The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV, page 174
2:10–12 See 2 Sam. 5:5; 1 Chr. 29:26–28.
2:10 the City of David. I.e., Jerusalem (cf. 8:1).
2:11 forty years. David ruled from ca. 1011–971 B.C., probably with Solomon as co-regent during his final year (cf. 11:41).
2:12 firmly established. Solomon’s succession enjoyed the Lord’s approval, and Solomon experienced unchallenged authority, prosperity, and renown (v. 46).
2:15 all Israel had set their expectations on me. A reference to Adonijah’s perceived right to the kingship as the oldest surviving son according to ancient Near East custom.
2:17 give me Abishag. In the ancient Near East, possession of the royal harem was a sign of kingship (cf. 2 Sam. 3:8; 12:8; 16:20–22). Adonijah’s request for Abishag was an attempt to support his claim to the kingship and perhaps generate a revolt to usurp the throne. Bathsheba didn’t see the treachery (vv. 18–21).
2:22 Ask for…the kingdom also. Solomon recognized Adonijah’s request as the prelude to his usurping of the throne. Because Adonijah’s request violated the terms of loyalty Solomon had previously specified (1:52), he pronounced a formal, legal death sentence on Adonijah (vv. 23, 24).
2:24 as He promised. Solomon viewed himself as the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to David in 2 Sam. 7:12–16 (see also 5:5; 8:18–21). The ultimate fulfillment will be the Messiah, Jesus, who will return to Israel and set up His kingdom (see Is. 9:6, 7).
2:26 Anathoth. A priestly town, 3 mi. NE of Jerusalem (cf. Jer. 1:1). There Abiathar, the disloyal High-Priest (1:7), lived in banishment.
2:27 fulfill the word of the LORD. Solomon’s removal of Abiathar from the office of priest fulfilled God’s prophecy that Eli’s line of priests would be cut off (1 Sam. 2:30–35). This reestablished the line of Eleazar/Phinehas in Zadok (2:35), as promised by God (cf. Num. 25:10–13).
2:28 Joab fled to the tabernacle. Cf. 1:50. He knew he would have been killed already if he had not been so popular with the army. The altar provided no real sanctuary to the rebel and murderer (cf. Ex. 21:14).
2:31 strike him down. Like Adonijah (1:50), Joab sought asylum at the altar (2:28). The protection of the Lord at the altar applied only to accidental crimes, not premeditated murder (Ex. 21:14), so Solomon ordered Benaiah to administer the violent death sought by David (2:6).
2:33 peace forever. This pledge is ultimately to be fulfilled in the Messiah’s kingdom (see Is. 2:2–4; 9:6, 7).
2:34 wilderness. The tomb of Joab’s father was near Bethlehem (2 Sam. 2:32). Joab’s house was probably on the edge of the Judean wilderness, E of Bethlehem.
2:36 do not go out. Shimei had not provoked Solomon directly as Adonijah had. Therefore, Solomon determined to keep Shimei under close watch by confining him to Jerusalem.
2:39 Gath. A major Philistine city about 30 mi. SW of Jerusalem.
2:45 throne of David. In contrast to Shimei’s curse (2 Sam. 16:5–8), the Lord’s blessing was to come through the ruler of David’s, not Saul’s, line (cf. 2 Sam. 7:12, 13, 16).
2:46 With the death of Shimei, all the rival factions were eliminated.
1 Kings 3
3:1 a treaty with Pharaoh. The Pharaoh was probably Siamun, the next-to-last ruler of the weak 21st dynasty. Solomon’s treaty with Pharaoh signified that he held a high standing in the world of his day. Pharaoh’s daughter was the most politically significant of Solomon’s 700 wives (cf. 7:8; 9:16; 11:1).
3:2 the high places. The open-air, hilltop worship centers which the Israelites inherited from the Canaanites had been rededicated to the Lord; the use of pagan altars had been forbidden (Num. 33:52; Deut. 7:5; 12:3). After the building of the temple, worship at the high places was condemned (11:7, 8; 12:31; 2 Kin. 16:17–20; 21:3; 23:26). no house…for the name of the LORD. “Name” represented the character and presence of the Lord (cf. Ex. 3:13, 14). He had promised to choose one place “to put His name for His dwelling place” (Deut. 12:5). The temple at Jerusalem was to be that place (cf. 5:3, 5; 8:16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 43, 44, 48; 9:3, 7). In the ancient Near East, to identify a temple with a god’s name meant that the god owned the place and dwelt there.
3:3 except. Solomon’s failure in completely following the Lord was exhibited in his continual worship at the high places.
3:4–15 See 2 Chr. 1:7–13.
3:4 Gibeon. A town about 7 mi. NW of Jerusalem, where the tabernacle of Moses and the original bronze altar were located (1 Chr. 21:29; 2 Chr. 1:2–6).
3:5 dream. God often gave revelation in dreams (Gen. 26:24; 28:12; 46:2; Dan. 2:7; 7:1; Matt. 1:20; 2:12, 19, 22). However, this dream was unique, a two-way conversation between the Lord and Solomon.
3:6 great mercy…great kindness. These terms imply covenant faithfulness. Solomon viewed his succession to David as evidence of the Lord’s faithfulness to His promises to David.
3:7 little child. Since Solomon was probably only about 20 years of age, he readily admitted his lack of qualification and experience to be king (cf. 1 Chr. 22:5; 29:1). See note on Num. 27:15–17.
3:8 a great people. Based on the census, which recorded 800,000 men of fighting age in Israel and 500,000 in Judah (2 Sam. 24:9), the total population was over 4 million, approximately double what it had been at the time of the Conquest (see Num. 26:1–65).
3:9 an understanding heart. Humbly admitting his need, Solomon sought “a listening heart” to govern God’s people with wisdom.
3:10 pleased the LORD. The Lord was delighted that Solomon had not asked for personal benefits, e.g., long life, wealth, or the death of his enemies.
3:12 anyone like you. Solomon was one of a kind in judicial insight, as illustrated in vv. 16–27.
3:14 lengthen your days. In contrast to riches and honor that were already his, a long life was dependent on Solomon’s future obedience to the Lord’s commands. Because of his disobedience, Solomon died before reaching 70 years of age (cf. Ps. 90:10).
3:16–27 harlots came to the king. Here is an illustration of how wisely Solomon ruled. In Israel, the king was the ultimate “judge” of the land, and any citizen, even the basest prostitute, could petition him for a verdict (2 Sam. 14:2–21; 15:1–4; 2 Kin. 8:1–6).
1 Kin. 3:21
Solomon’s Jerusalem
3:25 half…half. In ordering his servants to cut the child in two, he knew the liar would not object, but out of maternal compassion the real mother would (cf. Ex. 21:35).
3:28 feared the king. Israel was in awe of and willing to submit to the rule of Solomon because of his wisdom from God.
1 Kings 4
4:1 all Israel. Solomon was in firm control of all of the people. Israel’s squabbling factions had fallen in line behind the king.
4:2 Azariah…the son of. Actually, he was the son of Ahimaaz and the grandson of Zadok, as “son of” can mean “descendant of” (cf. 1 Chr. 6:8, 9). In David’s roster of officials, the army commander came first (2 Sam. 8:16; 20:23). Under Solomon, the priest and other officials preceded the military leader.
4:3 scribes. Probably they prepared royal edicts and kept official records. recorder. Likely, he maintained the records of all important daily affairs in the kingdom.
4:4 priests. Zadok and Abiathar had served together as High-Priests under David (2 Sam. 8:17; 20:25). Although Abiathar had been removed from priestly service and exiled (2:26–27, 35), he maintained his priestly title until his death.
4:5 Nathan. Whether this is the prophet Nathan (see note on 1:8) or another person by that name is uncertain, but it could be that Solomon was honoring the sons of the prophet.
4:6 over the household. One who managed Solomon’s properties, both lands and buildings (cf. 16:9; 18:3; 2 Kin. 18:18, 37; 19:2). over the labor force. One who oversaw the conscripted workers of Solomon (cf. 5:13–18).
4:7 twelve governors. Solomon divided the land into 12 geographical districts (different from the tribal boundaries), each supervised by a governor. Each month a different governor collected provisions in his district to supply the king and his staff.
4:20 numerous as the sand by the sea. A clear allusion to the Lord’s promise to Abraham in Gen. 22:17. The early years of Solomon’s reign, characterized by population growth, peace, and prosperity, were a foreshadowing of the blessings that will prevail in Israel when the Abrahamic Covenant is fulfilled.
4:21 all kingdoms. The borders of the kingdoms which Solomon influenced echoed the Lord’s promise to Abram in Gen. 15:18. However, Solomon’s reign was not the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant for 3 reasons: 1) Israel still only lived in the land “from Dan as far as Beersheba” (v. 25). Abraham’s seed did not inhabit all the land promised to Abraham. 2) The non-Israelite kingdoms did not lose their identity and independence, but rather recognized Solomon’s authority and brought him tribute without surrendering title to their lands. 3) According to Num. 34:6, the Mediterranean Sea is to be the western border of the Land of Promise, indicating that Tyre was to be a part of the Promised Land. However, Hiram king of Tyre was a sovereign who entered into a bilateral or parity treaty (between equals) with Solomon (5:1–12).
4:22 provision. I.e., the daily provisions for Solomon’s palace.
4:24 Tiphsah…Gaza. Tiphsah was located on the W bank of the Euphrates and Gaza on the southwestern Mediterranean coast. These towns represented the NE and SW points of Solomon’s influence.
4:26 forty thousand stalls. Though the Heb. text reads 40,000, this was probably a copyist’s error in transcribing the text, and it should read 4,000 as in 2 Chr. 9:25.
4:30 the East…Egypt. The men to the East of Israel in Mesopotamia and Arabia (cf. Job 1:3) and in Egypt were known for their wisdom. Egypt had been renowned for learning and science, as well as culture. Solomon’s wisdom was superior to all at home or abroad (v. 31).
4:31 sons of Mahol. This probably meant “singers,” a guild of musicians who created sacred songs.
4:32 proverbs…songs. Hundreds of Solomon’s proverbs have been preserved in the book of Proverbs (see Introduction to Proverbs). One of his songs is the Song of Solomon.
4:33 trees…animals…birds. Solomon described and taught about all kinds of plant and animal life, e.g., Prov. 6:6–8; 28:15; 30:19.
4:34 men of all nations. Solomon acquired an international reputation for his wisdom. Many important visitors came from faraway places to learn from Solomon’s wisdom (cf. 10:1–13).
1 Kings 5
5:1–16 See 2 Chr. 2:1–18.
5:1 Hiram king of Tyre. Tyre was an important port city on the Mediterranean Sea N of Israel. Two towering mountain ranges ran within Lebanon’s borders, and on their slopes grew thick forests of cedars. Hiram I ruled there ca. 978–944 B.C. He had earlier provided building materials and workers for David to build his palace (2 Sam. 5:11). Solomon maintained the friendly relations with Hiram established by David. They were beneficial to both as Israel exchanged wheat and oil for timber (see vv. 9–11).
5:4 rest. The guarantee of peace with the peoples surrounding Israel allowed Solomon to build the temple (cf. 4:24).
5:5 the name. “Name” represents the character and nature of the person indicated. See note on 3:2. Your son. Solomon claimed to be the promised offspring of David, the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to David in 2 Sam. 7:12, 13. However, Solomon’s later disobedience proved that he was not the ultimate, promised offspring (11:9–13).
5:6 cedars…from Lebanon. The cedars of Lebanon symbolized majesty and might (Ps. 92:12; Ezek. 31:3). Because it was durable, resistant to rot and worms, closely-grained, and could be polished to a fine shine, its wood was regarded as the best timber for building. The logs were tied together and floated down the Mediterranean to Joppa (see v. 9; 2 Chr. 2:16), from where they could be transported to Jerusalem, 35 mi. inland. Sidonians. These are the inhabitants of the city of Sidon, located on the Mediterranean Sea about 22 mi. N of Tyre. Here, the term probably referred, in a general sense, to the Phoenicians, who were skilled craftsmen.
1 Kin. 5:6
Solomon’s Temple
5:7 Blessed be the LORD. Perhaps Hiram was a worshiper of the true God, but it is equally possible that he was only acknowledging Jehovah as the God of the Hebrews (cf. 2 Chr. 2:16). a wise son. Hiram recognized Solomon’s wisdom in seeking to honor his father David’s desires.
5:9 food for my household. Tyre’s rocky terrain grew great trees, but little good food. Hiram asked Solomon for food for his court in exchange for his lumber.
5:13 a labor force out of all Israel. Lit. “conscripted labor.” These 30,000 men who labored in Lebanon were Israelites of the land. They were sent to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in rotation. For every month they worked, they were off two months, which meant they worked only 4 months per year. These Israelite laborers must be distinguished from the Canaanite remnant who were made into permanent slaves. See note on 9:21, 22. The 30,000 Israelites were free and performed the task of felling trees.
5:16 three thousand three hundred. See note on 2 Chr. 2:2. people who labored. According to 2 Chr. 2:17, 18, these 150,000 laborers (5:15) and their supervisors were non-Israelite inhabitants of the land.
5:18 Gebalites. Inhabitants of Gebal, a town located about 60 mi. N of Tyre.
1 Kings 6
6:1–38 See 2 Chr. 3:1–17; 7:15–22.
6:1 four hundred and eightieth year. Solomon began to build the temple by laying its foundation (v. 37) 480 years after the Exodus from Egypt. The 480 years are to be taken as the actual years between the Exodus and the building of the temple, because references to numbers of years in the book of Kings are consistently taken in a literal fashion. Also, the literal interpretation correlates with Jephthah’s statement recorded in Judg. 11:26. fourth year. I.e., 966 B.C. Thus, the Exodus is to be dated 1445 B.C.
6:2 cubits. Normally the cubit was about 18 in. This would make the temple structure proper 90 ft. long, 30 ft. wide, and 45 ft. high. However, 2 Chr. 3:3 may indicate that the longer royal cubit of approximately 21 in. was used in the construction of the temple. On this measurement, the temple structure proper would have been 105 ft. long, 35 ft. wide and 52½ ft. high. The dimensions of the temple seem to be double those of the tabernacle (see Ex. 26:15–30; 36:20–34).
6:3 vestibule. A porch about 15 ft. long in front of the temple building proper.
6:4 windows. Placed high on the inner side of the temple wall, these openings had lattices or shutters capable of being opened, shut, or partially opened. They served to let out the vapors of the lamps and the smoke of incense, as well as to give light.
6:5 chambers. Another attached structure surrounded the main building, excluding the vestibule. It provided rooms off of the main hall to house temple personnel and to store equipment and treasure (cf. 7:51).
6:6 lowest…middle…third. This attached structure to the temple was 3 stories high. Each upper story was one cubit wider than the one below it. Instead of being inserted into the temple walls, beams supporting the stories rested on recessed ledges in the temple walls themselves.
6:7 stone finished at the quarry. The erection of the temple went much faster by utilizing pre-cut and pre-fitted materials moved on rollers to the temple site. In addition, the relative quiet would be consistent with the sacredness of the undertaking.
6:8 doorway…stairs. The entrance to the side rooms was on the S side, probably in the middle. Access to the second and third stories was by means of a spiral staircase that led through the middle story to the third floor.
6:11–13 During the construction of the temple, the Lord spoke to Solomon, probably through a prophet, and reiterated that the fulfillment of His Word to David through his son was contingent on Solomon’s obedience to His commands (cf. 2:3, 4; 3:14; 9:4–8). The use of the same words, “I will dwell among the children of Israel,” in v. 13 as in Ex. 29:45, implied that Solomon’s temple was the legitimate successor to the tabernacle. The Lord forewarned Solomon and Israel that the temple was no guarantee of His presence; only their continued obedience would assure that.
6:16 the Most Holy Place. This inner sanctuary, partitioned off from the main hall by cedar planks, was a perfect cube about 30 ft. on a side (v. 20) and was the most sacred area of the temple. The Most Holy Place is further described in vv. 19–28. The tabernacle also had “a Most Holy Place” (Ex. 26:33, 34).
6:17 the temple sanctuary. This was the Holy Place, just outside the Most Holy Place, 60 ft. long, 30 ft. wide and 45 ft. high, that housed the altar of incense, the golden tables of the showbread, and the golden lampstands (7:48, 49).
6:19 the ark of the covenant of the LORD. The ark was a rectangular box made of acacia wood. The ark was made at Sinai by Bezalel according to the pattern given to Moses (Ex. 25:10–22; 37:1–9). The ark served as the receptacle for the two tablets of the Ten Commandments (Ex. 25:16, 21; 40:20; Deut. 10:1–5) and the place in the “inner sanctuary” or Most Holy Place where the presence of the Lord met Israel (Ex. 25:22).
6:20 overlaid it with pure gold. Cf. vv. 21, 22, 28, 30, 32, 35. Gold was beaten into fine sheets, and then hammered to fit over the beautifully embellished wood (vv. 18, 29), then attached to every surface in the temple proper, both in the Holy Place and in the Most Holy Place, so that no wood or stone was visible (v. 22).
6:23 cherubim. These two sculptured winged creatures, with human faces overlaid with gold (cf. Gen. 3:24; Ezek. 41:18, 19), stood as guards on either side of the ark (see 2 Chr. 3:10–13) and are not to be confused with the cherubim on the mercy seat (see Ex. 25:17–22). The cherubim represented angelic beings who were guardians of God’s presence and stood on either side of the ark (8:6, 7) in the Most Holy Place. They were 15 ft. tall and 15 ft. between wing tips (v. 24–26). See note on Ex. 25:18.
6:29 palm trees. An image reminiscent of the Garden of Eden in Gen. 2. The palm tree represented the tree of life from the Garden.
