Old Testament Scriptural Summaries and Commentary

Old Testament, 1 Kings, Chapters 3, 5-11

Supplemental; 1 Kings 1; 2:1-12; 4:29-34; see also 1 Chronicles 29

Gospel Doctrine Class, Sunday School Lesson #26

King Solomon: Man of Wisdom, Man of Foolishness

The First Book of the KINGS – Commonly called The Third Book of the Kings

1 Kings, Chapters 3, 5-11 — Solomon’s reign 

1 Kings, Chapter 3 — Solomon’s vision dream; Solomon judges between two women who both claim to be a child’s mother

Solomon solidifies his political power by making the daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh his wife (v. 3:1).  These foreign marriages become Solomon’s downfall as he begins to allow the worship of false gods (OT Student Manual, II, p.  4).  The temple had not yet been built in Jerusalem, so Solomon went to the tabernacle [built by Moses] located in Gibeon.  And he sacrificed “a thousand burnt offerings …upon that altar” (v. 3:4).  At night in Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream saying, “Ask what I shall give thee” (v. 3:5).  And Solomon in his humility asks God only for “an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad” (v. 3:9).  And that pleased the Lord who gave him that which he didn't ask for also which was “riches and honor” contingent on his keeping the statutes and commandments of the Lord (vv. 3:13-14). 

 Verses 16-28 is the story of the two harlots who both claim to be the mother of the same child.  Solomon listens to both their stories then said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other” (v. 3:25).  The false mother agrees to divide the child, but the real mother begs Solomon to give the child to the other woman that it would not be slain.  And, Solomon answered, “Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof” (v. 3:27).  And all Israel heard the judgment that “the wisdom of God was in him” (v. 3:28). 

1 Kings, Chapters 5-6 — KING Hiram of Tyre [Lebanon] sends supplies for the temple

After David died, Hiram of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon.  And Solomon said to Hiram “Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet” (v. 5:3).  And Solomon set about to build the temple with supplies of cedar and fir trees from Lebanon along with skilled Phoenician architects and craftsmen to “hew timber” (v. 5:6).  And Solomon gave Hiram wheat and oil for his household each year; and there was peace between them (vv. 5:11-12). 

Now Solomon needs workers to build the temple and he conscripts [commands] thirty thousand men from all Israel to cut stones and prepare the timbers.  This was  fulfillment of the prophesy made by Samuel that a king “will take your sons” to be servants, horsemen, captains and to reap the harvest and make his instruments of war and instruments of chariots.  And “he will take your daughters” to be cooks and bakers (see 1 Samuel 8: 11-18).

In the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, after four hundred and eighty years from the time that the children of Israel came out of Egypt, work on the temple in Jerusalem began (v. 6:1).

 Brigham Young said, “The pattern of this temple…[and] all the fixtures thereunto…were given to Solomon by revelation, through the proper source” (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 414; quoted in OT Student Manual, II, p. 5).

 

"This was necessary because Solomon had never built a temple and didn't know the function and arrangement of all the rooms any more than Moses did when he built the tabernacle.  And the inner rooms of the temple were built in a similar design to the ancient tabernacle" (OT Student Manual, II, p. 5-6).  The temple was built by the finest craftsmen who carved cherubim, palm trees, and flowers of cedar and fir overlaid with gold within and without the temple (v. 6:29).  The word of the Lord came to Solomon that if he kept the statutes and judgments and all the commandments, “I [the Lord] will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel” (v. 6:13).  And it took seven [and a half] years to build the temple (v. 6:38).

Note: It took twenty years to build Solomon's house and "the house of the Lord" (see v. 9:10).

1 Kings, Chapter 7— Solomon’s Palace is built and the temple is finished

The first twelve verses describe the palace that Solomon built for himself and the house he built for his wife, the pharaoh's daughter.  They were made of cedar and the porches were of "costly [hewed] stones." These took thirteen years to build. 

Then, Solomon had a “molten sea of brass” (v. 7:23) built for the temple that was placed on the backs of twelve brazen oxen, symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel.

 Bruce R. McConkie explains that this was a baptismal font used for baptizing the living as there was no baptism for the dead until after the resurrection of Christ (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 103-4; quoted from The Student Manual, II, p. 6). 

 And Hiram of Tyre came to Jerusalem and built many works of brass for the temple (v. 7:13).  “And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD; the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the showbread was” (v. 7:48).  And, finally, everything was finished and the work ended and everything was placed “among the treasures of the house of the LORD” (v. 7:51). 

1 Kings, Chapter 8 — The ark is placed in the Holy of Holies and Solomon dedicates the temple

Solomon calls for all the elders of Israel and the heads of the tribes to come to Jerusalem to bring the ark to the temple.  “And the priests [the Levites]  took up the ark” (v. 8:3) and “brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims” (v. 8:6).  “And there was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt” (v. 8:9).    And a cloud filled the house of the Lord (vv. 8:10-11) indicating the very presence of God (OT Student Manual, II, p. 7). 

Now Solomon blesses the congregation and begins the dedicatory prayer.  Solomon praises the Lord (v. 8:23) and pleads with him “to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day” (v. 8:28).  And he asks the Lord to forgive the sin of his servants "and teach them the good way wherein they should walk" that they will have rain on the land [temporal and spiritual blessings] (v. 8:36).  And Solomon speaks of a "stranger from a far country" who comes in the name of the Lord and prays toward the house of the Lord, and asks blessings upon Israel “that all people of the earth may know thy name” (vv. 8:41-43)—This seems to refer to the missionaries of a future day.  And Solomon asks the Lord for compassion on the people of Israel in all that they call for unto the Lord (vv. 8:50-52).  When Solomon finishes his prayer, he said to the people, “Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and keep his commandments, as at this day” (v. 8:61).  And they offered sacrifice offerings of thousands of oxen and sheep for seven days. 

Then Solomon held a feast for the whole of Israel "from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt"—all of the lands that David conquered—for an additional seven days (v. 8:65).  “On the eighth day [after fourteen days of sacrifice and worship]… they blessed the king and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people” (v. 8:66). 

1 Kings, Chapters 9-11— Solomon rules in splendor and dies in transgression

The Lord appears to Solomon a second time and accepts the temple “which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever” (v. 9:3).  Again the Lord tells Solomon everything is conditional on keeping his statutes and judgments.  And he cautions Solomon that if Israel serves other gods, he will cut them off out of the land which he has given them "and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight" (vv. 9:6-7). 

Because of Solomon’s massive building projects the people are put in forced labor and heavily taxed.  This affects not only the children of Israel but the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites who were made bondmen.  The Israelites  were not bondmen but became Solomon’s soldiers, servants, princes, captains and rulers of his chariots and horsemen. (vv. 9:15-23).  Then Solomon “made a navy of ships” (v. 9:26) and Hiram sent shipmen who had knowledge of the sea.  And the ships brought gold and other treasure to king Solomon.

The queen of Sheba [thought to be from Arabia near the southern end of the Red Sea] (Student Manual, II, p. 8), came to visit Solomon to test him on his famed wealth and wisdom.  She didn't believe what she had heard until she saw it with her own eyes, “and behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard” (v. 10:7).  And, they exchange gifts of gold, silver, and precious stones.  And she gave Solomon a great abundance of spices.  Now Solomon’s heart seems to be on all the things of the world that he can build or acquire.  And his navy brought him gold, silver, ivory, and apes and peacocks (v. 10:22).  “So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom” (v. 10:23). 

And Solomon married many “strange” [foreign] women who brought their idol and heathen worship with them to Israel.  The scripture states that he had seven hundred wives and princesses, and three hundred concubines (v. 11:3).  These women corrupted Solomon and when he was old, he “turned away his heart after other gods” (v. 11:4).  And God stirred up adversaries against the king.  

Solomon’s servant, an industrious man named Jeroboam, was made ruler over the house of Joseph [Ephraim and Manasseh] (v. 11:28).  A prophet named Ahijah told Jeroboam that Israel would be divided and he [Jeroboam] would rule over the ten tribes but the tribe of Judah [including half the tribe of Benjamin and the Levites] would continue under David’s line [including the promised Messiah] (vv. 11:29-36).  From that day Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam who fled to Egypt for safety.  Solomon reigned over all of Israel forty years and died and was buried in the city of David.  He was succeeded by Rehoboam, his son (vv.11:40-43).

Supplemental Scriptural Study

1 Kings 1 —  Adonijah and the succession of Solomon

King David was old and unable to keep warm.  Thus, a virgin was given to him care for him and to “lie in [his] bosom, that my lord the king may get heat” (v. 1:2).  The virgin’s name was Abishag and she was fair to behold but “the king knew her not” (v. 1:4).  The king’s fourth [next living] son Adonijah soon declares himself king and is supported by Joab, the commander of the military, Abiathar, the high priest, and other princes of the court including David’s personal servants and staff. 

Adonijah prepares a great feast a short distance from Jerusalem and purposely excludes Zadock, a priest, Benaiah, a military commander, and Nathan, the prophet, who are loyal to Solomon and David.  Nathan takes news of Adonijah’s plot to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, who along with Nathan succeeds in having King David declare Solomon his successor.  So, Solomon rode the king’s mule into Gohon and Zadock anointed Solomon with oil, and he was declared king.  And the people said, “God save king Solomon” (vv. 1:38-39). When Adonijah heard the noise, he was told that David had made Solomon king.  And Adonijah feared for his life and went to seek refuge on the horns of the altar.  But Solomon sent him to his house conditional on being “a worthy man; …but [cautioned] if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die” (v. 1:52).

1 Kings, Chapter 2 —  David counsels Solomon to keep the commandments and dies; Solomon rules the kingdom

David knows he is about to die and he counsels Solomon “be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man.”  He also tells him to “keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses” (vv. 2:2-3).  David's last advice to his son “in his wisdom” is to deal with [take revenge on] Joab for the murders of Abner and Amasa, and Shimi, who cursed David when he fled from Absalom--a sad ending for King David.  And, David “slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.” And David was king of Judah for seven years and all of Israel for thirty-three years (v. 2:10). 

 Adonijah is still plotting to get the throne and entreats Bathsheba to ask Solomon to give him Abishag for his wife and she agrees to his petition.  Solomon is angry because he knows that would be a sign to the people that Adonijah is the rightful king.  In swift judgment Solomon orders Adonijah killed by Benaiah that same day (vv. 2:24-25).  And Solomon exiles Abiathar, the priest who supported Adonijah, out of the court to his own fields (v. 2:26).  Joab flees to the horns of the altar for mercy, but because there is no doubt of his guilt in the murder of two innocent men, he is killed by Benaiah.  Zadock takes the place of Abiathar as Solomon’s priest and Benaiah is made captain of the host of Israel’s military (vv. 2:34-35).  Shimi is given a house in Jerusalem and ordered not to cross over the brook Kidron or he will be killed.  However, after three years, Shimi goes to Gath seemingly to look for his errant servants—Solomon did not want Shimi collaborating with the eastern enemies of Israel (Student Manual II, p. 3).  When Solomon finds out Shimi’s deception, he confronts him and Shimi is killed by Benaiah (vv.2:36-46).

Verses 4:1-19 lists all the officers, princes and priests of his court.  “And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt” (v. 4:21).  The scripture enumerates the huge amounts of flour and meal; oxen, sheep, harts, roebucks, fallow deer [gazelles], and fatted fowl needed as provisions for one day for his servants and officers.  “And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen” (vv. 4:27-28) to house and feed along with all the barley and straw needed for the animals.  All these provisions for the government were levied as taxes by Solomon on the people of Israel (Student Manual, II, pp. 4-5). 

“And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.  For he was wiser than all men;…and his fame was in all nations round about.  And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five” (vv. 4:30-32).

First Chronicles, Chapter 29:1-30

 1 Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God.   2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.

3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,  4 Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir [probably a seaport], and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: 5 The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers [skilled workman]. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?

6 ¶Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king’s work, offered willingly,

 7 And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.  8 And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the Lord, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite [Levite in charge of the treasury].  9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

10 ¶Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.  11 Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.  12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.  14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.  15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.  16 O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.  17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. 18 O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:  19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.

 20 ¶And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the Lord your God. And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshiped the Lord, and the king.  21 And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings unto the Lord, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel:  22 And did eat and drink before the Lord on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the Lord to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.  23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.  24 And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.  25 And the Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.

 26 ¶Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.  27 And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.  28 And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.  29 Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer [lost scriptures],  30 With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.