1Ki 15:10

GRANDMOTHER’S: Cp 2Sa 14:27; 2Ch 11:20,21.

1Ki 15:12

MALE SHRINE PROSTITUTES: “Sodomites” (AV). ” ‘Qadhesh’ denotes properly a male temple prostitute, one of the class attached to certain sanctuaries of heathen deities, and ‘consecrated’ [the Heb rt word means lit, and sarcastically, ‘holy’!] to the impure rites of their worship. Such gross and degrading practices in Yahweh’s land could only be construed as a flagrant outrage; and any association of these with His pure worship was abhorrent (Deu 23:17,18): The presence of Sodomites is noted as a mark of degeneracy in Rehoboam’s time (1Ki 14:24). Asa endeavored to get rid of them (1Ki 15:12), and Jehoshaphat routed them out (1Ki 22:46). Subsequent corruptions opened the way for their return, and Josiah had to break down their houses which were actually “in the house of the Lord” (2Ki 23:7). The feminine ‘qedheshah’ is translated ‘prostitute’ in Gen 38:21,22; Hos 4:14; Deu 23:17 (the KJV mg has ‘sodomitess’; the RV mg simply transliterates). The English word is, of course, derived from Sodom, the inhabitants of which were in evil repute for unnatural vice” (ISBE).

1Ki 15:13

A REPULSIVE ASHERAH POLE: See Lesson, Asherah.

1Ki 15:14

HE DID NOT REMOVE THE HIGH PLACES: Specific mention is made, several times, of the high places not being taken away: by Asa (1Ki 15:14); Jehoshaphat (1Ki 22:43); Jehoash (2Ki 12:3); Amaziah (2Ki 14:4); Azariah/Uzziah (2Ki 15:4); and Jotham (2Ki 15:35) — demonstrating the importance of this action in God’s sight. These kings did not make a full return to God. The high places (which had been used for idol worship) might have been out of use for the time being, but it seems they were not totally destroyed until the time of Hezekiah (2Ki 18:4; 2Ch 32:12); and even then their prohibition did not last beyond his reign (2Ch 33:3).

Do we have other shrines at which we worship? We must be sure that we remove the “high places” from our lives completely, even if they are currently “out of use”.

THE HIGH PLACES: Poss not associated with idolatrous worship, as were those in 2Ch 14:3,5.

1Ki 15:17

“We read of a very early king of Israel, Baasha, making his iron curtain. He fortified the border, ‘that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa, king of Judah’ (1Ki 15:17).

“Why did he do that? Other books of the Old Testament supply the answer. Like the builders of the Berlin wall he was not concerned about keeping an enemy out, but with keeping his own people in. All the God-fearing people in the idolatrous north wanted to emigrate to the south, where the Temple in Jerusalem kept true worship alive.

“Baasha’s iron curtain was inefficient. He lacked the barbed wire and minefields beloved of modern dictators. The Second Book of Chronicles tells us that when good king Asa purged all the idols out of the Kingdom of Judah, this was the result: ‘He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and them that sojourned with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh and out of Simeon. For they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the Lord his God was with him’ (2Ch 15:9)” (GT).

1Ki 15:18

BEN-HADAD: There are 3 Ben-hadads: (1) here; 2Ch 16:1-6; (2) 1Ki 20:1-34; 22:1-36; 2Ki 5:2; 6:18-23; 7:20); murdered by Hazael (2Ki 8:7-15); and (3) son of Hazael (2Ki 13:3-13,22-25).

1Ki 15:27

GIBBETHON: A town in west central Palestine in the territory of Dan listed with Eltekeh and Baalath (Jos 19:44). It was assigned to the Kohathite Levites (Jos 21:23). In early days of the northern kingdom Gibbethon belonged to the Philistines. Nadab was slain by Baasha while besieging it (1Ki 15:27). Omri was besieging it when he was made king to succeed Zimri. It may possibly be identified with Kibbiah, which lies about 16 miles se of Joppa.

1Ki 16:1

1Ki 16: “The terrible apostasy of the northern nation is revealed in the history recorded of the house of Jeroboam. Intrigue and wickedness permeate the whole scene, and bring the wisdom of Yahweh into disrepute: [1] Jehu the prophet pronounces doom against the House of Baal: vv 1-4. [2] The Death of Baasha: vv 5-7. [3] Elah the drunkard is murdered by his servant Zimri: vv 8-10. [4] Zimri’s seven days’ reign of terror: vv 11-14. [5] The army revolts against Zimri. It champions the cause of Omri: vv 15-20. [6] Zimri commits suicide: vv 18-20. [7] Tibni challenges Omri: vv 21,22. [8] Omri: prince of evil men: vv 23-28. [9] Ahab’s vile reign (1Ki 16-22). & Notice the constant reference to the wickedness of the leaders of the nation: vv 2,13,19,26,30. The ch concludes with disaster at Jericho, and reflects on the circumstances that involved Joshua at the beginning of the nation’s occupation in the Land. A grim warning is given that the word of Yahweh should be heeded. The forgotten curse on Jericho claimed its victims, but in what way is not revealed” (GEM).

1Ki 16: “Next [in the line of Israel’s kings] came Elah, a drunkard, who in turn was a murderer (1Ki 16:8,9). His successor, Zimri, was guilty of ‘treason’ (1Ki 16:20). He was followed by a military adventurer of the name of Omri, and of him we are told, ‘but Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him. For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities’ (1Ki 16:25,26).

“The evil cycle was completed by Omri’s son, for he was even more vile than those who had preceded him. ‘And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him’ (1Ki 16:30,31).

“This marriage of Ahab to a heathen princess was, as might fully be expected (for we cannot trample God’s Law beneath our feet with impunity), fraught with the most frightful consequences. In a short time all trace of the pure worship of Jehovah vanished from the land and gross idolatry became rampant. The golden calves were worshipped at Dan and Bethel, a temple had been erected to Baal in Samaria, the ‘groves’ of Baal appeared on every side, and the priests of Baal took full charge of the religious life of Israel.

“It was openly declared that Baal lived and that Jehovah ceased to be. What a shocking state of things had come to pass is clear from, ‘And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him’ (1Ki 16:33).

“Defiance of the Lord God and blatant wickedness had now reached their culminating point. This is made still further evident by, ‘in his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho’ (v 34). Awful effrontery was this, for of old it had been recorded, ‘Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn and in his youngest son shall be set up the gates of it’ (Josh 6:26). The rebuilding of the accursed Jericho was open defiance of God. Now it was in the midst of this spiritual darkness and degradation that there appeared on the stage of public action, with dramatic suddenness, a solitary but striking witness to and for the living God” (Pink).

1Ki 16:23

THE THIRTY-FIRST YEAR: Cp vv 10,15: the first 5 years (Asa’s 27th through 31st) Omni was engaged in civil war with Tibni (v 21).

1Ki 16:31

Ahab seeks friendly alliance with Zidon by marrying daughter of king.

JEZEBEL: “She dwell not” (ie, with Yahweh). Those who follow other gods, or teach other gospel, are not my “spouse”, says Yahweh. Cp Rev 2:20n.

ETHBAAL: A “king” and a “priest”, per Josephus.

1Ki 16:32

HE SET UP AN ALTAR FOR BAAL: Baal worship implemented as state religion. The catalyst to an organized, state-wide persecution of worshipers of Yahweh (1Ki 18:4; 2Ki 9:7).

1Ki 16:33

ASHERAH: See Lesson, Asherah.

1Ki 9:2

HE HAD APPEARED TO HIM AT GIBEON: When Solomon had asked for knowledge (1Ki 3:5-9).

1Ki 9:11

TWENTY TOWNS IN GALILEE: It looks very much here as if Galilee, the land of Jesus, was looked down upon (Isa 9:1; cp Joh 1:46), and considered unimportant by King Solomon (who symbolizes the Jews); it was also called “good for nothing” or “dirty” by Hiram (who symbolizes the Gentiles).

1Ki 9:13

After inspecting these cities, Hiram gave them back to Solomon (2Ch 8:2). The despised, “good-for-nothing”, “dirty” Galilean cities were passed back and forth — from Jew to Gentile and back again. Thus they represent the despised Jesus of Nazareth — in Galilee — for, at the time of his trial, he was also passed back and forth between Herod the Jew and Pilate the Gentile!

1Ki 9:15

SUPPORTING TERRACES: “Millo” (NIV mg; AV). From rt “to fill”. Fortifications on the west side of Jerusalem, built by David (2Sa 5:9; 1Ch 11:8), Solomon (here), and Hezekiah (2Ch 32:5) (IBD).

1Ki 9:28

OPHIR: See Lesson, Ophir.

1Ki 8:1

1Ki 8: “The glorious day of Dedication (a token of the divine Day of Inauguration yet to come). It was the culmination of Solomon’s glory and an expression of a nation which rejoiced in the divine blessing. Nearly a year has passed since the temple was completed. Now in the 8th year (pointing to the time beyond the millennium) when flesh will be completely subdued, and in the 7th month (speaking of the millennium itself), the temple is dedicated for worship. It was a day on which Jews now look back upon as the culminating glory of their nation. Instead of two sanctuaries as before (one in the Gentile city of Gibeon, and one at Zion), there was to be but a united place, after the prophecy of Moses (Exo 15). The ark from Zion and the tabernacle from Gibeon were both removed and brought to the new site. A great gathering met to witness the ceremony. The two processions (figurative of Jew and Gentile believers at the future Day) converged at Mount Moriah, where Isaac was earlier offered, and where later the Lord Jesus would be offered in fulfilment of the sacrificial codes of the past. Special services attended the removal of the Ark. Sacrifices without number; incense arising; psalms of praise being uttered; joyful music, general excitement and happiness attended the occasion. Throughout the whole scene, the person of the great King is the one central object, compared with whom even priests and prophets are for the time being subordinate. Like David in the bringing up of the ark, Solomon appears in a liturgical character — blessing the congregation, offering up the solemn prayer, dedicating the temple, hallowing the court. And so it shall be again, but in a greater measure, when the Lord Jesus ascends the throne of the kingdom, the glorious House of Prayer for all Nations is built, and divine worship re-instituted. The prayer of Solomon on the day of Dedication is an expression of devotion, and his words can be found reiterated in the Lord’s prayer of Mat 6:9-13” (GEM).

1Ki 8:2

THE FESTIVAL IN THE MONTH OF ETHANIM, THE SEVENTH MONTH: The Feast of Tabernacles, in October.

1Ki 8:8

These staves, or carrying poles, were so long that the ends could be seen if one were to look into the Holy Place (in other words, the staves extended outside the Most Holy Place). The statement about the staves shows that Exo 25:15 was complied with, that is, that the staves were not to be removed from the ark.

Even though the ark was now in its permanent home, the staves remained in place, a reminder of its journeys at the head of God’s people. Though all the other furnishings of the Temple had been newly made, the ark, representing the ruling presence of God, was still the same as that made while Israel was encamped at Sinai. It provided an unbreakable link with all that had gone before.

It is good to have reminders of who we are and where we have come from. In our ecclesias, this role is often filled by the older ones, and by the history and stories which they can tell, of earlier generations. In the broader sense, the Bible fills this same role for all of us: its pages demonstrate how our faith, as individuals and as a community, is linked with the faith of others who have gone before. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…” (Heb 12:1).

In Acts 1:3 and following, after the resurrection of Christ, the disciples who (being “priests”) stood in the holy place of the new “temple”, were able to infer by what they had witnessed in the previous forty days, that though they soon would not be able to physically see their Lord (as he was soon to ascend to the Most Holy Place in the heavens, to the side of his Father), they could accept that he would ever be in his Father’s presence, acting as their sacrifice, mediating for their forgiveness. And it was these disciples alone — and not the elite Sadducees and Pharisees — who could “see” their Lord in the “heavenly place”!

1Ki 8:9

THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ARK EXCEPT THE TWO STONE TABLETS…: The other contents of the ark — the pot of manna and Aaron’s rod that budded — seem to have been already lost in the time of Solomon (maybe when the ark was in the hands of the Philistines?). Other possibilities: Exo 16:33,34 and Num 17:10 seem to indicate that Aaron’s staff and the golden jar of manna may originally have been kept in front of the ark, rather than in it. How the golden jar and Aaron’s staff were stored may have differed over time. Therefore the description in Heb 9:4 on the one hand, and 1Ki 8:9 and 2Ch 5:10 on the other, may be referring to the ark at two different times of Israel’s history.

1Ki 8:20

Solomon’s zeal for the temple is almost purely a result of living out his father’s expectations about building a temple.

1Ki 8:56

Cp Melchizedek’s blessing of Abraham: Gen 14:18,19.

1Ki 8:65

LEBO HAMATH: Northern border of Israel.

WADI OF EGYPT: Southern border of Israel.

1Ki 4:1

1Ki 4.

See Lesson, Solomon, typical of Christ.

1Ki 4:12

BETH SHAN: In this area lies the 80 meter (263 feet) high tell of Beth-shean, one of the oldest cities in Bible Lands. The remains of 20 layers of settlement have been found going back more than three thousand years BC. The Israelites failed to conquer the city in Joshua’s time (Jos 17:16; Jdg 1:27), and the fortified town was still under Philistine control in the time of Saul, the first king of Israel. When Saul and his sons were slain in battle their bodies were hung on the walls of this city by the victors (1Sa 31:6-13). Beth-shean is included in the cities of Solomon’s kingdom (1Ki 4:12). When the Greek empire dominated the area the city was known as Scythopolis. Pliny, the Roman author (1st cent AD) mentions the city in his writings. It was one of the cities in the Roman province of Decapolis which was visited by Jesus (Mar 7:31). The city was further developed by the Romans and all around the ancient tell the archaeologists are busy uncovering this large city that was devastated by an earthquake. A recent find is a mosaic featuring the portrait of a zebra, an animal not found in Israel.

1Ki 4:20

THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL: One king, united nation — for last time until Christ (cp Eze 37:22).

THEY ATE, THEY DRANK…: Typ Israel powerful, and chief among the nations (Mic 4:7,8).

1Ki 4:21

THESE COUNTRIES BROUGHT TRIBUTE: Submissive nations (cp Psa 72:8).

1Ki 4:24

TIPHSAH: A town situated on the right bank of the Euphrates c 40 mi west of its confluence with the Balikh River and which constituted the extreme northeast boundary of the kingdom of Solomon. Later called Thapsacus, it guarded an important river crossing where Cyrus the Younger and Alexander forded the Euphrates with their armies (WyE).

1Ki 4:25

LIVED IN SAFETY: Security, peace: as in kingdom (Eze 34:28).

1Ki 4:28

AND OTHER HORSES: KJV has “dromedaries” — not likely. “Or rather mules, by comparing the passage with 2Ch 9:24; the particular kind of creatures meant is not agreed on; though all take them to be a swifter sort of creatures than horses; or the swifter of horses, as race horses” (Gill).

1Ki 4:31

THE SONS OF MAHOL: Or “the sons of the dance” (Heb idiom, cp Psa 87 subscr). Poss ref: the dancing of David in 2Sa 6:14-16, in which these Levites (cp 1Ch 6:33,34) play a part.

ALL THE SURROUNDING NATIONS: See Lesson, Nations “round about”.

1Ki 4:34

Jerusalem — center of wisdom: cp Isa 2:2.

1Ki 5:4

ADVERSARY: Heb “satan”. Cp “Satan bound” in Christ’s kingdom (Rev 20:2).

1Ki 5:17

DRESSED STONE: Or “hewed stone” (AV) — 8 cubits by 10 cubits (1Ki 7:9,10).

1Ki 6:7

NO HAMMER, CHISEL OR ANY OTHER IRON TOOL WAS HEARD AT THE TEMPLE SITE WHILE IT WAS BEING BUILT: “In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built” (1Ki 6:7).

All was brought perfectly ready for the exact spot it was to occupy — and so is it with the “temple” which Jesus is building today; the making ready is all being done now: we are the living stones being made ready now (1Pe 2:5-9), and after the return of Christ, and the judgment, we will be brought to our proper places in God’s “temple”.

When we reach the Kingdom, there will be no more need to sanctify us there, no more need to square our corners with affliction, no more “smoothing” of our surfaces with suffering. No, we must be made ready HERE AND NOW — Christ must do this work beforehand, even if it is painful (and it will be, in one way or another!).

But when he has finished that work, then we shall be brought by the angels to the heavenly Jerusalem, to abide as eternal pillars in the temple of our Lord: “Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name” (Rev 3:12).

As regards Jesus: an iron (Roman) hammer was instrumental in the final shaping, outside the city, of “the stone which the builders rejected” into “the headstone of the corner”. As a foundation cornerstone it was laid then, and as the head cornerstone it will, at his return, crown and complete the “living temple”.

1Ki 6:18

GOURDS AND OPEN FLOWERS: Buds and flowers — promise and fulfillment.

1Ki 6:29

Cp the concept of the Tabernacle. Cherubim appear round about on walls. The eye of faith see God’s purpose watching over all our services (Exo 26:15). Cp Rev 4:5,7,10; 7:4,15: cherubim visible in the heavenly sanctuary.

1Ki 7:1

Vv 1-12: The record of Solomon’s house is a parenthesis out of historical sequence; 1Ki 5:2 — 1Ki 6:38 and 1Ki 7:13 — 1Ki 9:9 are about the temple; the parenthesis suggests Solomon’s weakness: he simply ENJOYED building things!

1Ki 7:2

THE PALACE OF THE FOREST OF LEBANON: Built of wood from the forest of Lebanon. Solomon’s “house of the forest of Lebanon” (1Ki 7:2) became the armory of Jerusalem. Cp also Jer 22:6,7,23; Isa 2:13; 10:34; 37:24; Eze 17:3.

1Ki 7:14

A woman of Dan married a man of Naphtali, and after he died, she then married a man of Tyre (2Ch 2:14).

1Ki 7:20

TWO HUNDRED POMEGRANATES IN ROWS: One hundred in each row: 2Ch 3:16n.

1Ki 7:21

PILLARS: Repr the apostles in Gal 2:9; the saints in Rev 3:12; the church in 1Ti 3:15; 1Pe 5:10 (strong, firm, steadfast); Phi 4:13 (strong).

1Ki 7:23

1Ki 7:23-26 states that the diameter of the temple laver was 10 cubits “from one brim to the other” and 30 cubits in circumference. This passage has long been a favorite of those who deny the Bible’s infallibility, since they point to the mathematical impossibility of such a ratio: a circle with a diameter of 10 units must have a circumference of 31.416 (10 times “pi”) units. There is, however, quite an easy solution to this apparent discrepancy. If, as the text implies, the brim of the laver was curved outward, then the diameter could have been measured from one extreme edge to the other, while the circumference could have been measured around the perpendicular wall of the main part of the laver — thus giving the required ratio between the two measurements.

1Ki 7:26

How to reconcile 1Ki 7:26 and 2Ch 4:5? The Jewish Targum specifies: “3,000 baths dry measure; 2,000 baths liquid measure.”

1Ki 7:42

FOUR HUNDRED POMEGRANATES: Possibly, 200 pomegranates on each row of 100 pillars (cp v 20); each pillar had 2 pomegranates — thus forming two long rows. Cp 2Ch 3:6n.

Four hundred brazen pomegranates complemented the two great pillars of Stability and Strength — Jachin and Boaz — at the entrance of the Temple. The pomegranate is a very special fruit in the divine imagery: it is the essence of all fruit. It was on the border of the High Priest’s robe (Exo 39:24), with the golden bells of salvation and praise. Cut through transversely, the pomegranate has twelve sections, arranged around the center like the camps of the twelve Tribes around the Tabernacle. It is full of white, pearl-like seeds in a red fluid, and seems to represent a multitudinous unity purified in the blood of the Lamb. In the Song of Songs, the Bride is said to have temples like the halves of a pomegranate (Song 4:3; 6:7); the eastern pomegranate is light golden brown with a tinge of pink, and the physical resemblance is striking. Also, the association of the multitudinous Bride with the pomegranate and the Temple is, in itself, a powerful and thought-provoking spiritual image.

1Ki 7:46

BETWEEN SUCCOTH AND ZARETHAN: In land of Manasseh, between Jezreel and Dead Sea.

1Ki 1:1

See Lesson, 1Ki / 2Ki, overview.

When David is old and becomes unable to rule effectively, he delays in designating and installing Solomon as his successor. Adonijah seeks to take advantage of David’s delay, setting out to beat Solomon to the punch by proclaiming himself to be king (1Ki 1:5). He is a very handsome man, born after Absalom, and apparently never is told “No” by David (1Ki 1:6). Joab and Abiathar, the priest, join with Adonijah in his conspiracy. David is finally persuaded by Bathsheba and Nathan the prophet to publicly appoint Solomon as his successor to the throne. When Solomon takes the throne of his father, he allows Adonijah to live (for a time), but he is finally put to death when he seeks once again to oust Solomon and assume the throne over Israel (by asking to be given Abishag, David’s concubine).

KEEP WARM: Heb “yacham” = to be hot, fig to conceive (cp sw Gen 30:38,39,41; 31:10; Psa 51:5).

1Ki 1:6

HE… WAS BORN NEXT AFTER ABSALOM: See 2Sa 3:3,4; 1Ch 3:2. Adonijah was 4th in age of David’s 19 sons, and 2 (and poss 3) of his older brothers had died. He prob presumed the kingdom was his by right of age.

1Ki 1:21

I AND MY SON SOLOMON WILL BE TREATED AS CRIMINALS: Because of adultery and murder of Uriah.

1Ki 1:34

Zadok the priest // Melchizedek priesthood of Christ (Heb 7:11,12).

1Ki 1:38

THE KERETHITES AND THE PELETHITES: A bodyguard — prob of Philistines. Benaiah was over them (2Sa 20:23).

1Ki 1:47

AND THE KING BOWED IN WORSHIP ON HIS BED: As did Jacob, when in faith he spoke of his burial, not in Egypt, and blessed the 2 sons of Joseph (Heb 11:21).

1Ki 1:50

ADONIJAH… WENT AND TOOK HOLD OF THE HORNS OF THE ALTAR: Cp Exo 29:37: whatever touches the altar shall be holy.

1Ki 2:19

RIGHT HAND: Strength (Exo 15:6; Psa 20:6; 63:8; 118:15,16); righteousness (Psa 48:10); authority (Isa 62:8); honor (Gen 48:13-18; 1Ki 2:19); salvation (Psa 17:7; 60:5); and fellowship (Psa 16:11).

1Ki 2:23

MAY GOD DEAL WITH ME, BE IT EVER SO SEVERELY, IF…: See Lesson, Covenant-victim, the.

1Ki 2:28

WHEN THE NEWS REACHED JOAB… HE FLED TO THE TENT OF THE LORD AND TOOK HOLD OF THE HORNS OF THE ALTAR: Joab must have thought that, as Adonijah had done this successfully before, he — that is, Joab — might repeat it, and have some hope of being spared. Joab was an old man by now, who had about thirty years earlier committed two atrocious murders, and now those “chickens” have finally come home to roost.

And so he retreated to the horns of the altar in the LORD’s house, which — so far as we can tell — he had very seldom approached before. He seems to have had little respect for religion during his lifetime. He was a coarse man of war, and had taken little or no time to think of God, or the tabernacle, or the priests, or the altar… until he was in danger. But then, he fled to that which he had avoided, and sought to take refuge in that which he had neglected.

Joab is not the only man to seek for help in such a way. But it was of no use: it was too little, and too late. God will not be mocked, and a man will reap what he has sown (Gal 6:7).