen to me and to your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Listen to us from heaven. It's the place where you live. When you hear us, forgive us.
31 Suppose a man does something wrong to his neighbor. And he is required to take an oath and make a vow. He must come and do it in front of your altar in this Temple.
32 Hear him from heaven, act and take action. Judge or servants and condemn the wicked, so that each persons actions are on their own heads. Vindicate the one who is right, in accordance to his righteousness.
33 When your people Israel have lost the battle against their enemies. And suppose they've sinned against you. But they turn back to you and praise your name. They pray to you in this Temple. And they ask you to show them your favor.
34 Hear them from heaven. Forgive the sin of your people Israel. Bring them back to the land you gave to their people who lived long ago.
35 When they sin against you, and in consequence the sky is shut, so that there is no rain; then, if they pray toward this place, acknowledge your name and turn from their sin when you have brought them low;
36 Then listen to them from heaven. Forgive the sin of your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live. Send rain on the land you gave them as their share.
37 And if there isn't enough food in the land, or a plague strikes the land; The hot winds completely dry up our crops, or locusts or grasshoppers come and eat them up. Or an enemy surrounds one of our cities and gets ready to attack it. Or trouble or sickness comes.
38 But suppose one of your people prays to you. He asks you to show him your favor. He is aware of how much his own heart is suffering. And he spreads out his hands toward this Temple to pray.
39 Then listen to him from heaven. It's the place where you live. Forgive him. Take action. Deal with him in keeping with everything he does. You know his heart. (In fact, you are the only one who knows every human heart.)
40 Your people will have revere you. They will respect you as long as they are in the land you gave our people long ago.
41 Also when there are strangers who don't belong to your people Israel. And they have come from a land far away. They've come because they've heard about your name.
42 When they get here, they will find out even more about your great name. They'll hear about how you reached out your mighty hand and powerful arm. So they'll come and pray toward this Temple.
43 Then listen to them from heaven where you live. Do what those aliens ask you to do. Then all of the nations on earth will know you. They will have respect for you. They'll respect you just as your own people Israel do. They'll know that your Name is in this house I've built.
44 If your people go out to fight against their enemy, no matter which ever way you send them, and they turn to pray to the LORD(Jesus) and toward the city you have chosen- and pray toward the Temple I've built for your Name.
45 Then listen to them from heaven. Listen to their prayer. Listen to them when they ask you to show them your favor. Stand up for them.
46 If they sin against you. After all, there isn't anyone who doesn't sin. And suppose you get angry with them. You hand them over to their enemies. They take them as prisoners to their own land. It doesn't matter whether it's near or far away.
47 Then, if they come to their senses in the land where they have been carried away captive, turned back and make their plea to you in the land of those who carried them off captive, saying “we have sinned - we have acted wrongly, and behaved wickedly,”
48 And they turn back to you with all their heart and soul. Suppose it happens in the land of their enemies who took them away as prisoners. There they pray to you toward the land you gave their people long ago. They pray toward the city you have chosen. And they pray toward the Temple I've built for your Name.
49 Then listen to them from heaven. It's the place where you live. Listen to their prayer. Listen to them when they ask you to show them your favor. Stand up for them.
50 Your people have sinned against you. Please forgive them. Forgive them for all of the wrong things they've done against you. And make those who won the battle over them show mercy to them.
51 After all, they are your people that belong to you. You brought them out of Egypt. You brought them out of that furnace that melts iron down and makes it pure.
52 May your eyes be open to the my plea. Let them be open to your people Israel when they ask you to show them your favor. Pay attention to them every time they cry out to you.
53 For you made a distinction between them and all the peoples of the earth by making them your inheritance, as you said to Moses your servant when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt. You are our LORD(Jesus) and King."
54 Solomon finished all of his prayers. He finished asking the LORD(Jesus) to show his favor to his people. Then he got up from in front of the LORD(Jesus)'s altar. He had been down on his knees with his hands spread out toward heaven.
55 He stood in front of the whole Church of Israel. He blessed them with a loud voice. He said,
56 "I praise the LORD(Jesus). He has given peace and rest(a sabbath) to his people Israel. That's exactly what he promised to do. He gave his people good promises through his servant Moses. Every single word of those promises has come true.
57 May the LORD(Jesus) our God(Elohim/Theos) be with us, just as he was with our people who lived long ago. May he never leave us. May he never desert us.
58 In this way he will turn our hearts to him. Then we will live the way he wants us to. We'll obey the commandmentss, rules and laws he gave our people.
59 May my words to the LORD(Jesus) be always present before the LORD(Jesus) our God(Elohim/Theos). May he keep them close to him day and night. May he stand up for me. May he also stand up for his people Israel. May he give us what we need every day.
60 Then all of the people on earth will know that the LORD(Jesus) is God(Elohim/Theos). They'll know that there isn't anyone else.
61 So be wholehearted with the LORD(Jesus) our God(Elohim/Theos). You must live by his rules. You must obey his Commandments. You must always do as you are doing now."
62 Then the king and the whole Church of Israel offered sacrifices to the LORD(Jesus).
63 Solomon sacrificed friendship offerings to the LORD(Jesus). He sacrificed 22,000 head of cattle. He also sacrificed 120,000 sheep and goats. So the king and the whole Church set the Temple of the LORD(Jesus) apart to him.
64 That same day, the king consecrated the center of the courtyard to the LORD(Jesus). It was in front of the LORD(Jesus)'s Temple. There Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings and grain offerings. He also sacrificed the fat of the friendship offerings there. He did it there because the bronze altar in front of the LORD(Jesus) was too small. It wasn't big enough to hold all of the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat of the friendship offerings.
65 At that time Solomon celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles. The whole Church of Israel was with him. It was a huge crowd. People came from as far away as Lebo Hamath and the Wadi of Egypt. For seven days they celebrated in front of the LORD(Jesus) our God(Elohim/Theos). The feast continued for seven more days. That made a total of 14 days.
66 On the following day Solomon sent the people away. They asked the LORD(Jesus) to bless the king. Then they went home. The people were glad. Their hearts were full of joy. That's because the LORD(Jesus) had done so many good things for his servant David and his people Israel.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 9
THE LORD APPEARS TO SOLOMON:
1 After Solomon had finished building the LORD(Jesus)'s house and the royal palace. He had accomplished everything he had planned to do.
2 The LORD(Jesus) appeared to him a second time. He had already appeared to him at Gibeon.
3 The LORD(Jesus) said to him: I have heard you prayer and your plea that you made before me. I have heard you ask me to show you my favor. You have built this house. I have hallowed it for myself. My Name will be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
4 But you must walk with me, just as your father David did. Your heart must be honest. It must be without blame. Do everything I command you to do. Obey my rules and laws.
5 Then I will set up your royal throne over Israel forever. I promised your father David I would do that. I said to him, 'You will always have a heir on the throne of Israel.'
6 But suppose all of you turn away from me. Or your sons turn away from me. You refuse to obey the commands and rules I have given you. And you go off to serve other gods and worship them.
7 Then I will cut Israel off from the land. It is the land I gave them. I will turn my back on this house. I will do it even though I have set it apart for my Name to be there. Then Israel will be hated by all of the nations. They will laugh and joke about Israel.
8 This Temple is now grand and beautiful. But the time is coming when all those who pass by it will be shocked. They will make fun of it. And they will say, 'Why has the LORD(Jesus) done a thing like this to this land and temple?'
9 People will answer, 'Because they have deserted the LORD(Jesus) their God(Elohim/Theos). He brought their people out of Egypt. But they have been holding on to other gods. They've been worshiping them. They've been serving them. That's why the LORD(Jesus) has brought all of this horrible trouble on them.'
a foreshadow and prophecy of what was to come, as experienced by Ezra.
10 Solomon built the LORD(Jesus)'s temple and the royal palace. It took him 20 years to construct those two buildings.
11 King Solomon gave 20 towns in Galilee to Hiram. That's because Hiram had provided him with all of the cedar and pine logs he wanted. He had also provided him with all of the gold he wanted. Hiram was king of Tyre.
According to JOSEPHUS, they were situated on the northwest of it, adjacent to Tyre. Though lying within the boundaries of the promised land (Genesis 15:18, Joshua 1:4), they had never been conquered till then, and were inhabited by Canaanite heathens (Judges 4:2-13, 2 Kings 15:29). They were probably given to Hiram, whose dominions were small, as a remuneration for his important services in furnishing workmen, materials, and an immense quantity of wrought gold (1 Kings 9:14) for the temple and other buildings [MICHAELIS]. The gold, however, as others think, may have been the amount of forfeits paid to Solomon by Hiram for not being able to answer the riddles and apothegms, with which, according to JOSEPHUS, in their private correspondence, the two sovereigns amused themselves. Hiram having refused these cities, probably on account of their inland situation making them unsuitable to his maritime and commercial people, Solomon satisfied his ally in some other way; and, taking these cities into his own hands, he first repaired their shattered walls, then filled them with a colony of Hebrews (2 Chronicles 8:2). (Jamieson)
12 Hiram came over from Tyre to see the towns Solomon had given him. But he wasn't pleased with them.
13 He said, "what kind of cities have you given me?" So he called them the Land of Cabul. And that's what they are still called to this very day.
14 Hiram had sent four and a half tons of gold to Solomon.
15 The following is the account of the forced labor levied by King Solomon four building the house of the LORD(Jesus) and Solomon's palace. They filled in the low places. They rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem. They built up Hazor, Megiddo and Gezer.
Megiddo is Armageddon
16 Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had attacked Gezer and captured it and set it on fire. He had killed the Canaanites who lived there. Then he had given Gezer as a wedding gift to his daughter. She was Solomon's wife.
17 Solomon rebuilt Gezer. He built up Lower Beth Horon
18 and Baalath. He built up Tadmor in the desert. All of those towns were in his land.
19 He built up all of the cities where he could store things. He also built up the towns for his chariots and horses. He built anything he wanted to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon and all of the territory he ruled over.
20 There were still many people left in the land who weren't Israelites. They included Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
21 They were descendants of the people who had lived in the land before the Israelites came. But the Israelites hadn't been able to kill all of them. Solomon had forced them to work very hard as his slaves. And they still work for Israel to this very day.
22 But Solomon didn't force any of the men of Israel to work as slaves. Indeed, many were his soldiers. Others were his government officials, his officers and his captains. Others were commanders of his chariots and chariot drivers.
23 There were 550 officials in charge of those doing Solomon's work.
24 Pharaoh's daughter moved from the City of David up to the palace Solomon had built for her. After that, he filled in the low places near the palace.
25 Three times a year Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings and friendship offerings. He sacrificed them on the altar he had built to honor the LORD(Jesus). Along with the offerings, he burned incense to the LORD(Jesus). So he carried out his duties for the temple.
three times in a year--namely, at the passover, pentecost, and feast of tabernacles (2 Chronicles 8:13, 31:3). The circumstances mentioned in these two verses form a proper conclusion to the record of his buildings and show that his design in erecting those at Jerusalem was to remedy defects existing at the commencement of his reign (see 1 igs 3:1-4). (Jamieson)
26 King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at Ezion Geber. It's near Elath in Edom. It's on the shore of the Red Sea.
27 Hiram sent his men to serve on the ships together with Solomon's men. Hiram's sailors knew the sea.
28 All of them sailed to Ophir. They brought back 16 tons of gold. They gave it to King Solomon.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 10
THE QUEEN OF SHEBA:
1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD(Jesus), she came to test him with hard questions.
Some think her country was the Sabean kingdom of Yemen, of which the capital was Saba, in Arabia- Felix; others, that it was in African Ethiopia, that is, Abyssinia, towards the south of the Red Sea. The opinions preponderate in favor of the former. This view harmonizes with the language of our Lord, as Yemen means "South"; and this country, extending to the shores of the Indian ocean, might in ancient times be considered "the uttermost parts of the earth." (Jamieson)
hard questions--enigmas or riddles. The Orientals delight in this species of intellectual exercise and test wisdom by the power and readiness to solve them.
2 She arrived in Jerusalem with a huge group of attendants and also with camels which were carrying spices, huge amounts of gold, and valuable jewels. She came to Solomon and she spoke with him about everything on her heart,
3 and Solomon answered all of her questions. There wasn't anything that was too hard for the king to explain to her. 4 When the queen of Sheba saw how wise Solomon was. She saw the palace he had built,
5 and the food that was on his table, and his officials sitting there. She saw the robes of the servants who waited on everyone. She saw his wine tasters. And she saw the burnt offerings Solomon sacrificed at the LORD(Jesus)'s temple. It all left her breathless.
6 She said to the king, "What I heard in my own country about your deeds and your wisdom is true,
The proofs she obtained of Solomon's wisdom--not from his conversation only, but also from his works; the splendor of his palace; the economy of his kitchen and table; the order of his court; the gradations and gorgeous costume of his servants; above all, the arched viaduct that led from his palace to the temple ( 2 Kings 16:18 ), and the remains of which have been recently discovered [ROBINSON]--overwhelmed her with astonishment.
7 but I didn't believe those things. So I came to see for myself. And now I believe it! You are twice as wise and wealthy as people say you are. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the reports I heard.
8 How happy your people must be! How happy are your servants! They always get to serve you and hear the wise things you say.
9 Blessed be the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos) who takes great delight in you. He placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD(Jesus) eternal love for Israel , he has made you king, to administer judgment and justice fairly."
10 Then she gave the king four tons of gold. She also gave him huge amounts of spices and valuable jewels. No one would ever bring to King Solomon as many spices as the queen of Sheba gave him.
11 Hiram's ships brought gold from Ophir. From there they also brought huge amounts of almug wood and valuable jewels.
12 The king used the almug wood to make supports for the LORD(Jesus)'s temple and the royal palace. He also used it to make harps and lyres for those who played the music. No almug wood like it has come or been seen to this day.
almug trees--Parenthetically, along with the valuable presents of the queen of Sheba, is mentioned a foreign wood, which was brought in the Ophir ships. It is thought by some to be the sandalwood; by others, to be the deodar--a species of fragrant fir, much used in India for sacred and important works. Solomon used it for stairs in his temple and palace ( 2 Chronicles 9:11 ), but chiefly for musical instruments. (Jamieson)
13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she wanted, whatever she asked for, in addition to the presents he gave her on his own initiative. After this, she returned and went back to her own country, she and her servants.
14 The weight of the gold Solomon received each year was 25 tons of gold.
15 And that didn't even include the money that was brought in by business and trade. It also didn't include the money from all of the kings of Arabia and the governors of Israel.
16 King Solomon made 200 large shields out of hammered gold. Each one weighed seven and a half pounds.
17 King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold; fifteen pounds of gold went into one shield.
18 Then he made a large throne. It was decorated with ivory. It was covered with fine gold.
19 The throne had six steps. Its back had a rounded top. The throne had armrests on both sides of the seat. A statue of a lion stood on each side of the throne.
20 Twelve lions stood on the six steps. There was one at each end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom.
21 All of King Solomon's cups were made out of gold. All of the utensils that were used in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were made out of pure gold. Nothing was made out of silver. For in Solomon's time it was regarded as having little value.
22 The king had a fleet of large navy of "Tarshish" ships at sea along with Hiram's fleet; once every three years the "Tarshish" fleet came in, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks.
a navy of Tharshish--Tartessus in Spain. There gold, and especially silver, was obtained, anciently, in so great abundance that it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. But "Tarshish" came to be a general term for the West ( Jonah 1:3 ). This may actually mean English ships inprophecy.
at sea--on the Mediterranean.
once in three years--that is, every third year. Without the mariner's compass they had to coast along the shore. The ivory, apes, and peacocks might have been purchased, on the outward or homeward voyage, on the north coast of Africa, where the animals were to be found. They were particularized, probably as being the rarest articles on board. (Jamieson)
23 King Solomon was richer than all of the other kings on earth. He was also wiser than they were.
24 All the earth sought to have an audience with Solomon in person. They wanted to see for themselves how wise God(Elohim/Theos) had made him.
25 Every year, everyone who came to him brought a gift. They brought articles that were made out of silver and gold. They brought robes, weapons and spices. They also brought horses and mules.
26 Solomon had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept some of his horses and chariots in the chariot cities. He kept the others with him in Jerusalem.
27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones. He made cedar wood as common there as sycamore-fig trees in the western hills.
28 Solomon horses had been brought from Egypt and from Keveh, with the king's agents having bought them from the dealers in Keveh at the going price.
29 It cost 15 pounds of silver for a chariot from Egypt. And they weighed out almost four pounds of silver for a horse. They also sold horses and chariots to all of the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Arameans.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 11
SOLOMON'S WIVES TURN HIM AWAY FROM God:
1 King Solomon loved many foreign women in addition to Pharaoh's daughter. He loved Hittite women and women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon.2 They came from the nations about which the LORD(Jesus) had said to the people of Israel, "Never intermarry with them. They will surely tempt you to follow after their gods.(elohim/theos)" But Solomon was obsessed with their love.
Solomon's extraordinary gift of wisdom was not sufficient to preserve him from falling into grievous and fatal errors. A fairer promise of true greatness, a more beautiful picture of juvenile piety, never was seen than that which he exhibited at the commencement of his reign. No sadder, more humiliating, or awful spectacle can be imagined than the besotted apostasy of his old age; and to him may be applied the words of Paul ( Galatians 3:3 ), of John ( Revelation 3:17 ), and of Isaiah ( Isaiah 14:21 ). A love of the world, a ceaseless round of pleasure, had insensibly corrupted his heart, and produced, for a while at least, a state of mental darkness. The grace of God deserted him; and the son of the pious David--the religiously trained child of Bath-sheba ( Proverbs 31:1-3 ), and pupil of Nathan, instead of showing the stability of sound principle and mature experience became at last an old and foolish king ( Ecclesiastes 4:13 ). (Jamieson)
3 He had 700 wives who came from royal families. And he had 300 concubines. His wives led him astray.
4 As Solomon grew older, these wives turned his heart toward other gods(elohim/theos). His heart was not right with the LORD(Jesus) his God(Elohim/Theos) as his father David had been.
5 Solomon worshiped Easter. Easter was the disgusting goddess(elohim/theos) of the people of Sidon. He also worshiped Molech. Molech was the god(elohim/theos) of the people of Ammon. The LORD(Jesus) hated that god(elohim/theos).
6 Solomon did what the LORD(Jesus) considered evil. He didn't follow the LORD(Jesus) completely, as his father David had done.
7 Solomon built a pagan shrine for worshiping Chemosh on a high hill there. He built a high place for worshiping Molech there too. Chemosh was the god(elohim/theos) of Moab. Molech was the god(elohim/theos) of Ammon. The LORD(Jesus) hated both of those gods(elohim/theos).
8 He did these things for each of his foreign wives who burned incense and sacrificed to thei gods(elohim/theos).
9 So the LORD(Jesus) became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD(Jesus). He is the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel. He had appeared to Solomon twice.
10 He had commanded Solomon not to follow other gods(elohim/theos). But Solomon didn't obey what the LORD(Jesus) commanded.
11 So the LORD(Jesus) said to Solomon: Since you have chosen not to keep my covenant and my statues as I commanded you to do, you can be absolutely sure I will tear the kingdom away from you. I will give it to one of your officials.
12 But I will not do that while you are alive, because of your father David. I will wait. I will tear the kingdom out of your son's hand.
13 But I will not tear the whole kingdom away from him. I will give your son one tribe for my servant David's sake and for the sake of Jerusalem, [the city] that I chose."
The divine appearance, first at Gibeon [ 1 Kings 3:5 ], and then at Jerusalem [ 1 Kings 9:2 ], after the dedication of the temple, with the warnings given him on both occasions [ 1 Kings 3:11-14 , 9:3-9 ], had left Solomon inexcusable; and it was proper and necessary that on one who had been so signally favored with the gifts of Heaven, but who had grossly abused them, a terrible judgment should fall. The divine sentence was announced to him probably by Ahijah; but there was mercy mingled with judgment, in the circumstance, that it should not be inflicted on Solomon personally. and that a remnant of the kingdom should be spared--"for David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, which had been chosen" to put God's name there; not from a partial bias in favor of either, but that the divine promise might stand ( 2 Samuel 7:12-16 ). (Jamieson)
14 Then the LORD(Jesus) raised up Hadad the Edomite as a rival to Solomon. Hadad was from the Edomite royal family.
15 When David had conquered Edom, Joab, the commander of the army, went to bury those killed in battle and killed every male in Edom.
16 In fact, Joab and all of the men of Israel stayed there for six months. During that time they destroyed all of the men in Edom.
17 Hadad was a young boy at the time. He and some of his father's Edomite servants fled to Egypt.
18 They started out from Midian and went to Paran. Taking some men from Paran with them, they then went to Egypt. They went to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. He gave Hadad Hadad a home, a food allowance, and land.
19 Pharaoh was very pleased with Hadad. Pharaoh's wife was Queen Tahpenes. He gave Hadad her sister to be his wife.
20 The sister of Tahpenes had a son by Hadad. The baby was named Genubath. Tahpenes presented the boy to Pharaoh in the palace, and Genubath lived in the palace among Pharaoh's children.
21 Hadad heard that David had joined the members of his family who had already died. He also heard that Joab, the commander of the army, was dead. Hadad heard those things while he was in Egypt. He said to Pharaoh, "Let me go to my own country."
22 Pharaoh asked him, "What don't you have here that makes you eager to go home?" "Nothing," he said. "But let me leave anyway."
23 God(Elohim/Theos) brought another enemy against Solomon. The enemy's name was Rezon. He was the son of Eliada. Rezon had run away from his master Hadadezer, the king of Zobah.
24 He gathered some men together to follow him. He became the leader of a group of men who had refused to follow David. It happened when David destroyed the troops of Zobah. They went to Damascus, settled there, and ruled a kingdom in Damascus.
25 In addition to the trouble that Hadad caused, Rezon was Israel's rival as long as Solomon lived. He ruled Aram and despised Israel.
26 There was also Jeroboam, who was the son of Nebat and an Ephrathite from Zeredah. His mother Zeruah was a widow. He was one of Solomon's officers, but he rebelled against the king.
27 This was the situation when he rebelled against the king: Solomon was building the Millo and repairing a break in the [wall of] the City of David.
28 Jeroboam was a very able and hard-working man. Solomon saw how well he did his work. So he put him in charge of all of the workers in northern Israel.
29 At that time Jeroboam left Jerusalem. The prophet Ahijah from Shiloh met him on the road. The two of them were alone in the open country, and Ahijah had on new clothes.
30 Ahijah grabbed hold of the new coat he had on. He tore it up into 12 pieces.
ISRAEL TO BE DIVIDED:
31 Then he told Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces for yourself. The LORD(Jesus) is the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel. He says, 'I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hands and give ten tribes to you.
32 he will have one of its tribes. I will let him keep it because of my servant David and because of Jerusalem. I have chosen that city out of all of the cities in the tribes of Israel.
33 I will do those things because the tribes have deserted me. They have worshiped Easter, the goddess(elohim/theos) of the people of Sidon. They have worshiped Chemosh, the god(elohim/theos) of the people of Moab. And they have worshiped Molech, the god(elohim/theos) of the people of Ammon. They have not lived the way I wanted them to. They have not done what is right in my eyes. They have not obeyed my rules and laws as Solomon's father David did.
34 I will not take the whole kingdom from him. Instead, I will allow him to be ruler as long as he lives because of my servant David whom I chose, who obeyed my commandmentss and laws.
35 I will take the kingdom out of his son's hands. And I will give you ten of the tribes.
36 I will give one of the tribes to David's son. Then my servant David will always have a son on his throne in Jerusalem. The lamp of David's kingdom will always burn brightly in my sight. Jerusalem is the city I chose for my Name.
37 But I will make you king over Israel. You will rule over everything your heart longs for. So you will be the king of Israel.
38 If you will do all I command you, follow my ways, and do what I consider right by obeying my laws and commandments as my servant David did, then I will be with you. I will build a permanent dynasty for you as I did for David. And I will give you Israel.
39 I will punish David's family because of what Solomon has done. But I will not punish them forever.
40 Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam ran away to Egypt. He went to Shishak, the king of Egypt. He stayed there until Solomon died.
SOLOMON DIES:
41 The other events of Solomon's rule: Aren't they all--everything he did--and his wisdom written in the records of Solomon?42 Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over the whole nation of Israel for 40 years.
43 Then he joined the members of his family who had already died. His body was buried in the city of his father David. Solomon's son Rehoboam became the next king after him.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 12
1 Rehoboam went to Shechem because all Israel had gone to there to make him king.
2 Jeroboam (Nebat's son) was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon. When he heard [about Rehoboam], he returned from Egypt.
4 "Your father put a heavy load on our shoulders. But now make our hard work easier. Make the heavy load on us lighter. Then we'll serve you."
5 Rehoboam answered, "Go away for three days. Then come back to me." So the people went away.
6 King Rehoboam sought advice from the older leaders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked, "What do you advise? How should I respond to these people?"
7 They told him, "If you will serve these people today, humble yourself, and speak gently, then they will always be your servants."
8 But he ignored the advice the older leaders gave him. He sought advice from the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.
9 And he said to them, "What's your advice? How should I answer these people? They say to me, 'Make the load your father put on our shoulders lighter.' "
10 The young men who had grown up with him answered, "These people say to you, 'Your father put a heavy load on our shoulders. Make it lighter.' Tell them, 'My little finger is stronger than my father's legs.
11 My father put a heavy load on your shoulders. But I'll make it even heavier. My father beat you with whips. I will punish you with scorpions.'"
whips . . . scorpions--The latter [instruments], as contrasted with the former, are supposed to mean thongs thickly set with sharp iron points, used in the castigation of slaves.
12 So Jeroboam and all the people came back to Rehoboam two days later, as the king had instructed them.
13 The king answered the people harshly. He didn't accept the advice the elders had given him.
14 He spoke to them as the young men advised. He said, "If my father made your burden heavy, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions."
15 The king refused to listen to the people because the LORD(Jesus) had planned it that way. What he had said through Ahijah came true. Ahijah had spoken the LORD(Jesus)'s message to Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. Ahijah was from Shiloh.
16 When all Israel realized that the king had rejected their request, they shouted, "Down with David and his dynasty! We have no share in Jesse's son! Let's go home, Israel! Look out for your own house, O David!" So the people of Israel returned home.
17 But Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah.
18 Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram to Israel. He was in charge of forced labor, but they stoned him to death. So King Rehoboam got on his chariot as fast as he could and fled to Jerusalem.
19 Israel has refused to follow the royal family of David to this very day.
20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent men to invite him to the assembly. They made him king of all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to David's dynasty.
21 When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he gathered all the people of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, 180,000 of the best soldiers, to fight against the people of Israel and return the kingdom to Rehoboam, son of Solomon.
22 But a message from God(Elohim/Theos) came to Shemaiah. He was a man of God(Elohim/Theos). God(Elohim/Theos) said to him:
23 Speak to Solomon's son Rehoboam, the king of Judah. Speak to the royal house of Judah and Benjamin. Also speak to the rest of the people. Tell all of them,
24 'The LORD(Jesus) says, "Do not go up to fight against the Israelites. They are your relatives. I want every one of you to go back home. Things have happened exactly the way I planned them.' So the fighting men obeyed the LORD(Jesus)'s message. They went home again, just as he had ordered.
25 Jeroboam rebuilt Shechem in the hills of Ephraim and lived there. Then he left that place and built Penuel.
26 Jeroboam said to himself, "My kingdom still isn't secure. It could very easily go back to the royal family of David.
27 If the people of Israel go up to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the LORD(Jesus)'s Temple, they will again decide to follow Rehoboam as their master. Then they'll kill me. They'll return to King Rehoboam. He is king of Judah."
28 So the King asked for advice. Then he made two golden calves. He said , "It's too hard for you to go up to Jerusalem. Israel, here are your gods who brought you up out of Egypt."
29 He set up one statue in Bethel. He set up the other one in Dan.
30 This became a great sin, for the people worshiped them, traveling even as far as Dan.
31 Jeroboam built temples for worshiping gods(elohim/theos) on high places. He appointed all kinds of people as priests. They didn't even have to be Levites.
32 He established a feast. It was on the 15th day of the eighth month. He wanted to make it like the Feast of Booths that was held in Judah.
This has become Octoberfest in Germany. He also moved the Sabbath from the 7th day until the next day as well, or Sunday!
Jeroboam built an altar at Bethel. He offered sacrifices on it. He sacrificed to the calves he had made. He also put priests in Bethel. He did it at the high places he had made.
33 So on the appointed day in midautumn, a day that he himself had designated, Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar at Bethel. He instituted a religious festival for Israel, and he went up to the altar to burn incense.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 13
A MAN OF God IN BETHEL:
1 A man of God(Elohim/Theos) came from Bethel from Judah after he received a message from the LORD(Jesus). He arrived in Bethel just as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to offer a sacrifice. 2 By a command of the LORD(Jesus) this man condemned the altar. "Altar, altar! This is what the LORD(Jesus) says, 'A son named Josiah will be born into the royal family of David. Altar, listen to me! Josiah will sacrifice the priests of the high places on you. They will be the children of the priests who are offering sacrifices here now. So human bones will be burned on you.' "
3 That day the man of God(Elohim/Theos) gave this miraculous sign, and said, "Here is the sign the LORD(Jesus) has announced. This altar will be broken to pieces. The ashes on it will be spilled out."
This is one of the most remarkable prophecies recorded in the Scriptures; and, in its clearness, circumstantial minuteness, and exact prediction of an event that took place three hundred sixty years later, it stands in striking contrast to the obscure and ambiguous oracles of the heathen. Being publicly uttered, it must have been well known to the people; and every Jew who lived at the accomplishment of the event must have been convinced of the truth of a religion connected with such a prophecy as this. A present sign was given of the remote event predicted, in a visible fissure being miraculously made on the altar. Incensed at the man's license of speech, Jeroboam stretched out his hand and ordered his attendants to seize the bold intruder. That moment the king's arm became stiff and motionless, and the altar split asunder, so that the fire and ashes fell on the floor. Overawed by the effects of his impiety, Jeroboam besought the prophet's prayer. His request was acceded to, and the hand was restored to its healthy state. Jeroboam was artful, and invited the prophet to the royal table, not to do him honor or show his gratitude for the restoration of his hand, but to win, by his courtesy and liberal hospitality, a person whom he could not crush by his power. But the prophet informed him of a divine injunction expressly prohibiting him from all social intercourse with any in the place, as well as from returning the same way. The prohibition not to eat or drink in Beth-el was because all the people had become apostates from the true religion, and the reason he was not allowed to return the same way was lest he should be recognized by any whom he had seen in going
(Jamieson....)
4 When King Jeroboam heard the man of God(Elohim/Theos) condemning the altar in Bethel, he pointed to the man across the altar. "Arrest him," he said. But the arm that he used to point to the man of God(Elohim/Theos) was paralyzed so that he couldn't pull it back.5 The altar was torn apart, and the ashes from the altar were poured [on the ground]. This was the miraculous sign the man of God(Elohim/Theos) had announced. He had received a message from the LORD(Jesus).
6 The king spoke to the man of God(Elohim/Theos), "Please ask the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos) to restore my hand again!" So the man of God(Elohim/Theos) prayed to the LORD(Jesus), and the king's hand became normal again.
7 The king said to the man of God(Elohim/Theos), "Come home with me. Have something to eat. I'll give you a gift."
8 But the man of God(Elohim/Theos) told the king, "What if you were to give me half of what you own? Even then I wouldn't go with you. I wouldn't eat bread or drink water here.
9 For the LORD(Jesus) commanded me. He said, 'Do not eat bread or drink water there. Do not return the same way you came.' "
10 So he took another road. He didn't go back on the same road he had taken when he came to Bethel.
11 Now there lived an old prophet in Bethel and his sons came and spoke to him. They told him everything the man of God(Elohim/Theos) had done there that day. They also told their father what the man had said to the king.
If this were a true prophet, he was a bad man.
12 Their father asked them, "Which way did he go?" His sons showed him the road the man of God(Elohim/Theos) from Judah had taken.
13 So he said to his sons, "Put a saddle on the donkey for me." When they had done it, he got on the donkey.
14 He went after the man of God(Elohim/Theos) and found him sitting under an oak tree. The old prophet asked him, "Are you the man of God(Elohim/Theos) who came from Judah?" "Yes," he answered.
15 So the prophet said to him, "Come home with me. I'll give you something to eat."
16 The man of God(Elohim/Theos) said, "I can't go back to Bethel with you. I can't eat bread or drink water with you there.
17 I've received a message from the LORD(Jesus). He told me, 'Do not eat bread or drink water there. Do not return the same way you came.' "
18 The old prophet said, "I am a prophet, just like you. An angel gave me a message from the LORD(Jesus). The message said, 'Bring the man of God(Elohim/Theos) back with you to your house. Then he can eat bread and drink water with you.' " But the old prophet was telling him a lie.
This circuitous mode of speaking, instead of simply saying, "the LORD spake to me," was adopted to hide an equivocation, to conceal a double meaning--an inferior sense given to the word "angel"--to offer a seemingly superior authority to persuade the prophet, while really the authority was secretly known to the speaker to be inferior. The "angel," that is, "messenger," was his own sons, who were worshippers, perhaps priests, at Beth-el. As this man was governed by self-interest, and wished to curry favor with the king (whose purpose to adhere to his religious polity, he feared, might be shaken by the portents that had occurred), his hastening after the prophet of Judah, the deception he practised, and the urgent invitation by which, on the ground of a falsehood, he prevailed on the too facile man of God to accompany him back to his house in Beth-el, were to create an impression in the king's mind that he was an impostor, who acted in opposition to his own statement. (Jamieson)
19 The man of God(Elohim/Theos) returned with him. He ate and drank in his house.
20 Then while they were sitting at the table, a message from LORD(Jesus) came to the old prophet who had brought the man of God(Elohim/Theos) back.
21 He cried out to the man who had come from Judah. He told him, "The LORD(Jesus) says, 'You have not done what I told you to do. You have not obeyed the command I gave you. I am the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos).
22 You came back, ate bread and drank water. You did it in the place where I told you not to. So your body will not be buried in your family tomb.' "
23 The man of God(Elohim/Theos) finished eating and drinking. Then the old prophet who had brought him back put a saddle on the man's donkey for him.
24 And the man went on his way. A lion attacked him on the road and killed him. His body was left lying on the road. The donkey and the lion were standing beside it.
25 Some people passed by. They saw the body lying on the road. They saw the lion standing beside the body. Then they went and reported it in the city where the old prophet lived.
26 When the old prophet who had brought the man of God(Elohim/Theos) back from the road heard about it, he said, "It's the man of God(Elohim/Theos) who rebelled against the words from the LORD(Jesus)'s mouth! The LORD(Jesus) gave him to the lion. It tore him to pieces and killed him as the word of the LORD(Jesus) had told him."
27 The old prophet said to his sons, "Put a saddle on the donkey for me." And they did.
28 He found the body of the man thrown on the road. He also found the donkey and the lion standing beside it. The lion had not eaten the body, nor had it torn the donkey to pieces.
29 So the prophet picked up the man's body. He put it on the donkey. He brought it back to his own city. He wanted to sob over him and bury him.
30 Then he placed the body in his own tomb. People sobbed over him. They said, "My friend! My dear friend!"
31 After the old prophet had buried the body of the man of God(Elohim/Theos), he spoke to his sons. He said, "When I die, bury my body in the grave where the man of God(Elohim/Theos) is buried. Put my bones next to his bones.
32 I want you to do that because he announced a message from the LORD(Jesus). He spoke against the altar in Bethel. He also spoke against all of the temples that were on the high places. They are in the towns of Samaria. What the man of God(Elohim/Theos) said will certainly come true."
33 Even after all of that happened, Jeroboam still didn't change his evil ways. Once more he appointed priests for the high places. He made priests out of all kinds of people. In fact, he let anyone become a priest who wanted to. He set them apart to serve at the high places.
34 All of that was the great sin the royal family of Jeroboam committed. It led to their fall from power. Because of it, they were destroyed from the face of the earth.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 14
1 At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam became sick .
At that time--a phrase used often loosely and indefinitely in sacred history. This domestic incident in the family of Jeroboam probably occurred towards the end of his reign; his son Abijah was of age and considered by the people the heir to the throne.
2 Jeroboam said to his wife, "Go. Put on some different clothes and disguise yourself so that people will not recognize you as my wife. The prophet Ahijah, who told me I would be king of these people, is there.
3 Take ten loaves of bread, some raisins, and a jar of honey with you, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy."
5 However the LORD(Jesus) said to Ahijah, "Jeroboam's wife is coming. Her son is sick. She'll ask you about him. Give her the answer I give you. When she arrives, she'll pretend to be someone else."
6 Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps at the door. He said, "Come in. I know that you are Jeroboam's wife. Why are you pretending to be someone else? I have some bad news for you.
7 "Go. Tell Jeroboam this is what the LORD(Jesus) God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel says: I picked you out of the people and made you a leader over my people Israel.
8 I tore the kingdom away from the royal house of David and I gave it to you. But you have not been like my servant David. He obeyed my commands. He followed me with all his heart. He did only what was right in my eyes.
9 You have done more evil things than everyone before you. You made other gods(elohim/theos), metal idols, for yourself. You made me furious and turned your back to me.
10 Because of that, I will bring disaster on Jeroboam's house. I will destroy every male in his house, whether slave or freeman in Israel. I will burn down Jeroboam's house. It will burn like manure until it is gone.
11 If anyone from Jeroboam's house dies in the city, dogs will eat him. If anyone dies in the country, birds will eat him.' The LORD(Jesus) has said this!
12 Now go back home. When you enter your city, your son will die.
13 All of the people of Israel will mourn him. Then his body will be buried and he is the only one who belongs to Jeroboam who will be buried. That is because he is the only one in Jeroboam's royal house in whom I have found anything good. I am the LORD(Jesus), the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel.
14 The LORD(Jesus) will appoint a king over Israel. That king will destroy Jeroboam's house. This will happen today. It will happen right now.
15 The LORD(Jesus) will strike Israel like cattails which shake in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land which he gave their ancestors. He will scatter them beyond the Euphrates River because they dedicated poles to the goddess(elohim/theos) Easter and made the LORD(Jesus) furious.
16 So the LORD(Jesus) will desert Israel because of Jeroboam's sins, the sins which he led Israel to commit.
17 Then Jeroboam's wife got up and left. She went to the city of Tirzah. As soon as she stepped through the doorway of the house, her son died.
Tirzah--a place of pre-eminent beauty ( Solomon 6:4 ), three hours' travelling east of Samaria, chosen when Israel became a separate kingdom, by the first monarch, and used during three short reigns as a residence of the royal house. The fertile plains and wooded hills in that part of the territory of Ephraim gave an opening to the formation of parks and pleasure-grounds similar to those which were the "paradises" of Assyrian and Persian monarchs [STANLEY]. Its site is occupied by the large village of Taltise [ROBINSON].
18 His body was buried. All of the people of Israel sobbed over him. That's what the LORD(Jesus) had said would happen. He had said it through his servant, the prophet Ahijah.
19 The other events of Jeroboam's rule are written down. His wars and how he ruled are written down. They are written in the official records of the kings of Israel.
20 Jeroboam ruled for 22 years. Then he lay down in death with his ancestors. His son Nadab succeeded him as king.
REHOBOAM, THE KING OF JUDAH:
21 Rehoboam, son of Solomon, ruled Judah. He was 41 years old when he began to rule. He ruled for 17 years in Jerusalem, the city that the LORD(Jesus) chose from all the tribes of Israel, the city where the LORD(Jesus) put his name. Rehoboam's mother was an Ammonite woman named Naamah.22 The people of Judah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD(Jesus).Their sins made him more angry than anything their ancestors had done.
23 They built worship sites for themselves and [put up] large stones and Easter poles to worship on every high hill and under every large tree.
24 There were even male prostitutes[sodomites] at the temples in the land. The people took part in all of the practices of other nations. The LORD(Jesus) hated those practices. He had driven those nations out to make room for the people of Israel.
Notice here in plain English, contrary to what is said today, GOD HATES the practice of homosexuals. Sodomites here does not mean anal sex, but the practice of homosexuality!
25 In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem.
26 He took the treasures of the LORD(Jesus)'s temple and the royal palace. He took them all. He took all the gold shields Solomon had made.
27 So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to take their place. He gave them to the commanders of the guards who were on duty at the entrance to the royal palace.
28 Whenever the king went to the LORD(Jesus)'s temple, the guards carried the shields. Later, they took them back to the room where they were kept.
29 Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
30 There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam as long as they lived.
31 Rehoboam lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. (His mother was an Ammonite woman named Naamah.) His son Abijam succeeded him as king.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 15
1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam (Nebat's son), Abijam began to rule Judah.
His name was at first Abijah ( 2 Chronicles 12:16 ); "Jah," the name of God, according to an ancient fashion, being conjoined with it. But afterwards, when he was found "walking in all the sins of his father" [ 1 Kings 15:3 ], that honorable addition was withdrawn, and his name in sacred history changed into Abijam [LIGHTFOOT].
2 Three years he reigned in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
Three years reigned he--(compare 1 Kings 15:1 with 1 Kings 15:9 ). Parts of years are often counted in Scripture as whole years. The reign began in Jeroboam's eighteenth year, continued till the nineteenth, and ended in the course of the twentieth.
3 He followed the sinful example his father had set and wasn't committed to the LORD(Jesus) his God(Elohim/Theos) as his ancestor David had been.
4 But for David's sake the LORD(Jesus) his God(Elohim/Theos) made Abijam a lamp in Jerusalem. He appointed David's descendant to rule after him and protected Jerusalem.
5 Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD(Jesus), by keeping all of the Commandmentss all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah, the Hittite.
6 There was war between Abijam and Rehoboam throughout their lives.
7 Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
ASA BECOMES KING OF JUDAH:
8 Abijam lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Asa succeeded him as king.
9 In Jeroboam's twentieth year as king of Israel, Asa began to rule as king of Judah.
10 Asa ruled in Jerusalem for 41 years. His grandmother's name was Maacah. She was Abishalom's daughter.
She was properly his grandmother, and she is here called "the king's mother," from the post of dignity which at the beginning of his reign she possessed. Asa, as a constitutional monarch, acted like the pious David, laboring to abolish the traces and polluting practices of idolatry, and in pursuance of his impartial conduct, he did not spare delinquents even of the highest rank. (Jamieson)
11 Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD(Jesus) as his ancestor David had done. 12 Asa threw out of the land the male prostitutes who were at the temples. He got rid of all of the idols his people before him had made.
13 He also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen (mother). That's because she had made a pole that was used to worship the goddess(elohim/theos) Easter. The LORD(Jesus) hated it. So Asa cut it down. He burned it in the Kidron Valley.
14 Although the illegal worship sites were not torn down, Asa committed his whole life completely to the LORD(Jesus).
15 He and his father had set apart silver, gold and other articles to the LORD(Jesus). He brought them into the LORD(Jesus)'s temple.
16 There was war between Asa and Baasha, the king of Israel. It lasted the whole time they were kings.
War between THE JEWS and ISRAEL!
17 Baasha king of Israel invaded Judah and fortified Ramah to keep anyone from going to or coming from King Asa of Judah
18 Then Asa took all of the silver and gold that was left among the treasures of the LORD(Jesus)'s temple and his own palace. He put his officials in charge of it. He sent the officials to Ben-Hadad. Ben-Hadad was king of Aram. He was ruling in Damascus. He was the son of Tabrimmon and the grandson of Hezion.
19 He said: "Let's make a peace treaty between us. My father and your father had made a peace treaty between them. Now I'm sending you a gift of silver and gold. So break your treaty with Baasha, the king of Israel. Then he'll go back home."
20 Ben-Hadad listened to what King Asa said. He sent his army commanders against the towns of Israel. He attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah and the whole area of Kinnereth in addition to Naphtali.
21 Baasha heard about it. So he stopped building up Ramah. He went back home to Tirzah.
22 Then King Asa drafted everyone in Judah and excused no one. He made them carry the stones and lumber from Ramah. Baasha had been using those to fortify the city. King Asa used the materials to fortify Geba in Benjamin and Mizpah.
23 Isn't everything else about Asa--all his heroic acts, everything he did, and the cities he fortified--written in the official records of the kings of Judah? But when he was old, he had a foot disease.
24 Asa lay down in death[slept] with his ancestors[fathers]. He was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor, David. His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him as king.
NADAB'S WICKED REIGN:
25 And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.26 He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD(Jesus) by living the way his father had lived. He sinned as his father had sinned. Jeroboam had also caused Israel to commit the same sins.
27 Then Baasha, son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar, plotted against Nadab. Baasha assassinated him in the Philistine city of Gibbethon while Nadab and the Israelite forces were attacking it.
28 In the third year that Asa was king of Judah, Baasha killed him and became the next king after Nadab.
29 As soon as he became king, he killed Jeroboam's whole family. He didn't leave any of them alive. He destroyed every one of them. He did what the LORD(Jesus) had spoken through his servant Ahijah from Shiloh.
30 This was because of Jeroboam's sins and the sins which he led Israel to commit. Those sins made the LORD(Jesus) God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel angry.
31 Isn't everything else about Nadab--everything he did--written in the official records of the kings of Israel?
32 There was war between Asa and Baasha, the king of Israel.and it lasted the whole time they were lived.
BAASHA BECOMES KING OF ISRAEL:
33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah Baasha the son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, for 24 years.34 Baasha did what was evil in the sight of the LORD(Jesus). He lived the way Jeroboam had lived. He sinned as Jeroboam had sinned. Jeroboam had also caused Israel to commit the same sins.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 16
1 Then the word of the LORD(Jesus) came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying:
This is the only incident recorded in the life of this prophet. His father was also a prophet ( 2 Chronicles 16:7 ).
2 I raised you up from the dust and I made you leader of my people Israel. But you lived like Jeroboam had lived. You also caused my people Israel to sin. And their sins made me furious.
3 So I am going to destroy Baasha and his family. I will make your house like the royal house of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. 4 Those people who belong to you will die in the city. Dogs will eat them up. Others will die in the country. The birds of the air will eat them.
5 Isn't everything else about Baasha--what he did and his heroic acts--written in the official records of the kings of Israel?
6 Baasha died and joined his family in death. His body was buried in Tirzah. His son Elah became the next king after him.
7 In addition, the LORD(Jesus) spoke his word to the prophet Jehu, Hanani's son, against Baasha and his family because of all the things Baasha did which the LORD(Jesus) considered evil. Baasha's actions, which made the LORD(Jesus) furious, were like [the sin of] Jeroboam's family. The LORD(Jesus) was also furious because Baasha destroyed Jeroboam's family.
ELAH BECOMES KING OF ISRAEL:
8 In the 26th year that Asa was king of Judah, Elah, son of Baasha, began to rule Israel. Elah ruled in Tirzah for two years. He was the son of Baasha.9 Zimri one of Elah's officials, conspired against Elah. He commanded half of Elah's chariot drivers. Elah was in Tirzah at the time. He was getting drunk in the home of Arza. Arza was in charge of the palace at Tirzah.
10 Zimri went in and struck Elah down and killed him. It was in the 27th year of Asa, the king of Judah. Zimri became the next king after Elah.
11 At the beginning of Zimri's reign, as he was on his throne, he killed Baasha's entire family. He didn't spare any of Baasha's male relatives or friends.
12 So Zimri destroyed the whole family of Baasha. That's what the LORD(Jesus) had said would happen. He had spoken against Baasha through the prophet Jehu.
13 This was for all the sins committed by Baasha and his son Elah. They sinned, led Israel to sin, and made the LORD(Jesus) God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel angry because of their vain idols.
14 Isn't everything else about Elah--everything he did--written in the official records of the kings of Israel?
ZIMRI BECOMES KING OF ISRAEL:
15 In Asa's twenty-seventh year as Judah's king, Zimri ruled for seven days in Tirzah while the army was camped near the Philistine city of Gibbethon.16 The people who were in the camp heard that Zimri had made plans against King Elah. They also heard that Zimri had murdered him. So they announced that Omri was king over Israel. He was the commander of the army. They made him king that very day in the camp.
17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, with all Israel, and they besieged Tirzah.
18 When Zimri saw that they had taken over the city. So he went into the safest place in the royal palace. He set the palace on fire all around him. He died there
19 because of the sins he had committed. He had done what was evil in the sight of the LORD(Jesus). He had lived the way Jeroboam had lived. He had sinned as Jeroboam had sinned. Jeroboam had also caused Israel to commit the same sins.
20 The other events of Zimri's rule are written down. The way he turned against King Elah and killed him is written down. All of those things are written in the official records of the kings of Israel.
OMRI BECOMES KING OF ISRAEL:
21 The people of Israel divided up into two groups. Half of them wanted Tibni to be king. He was the son of Ginath. The other half wanted Omri.The factions that ensued occasioned a four years' duration (compare 1 Kings 16:15 with 1 Kings 16:23 ), of anarchy or civil war. Whatever might be the public opinion of Omri's merits a large body of the people disapproved of the mode of his election, and declared for Tibni. The army, however, as usual in such circumstances (and they had the will of Providence favoring them), prevailed over all opposition, and Omri became undisputed possessor of the throne.
22 But Omri's followers were stronger than those of Tibni, the son of Ginath. So Tibni died. And Omri began to rule.
23 Omri became king of Israel. It was in the 31st year that Asa was king of Judah. Omri ruled for 12 years. He ruled in Tirzah for six of those years.
24 He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer. He weighed out 150 pounds of silver for it. Then he built a city on the hill. He called it Samaria. He named it after Shemer. Shemer had owned the hill before him.
25 But Omri did what was evil in the sight of the LORD(Jesus). He sinned more than all of the kings who had ruled before him.
26 He lived just like Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. He sinned as Jeroboam had sinned. Jeroboam had also caused Israel to commit the same sins. Israel made the LORD(Jesus) very angry. They did it by worshiping worthless statues of gods. The LORD(Jesus) is the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel.
27 Isn't everything else about Omri--what he did and his heroic acts--written in the official records of the kings of Israel?
28 Omri joined the members of his family in death(in the grave). His body was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became the next king after him.
AHAB BECOMES KING OF ISRAEL:
29 Ahab became king of Israel. It was in the 38th year that Asa was king of Judah. Ahab ruled over Israel in Samaria for 22 years. He was the son of Omri.30 Ahab, the son of Omri, did what was evil in the sight of the LORD(Jesus). He did more evil things than any of the kings who had ruled before him.
31 It wasn't enough that he committed the same sins as Jeroboam (Nebat's son). He also married Jezebel, daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon. Ahab then served and worshiped Baal.
The worship of God by symbols had hitherto been the offensive form of apostasy in Israel, but now gross idolatry is openly patronized by the court. This was done through the influence of Jezebel, Ahab's queen. She was "the daughter of Eth-baal, king of the Zidonians." He was priest of Ashtaroth or Astarte, who, having murdered Philetes, king of Tyre, ascended the throne of that kingdom, being the eighth king since Hiram. Jezebel was the wicked daughter of this regicide and idol priest--and, on her marriage with Ahab, never rested till she had got all the forms of her native Tyrian worship introduced into her adopted country.
32 He set up an altar to honor Baal. He set it up in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria.
altar for Baal--that is, the sun, worshipped under various images. Ahab set up one ( 2 Kings 3:2 ), probably as the Tyrian Hercules, in the temple in Samaria. No human sacrifices were offered--the fire was kept constantly burning --the priests officiated barefoot. Dancing and kissing the image ( 1 Kings 19:18 ) were among the principal rites.
33 Ahab made poles dedicated to the goddess(elohim/theos) Easter. He did more to make the LORD(Jesus) God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel furious than all the kings of Israel who came before him.
34 In Ahab's time, Hiel from Bethel rebuilt Jericho. When he laid its foundations, it cost him the life of his oldest son Abiram. When he set up its gates, it cost him the life of his youngest son Segub. That's what the LORD(Jesus) had said would happen. He had spoken it through Joshua, the son of Nun.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 17
Elijah or Elias whose name (El-i Jahu) means "My God(Elohim/Theos) is YHWH", "I whose God(Elohim/Theos) is YHWH", was a prophet in Israel in the 9th century BC. He appears in the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Mishnah, New Testament, and the Qur'an. Elijah raised the dead, brought fire down from the sky, and ascended into first heaven (the sky) in a chariot. In the Book of Malachi, Elijah's return is prophesied "before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD(Jesus)." Jesus said that John the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy. Elijah, was a second Moses. Like Moses, Elijah wrote much of the Old Testament, which was finished and noted by the prophet Ezra during the Babylonian captivity. Next to Moses, Elijah is probably the next greatest prophet, and author of God(Elohim/Theos)'s word. Many believe that his trip to heaven in a chariot is proof that the dead go to heaven when they die. However upon close examination of the Scripture, it soon becomes obvious that I like it did not go to the third heaven of God(Elohim/Theos), or even die! The clue of “writing in a chariot,” is a clue to where he really went. The plain simple fact is that he was miraculously transported in a heavenly chariot away in the sky to another location on earth. Just like we flying a jet, in heaven (meaning the sky) to go from one place to another in a quick fashion. Elijah had no jets, so God(Elohim/Theos) did the next best thing! Years later a letter was delivered to king Jehoram of Judah, who had succeeded his father Jehoshaphat, who was king when Elijah was separated from Elisha. The letter was from Elijah, warning Jehoram to repent: (2 Chronicles 21:12,13) Remember, in the New Testament, Jesus makes it clear that no man had gone to heaven before him! (John 3:13). That would certainly include Elijah! This is not the only Biblical account of a man being moved miraculously from one place to another. In Acts 8:39-40 we read that the same thing occurred again and nobody seems to consider this an example of “going to heaven!”
ELIJAH:
1 Elijah the Tishbe settled in Gilead. He said to Ahab, "As the LORD(Jesus) God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel lives, there will be no dew or rain during the next few years unless I say so."Elijah the Tishbite--This prophet is introduced as abruptly as Melchisedek--his birth, parents, and call to the prophetic office being alike unrecorded. He is supposed to be called the Tishbite from Tisbeh, a place east of Jordan.
Gilead: or residents of Gilead, implying that he was not an Israelite, but an Ishmaelite, as MICHAELIS conjectures, for there were many of that race on the confines of Gilead. The employment of a Gentile as an extraordinary minister might be to rebuke and shame the apostate people of Israel.(Jamieson)
2 Then the word the LORD(Jesus) came to Elijah and said: 3 Leave this place. Go east and hide in the Kerith Valley. It is east of the Jordan River.
4 You will drink water from the brook. I have commanded some ravens to feed you there.
5 So Elijah did what the LORD(Jesus) had told him to do. He went to the Kerith Valley. It was east of the Jordan River. He stayed there.
6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening. He drank water from the brook.
The idea of such unclean and voracious birds being employed to feed the prophet has appeared to many so strange that they have labored to make out the Orebim, which in our version has been rendered "ravens," to be as the word is used (in Ezekiel 27:27 ) "merchants"; or Arabians ( 2 Chronicles 21:16 , Nehemiah 4:7 ); or, the citizens of Arabah, near Beth-shan ( Joshua 15:6 , 18:18 ). But the common rendering is, in our opinion, preferable to these conjectures. And, if Elijah was miraculously fed by ravens, it is idle to inquire where they found the bread and the flesh, for God would direct them. After the lapse of a year, the brook dried up, and this was a new trial to Elijah's faith.
ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW AT ZAREPHATH
7 Later, the brook dried up because it hadn't rained in the land for a long time.8 And the word of the LORD(Jesus) came unto him, saying:
9 Arise and go to Zarephath in the territory of Sidon. Stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. He came to the city's gate. A widow was there gathering sticks. He called out to her. He asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar? I need a drink."
11 As she was going to get it, he called to her again, "Please bring me a piece of bread too."
12 And she said , As the LORD(Jesus) our God(Elohim/Theos) lives, I didn't bake any bread. I have one handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I'm gathering wood. I'm going to prepare something for myself and my son so that we can eat it and then die."
13 Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home. Do what you have said. But first make a little bread for me. Make it out of what you have. Bring it to me. Then make some for yourself and your son.
14 The LORD(Jesus) is the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel. He says, 'The jar of flour will not be used up. The jug will always have oil in it. You will have flour and oil until the day the LORD(Jesus) sends rain on the land.' "
15 She went away and did what Elijah told her. So Elijah had food every day. There was also food for the woman and her family.
16 The jar of flour never became empty, and the jug always contained olive oil, as the LORD(Jesus) had promised through Elijah.
17 Afterwards, the son of the woman who owned the house got sick. He got so sick that finally no life was left in him.
18 The woman said to Elijah, "You are a man of God(Elohim/Theos). What do you have against me? Did you come to bring my sin out into the open? Did you come to kill my son?"
19 He said to her, "Give me your son." Elijah took him from her arms, carried him to the upstairs room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed.
20 Then he called to the LORD(Jesus), "LORD(Jesus) my God(Elohim/Theos), have you brought misery on the widow I'm staying with by killing her son?"
21 Then Elijah stretched himself over the boy three times and called to the LORD(Jesus), "LORD(Jesus) my God(Elohim/Theos), please make this child's life return to him."
22 The LORD(Jesus) answered Elijah's prayer. He gave the boy's life back to him. So the boy lived.
23 Elijah picked up the boy. He carried him down from the upstairs room into the house. He gave him to his mother. He said, "Look! Your son is alive!"
24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God(Elohim/Theos). I know that the message you have brought from the LORD(Jesus) is true."
A severe domestic calamity seems to have led her to think that, as God had shut up heaven upon a sinful land in consequence of the prophet, she was suffering on a similar account. Without answering her bitter upbraiding, the prophet takes the child, lays it on his bed, and after a very earnest prayer, had the happiness of seeing its restoration, and along with it, gladness to the widow's heart and home. The prophet was sent to this widow, not merely for his own security, but on account of her faith, to strengthen and promote which he was directed to go to her rather than to many widows in Israel, who would have eagerly received him on the same privileged terms of exception from the grinding famine. The relief of her bodily necessities became the preparatory means of supplying her spiritual wants, and bringing her and her son, through the teachings of the prophet, to a clear knowledge of God, and a firm faith in His word ( Luke 4:25 ).
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 18
ELIJAH MEETS OBADIAH:
1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD(Jesus) came to Elijah in the third year, saying: Go. Speak to Ahab. Then I will send rain on the land.
In the New Testament, it is said there was no rain "for the space of three years and six months" [ James 5:17 ].
3 Ahab sent for Obadiah who was in charge of the palace. Obadiah revered the LORD(Jesus) deeply.
4 (When Jezebel was killing the LORD(Jesus)'s prophets, Obadiah had hidden 100 prophets in caves. He put 50 prophets in each cave and kept them alive by providing bread and water for them.)
5 Ahab had said to Obadiah, "Go throughout the land -- to all of the springs of water and to the valleys. Perhaps we can find some grass there. It will keep the horses and mules alive. Then we won't lose any of our animals."
6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 As Obadiah was walking along his way, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him. He bowed down to the ground. He said, "My master Elijah! Is it really you?"
8 And he answered, “Yes. Go and tell your master Ahab, 'Elijah is here.' "
9 "What have I done wrong?" asked Obadiah. "Why are you handing me over to Ahab to be put to death?
10 As the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos) lives, there is no nation or kingdom where he hasn't sent someone to look for you. Suppose a nation or kingdom would claim you weren't there. Then Ahab would make them take an oath and say they couldn't find you. And that's just as sure as the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos) is alive.
11 "But now you are telling me to go to my master. You want me to say, 'Elijah is here.'
12 This is what will happen: When I leave you, the LORD(Jesus)'s Spirit will take you away to some unknown place. I'll tell Ahab, but he won't be able to find you. Then he will kill me. "I have been faithful to the LORD(Jesus) since I was a child.
13 Haven't you heard what I did when Jezebel killed the LORD(Jesus)'s prophets? Haven't you heard how I hid 100 of the LORD(Jesus)'s prophets in caves? I hid 50 prophets in each cave and provided bread and water for them.
14 And now you are telling me to go to my master Ahab and say to him, 'Elijah is here.' He'll kill me!"
15 Elijah said, "I serve the LORD(Jesus) who rules over all. You can be sure that he lives. And you can be just as sure that I will speak to Ahab today."
16 Obadiah went back to Ahab. He told Ahab that Elijah wanted to see him. So Ahab went to where Elijah was.
17 When he saw Elijah, Ahab said, "Is that you, you troublemaker of Israel?"
18 He answered, answered, "I haven't troubled Israel. You and your father's family have done it by disobeying the LORD(Jesus)'s commands and following the various Baal gods(elohim/theos).
ELIJAH, BY PRAYER, OBTAINS RAIN:
19 Now send for people from all over Israel. Tell them to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the 450 prophets of the God(Elohim/Theos) Baal. Also bring the 400 prophets of the goddess(elohim/theos) Easter. All of them eat at Jezebel's table."
20 So Ahab sent that message all through Israel. He gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.
21 Elijah stood up in front of all the people and asked them, "How long will you try to have it both ways? If the LORD(Jesus) is God(Elohim/Theos), follow him; if Baal is God(Elohim/Theos), follow him."
The people didn't say a word.
This is a great story here and very telling! Elijah is demanding that the people make a choice: between God or Satan. THEY JUST STOOD THERE AND DID NOTHING! That is what man does, as God calls to us to take a side. HIS side, or the devils. Most never make that choice, and hence are never called! MAKE THE CHOICE and CHOOSE God!
22 Then Elijah said to the people, "I'm the only one of the LORD(Jesus)'s prophets left. But Baal has 450 prophets.
23 Get us two bulls. Let Baal's prophets choose one for themselves. Let them cut it into pieces. Then let them put it on the wood. But don't let them set fire to it. I'll prepare the other bull. I'll put it on the wood. But I won't set fire to it.
24 And you then should call on the name of your gods(elohim/theos), and I will call on the name of the LORD(Jesus): and the God(Elohim/Theos) that answers by fire, let Him be God(Elohim/Theos). And all the people answered and said , 'It is a good idea.'”
25 Elijah spoke to the prophets of Baal. He said, "Choose one of the bulls. There are many of you. So prepare your bull first. Pray to your God(Elohim/Theos). But don't light the fire."
26 They took the bull he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon. They said, "Baal, answer us!" But there wasn't a sound or an answer. So they danced around the altar they had made.
27 At noon Elijah began to tease them. "Shout louder!" he said. "I'm sure Baal is a God(Elohim/Theos)! Perhaps he has too much to think about. Or maybe he has gone to the toilet. Or perhaps he's away on a trip. Maybe he's sleeping. You might have to wake him up."
This is a funny scene here!
28 So they shouted louder. They cut themselves with swords and spears until their blood flowed. That's what they usually did when things really looked hopeless.
29 It was now past noon. The prophets of Baal continued to prophesy with all their might. They did it until the time came to offer the evening sacrifice. But there wasn't any reply. No one answered. No one paid any attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all of the people, "Come here to me." So they went to him. He rebuilt the altar of the LORD(Jesus). It had been destroyed.
31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD(Jesus) came, saying , Israel shall be your name:
32 Elijah built an altar in the LORD(Jesus)'s name with those stones. He also made a trench that could hold 13 quarts of grain around the altar.
33 He arranged the wood for the fire. He cut the bull into pieces. He placed the pieces on the wood. Then he said to some of the people, "Fill four large jars with water. Pour it on the offering and the wood." So they did.
34 Then he said, "Do it again," and they did it again. Then he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time.
35 The water ran down around the altar. It even filled the ditch.
36 When it was time to offer the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward. He prayed, "LORD(Jesus), you are the God(Elohim/Theos) of Abraham, Isaac and Israel. Today let everyone know that you are God(Elohim/Theos) in Israel. Let them know I'm your servant. Let them know I've done all of these things because you commanded me to.
37 Answer me. LORD(Jesus), answer me. Then these people will know that you are the one and only God(Elohim/Theos). They'll know that you are turning their hearts back to you again."
38 So, the fire of the LORD(Jesus) came down and burned up the sacrifice. It burned up the wood and the stones and the soil and even dried up the water in the ditch.
39 All of the people saw it. Then they fell down flat with their faces toward the ground. They cried out, "The LORD(Jesus) is the one and only God(Elohim/Theos)! The LORD(Jesus) is the one and only God(Elohim/Theos)!"
40 Elijah told them, "Seize the prophets of Baal. Don't let any of them escape." The people seized them, and Elijah took them to the Kishon River and slaughtered them there.
41 Elijah said to Ahab, "Go. Eat and drink. I can hear the sound of a heavy rain."
42 Ahab got up to eat and drink. Elijah went to the top of Carmel and bowed down on the ground to pray.
43 And said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up , and looked , and said , “There is nothingthere.” And he said , “Go again seven more times.”
44 After the seventh time the servant said, "A little cloud like a man's hand is coming from the sea." Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and leave before the rain delays you.'"
45 Black clouds filled the sky. The wind came up, and a heavy rain began to fall. Ahab rode off to Jezreel.
46 The power of the LORD(Jesus) came upon Elijah. He tucked his coat into his belt. And he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 19
ELIJAH HIDES AT MOUNT HOREB(SINAI):
1 Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including how he had executed all the prophets. ELIJAH HIDES AT MOUNT HOREB(SINAI):
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah. She said, "May the gods(elohim/theos) strike me dead if by this time tomorrow I don't take your life the way you took the lives of Baal's prophets."
3 Afraid, Elijah ran for his life. He came to Beersheba in Judah and left his servant there.
The threat produced the intended effect, for his faith suddenly failed him. He fled out of the kingdom into the southernmost part of the territories in Judah; nor did he deem himself safe even there, but, dismissing his servant, he resolved to seek refuge among the mountain recesses of Sinai, and there longed for death ( James 5:17 ).This sudden and extraordinary depression of mind arose from too great confidence inspired by the miracles wrought at Carmel, and by the disposition the people evinced there. Had he remained steadfast and immovable, the impression on the mind of Ahab and the people generally might have been followed by good results. But he had been exalted above measure ( 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 ), and being left to himself, the great prophet, instead of showing the indomitable spirit of a martyr, fled from his post of duty.
4 Then he traveled through the wilderness a day's journey. He sat down under a broom plant and wanted to die. "I've had enough now, LORD(Jesus)," he said. "Take my life! I'm no better than my ancestors."
5 As he lay and slept under a broom shrub, behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat!”
on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade.(Jamieson)
6 Elijah looked around, and next to his head he saw a flat cake of bread. It had been baked over hot coals. A jar of water was also there. So Elijah ate and drank. Then he lay down again.
7 The angel of the LORD(Jesus) came to him a second time. He touched him and said, "Get up and eat. Your journey will be long and hard."
8 So he got up. He ate and drank. The food gave him new strength. He traveled for 40 days and 40 nights. He kept going until he arrived at Horeb. It was the mountain of God(Elohim/Theos).
It isn't mentioned here but most likely he fasted for these 40 days and 40 nights, as did Moses. This is Mount Sinai and this propels Elijah in eternal stature, in the likeness or image of Moses to the people!
9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. Then the LORD(Jesus) spoke his word to Elijah. He asked, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"The LORD(Jesus) Appears to Elijah:
10 And he said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD(Jesus) God(Elohim/Theos) of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets; and I, even I only, am left ; and they seek my life too, to take it away ."11 And He said: Go out , and stand upon the mountain in front of the LORD(Jesus). And, behold, the LORD(Jesus) passed by , and a great and strong wind ripped throughout the mountains, and shattered rocks ahead of the LORD(Jesus). But the LORD(Jesus) was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the LORD(Jesus) wasn't in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake a fire came. But the LORD(Jesus) wasn't in the fire. And after the fire there was only a gentle whisper.
13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his coat over his face. He went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. Then a voice said to him, "Elijah, what are you doing here?"
14 He replied, "LORD(Jesus) God(Elohim/Theos) of hosts... I've been very committed to you. The people of Israel have turned their backs on your covenant. They have torn down your altars. They've put your prophets to death with their swords. I'm the only one left. And they are trying to kill me."
15 The LORD(Jesus) said to him: Go back the way you came. Go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael as king over Aram.
16 Also anoint Jehu as king over Israel. He is the son of Nimshi. And anoint Elisha from Abel Meholah as the next prophet after you. He is the son of Shaphat.
17 Jehu will put to death anyone who escapes Hazael's sword. And Elisha will put to death anyone who escapes Jehu's sword.
18 But I still have 7,000 people in Israel whose knees have not knelt to worship Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.
God wanted to make sure Elijah understood that he was never alone, when he thought that he was. There were 7,000 others unkown to him. This is true with us today. Often, we feel like we are the only ones, when in fact, not known to us are many who are following the LORD just as we are!
ELISHA FOLLOWS ELIJAH:
19 Elijah left Mount Horeb. He saw Elisha, the son of Shaphat plowing in a field. He was driving the last of 12 pairs of oxen. Elijah went up to him. He threw his coat around him.
ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen--indicating that he was a man of substance.
His coat or mantel: -This was an investiture with the prophetic office. It is in this way that the Brahmins, the Persian Sufis, and other priestly or sacred characters in the East are appointed--a mantle being, by some eminent priest, thrown across their shoulders. Elisha had probably been educated in the schools of the prophets.(Jamieson)
20 So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye. Then I will follow you." "Go back," Elijah answered him. "I'm not stopping you."
21 So Elisha left him and went back. He got his two oxen and killed them. He burned the plow to cook the meat. He gave it to the people, and they ate it. Then he started to follow Elijah. He became Elijah's assistant.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 20
1King Benhadad of Aram gathered together his whole army. With him were 32 kings along with their horses and chariots. He went to blockade Samaria and fight against it.
Ben-hadad the king of Syria--This monarch was the son of that Ben-hadad who, in the reign of Baasha, made a raid on the northern towns of Galilee ( 1 Kings 15:20 ). The thirty-two kings that were confederate with him were probably tributary princes. The ancient kings of Syria and Phoenicia ruled only over a single city, and were independent of each other, except when one great city, as Damascus, acquired the ascendency, and even then they were allied only in time of war. The Syrian army encamped at the gates and besieged the town of Samaria.(Jamieson)
3 'Your silver and gold belong to me. The best of your wives and children also belong to me.' "
4 The king of Israel replied, "As you say, Your Majesty. I and everything I have are yours."
5 The messengers came again and told Ahab, "Ben-Hadad says, 'I commanded you to give me your silver and gold. I also commanded you to give me your wives and children.
6 Yet I will send my officials to you who will come about this time tomorrow. They'll search your palace. They'll search your officials houses. They will take anything that you consider valuable.' "
7 The king of Israel sent for all of the elders of the land. He said to them, "This man is really looking for trouble! When he sent for my wives, children, silver, and gold, I didn't refuse him."
8 All of the elders and people said, "Don't listen to him. Don't agree to give him what he wants."
9 So Ahab told Ben-Hadad's messengers. He said, "Tell my king and master, 'I will do everything you commanded me to do the first time. But this time, I can't do what you want me to do.' " The messengers departed , and brought him the answer back.
10 Then Ben-Hadad sent Ahab the following message: "May the gods(elohim/theos) strike me dead if there will be any dust left from Samaria to give a handful to each soldier who follows me."
11 The king of Israel replied. He said, "The saying goes, 'Don't brag about a victory before you have even dressed for battle.'"
12 Ben-Hadad and the kings were in drinking their tents. That's when he heard the message. He ordered his men, "Get ready to attack." So they prepared to attack the city.
13 Then a prophet came to Ahab, the king of Israel. He announced, "The LORD(Jesus) says, 'Do you see this huge army? I will hand it over to you today. Then you will know that I am the LORD(Jesus).' "
14 Ahab asked, "How will this happen?" The prophet answered, "This is what the LORD(Jesus) says: by using the young officers of the district governors." "Who will start the battle?" Ahab asked. "You will," the prophet answered.
15 So Ahab counted the young officers of the district governors. There were 232. After counting them, he counted all the Israelite soldiers. There were 7,000.
16 They attacked at noon, when Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings who were helping him were in their tents. They were all drunk.
17 And the young men of the governors of the provinces went out first; and Ben-Hadad sent out men, and they told him, saying , that some men had come out of Samaria.
18 He (Ben-Hadad) said, "They might be coming to make peace. If they are, take them alive. Or they might be coming to make war. If they are, take them alive."
19 The young officers marched out of the city with the army right behind them.
20 Each man struck down the one who was fighting against him. When that happened, the army of Aram ran away. The men of Israel chased them. But Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, escaped on a horse. Some of his horsemen escaped with him.
21 The king of Israel attacked them. He overpowered the horses and chariots. Large numbers of the men of Aram were wounded or killed.
22 And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said to him, "Go make yourself stronger. Do what needs to be done. Next spring the king of Aram will attack you again."
23 During that time, the officials of the king of Aram gave him advice. They said, "Their gods(elohim/theos) are gods(elohim/theos) of the hills. That's why they were too strong for us. But suppose we fight them on the flatlands. Then we'll certainly be stronger than they are.
Some translate elohim here as “their God(Elohim/Theos)” and not “their gods.” This is because, as we stated in Genesis chapter one that the word elohim can be translated “God(Elohim/Theos) (one group, but in the plural sense) or gods. These heathen would have thought of the word “gods.” The KJV accurately uses “gods” here.
24 Do this. Remove all of the kings from their positions, and substitute governors for them.
25 Assemble an army with as many horses and chariots as the one which was defeated. Then, if we fight them on the plain, we will be stronger than they are." He took their advice and followed it.
26 The next spring Ben-Hadad brought together the men of Aram. They went up to the city of Aphek to fight against Israel.
27 The men of Israel were also brought together and given supplies. They went out to fight against their enemies. Israel's army camped across from Aram's army. The men of Israel looked like two small flocks of goats that had become separated from the others. But the men of Aram covered the countryside.
28 The man of God(Elohim/Theos) came up to the king of Israel again. He told him, "The LORD(Jesus) says, 'The men of Aram think I am a God(Elohim/Theos) of the hills. They do not think I am a god(elohim/theos) of the valleys. So I will hand their huge army over to you. Then you will know that I am the LORD(Jesus).' "
29 They camped facing one another for seven days, and on the seventh day the battle started. The Israelites killed 100,000 Aramean foot soldiers in one day.
30 But the rest fled to Aphek. Its wall fell down on 27,000 of them. Ben-Hadad ran to the city. He hid in a secret room.
31 His officers told him, "We have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Allow us to dress in sackcloth, put ropes around our necks, and go to the king of Israel. Maybe he'll let you live."
32 So they dressed in sackcloth and put ropes around their necks. They went to the king of Israel and said, "Your servant Benhadad says, 'Please let me live.'" Ahab asked, "He's still alive? He's my brother."
33 The men, watching for a good sign, were quick to take him at his word. "Ben Hadad is your brother," they said. Ahab said, "Bring him here." When Ben Hadad arrived, Ahab had him come up on the chariot with him.
34 Ben Hadad told him, "I will give back the towns my father took from your father. You may set up trading centers in Damascus as my father did in Samaria." Ahab said, "If you will put this into a treaty, I will let you go." So Ahab made a treaty with Ben Hadad and let him go.
35 There was a certain man of the sons of the prophets that said to his friend in the word of the LORD(Jesus), "Hit me," but the man refused to punch him.
This prophet is supposed ( 1 Kings 20:8 ) to have been Micaiah. The refusal of his neighbor to smite the prophet was manifestly wrong, as it was a withholding of necessary aid to a prophet in the discharge of a duty to which he had been called by God, and it was severely punished ( 1 Kings 20:36 ), as a beacon to warn others The prophet found a willing assistant, and then, waiting for Ahab, leads the king unconsciously, in the parabolic manner of Nathan ( 2 Samuel 12:1-4 ), to pronounce his own doom; and this consequent punishment was forthwith announced by a prophet (Jamieson)
36 The prophet said, "Since you didn't obey the LORD(Jesus), a lion will kill you when you leave me." When the friend left, a lion found him and killed him.
37 The prophet found another man. He said, "Hit me." The man punched him hard and hurt him.
38 Then the prophet, disguised with a bandage over his eyes, waited for the king by the road.
39 When the king passed by, the disciple called to him. "I went to fight in the battle. A man turned around and brought a prisoner to me. He said, 'Guard this prisoner. If he gets away, you will pay for his life with your own life or be fined 75 pounds of silver.'
40 But while I was busy doing other things, he got away." The king of Israel told him, "That's your own penalty. You have determined it yourself."
41 Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes. The king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.
42 He told the king, "The LORD(Jesus) says, 'You have set a man free. But I had said he should be set apart to the LORD(Jesus) in a special way to be destroyed. So you must pay for his life with yours. You must pay for his people's lives with the lives of your people.' "
43 The king of Israel was angry and went back to his palace in Samaria.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 21
NABOTH'S VINEYARD:
1 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. 2 Ahab told Naboth, "Give me your vineyard so I can make a vegetable garden because it's near my home. I will give you a better vineyard for it. If you prefer, I will pay you a fair price for it."
3 But Naboth replied, "May the LORD(Jesus) keep me from giving you the land my family handed down to me."
4 So Ahab went home angry and upset because of what Naboth from Jezreel had said to him. He had told him, "I won't give you the land my family handed down to me." So Ahab lay on his bed. He was in a bad mood. He wouldn't even eat anything.
5 His wife Jezebel came in. She asked him, "Why are you in such a bad mood? Why won't you eat anything?"
6 He told her, "Because I spoke to Naboth from Jezreel. I said, 'Sell me your vineyard. Or, if you prefer, I'll give you another vineyard in its place.' But he said, 'I won't sell you my vineyard.' "
7 His wife Jezebel said, "Is this how the king of Israel acts? Get up! Eat something! Cheer up. I'll get you the vineyard of Naboth from Jezreel."
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and stamped them with his seal. Then she sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in the city where Naboth lived.
9 In those letters she wrote, "Announce a fast. Have Make Naboth the leader among the people.
10 Have two worthless and evil men in seats across from him. Have them witness to the fact that he has called down curses on God and the king. Then take him out of the city. Kill him by throwing stones at him."
11 The men in Naboth's city--the respected leaders and nobles who lived there--did what Jezebel asked them to do. They did just as she had written in the letters she sent.
12 They announced a day of fasting. They had Naboth sit in an important place among the people.
13 Then two worthless and evil men came and sat across from him. They brought charges against Naboth in front of the people. The two men said, "Naboth has called down curses on God and the king." So they took him outside the city. They killed him by throwing stones at him.
worthless fellows who had been bribed to swear a falsehood. The law required two witnesses in capital offenses ( Deuteronomy 17:6 , 19:15 , Numbers 35:30 , Matthew 26:60 ). Cursing God and cursing the king are mentioned in the law ( Exodus 22:28 ) as offenses closely connected, the king of Israel being the earthly representative of God in His kingdom. they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him--The law, which forbade cursing the rulers of the people, does not specify the penalty for this offense but either usage had sanctioned or the authorities of Jezreel had originated stoning as the proper punishment. It was always inflicted out of the city ( Acts 7:58 ). (Jamieson)
14 Then they sent a message to Jezebel. They said, "Naboth is dead. We killed him by throwing stones at him."
15 Jezebel heard that Naboth had been killed. As soon as she heard it, she said to Ahab, "Get up. Take over the vineyard of Naboth from Jezreel. It's the one he wouldn't sell to you. He isn't alive anymore. He's dead."
16 Ahab heard that Naboth was dead. So he got up. He went down to take over Naboth's vineyard.
17 Then the LORD(Jesus) spoke his word to Elijah from Tishbe:
18 Go down to see Ahab, the king of Israel. He rules in Samaria. You will find him in Naboth's vineyard. He has gone there to take it over.
19 Tell him, 'The LORD(Jesus) says, "Haven't you murdered a man? Haven't you taken over his property?" ' Then tell him, 'The LORD(Jesus) says, "Dogs licked up Naboth's blood. In that same place dogs will lick up your blood. Yes, I said your blood!" ' "
20 And Ahab said to Elijah, "So you've found me, my enemy?" Elijah answered, "I found you. Because you sold yourself to do what the LORD(Jesus) considers evil.
21 So the LORD(Jesus) says: I am going to bring horrible trouble on you. I will destroy your children after you. I will cut off every male in Israel who is related to you. It does not matter whether they are slaves or free.
22 I will make your royal house like the house of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. I will make it like the house of Baasha, the son of Ahijah. You have made me very angry. You have caused Israel to commit sin.
23 "The LORD(Jesus) also says, 'Dogs will eat up Jezebel near the wall of Jezreel.'
24 "Some of the people who belong to Ahab will die in the city. Dogs will eat them up. Others will die in the country. The birds of the air will eat them."
25 There was never anyone like Ahab. He gave himself over to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD(Jesus). His wife Jezebel talked him into it.
26 He did many disgusting things as a result of worshiping idols(gillwill) as the Amorites had done. (The LORD(Jesus) confiscated their land for Israel.)
gillwill is the Hebrew word for Idols.
27 When Ahab heard what Elijah had said, he tore his robes. He put on sackcloth. He fasted, lay in sackcloth, and walked around depressed.
28 Then a message from the LORD(Jesus) came to Elijah, who was from Tishbe. It said:
29 Do you see how Ahab is humbling himself in my presence? Because he's humbling himself in my presence, I will not let any evil happen to his family while he is alive. I will bring evil on it during his son's lifetime.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Kings 22
MICAIAH PROPHESIES AGAINST AHAB:
1 For three years there wasn't any war between Aram and Israel. 2 In the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah(Jews) went down to see Ahab, the king of Israel.
Notice again that the Jews are NOT ISRAEL! They are the nation of Judah or THE JEWS!
3 The king of Israel asked his officials, "Don't you know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us? And we aren't even doing anything to take it back from the king of Aram."
4 Then he asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth in Gilead?" Jehoshaphat told the king of Israel, "I will do what you do. My troops will do what your troops do. My horses will do what your horses do."
5. Then Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "But first, find out what the word of the LORD (JESUS) is in this matter."
6 So the king of Israel called 400 prophets together. He asked them, "Should I go to war against Ramoth in Gilead or not?" "Go," they said. "The LORD (JESUS) will hand over Ramoth to you."
7 But Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn't there a prophet of the Lord here that we can ask?”
8 The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "We can ask the LORD (JESUS) through Micaiah, son of Imlah, but I hate him. He doesn't prophesy anything good about me, only evil." Jehoshaphat answered, "The king must not say that."
9 So the king of Israel called for one of his officials. He told him, "Bring Micaiah, the son of Imlah, at once."
10 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, were dressed in royal robes. They were sitting on their thrones and sitting in the threshing floor near the entrance of the gate of Samaria. All of the prophets were prophesying in front of them.
11 Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said, "This is what the LORD (JESUS) says: With these horns you will push the Arameans to their destruction."
12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up and attack Ramoth in Gilead , and win : for the LORD (JESUS) shall deliver it into the king's hand.
13 The messenger who went to call Micaiah told him, "The prophets have all told the king the same good message. Make your message agree with their message. Say something good."
14 Micaiah answered, "I solemnly swear, as the LORD (JESUS) lives, I will tell him whatever the LORD (JESUS) tells me."
15 When he came to the king, the king asked him, "Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth in Gilead or not?" Micaiah said to him, "Attack and you will win. The LORD (JESUS) will hand it over to you."
16 The king said to him, "I've made you promise to tell the truth many times before. So don't tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD (JESUS)."
17 And he said, "I saw all of the people of Israel scattered on the hills. They were like sheep that didn't have a shepherd. The LORD (JESUS) said, 'These people do not have a master. Let each of them go home in peace.' "
18 The king of Israel spoke to Jehoshaphat. He said, "Didn't I tell you he never prophesies anything good about me? He only prophesies bad things."
19 Micaiah continued, "Listen to the LORD'S message. I saw the LORD (JESUS) sitting on his throne. Some of the angels of heaven were standing at his right side. The others were standing at his left side. So all of them were standing around him.
20 The LORD (JESUS) asked, 'Who will deceive Ahab so that he will attack and be killed at Ramoth in Gilead?' Some answered one way, while others said something else.
21And there came forth a spirit(ruach), and stood before the LORD (JESUS), and said , I will persuade him.
Ruach means win and is often translated as spirit AND can be sometimes Holy Spirit.
22 " 'How?' the LORD (JESUS) asked. "The spirit said, 'I'll go out and put lies in the mouths of all of his prophets.'" 'You will have success in getting Ahab to attack Ramoth Gilead,' said the LORD (JESUS). 'Go and do it.'
23 “So the LORD has put lies in the mouths of all of your prophets. He has said that great harm will come to you."
24 Then Zedekiah, the son of Kenaanah, went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. "So you think the spirit that was sent by the LORD went away from me to speak to you, do you?" he asked. "Which way did he go?"
25 Micaiah answered, "You will find out on the day you go into an inner room to hide."
26 The king of Israel then said, "Send Micaiah back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the prince.
27 Tell him, 'The king says, "Put this fellow in prison. Don't give him anything but bread and water until I return safely." ' "
28 Micaiah announced, "Do you really think you will return safely? If you do, the LORD (JESUS) hasn't spoken through me." He continued, "All of you people, remember what I've said!"
AHAB IS KILLED AT RAMOTH GILEAD:
29 So the king of Israel went up to Ramoth in Gilead. Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went there too.30 The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you should wear your royal robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
31The king of Aram had given orders to the 32 chariot commanders. He said, "Don't fight anyone except the king of Israel."
32 The chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat. They thought, "That has to be the king of Israel." So they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat cried out.
33 Then the commanders saw he wasn't the king of Israel after all. So they stopped chasing him.
34 One man aimed his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between his scale armor and his breastplate. Ahab told his chariot driver, "Turn around, and get me away from these troops. I'm badly wounded."
35 But the battle got worse that day, and the king was kept propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. He died that evening. The blood from the wound had flowed into the chariot.
36 At sundown a cry went through the army, "Every man to his own city! Every man to his own property!"
37 So the king died. He was brought to Samaria. They buried his body there.
38 They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria. It was where the prostitutes took baths. The dogs licked up Ahab's blood. It happened exactly as the LORD had said it would.
39 Isn't everything else about Ahab--everything he did, the ivory palace he built, and all the cities he fortified--written in the official records of the kings of Israel?
40 Ahab lay down in death with his ancestors. His son Ahaziah succeeded him as king.
JEHOSHAPHAT'S(of Judah) RULE COMES TO AN END:
41 Jehoshaphat, son of Asa, became king of Judah in Ahab's fourth year as king of Israel.42 Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother's name was Azubah. She was the daughter of Shilhi.
43 Jehoshaphat carefully followed the example his father Asa had set and did what the LORD considered right.
44 Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.
45 Isn't everything else about Jehoshaphat--the heroic acts he did and [the wars] he fought--written in the official records of the kings of Judah?
46 Jehoshaphat got rid of the rest of the male prostitutes who were at the temples. They had remained in the land even after the rule of his father Asa.
47 At that time Edom didn't have a king. An appointed official was in charge.
48 Jehoshaphat built many ships that he used to carry goods to be traded. The ships were supposed to go to Ophir for gold. But they never had a chance to sail. They were wrecked at Ezion Geber.
49 Then Ahaziah, son of Ahab, said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with your servants in the ships." But Jehoshaphat refused.
50 Jehoshaphat lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoram succeeded him as king.
AHAZIAH BECOMES KING OF ISRAEL:
51 Ahaziah became king of Israel in Samaria. It was in the 17th year that Jehoshaphat was king of Judah. Ahaziah ruled over Israel for two years. He was the son of Ahab.52 Ahaziah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD (JESUS). He lived the way his father and mother had lived. He lived the way Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, had lived. Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit sin.
53 Ahaziah served and worshiped (the god) Baal. He made the LORD (JESUS), the God of Israel, very angry. That's exactly what his father had done.
