1 Kings 11

1 Kings 11:1

LOved] Unduly, and immoderately.

many] So many, as the like not heard of any other, contrary to the law, Deuteronomy 17:17.

strange] That were not Israelites, but of other nations, out of the covenant, by law forbidden, v. 2.

together with] Or, besides. Not content with her that had been long his wife. See chap. 3. v. 1.

Moabites] Nations round about him.

1 Kings 11:2

the Lord said] Exodus 34:16. Deuteronomy 7:3. Joshua 23:12. Under the particular nations mentioned in the law, all other out of the covenant are comprised, Genesis 34:14.

go in] A modest marriage phrase, Genesis 6:4. and 38. 2, 8.

clave] Inordinately, Genesis 34:3.

1 Kings 11:3

seven hundred wives] Whom he solemnly married.

princesses] Such were some, before he married them, as Pharaohs daughter: Others he made such.

concubines] Nor wives, nor wheres: but in a kinde of middle condition. Not wives, because not solemnly married, nor endowed with dowry or joynter: nor had their children any right of inheritance: Genesis 21:10. and 25. 6. Not whores, because taken by a man to be his alone, as wives, and none others, and in this respect oft stiled Wives, as Genesis 25:1; Genesis 25:6. 1 Chronicles 1:32. Genesis 30. 4. and 35. 22. Judges 19:1. Concubines therefore were a kinde of wives, but in an inferiour degree, see the notes on Judges 19:1-2. and on Genesis 22:24. and 30. 4. It is probable, in regard of the seven hundred wives, and three hundred concubines here mentioned, that Solomon dealt with many of them, as Ahashuerosh did with many of the maidens that went in to him, She came in to the king no more, except the king delighted in her, Esther 2:14.

turned away his heart] From the LORD to their idols, vers. 4.

1 Kings 11:4

old] Betwixt fifty and threescore. Take him to be about twenty when he began to reign (for he had a son of a yeer old, chap. 14. 21.) He had reigned more then three yeers before he began to build (chap. 6. 1.) He was twenty yeers in building his great works (chap. 9. 10.) These summed up, make fourty three. Some yeers must be added to all these for spreading his fame thorowout the world, and for the queen of Sheba’s, and other kings coming to him, to hear his wisdom, and departing from him: and for his continuing in the services of the temple: yea, and for gathering together a thousand wives and concubines: and for that boldnesse they took to turn away his heart.

1 Kings 11:5

Ashtoeth] This being a word of the feminine gender, is by most taken for the goddesse Venus; and because there were sundry sorts of idols stiled Venus: the plurall number is oft used, Judg. 2. 13. 2 Kings 23:13. As Baalim is taken for all manner of gods, so may Ashteroth for all manner of goddesses: And in this large extent are these two words oft joyned together, Judg. 10. 6. 1 Samuel 7:4. and 1 Samuel 12:10. The Hebrew notation implieth, that this idol was set out in the shape of a sheep. See more on Judg. 2. 13.

Milm] This idol is stiled Molech, v. 7. It is like to be that idol to which children were sacrificed. See the notes on Leviticus 18:21. and Leviticus 20:2. Jerem. 32. 35. according to the notation of the Hebrew word, it signifieth a king, and by the heathen, was accounted one of the chief of their idols: most apply it to Saturn. Such idols were Adrammelech, and Anammelech, 2 Kings 17:31.

abomination] Because as other idols, (verse 7.) it was most abominable: and also among other idols, it was the most abominable, by reason of the sacrificing of children to it.

1 Kings 11:6

went not fully after] Heb. fulfilled not after.

1 Kings 11:7

high place] See chap. 3. 4.

Chmsh] This idol is taken for Bacchus, and said to be worshipped in secret and dark places, as Ezekiel 8:12. These three were the worst of idols. See chap. 15. 13.

Moa] So Numbers 21:29. Jeremiah 48:13. If it be objected, that Chemosh is said to be the god of the Ammonites. I answer, That neighbouring countries did oft worship one anothers god: And in this respect, the god of one contrey may also be called the god of another.

hill] Mount of Olives, 2 Samuel 15:30. mount of corruption (2 Kings 23:13.) because it was a place of corrupting the Jews.

before Jerusalem] In the ight of the holy city, where the temple was: so as the true worshippers of God, and idolaters were in the face of one another, and might out-face one another.

which had appeared unto him twice] Chap. 3. 5. and 9. 2.

1 Kings 11:10

had commanded him concerning this thing] Chap. 6. 12. and 9. 6.

1 Kings 11:11

is done of thee] Heb. is with thee.

I will surely rend] Heb. rending I will rend.

the kingdom] The greater part of it, v. 31. See v. 13.

thy servant] Jeroboam, v. 29.

1 Kings 11:12

for Davids sake] By reason of my promise to him, 2 Samuel 7:16. See 2 Kings 13:23.

thy son] Rehoboam, Chap. 12. 16, 17. we read not of any other son that Solomon had, though he had seven hundred wives, and three hundred concubines; and this son was born long before he had so many wives, Chap. 14. v. 21. See Hosea 4:10.

1 Kings 11:13

one tribe] Judah, with Benjamin (Chap. 12. 21, 23.) for Benjamin bordered on Judah, Joshua 18:11. and in it was Jerusalem, Judg. 1. 21. So much also of Simeon as lay within Judah (Josh. 19. 1, 9.) was comprised under Judah, and the Levites likewise, for they were no distinct tribe: and because their chief service was in the temple, they left their cities in the other tribes, and came to Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 11. 13, 14. See chap. 12. 23.

David my servants sake] Verse 32.

for Jerusalems sake] To which I have made a promise, 2 Chronicles 6:6. See the Notes on v. 36.

1 Kings 11:14

the Lord] See the Notes on chap. 12. v. 15.

an adversary] Who would not submit himself to Solomon, nor pay tribute. as 2 Kings 8:20. but did much mischief to Israel, v. 25.

seed] Son.

1 Kings 11:15

it came to passe] These particular circumstances are not registred in the history of David, as we now have it; yet are they to be accounted most true, because they are here mentioned.

when David was in Edom] 2 Samuel 8:14.

to bury] Such of the Israelites as were slain in the battell or siege.

every male] Of the city besieged, because they would not yeeld to reasonable conditions of peace, Deuteronomy 20:13.

1 Kings 11:16

six moneths] From his first setting on the Edomites, till his full conquest of them.

1 Kings 11:17

a little childe] Young, about twelve yeers old, Genesis 44:20. 1 Kings 3:7.

1 Kings 11:18

Midian] Bordering upon Edom, Numbers 22:4. To Midian he first fled, and there sometime abode.

Paran] Betwixt Midian and Egypt, Genesis 14:16. and 21. 21.

took men] To come the better attended, and more like a kings sonne.

gave him, &c.] Courteously entertained him, and afforded unto him all things fit for present and future maintenance, and abode with him.

1 Kings 11:20

in Pharaoh’s houshold] Trained up in the court.

1 Kings 11:21

David and Joab] The very names of these two were a terrour to him; but they being dead, he conceived some hope of freeing his nation.

Let me depart] Heb. Send me away.

1 Kings 11:22

Nothing] Heb. Not.

let me go] Heb. letting go, let me go. Nothing could detain him from prosecuting his purpose of freeing his countrey: what at first he could not effect, was in time brought to passe. He laid the foundation of an utter revolt, 2 King. 8. 20, 22. whereby Isaac’s prophesie (Genesis 27:40.) was accomplished.

1 Kings 11:23

God] See v. 14.

fled] When he discovered that David had the better, and that his master was like to be utterly overthrown, 2 Samuel 8:3. Read the title of Psal. 60.

1 Kings 11:24

gathered men] Such as were put to flight in that battell.

when David slew them of Zobah] 2 Samuel 8:3. and 2 Samuel 10:18.

slew] Had slain.

they went to Damascus] Where David had put a garison (2 Samuel 8:6.) which they put out, and dwelt there. Damascus was a royall city in Syria, Isaiah 7:8.

reigned] Established Rezon to be king there.

1 Kings 11:25

an adversary] As Hadad, v. 14.

all the days] Ever bearing ill will, but most manifesting it after Solomons apostasie; for note 1 Kings 5:4.

that Hadad] See v. 14.

he abhorred] Hated in his heart, and took all occasions of doing mischief, like as Hadad did.

Syria] Heb. Aram: That countrey whereof Damascus was the chief city, and always at enmity with Israel.

1 Kings 11:26

Jeroboam the son of Nebat] 2 Chron. 13. 6.

an Ephrathite] Of the tribe of Ephraim. Elkanah was so called, because he dwelt in Ephraim, 1 Samuel 1:1.

Solomons servant] One of his chief officers and counsellours, vers. 28. The judgement was the greater, in that such a one was against him, and not strangers, v. 11.

widow] The more likely to put an high minde into him.

lift up his hand] Did that which offended the king, and made the king suspect his loyalty. This phrase sets out plain rebellion, 2 Samuel 20:21.

1 Kings 11:27

the cause] One cause.

Millo] See Chap. 9. 15.

repaired] Heb. closed.

1 Kings 11:28

mighty, &c.] The more fit to be the head of a faction.

was industrious] Heb. did work.

ruler] Thus he might the sooner know the complaints of people, and more readily draw them after him.

charge] Heb. burden.

Joseph] Ephraim and Manasseh. It is probable, that Solomon, to maintain the state of his seven hundred wives, and three hundred concubines, laid great taxes on his people (chap. 12. 4.) which made them complain; and that, upon their complaint, Jereboam might expostulate the case with the king, and the king thereupon eye Jeroboam, as Saul eyed David, 1 Samuel 18:9.

1 Kings 11:29

And it came to passe] Another cause of the kings jealousie over Jeroboam, and of Jeroboams high thoughts against the king.

prophet] To distinguish him from the priest, 1 Samuel 14:3. from the Levite, 1 Chronicles 26:20. from the scribe, Chap. 4. 3. and from Baasha’s father, chap. 15. 27.

Shilonite] He dwelt in Shiloh, chap. 14. 2. See chap. 2. 27.

he] The prophet Ahijah; for he might more boldly rend his own garment: and he himself, knowing what he was to do, might purposely put on a new garment.

new] To shew, that, though the kingdom were as a new garment, fresh and strong, yet it should be rent.

alone] Lest it might be too much divulged, 1 Samuel 9:27. 2 Kings 9:6.

1 Kings 11:30

rent it] For a signe, to make him the more confidently believe it. So Isaiah 20:2. Ezekiel 24:24.

1 Kings 11:31

I will] See chap. 12. 15.

1 Kings 11:32

for my servant, &c.] See v. 13.

1 Kings 11:33

Ashtoreth, &c.] See v. 5, 7.

1 Kings 11:34

whole] Nor any part, Psalms 103:2.

make] Continue, preserve.

1 Kings 11:35

I will take the kingdom out of his sons hand] Chap. 12. 15.

1 Kings 11:36

a light] Heb. lamp, or candle. A royall glory in a successour, that, as a light, may shine before his people, and govern them, chap. 15. 4. 2 Samuel 21:17. 2 Kings 8:19. Psalms 132:17.

alway] See chap. 8. 13. In the Messiah this is most properly accomplished.

I have chosen, &c.] In that God appointed Jerusalem to be the place where his temple should be (2 Chron. 3. 1. and 6. 6. Psalms 68:29. and Psalms 132:13. and Psalms 135:21.) God is said to chuse it, to put his Name there. See the Notes on chap. 8. 16. and on 2 Chronicles 6:6.

1 Kings 11:37

according, &c.] As a supream king, under no superiour on earth.

Israel] Distinguished from Judah.

1 Kings 11:38

a sure house] A durable continuance of a stock or progenie. See chap. 9. 5. 1 Samuel 2:35. 2 Samuel 7:16.

1 Kings 11:39

not for ever] Sometimes there shall be good kings, who shall well prosper: they shall also be brought out of captivity; and, in the end, the Messiah shall reign most gloriously, Luke 1:35.

1 Kings 11:40

sought therefore] Because he discerned Jeroboams stout stomack, and heard of Ahijah’s message to him.

Shishak] This was his proper and peculiar name; Pharaoh was a name common to all the kings of Egypt: Particular persons being kings of Egypt, had other titles added to Pharaoh for distinction sake; as Pharaoh Hophrah (Jeremiah 44:30.) Pharaoh Necho (Jeremiah 46:2.) It is probable that this Shishak was brother to Solomons wife, and son and heir to Pharaoh their father: but ignorant of the case betwixt Solomon and Jeroboam, and so he might well afford courteous hospitality: or, he might be offended with Solomon for taking so many wives to his sister.

1 Kings 11:41

acts] Or, words, or things.

book] Large records, not part of canonicall scripture. See 2 Chronicles 9:29.

1 Kings 11:42

time] Heb. dayes.

fourty yeers] 2 Chronicles 9:30.

1 Kings 11:43

slept, &c.] See the Notes on 1 Kings 2:10.

Rehoboam] Matth. 1. 7, called Roboam.