1 Kings: Solomon

United Monarchy: Saul, David, SolomonUnited Monarchy: Saul, David, Solomon 1000BC 1000BC

Transition of power

• Adonijah’s bid for throneAdonijah’s bid for throne– David’s failure as a father (I Kgs. 1:6)David’s failure as a father (I Kgs. 1:6)

• Nathan & Bathsheba plot (1:11ff)Nathan & Bathsheba plot (1:11ff)• Bathsheba’s son: Solomon (1:31, 33)Bathsheba’s son: Solomon (1:31, 33)• Solomon’s absence from the narrative: others Solomon’s absence from the narrative: others

speak for and about him 1:19, 26, 32, 38, he speak for and about him 1:19, 26, 32, 38, he only seems to speak in “official” contexts only seems to speak in “official” contexts

Solomon’s beginnings

• David’s advice: law of Moses, Davidic David’s advice: law of Moses, Davidic covenantal “if” 2:2ffcovenantal “if” 2:2ff

• David’s hit list (1 Kgs 2)—Joab (2:5, 28ff), David’s hit list (1 Kgs 2)—Joab (2:5, 28ff), Shimei (2:5, 37ff), his own=Adonijah Shimei (2:5, 37ff), his own=Adonijah [Abishag] (2:17ff)[Abishag] (2:17ff)

• Solomon already wise before dream (2:6, 9)Solomon already wise before dream (2:6, 9)

Solomon at Gibeon

• Dream at Gibeon: 3:4fDream at Gibeon: 3:4f– Solomon’s humility—child? (3:7)—how old is Solomon’s humility—child? (3:7)—how old is

Solomon?—already has a 1 year old son by an Solomon?—already has a 1 year old son by an Ammonitess (contra 11:1f)Ammonitess (contra 11:1f)

– Wealth -- why?—ironic reading, Marxist reading and Wealth -- why?—ironic reading, Marxist reading and difficulty with wealth difficulty with wealth

– Long life – why? (3:14)Long life – why? (3:14)• Solomon’s wisdom victory: 2 women & a baby Solomon’s wisdom victory: 2 women & a baby

(3:24)(3:24)

Solomon’s wisdom• Proverbs man -- (4:30ff) comparison cross cultures? Proverbs man -- (4:30ff) comparison cross cultures?

Pharaoh’s daughter 3:1; 9:24; 11:1; Prov. Pharaoh’s daughter 3:1; 9:24; 11:1; Prov. wisdom=woman, no temple, Proverbs 22 --wisdom=woman, no temple, Proverbs 22 --AmenemopeAmenemope

• Temple construction: (ch. 5-6) –Hiram’s help—Temple construction: (ch. 5-6) –Hiram’s help—floating cedars of Lebanon, shipsfloating cedars of Lebanon, ships

• Solomon’s dedication prayer (8:27) Solomon’s dedication prayer (8:27) – on great achievements ( pride or worship) on great achievements ( pride or worship)

• Solomon’s fame: queen of Sheba (10:1, 6)Solomon’s fame: queen of Sheba (10:1, 6)

Solomon’s folly• Solomon’s folly: Pharaoh’s daughter (3:1) + Solomon’s folly: Pharaoh’s daughter (3:1) +

wives/concubines (11:1) wives/concubines (11:1) –married before king to Ammonitess???-–married before king to Ammonitess???-Rehoboam 41.Rehoboam 41.

• Is it possible to turn away? (11:4, 9), Is it possible to turn away? (11:4, 9), Is Eccles. The answer—he turns back? Is Eccles. The answer—he turns back?

• On wisdom and folly: reading Solomon narrative On wisdom and folly: reading Solomon narrative • Kingdom torn: 11:11f—but for David’s sakeKingdom torn: 11:11f—but for David’s sake

– North: JeroboamNorth: Jeroboam– South: RehoboamSouth: Rehoboam

Kings: the Divided Monarchy

Israel: 931-Israel: 931-722722 BC BC Assyria [Nineveh] Assyria [Nineveh]

Judah: 931- Judah: 931- 586586 BC BC [Babylon] [Babylon]

The Split--1 Kgs 12

• Rehoboam’s mistake: young versus oldRehoboam’s mistake: young versus old– On advice receiving & learning to listen On advice receiving & learning to listen

(12:6ff); sends out Adoniram 12:18(12:6ff); sends out Adoniram 12:18• Northern Kingdom = IsraelNorthern Kingdom = Israel

– All bad kingsAll bad kings• Southern Kingdom = Judah—David’s Southern Kingdom = Judah—David’s

descendantsdescendants– Mostly bad: Hezekiah, Josiah some goodMostly bad: Hezekiah, Josiah some good

Kings of Israel 931-722 BC

• JeroboamJeroboam --> Nadab --> Nadab– Baasha --> ElahBaasha --> Elah– ZimriZimri

• OmriOmri AhabAhab Ahaziah Ahaziah Joram Joram• JehuJehu JehoahazJehoahaz Jehoash Jehoash Jeroboam IIJeroboam II• Shallum/Menahem/Pekahiah/PekahShallum/Menahem/Pekahiah/Pekah

Hoshea Hoshea Assyria [Nineveh] 722BC Assyria [Nineveh] 722BC

Jeroboam (931-910 BC) 1 Kgs 12-14

• Golden calves: Dan & BethelGolden calves: Dan & Bethel

Israel-whole

Jeroboam (931-910 BC) 1 Kgs 12-14

• Golden calves: Dan & Bethel 12:27ffGolden calves: Dan & Bethel 12:27ff• Epithet: taught Israel to sin Epithet: taught Israel to sin • Spectacular prophecy: 1 Kgs. 13:2 JosiahSpectacular prophecy: 1 Kgs. 13:2 Josiah

– Critical response: Prophecy post eventu Critical response: Prophecy post eventu – Short range confirmation (altar split)Short range confirmation (altar split)

• Short range verifying long range prophecyShort range verifying long range prophecy– Son dies 14:10f fulfilling short prophecy Son dies 14:10f fulfilling short prophecy

guarantees long—line will endguarantees long—line will end

Ahab (874-853 BC) I Kgs 16:29ff

• Omri (Ahab’s father) moved capital to Samaria, Omri (Ahab’s father) moved capital to Samaria, Mesha & Moabite stone (830 BC) mentions him Mesha & Moabite stone (830 BC) mentions him as do Tiglathpileser’s annals in Assyria (732 BC) as do Tiglathpileser’s annals in Assyria (732 BC) “house of Omri”“house of Omri”

• Son, Ahab marries Jezebel and Baal worship Son, Ahab marries Jezebel and Baal worship grows in Israelgrows in Israel

• King’s denial cycleKing’s denial cycle– God’s judgmentGod’s judgment– Prophets blamed/killed/beat up//false prophets tell what Prophets blamed/killed/beat up//false prophets tell what

king wants to hear king wants to hear – No desire to repent or face God’s judgmentNo desire to repent or face God’s judgment

• Elijah the troubler of Israel (I Kgs 18:17f) Elijah the troubler of Israel (I Kgs 18:17f) – Projection: my problem projected onto othersProjection: my problem projected onto others

Israel-whole

Jezreel Valley

Elijah Prophets of Baal

• On Mt. Carmel--stormsOn Mt. Carmel--storms• Elijah’s call for a decision (18:21)Elijah’s call for a decision (18:21)• Baal: rain god (Ugarit) Baal: rain god (Ugarit) • Is sarcasm ever appropriate?Is sarcasm ever appropriate?

– 18:27 yes18:27 yes• Why did they cut themselves?Why did they cut themselves?• Greatest victory of his lifeGreatest victory of his life

Jezebel’s power over Elijah

• Her threat 19:2Her threat 19:2• His (Elijah’s) flight I Kgs 19:3His (Elijah’s) flight I Kgs 19:3• On a godly man (19:5) On a godly man (19:5)

– Depression? On highs and lowsDepression? On highs and lows– Wishing for death?Wishing for death?– Existential aloneness 19:10fExistential aloneness 19:10f

• Elijah’s 3 anointings to do: Hazael, Jehu, Elijah’s 3 anointings to do: Hazael, Jehu, ElishahElishah

Naboth’s vineyard (I Kgs 21:1-16)

• Do good guys always win? -story lineDo good guys always win? -story line• Religious evil (21:10, 24-25)Religious evil (21:10, 24-25)• God’s judgment (21:19)God’s judgment (21:19)• Ahab repents (1 Kgs 21:27-29)Ahab repents (1 Kgs 21:27-29)• Grace notesGrace notes

Dates to know

• David 1000 BCDavid 1000 BC• Israel Deported/scattered to Assyria 722 BCIsrael Deported/scattered to Assyria 722 BC• SamaritansSamaritans• Judah Deported to Babylon 586 BCJudah Deported to Babylon 586 BC• Return and End of OT Return and End of OT

(Ezra/Nehemiah/Malachi) 400 BC (Ezra/Nehemiah/Malachi) 400 BC

Chronology Problem

• Jehoshaphat (870-845 BC)Jehoshaphat (870-845 BC)– Joram son of Ahab begins to reign 2nd yr of Joram son of Ahab begins to reign 2nd yr of

Jehoram (Jehoshaphat’s son) 2 Kgs 1:17Jehoram (Jehoshaphat’s son) 2 Kgs 1:17– Joram began to reign in 18th yr of Jehoshaphat Joram began to reign in 18th yr of Jehoshaphat

(2 Kgs. 3:1) (2 Kgs. 3:1) • SolutionsSolutions

– Co-regency, dual dating systems, number trans.Co-regency, dual dating systems, number trans.

Judah exiled to Babylon 586 BC; 70 Years

• Jeremiah warned about BabylonJeremiah warned about Babylon• In Babylon: Daniel 9:2, Ezekiel 14:14In Babylon: Daniel 9:2, Ezekiel 14:14• Post-exilic period under Persians: Ezra and Post-exilic period under Persians: Ezra and

Nehemiah come back rebuild second Nehemiah come back rebuild second temple, walltemple, wall

Major OT lessons

• Prophecy and fulfillment: God moving Prophecy and fulfillment: God moving history in a direction to an endhistory in a direction to an end

• Acts and consequences (individuals and Acts and consequences (individuals and nations) nations)

• Connection repentance and graceConnection repentance and grace

Fulfilled Prophecy

• Man of God out of Judah—Josiah by name (1 Man of God out of Judah—Josiah by name (1 Kgs 13:2)Kgs 13:2)

• Destruction of Tyre: laid bare like a rock (Ezk. Destruction of Tyre: laid bare like a rock (Ezk. 26:12, 14)—Alexander the Great 26:12, 14)—Alexander the Great

• Destruction of Nineveh Nah 1:10; 3:10, 19 – 612 Destruction of Nineveh Nah 1:10; 3:10, 19 – 612 BC Nineveh fallsBC Nineveh falls

• Cyrus by name to rebuild Jerusalem (Isa. Cyrus by name to rebuild Jerusalem (Isa. 44:28)44:28)

• Jesus—every rock thrown down (Mat. 24:2)Jesus—every rock thrown down (Mat. 24:2)

Messianic OT

• Gen. 3:15 proto-evangelium: Woman’sGen. 3:15 proto-evangelium: Woman’s seed crush the head of serpent seed crush the head of serpent

• Gen. 12:3: all nations blessed throughGen. 12:3: all nations blessed through our father Abraham our father Abraham

• 2 Sam. 7:14 Messiah to be a son of David 2 Sam. 7:14 Messiah to be a son of David and an everlasting kingdom—God will and an everlasting kingdom—God will build him a housebuild him a house

Messiah as fulfillment of prophecy

• Malachi 4:5 Elijah coming againMalachi 4:5 Elijah coming again• Isa. 9:6f unto us a child is bornIsa. 9:6f unto us a child is born• Isa. 7:14 virgin with child, ImmanuelIsa. 7:14 virgin with child, Immanuel• Micah 5:2 born in BethlehemMicah 5:2 born in Bethlehem• Zech 9:9 entering Jerusalem on a donkeyZech 9:9 entering Jerusalem on a donkey• Psalmic foreshadowing: Psalmic foreshadowing:

Ps. 22 My God, My God, why Ps. 22 My God, My God, why

Messiah as fulfillment of prophecy• Suffering Servant: Isa. 53:3 despised and Suffering Servant: Isa. 53:3 despised and

rejected suffering servant rejected suffering servant • Pierced and beaten Isa 53:5fPierced and beaten Isa 53:5f• Isa. 53:7 silenceIsa. 53:7 silence• Isa. 53:9 criminalize with wicked (pl.) yet rich Isa. 53:9 criminalize with wicked (pl.) yet rich

(sing.) in death(sing.) in death• Hope beyond the grave –resurrection 53:10-12Hope beyond the grave –resurrection 53:10-12• Immanuel has comeImmanuel has come hope beyond the grave, hope beyond the grave,

living life in God’s presence and for his glory living life in God’s presence and for his glory (chief end of man)(chief end of man)