Solomon’s Treasure
First Kings 10:14-29 and
Second Chronicles 1:14-17 and 9:13-28

Solomon’s treasure DIG: How did Solomon make his money? Why did Solomon need an ivory throne overlaid with gold? Why did Solomon need five hundred shields that required 2,525 pounds of gold to make? How did Solomon violate Deuteronomy? As a man of unparalleled wealth, why do you think Solomon later wrote Ecclesiastes that wealth is meaningless?

REFLECT: In studying the incredible riches of Solomon, what do we learn about the possession of riches by a believer? What guidelines do you find in First Timothy 6:17-19? Is it right for believers to accumulate large amounts of wealth? Why? Why not? How does having money give the appearance of wisdom? Where is your heart on this? When do you say, “Enough is enough.”

Where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.

Solomon’s treasure: Now the golden age of Solomon’s empire, which stands as the high-water mark of kingship in Isra’el before the coming of Messiah, is described. The key word in this section is gold. The author, inspired by the Ruach Ha’Kodesh, wants to impress us with the splendid glories of Solomon’s golden kingdom. But we also need to keep all this in its proper biblical context, remembering how quickly earthly glory will pass away, and how easy it is for gold, and wealth in general, to become our god.

One way to measure Solomon’s glory is to weigh all of his gold, which is what people still do today. The Bible says that the weight of the gold Solomon received annually came to twenty-five tons. This is a staggering figure. It amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars in today’s economy – maybe as much as a billion. But that is not all. We need to include Solomon’s international trade and count all the gold which came from customs duties and sales taxes; also, all the Arab kings and regional governors brought gold and silver to Solomon. We don’t know exactly how much gold that was, but we can make a fair estimate by visiting the king’s summer palace: King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold; fifteen pounds of gold went into one shield. He also made 300 smaller shields of hammered gold, with seven-and-a-half pounds going into one shield; the king put these in the House of the Lebanon Forest (1 Kings 10:14-17; 2 Chronicles 9:13-16). Today we would make them into bars, but the gold in Solomon’s treasury was fashioned into ceremonial shields. Each shield was worth a small fortune, and Solomon had five-hundred of them, both large and small.

The king also owned many other precious treasures of opulent beauty. Consider his great throne, he made it out of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. The throne had six steps and a gold footstool, a back with a rounded top, arms on either side of the seat, two lions standing beside the arms, and twelve more lions standing on each side of the six steps. Nothing like it anywhere in the world (First Kings 10:18-20; Second Chronicles 9:17-19). The lions were emblems of the tribe of Judah, and thus they served as royal symbols of the king’s God-given-power.

All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold; and all the utensils in the House of the Lebanon Forest were of pure gold. None was of silver, for in Solomon’s time it was regarded as having little value. There was so much gold that it led to the devaluation of silver. He was also successful in business. The king had a fleet of large ships that would go to Tarshish along with Hiram’s fleet; once every three years the “Tarshish” fleet came in, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks (First Kings 10:21-22; Second Chronicles 9:20-21).

So, King Solomon surpassed all the kings on earth in both wealth and wisdom. All the kings on the earth sought to have an audience with Solomon, in order to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. Each one brought his present – articles of silver, articles of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses and mules; and this continued year after year (First Kings 10:23-25). All these treasures, both animal and mineral, kept flowing into Jerusalem. Solomon’s kingdom became a major center for international trade. With all the revenues and exchanges, to say nothing of the taxes and tariffs, the king’s global business accumulated an enormous fortune.

The golden age: This all sounds very impressive, but how does the Bible evaluate the glory days of Solomon’s empire? What are we to make of all his gold? What can the king’s treasure teach us about the spiritual implications of wealth and our relationship to the good things of this life? We need to recognize that there is nothing inherently wrong with gold. It is good in itself. So are apes, peacocks, silver, and even ivory, depending on how it is obtained. These are beautiful things created by God for the enjoyment of His people. Gold is especially beautiful, which is one of the reasons why it is universally acknowledged as a valuable treasure. In keeping with this reputation, the Bible often puts gold in a positive light, as we have seen in the interior of the Temple. There are hundreds of references to gold in the TaNaKh and the B’rit Chadashah, and many of them recognize its lasting splendor.

We must remember that the golden age was ADONAI’s answer to Solomon’s prayers. In Psalm 72 the king asked for the wealth of the Gentile nations – not for himself alone, but for the sake of God’s Kingdom. The king’s gold was an answer to prayer, therefore, and also the fulfillment of that promise. Back at the beginning of his reign, when Solomon honored YHVH by asking for wisdom, the LORD promised him the added blessing of incomparable riches: But I am also giving you what you didn’t ask for, riches and honor greater than that of any other king throughout your life (First Kings 3:13). So this is what we are to make of Solomon’s gold: it was the answer to his royal prayers and the fulfillment of a divine promise, to the glory of the kingdom of God.

This passing splendor: Yet for all its glory, we always need to remember that earthly gold is only a passing splendor. No matter how costly it is, from an eternal perspective gold is extremely limited in value. Therefore, we should be careful not to be overly impressed with the glories of Solomon’s kingdom, let alone our own earthly treasures. Soon Solomon’s glory days would be over. He was already reaching a point of diminishing returns. How many golden shields can one king really use, anyway?

To keep things in perspective, we need to hear the other side of what the Bible says about gold. While openly acknowledging its splendor, the Bible also mentions some spiritual things that are much more valuable. Gold is not as precious as wisdom, for example (Proverbs 16:16; Job 28:15-17). Also, gold is less valuable than the Word of God (Psalm 19:10 and 119:127). As valuable as it is, gold cannot compare with the priceless treasure of knowing and doing the will of God or believing in the Gospel of Yeshua Messiah. This is because gold cannot satisfy the soul. Therefore, we should not put our confidence in earthly treasures. Job was on the right track when he said: If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant . . . I would have fallen to God above (Job 31:24-25 and 28).

Remember this well: you will lose all your gold when you die. You may well lose it sooner than that, as many people do. But even if you amass a large fortune, and manage to hold on to it until you are old and gray, you will still have to leave it behind when you die. Charles Spurgeon told the story of a shipowner who was asked about the state of his soul. “Soul?” the man replied, incredulously. “I have no time to take care of my soul. I have enough to do just taking care of my ships.” But as Spurgeon pointed out, the man was not too busy to die, which he did only a week later. Is there a better example of this truth than King Solomon? How quickly his glory passed away! In First Kings 14:25-26 we read how Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. He took away the treasures of the house of ADONAI and the treasures of the king’s house. He took everything. He also took away all their shields of gold that Solomon had made.

But of course, Solomon was dead by then anyway. He had already left all his earthly treasure behind, as everyone does. Thus passes the glory of the world, as Solomon knew it would. In Ecclesiastes 2:18, the king lamented having to leave everything to the man who will come after me, and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool. As it happened, Solomon’s worst fears were realized: he left his treasures to his fool of a son Rehoboam, who proceeded to lose it all. If we say this about Solomon, we should also be prepared to say it about ourselves and our own golden treasures, for they too will pass away.²¹¹

Fool’s gold and other temptations: The most important thing in life is to glorify ADONAI. And this is where the life of Solomon took a tragic turn. As wise as he was, at least for most of his reign, somewhere along the way, Solomon started making some deadly spiritual compromises (see the commentary on Revelation, to see link click Bc – The Church at Thyatira). He stopped choosing to follow God with his whole heart every day, and started living for his own glory, seeking his own security and pursuing his own pleasure (see Br – Solomon’s Choice). Not only that, at some point Solomon started to neglect the Torah.

Moshe commanded: When the king has come to occupy the throne, he is to write a copy of this Torah for himself in a scroll. It is to remain with him, and he is to read in it every day, as long as he lives; so that he will learn to fear ADONAI his God and keep all the words of this Torah and these statutes and obey them; and so that he will not turn aside either to the right or to the left from the mitzvah. In this way he will prolong his own reign and that of his children in Isra’el (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). If he would have done so, he would have read this: Be careful not to forget ADONAI your God . . . otherwise, after you have eaten and are satisfied, built fine homes and live in them, and when . . . increased your silver and gold . . . then . . . forget ADONAI your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, where you were slaves (Deut 8:11-14).

The fact that Solomon kept accumulating more and more gold was a sure sign that he was going down the wrong road. The Torah explicitly told the king of Isra’el not to acquire for himself excessive silver and gold (Deuteronomy 17:17). Maybe it’s hard to decide exactly how much gold is too much, but for Solomon it was probably somewhere between his first and his five-hundredth golden shield. The desire to horde was starting to take control of his life. Yeshua said: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).

Solomon faced another serious temptation, which was to put his trust in military power. This teaching ends with a further sign of spiritual danger. Solomon amassed chariots and horsemen; he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen; he assigned them to the chariot cities and to the king in Jerusalem. The king made silver in Yerushalayim as common as stones, and he made cedars as abundant as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. Solomon’s horses had been brought from Egypt and from Cilicia, with the king’s agents having bought them from the dealers in Cilicia at the going price. A chariot from Egypt cost fifteen pounds of silver shekels and a horse three-and-three quarters pounds [of shekels]; all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram purchased them at these prices through Solomon’s agents (First Kings 10:26-29; Second Chronicles 1:14-17).

Solomon also had 4,000 stalls of horses for his chariots and his 12,000 horsemen; he assigned them to the chariot cities and to the king in Jerusalem. He ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River through the land of the Philistines to the border of Egypt. The king made silver in Yerushalayim as common as stones, and he made cedars as abundant as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. They brought horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all countries (Second Chronicles 9:25-28).

To put it bluntly, King Solomon had become an arms dealer for the Middle East. As the middleman between the Egyptians and the Syrians – importing and exporting chariots, buying low and selling high – Solomon turned a handsome profit. Yet, in the long run this proved to be very foolish. In later days the Syrians and the Egyptians both attacked the Israelites (First Kings 14:25-26; Second Kings 5:1-2). Thus, the king was supplying his enemies with the weapons for Isra’el’s own destruction!

What Solomon did was also a direct violation of the Torah, which said the king should not acquire many horses for himself or have the people return to Egypt to obtain more horses, inasmuch as ADONAI told you never to return that way again (Deuteronomy 17:16). By trading with Egypt for horses and chariots, Solomon was going to the place that he was forbidden to go. By the time we get to First Kings 11, Solomon will be spiritually bankrupt. But the warning signs of his eventual downfall are obvious in First Kings 10. His misguided quest for more and more gold, as well as his misplaced confidence in military power. King David had prophets and priests who advised him and even warned and rebuked him, but nobody seems to have encouraged Solomon to read Deuteronomy and make a life for himself rather than making a fortune.²¹²

Glory days: One day there will be another golden Kingdom. In fact, Solomon’s gold held the promise of this most glorious Kingdom. It was for this reason, perhaps more than any other, that ADONAI gave Solomon so much gold: He did it to prepare us for the golden Kingdom of God. When Yeshua preached the kingdom of God, he assumed that people had some idea what a kingdom was, and He used Solomon’s kingdom as the best example, Yeshua called it: Solomon in all his glory (Matthew 6:29).

Yet for all its glory, Solomon’s gold gives us only a glimpse of the greater glories of the Kingdom of Yeshua Messiah. When we get to the book of Revelation, where the Bible opens a window on eternity, we see many glittering splendors. The crowns of the twenty-four elders are made of gold (Revelation 4:4), each having gold bowls filled with incense (Revelation 5:8). There is a gold altar in front of the throne of God (8:4). The main street in the New Jerusalem will be made of pure gold (Revelation 21:21). In fact, the whole heavenly City is described as a golden metropolis – a city of pure gold (see the commentary on Revelation Fu – The New Jerusalem had a Great, High Wall with Twelve Gates). This is the place to store our treasure, not in a world that is passing away, but in a golden age that will never end (see Revelation Fq – The Eternal State).²¹³

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You that a loving relationship with You is the greatest gift that anyone can have – worth far more than any amount of earthly wealth! Praise You for offering the gift of Yourself to those who love You. The treasures of this world will soon be gone, but the treasure for those who love You, of everlasting joy and peace, will last for all eternity! Knowing that the One who raised the Lord Yeshua will raise us also with Yeshua, and will bring us with you into His presence. . . For our trouble, light and momentary, is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison (Second Corinthians 4:14, 17). I love to serve You with all my heart, for You are my very great treasure! In Yeshua’s name and power of His resurrection. Amen

Solomon and the Queen of Sheba
First Kings 10:1-13 and
Second Chronicles 9:1-12

Solomon and the Queen of Sheba DIG: How should the current-day believer view the splendor of Solomon? What impressed the queen? Why did she come? How did she “see” wisdom? How did the queen complement Solomon? What did she say about the God of Solomon?

REFLECT: What does this story stir up in you? Who truly admires you or seeks out your opinion? How is love for God evident in your walk? What one question would you ask the wisest man in the world? What will you do this week to thank someone you admire?

We respond to Yeshua by honoring His breathtaking wisdom,
worshiping His royal majesty, and offering Him our golden treasure.

See for yourself: Solomon and the queen of Sheba are a study in contrasts. Arab meets Israelite; a curious woman visits a wise and wealthy man. Their encounter was full of diplomatic intrigue. Although state visits are more common today, it was somewhat unusual in those days for a reigning monarch to make such a journey in person. Typically, someone like the queen of Sheba would have sent emissaries to Solomon’s court. Instead, she traveled more than a thousand miles through the desert to meet Isra’el’s king in person. King Solomon is more famous today, of course, but the queen of Sheba was an important person in her own right. As a reigning monarch, the queen had a large entourage. She was worth a fortune. She arrived in Yerushalayim accompanied by a very great entourage, including camels bearing spices and gold in great abundance, and precious stones (First Kings 10:2a). The queen of Sheba, who ruled a kingdom in what is now the country of Yemen, was one of the most powerful and influential people in the world.²⁰⁷

Yet the true source of the woman’s greatness was her intellectual curiosity. It was not simply what she owned that made her important, but also what she wanted to know. When the queen of Sheba heard what was being said about Solomon because of the name of God, she came to test him with difficult questions, or riddles of the wise, such as those mentioned in Proverbs 1:6. When she appeared before Solomon, she spoke with him about everything in her mind and on her heart (First Kings 10:1 and 2b; 2 Chronicles 9:1).

And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. After the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, the palace he had built, the food at his table, the manner of seating his officials, the manner in which his staff served him, how they were dressed, his personal servants and his burnt offering which he offered in the house of ADONAI, it left her breathless (First Kings 10:3-5; 2 Chronicles 9:2-4). Solomon’s words were matched by his deeds. But she desired more than intellectual combat and eye candy. She recognized that only a great God could produce such a great king. In other words, she sought spiritual insight from one famous for possessing the wisdom of ADONAI.

Dear Heavenly Father, How Awesome You are! Your wisdom knows no limits, You know the future as if it was the past, and you know every heart and the real emotions and feelings behind every act. Your love is steadfast and unfailing! It is such a comfort that no matter what is happening in the world or in our lives, Your love surrounds us! Since Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You (Psalms 63:3).

How wise was the Queen of Sheba to lay aside the important duties of her kingdom to seek after wisdom that Solomon had received from God Almighty. May we also put aside earthly time – consuming activities to spend time seeking after Your wisdom. To seek after Your wisdom is true wisdom! Only by following what You say, can anyone really be wise. It is a joy to read Your Word and meditate on Your wisdom and power! In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

She said to the king, “What I heard in my own country about your deeds and your wisdom is true, but I couldn’t believe the report until I came and saw for myself. Actually, they didn’t tell me even half of it – your wisdom and prosperity surpass the reports I heard. How happy your people must be, how happy these servants of yours who are always here attending you and get to hear your wisdom! Blessed be ADONAI your God, who took pleasure in you to put you on the throne of Isra’el. Because of ADONAI’s eternal love for Isra’el, He has made you king. Because of your God’s love for Isra’el, to establish them forever, He has made you king over them to administer justice and righteousness fairly.” Then she gave the king four tons of gold, a huge amount of spices, and precious stones; never again did there arise such an abundance of spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon (First Kings 10:6-10; Second Chronicles 9:5-9).

Between the confession of Solomon’s greatness and the offering of her gifts, she makes an important statement about ADONAI. She claims that God deserves praise for choosing him to rule Isra’el. In fact, the presence of Solomon on the throne proves ADONAI’s eternal love for Isra’el. This love had motivated God’s choice of Isra’el (Deuteronomy 7:7-8), David (Second Samuel 7:15-16), and now Solomon. How must Solomon reflect God’s love? By maintaining justice and righteousness in the Land, the very gift Solomon requested in First Kings 3:1-9. Those comments were similar to those that Hiram made in First Kings 5:7. Both Gentile monarchs recognized ADONAI’s supremacy in Isra’el’s history. Quite ironically, Solomon and the future kings of both Isra’el and Judah chose to ignore what even Gentile rulers seemed to understand: God ruled Isra’el and He blessed obedient Israelite kings.

Hiram’s servants who had brought the gold from Ofir, or Yemen today, now brought sandalwood and precious stones. The king used the sandalwood to make walkways for the house of ADONAI and for the royal palace, also lyres and lutes for the singers. None like these had been seen before in the land of Judah (First Kings 10:11-12; Second Chronicles 9:10-11). These verses remind readers of the Hiram-Solomon trading practices in 9:26-28. The author probably wanted to remove any doubts the preceding verse might raise about Solomon’s ability to bring gold and spices to Jerusalem. He and Hiram were able to accomplish this task effectively on their own. Therefore, the queen’s gift grew in significance given the magnitude of Solomon’s trading success.²⁰⁸

Now the story ends on good terms. King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she wanted, whatever she asked, more than what she had brought to the king. Although Solomon benefited from his relations with others, he was always the dominant partner. After this, she returned and went back to her own country, she and her servants, richer than she came. Solomon had received blessing from her, but he, in turn, was a blessing to her. This theme recalls the patriarchal promise to the same effect in Genesis 12:2b-3: I will make your name great; and you are to be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you . . . and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed (First Kings 10:13; Second Chronicles 9:12).²⁰⁹

The queen of Sheba is a wonderful example to follow in coming to trust in Messiah. She moved from unbelief (or disbelief) to faith in the Kingdom of ADONAI. At the same time, she also shows us how to respond to the King of that Kingdom. Keep in mind that Solomon is a type of Messiah. Therefore, in the story of Solomon and the queen of Sheba we see how to respond to Yeshua: by honoring His breathtaking wisdom, worshiping His royal majesty, and offering Him our golden treasure.

Honor the King’s breathtaking wisdom: Since godly wisdom was what the queen of Sheba was seeking, godly wisdom was exactly what she found. Questions that were hard for others were easy for Solomon. With the divine gift of wisdom, he knew all the answers. We can still see Solomon’s wisdom today by contemplating his famous Proverbs, reading his love letters in the Song of Solomon, or studying his philosophy in the book of Ecclesiastes. The queen of Sheba recognized that Solomon’s wisdom was not simply for his own benefit, but for the blessing of his people, who found their greatest joy in the service of their worthy king.

We should give even more honor to and find even more joy in Messiah, for as wise as Solomon was, he did not know even a fraction of what Yeshua knows. Talk about breathtaking! The Bible says that in Messiah are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3)! There is nothing to be known that the Lord doesn’t already know. He is absolutely omniscient; His wisdom is infinite; He is the only wise God (First Timothy 1:17). How happy we should be to serve this all-wise King, and to hear His words of wisdom! We honor His wisdom by praising Him for everything we see in creation. We honor His wisdom by listening to what He says and then doing it as best we can in our fallen state. We honor His wisdom by trusting in His plan of salvation, fully believing in the cross and the empty tomb.

We also honor the wisdom of God by trusting what He is doing in our lives right now. Sometimes it is easy to think that ADONAI could or should be doing a little better than He is at managing our affairs. When we consider our family situation, our work situation, or our financial situation, it can be tempting to think that we know some wiser way for Him to run our lives. This too is breathtaking . . . breathtaking in its arrogance. If Yeshua Messiah is the all-wise God of creation and salvation, then we honor His wisdom by fully trusting His plan for our lives. How much happier we are when we learn to believe in the wisdom of our King without doubting, complaining, or second-guessing His will.

Worship the King’s royal majesty: As soon as the queen of Sheba caught her breath, she had something to say. Here was her response of praise: Blessed be ADONAI your God, who took pleasure in you to put you on the throne of Isra’el. Because of your God’s love for Isra’el, to establish them forever, He has made you king over them to administer justice and righteousness fairly. Thus, the queen of Sheba worshiped the king’s royal majesty. With high praise, she rejoiced in Solomon, the ruler of God’s kingdom, and in that rejoicing, she worshiped the royal majesty of YHVH Himself – the King of all kings.

By her good example, the queen of Sheba draws us into the worship of ADONAI. Whatever she said about Solomon is something we can say even more emphatically about Yeshua Messiah as the King of God’s everlasting Kingdom. As much as the Father delighted in Solomon, He delights even more in His eternal Son (Matthew 3:17 and 17:5). He is so pleased, in fact, that He has placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the Church (Ephesians 1:20-22). The Father has done this because He loves us and because He wants to establish His justice and righteousness on the earth. He has given us Messiah to be our King, to rule and defend us. So we worship His royal majesty, saying, “Blessed be ADONAI Your God, who has delighted in You and set You on the throne in heaven!” In saying this, we worship both the Father and the Son who is the proof of our Father’s love.

What made the queen’s worship especially significant is that she came from Sheba, which was outside the covenant community. This made Sheba one of the first fulfillments of the ancient prophecies that God would bless all the nations of the world with His saving grace. She became the answer to Solomon’s prayers. In Psalm 72, he prayed that ADONAI would bless his royal kingdom. He specifically asked that the desert tribes would bow down before Him, that kings would fall at His feet, and that all nations would call Him blessed (Psalm 72:9, 11 and 17). Earlier, in his prayer of dedication for the Temple, Solomon prayed that all the peoples of the earth will know that ADONAI is God (First Kings 8:60). With the arrival of the queen of Sheba, his prayers were coming true.

This is why the queen of Sheba is so significant, and why her journey to Jerusalem is one of the most important state visits in the history of the world. His royal highness is a Gospel sign pointing us to the global worship of Yeshua Messiah. Already in the TaNaKh we see Ha’Shem working His plan for all nations and all peoples to worship Him. The international fame of Solomon anticipates the Second Coming of Yeshua Messiah and the worldwide scope of His Kingdom. When we worship Yeshua in His royal majesty – whoever we are and wherever we are from – we fulfill the purpose of ADONAI in the world.

Give the King your golden treasure: One final thing we can do for our King is to give him our golden treasure. The queen of Sheba did something more than simply feel faint in the presence of Solomon’s superior wisdom, or speak to him in words of praise; she also did something tangible: Then she gave the king four tons of gold, a huge amount of spices, and precious stones; never again did there arise such an abundance of spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon (First Kings 10:10). Nor was she the only one, for Hiram’s servants who had brought the gold from Ofir, now brought sandalwood and precious stones. The king used the sandalwood to make walkways for the house of ADONAI and for the royal palace, also lyres and lutes for the singers. None like these had been seen before in the land of Judah (First Kings 10:11-12).

Once again, these extravagant gifts remind us what the prophets said about the Savior – prophecies about the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah said: Nations will go toward Your light and kings toward Your shining splendor . . . caravans of camels will cover Your land, young camels from Midian and Ephah all coming from Sheba, bringing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of ADONAI (Isaiah 60:3 and 6). This was one of the many promises fulfilled in the birth of Yeshua Messiah. The magi from the east came to do something more than merely worship the newborn King. They also brought gifts of gold and frankincense (Matthew 2:11). The wealth of kings that God had promised would come from camels coming from Sheba. They would bring their treasure to the King.

Messiah is worthy of all our golden treasure, and everything else that we can offer Him. Not that we could ever add to His bank account, of course, as if he needed anything from us (Romans 11:35-36). Who has ever given anything to God? Whatever we have is from Him and through Him. But whatever we have is also for Him, and therefore, He is worthy of our wealth. So we bring Him our golden treasure, giving money to the King for the work of His Kingdom. We support the ministry of His Word, the worship of His Church, and the proclamation of His grace to the nations. We do this because Yeshua Messiah is royally worthy to receive our tribute, and because the work of His glorious Kingdom is the best investment we can possibly make.

Receive the King’s royal blessing: All this talk of golden treasure may lead some people to think that it is very costly to be a believer in Yeshua. People probably said the same thing about the queen of Sheba. After all, she gave Solomon large gifts from her own personal fortune. But in the end, this proved to be for her own benefit, because in return she received a royal blessing. King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she wanted, whatever she asked, more than what she had brought to the king. After this, she returned and went back to her own country, she and her servants (First Kings 10:13). Solomon gave the queen everything she wanted – not just wisdom, but also wealth. He sent her home with the bountiful blessing of His kingdom – richer than when she came.

An even greater blessing still awaits her, on the last of all days, when Yeshua Messiah will come into His everlasting Kingdom. Then the queen of Sheba will receive the blessing of eternal life (see the commentary on The Life of Christ, to see link click Ms – The Eternal Security of the Believer). We know this because Yeshua explicitly stated that she would be present at the final judgment, standing with the righteous. The Lord said to the people of His own generation who wanted Him to give them some sort of a sign to prove that He was the Messiah. They wondered if it was worthwhile to follow Him. He told them: The Queen of the South will appear at the Judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Shlomo, and what is here now is greater than Solomon (Luke 11:31). Therefore, we should come to Yeshua the way the queen of Sheba went to Solomon. We should say of Messiah what the queen said when she met Solomon, “Blessed be ADONAI” (First Kings 10:9)! Even old King Solomon was worthy of some recognition. The queen of Sheba proved it by traveling a thousand miles to honor his wisdom and give him her gold. But if Solomon was worthy to receive all of that, then Yeshua is worthy even more . . . more honor, more worship, and more treasure.²¹⁰

Practical Application from
First Kings 9:10 to 11:43

As Paul House examines in his commentary on First and Second Kings, individuals and congregations often come to pivotal moments in their lives. Actions and decisions at these strategic times need to be sound, or their consequences would be profound. This section in First Kings illuminates what readers or hearers of its words may expect when faced with life’s turning points. Therefore, the first point of emphasis is that persons and congregations must learn to discern when a pivotal moment has arrived. For some the moment comes after a time of great success, while for others, it comes after a failure, and for still others after one of life’s normal passages, such as a marriage, graduation, or retirement. Proper assessment should help faithful persons stay the course.

Second, when people disappoint us, it is important to remember that ADONAI remains trustworthy regardless of how unstable people may be. YHVH made eternal promises to David and made sure those promises were kept. God’s people can be confident, then, that the Lord never judges incorrectly, never breaks faith and never holds a grudge. His Word is certain and thus a foundation of hope.

Third, Ha’Shem’s use of prophets indicates that the Lord always finds ways to reveal warnings, encouragement, and counsel. Chief among those means, of course, is Scripture, as the author’s repeated allusions to the Torah indicate. Yet, God also uses persons to confront or to counsel other persons. The prophets are good examples of the difficulty, yet importance, of sharing God’s truth with other people.

Fourth, the ramifications of Solomon’s actions should give us further food for thought when we are tempted to sin. Individual sin affects the whole community, especially when that sin is committed by the leader of a group, whether of a nation, a congregation, or a family. Each person must therefore examine the wider consequences of his or her actions. This principle is particularly true in spiritual matters, since our relationship to ADONAI is more important than any other issue in life.

Fifth, Solomon’s spiritual apostasy in his time emphasizes the need for faithfulness in today’s postmodern, pluralistic society. Multiculturalism, competing worldviews, and fear of appearing narrow minded are not new. Biblical characters from Abraham to Moses, to Dani’el to Esther, to Paul and John faced the same problems. Unlike those people, Solomon tragically chose to please his wives, give in to competing religions, and worship other gods. The Bible insists that anyone may trust Messiah, but also that there is no other way of salvation (Exodus 20:3-11; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Acts 4:12). People of faith may suffer for this conviction, yet the effort must be made for the world to come to God.^206.

Historical Details Related to
First Kings 9:10 to 11:43

As Paul House discusses in his commentary on First and Second Kings, certain foreign, domestic, economic, and religious factors changed during Solomon’s last sixteen years. First, Isra’el’s relationship with Egypt deteriorated over time. Though 9:16 states that the Pharaoh, possibly Siamun, conquered Gezer and gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter, Solomon’s wife, by 11:14-25 a new pharaoh, possibly Shishak, supported Solomon’s enemies. Unlike his immediate predecessor, Shishak was able to unite Egypt and then mount aggressive campaigns against neighboring countries. Eventually Shishak invaded Jerusalem itself during the reign of Rehoboam, Solomon’s son (to see link click Dc – A House Divided). Similarly, Solomon’s influence in Syria was weakened when Rezon seized control of Damascus (First Kings 11:23-25) and when Hadad became king of Edom (First Kings 11:14-22). Probably Razon’s power threatened Isra’el more than Hadad’s. Still, coupled with Egypt’s new attitude, Edom and Syrian’s rebellions presented Solomon with foes on all sides.

Domestic tensions grew as well. The northern tribes began to feel that they were shouldering more than their fair share of the tax and conscripted labor burden. They perhaps felt that Judah received special treatment for being David’s clan. This fits with the north’s complaints after Solomon’s death (First Kings 12:1-4). Probably not even Judah appreciated the taxes that all Solomon’s building projects required (First Kings 4:1-28). Jeroboam, a young and vigorous opponent, arose as an alternative to the house of Solomon (First Kings 11:26-28). Because of Solomon’s spiritual idolatry, Ha’Shem supported Jeroboam’s rise to power, as did Shishak of Egypt, though for less religious reasons (First Kings 11:29-40).

Despite such complications, however, Solomon was able to maintain order, mostly because of his economic prowess. Isra’el enjoyed prosperity for most of these years because of Solomon’s ability to utilize the trade potential that remained at his disposal. For instance, he sustained his shipping partnership with Hiram of Tyre. Solomon built the ships, but Hiram’s men commanded and sailed them (1 Kgs 9:26-28). This arrangement must have benefited Hiram, since he continued the relationship even after he felt Solomon’s payment of several Gililean towns was worthless (1 Kings 9:10-14). Solomon also strengthened his caravan trade by improving relations with the queen of Sheva, a nation that had come to dominate the trade in spice and incense for which southwestern Arabia was famous. Since Solomon controlled part of the land route and had shipping interests as well, it was in the queen’s best interest to pay Isra’el’s king a visit. All these financial ventures bought Solomon peace at home, as the presence of luxury items often does (1 Kings 10:14-29).

All of these details contribute to the author’s accurate historical portrait of Solomon’s final years in power. However, as in the whole book, the major problem is Solomon’s spiritual apostasy to ADONAI. In this regard, he was a tragic figure. Unlike his father David, Solomon worshiped other gods, in particular those of his many wives (see Bx – Solomon’s Wives). This decision violated both the Mosaic and Davidic Covenants and left Solomon open to the discipline implicit in them. Earlier the prophet Nathan helped Solomon become king (see Al – A Royal Conspiracy). Now a prophet named Ahijah will prophesy the end of the Davidic dynasty’s exclusive rule over Isra’el (see Bz – The Prophecy of Ahijah). Solomon’s dynasty could have weathered foreign, domestic, and economic challenges, but idolatry was the last straw, so to speak. For whoever chooses to be the world’s friend makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:4). How could the dynasty survive?²⁰⁵

Solomon’s Choice
First Kings 9:1-28 and
Second Chronicles 7:11-22

Solomon’s choice DIG: What happened at Gibeon? How did God dedicate the Temple? Was He more present in the Temple than anywhere else? How so? What would happen if Solomon or his descendants were disobedient? Why would God say that? Who will scoff? Why?

REFLECT: What choices are you facing right now? How can the blessings and cursings of the Torah affect you today? Does that mean that God’s love is conditional? Why or why not? What modern day gods compete for your allegiance? Which road are you on right now?

Everyone has a choice to make in life, and this choice is always before us,
even if we have made the right choice before.

There are only two roads to go by – two paths to follow in this life – and everyone must choose which one to take. Yeshua said it this way: Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it (Matthew 7:13-14). According to Yeshua, everyone must choose which road to follow, and taking the narrow gate and the hard road makes the difference between eternal life and everlasting destruction. Some believers seem to think that this is a choice we make only once in life, when we first decide to follow Messiah. But, in fact, we face this choice every day, at every moment. Will I choose God’s way or my own way, His Kingdom or my kingdom, His sovereign plan or my personal agenda? Which road will I take and how I handle my work, my free time, and how I treat people I live with? Which way will I go, and which road will I take? Where in life am I facing the choice between God’s way and the wrong way?

One way or another: The choice came to Solomon at the apex of his achievement: After Solomon had finished building the house of ADONAI, the royal palace and everything else he wanted to build for himself (First Kings 9:1; Second Chronicles 7:11), ADONAI appeared to Solomon by night a second time, as He had appeared to him in Gibeon (to see link click As – Solomon’s Wish). Solomon had asked for many blessings to come to the royal family and the nation through the Temple. He looked to the Temple as the source of divine help whenever the people strayed or faced hardships.¹⁹⁴

There were common elements to both visions. First, both begin with a positive answer to a previous request by Solomon; secondly, in both cases, God goes beyond the actual request that Solomon makes. In the first request ADONAI gave him wealth and honor, which he did not ask for; in the second request is the dedication of the Temple. Thirdly, Ha’Shem makes a conditional gift. In the first case, long life for obedience, and in the second case an unending dynasty.¹⁹⁵

At some unspecified time after the dedication services, ADONAI spoke to Solomon and said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea that you made before Me: I have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice forever. This made it clear that God approved of the hopes David and Solomon had placed in the Temple. But God gave specific instructions to the nation when she faced hardships in the future. If I shut up the sky, so that there is no rain; or if I order locusts to devour the land; or if I send an epidemic of sickness among my people; then, if My people, who bear My Name, will humble themselves and acknowledge their completed dependence on Me, pray, seek My face, repent and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their Land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears will pay attention to the prayer made in this place. For now, I have chosen and consecrated this house, so that My Name can be there forever; My eyes and heart will always be there (First Kings 9:2-3; Second Chronicles 7:12-16). More than any other portion of this section, these verses spoke directly to the post-exilic community.

ADONAI would honor the eternal side of the Davidic Covenant; the temporal side of the covenant, the part about Solomon and his descendants, however, was dependent on human obedience.¹⁹⁶ If Solomon chose to follow in David’s footsteps, he would be going down the right road. As for you, if you will live in My presence, as did David your father, in pureness of heart and uprightness, doing everything I have ordered you to do, and observing my statutes and ordinances ; then I will establish the throne of your rulership over Isra’el forever (see the commentary on the Life of David Ct – The LORD’s Covenant with David), just as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You will never lack a man on the throne of Isra’el.’ (First Kings 9:4-5; Second Chronicles 7:17-18; Micah 5:1-5). Those words guaranteed that despite the fact that a king may not always sit on the throne of Jerusalem (as in the post-exilic period), the nation should look for the rightful heir of David and follow his leadership. In the Chronicler’s day that man was none other than Zerubbabel and/or his descendants (see the commentary on Ezra-Nehemiah Ag – The First Return).¹⁹⁷

The same principle also applies to us: if we follow ADONAI in the way of obedience, we will have His blessing. Obedience itself will be a blessing, as we experience the joy of walking with the Lord. Virtue really is its own reward. But obedience also leads to many other blessings. If we work the way God wants us to work, we will have something to share with others (Ephesians 4:28). If we love the way God wants us to love, we will be able to make strong relationships that last a lifetime. When we feed the hungry, help the sick, and visit people in prison, we will enter into our Father’s joy (Matthew 25:31-40). These and many other blessings will be ours if we travel down the road that leads to life.¹⁹⁸

But there is another way to go in life, the way of disobedience that leads to destruction. Here is how Ha’Shem posed the choice to Solomon. But if you (the singular is now changed to the plural because the fate of the nation as well as that of the dynasty is dealt with) turn away from following Me, you or your children, and do not observe My mitzvot and regulations which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, worshiping them; then I will pull them up by the roots, cut off Isra’el from the Land I have given them. They will not lose ownership of the Land. Under the Abrahamic Covenant their ownership is unconditional (see the commentary on Genesis Eg – I am the LORD, Who Brought You Out of Ur of the Chaldeans to Give You This Land), but they will lose the enjoyment of the Land, based on obedience. This house, which I consecrated for My name, I will eject from my sight; and Isra’el will become an example to avoid and an object of scorn among all peoples. So this changes from conditional blessings above to conditional cursings here.

This house, now so exalted – everyone passing by will gasp in shock at the sight of it and will ask: Why has ADONAI done this to this land and to this house? But the answer will be, ‘It’s because they abandoned ADONAI their God, who brought their ancestors out of the land of Egypt, and took hold of other gods, worshiping and serving them; this is why God brought all these calamities on them” (First Kings 9:6-9; Second Chronicles 7:19-22). Like Sodom and Gomorrah, Isra’el would become an example of divine judgment, a permanent object lesson of what happens when people make the wrong choice and turn away from God.

Without question the book’s intended audience would have understood this warning as God’s grace to Solomon. All the king had to do was remain obedient to ADONAI, shun idols, and continue to enjoy God’s favor.¹⁹⁹ But what started out as Solomon’s foolish choice (see Bx – Solomon’s Wives) would become a national disaster. Then the whole world would know that the king and his country had sinned by worshiping idols.

This is also a gracious warning to us about where our own idols will lead. Choose the wrong road in life, and it will end in such disaster that even people outside your congregation will know you have taken a wrong turn. However attractive other gods may seem to us – money and material possessions, sex and physical pleasure, power and interpersonal control – they will lead to our own destruction. The road to a life of deception begins with one little lie. The road to bankruptcy begins with one foolish indulgence. But before long, our sins will be exposed, we will suffer the consequences of our own wrong choices. Sin always takes you further than you wanted to go and costs you more than you wanted to pay.

Solomon’s past success: Over the course of his reign, Solomon did all the things that kings hoped to do. Consider a few of Solomon’s many accomplishments. At the end of twenty years, during which time Solomon had built the two buildings, the house of ADONAI and the royal palace, King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of the Galil (recall that Hiram the king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress logs and with all the gold Solomon wanted). Which once again shows that the Abrahamic Covenant has not been fulfilled. Hiram came over from Tyre to see the cities Solomon had given him, but he was not satisfied with them. He said: What kind of cities are these which you have given me, my brother? So, they have been called the land of Kabul [good for nothing] till this day, for Hiram had sent the king four tons of gold (First Kings 9:10-14). Solomon was a total success, a man who accomplished everything he wanted in life and received all kinds of accolades. God would do whatever Solomon asked. But for all his past success, Solomon still had to choose for God every day, and every moment of every day. We face the same choice – the choice of daily obedience. What we did for God yesterday will not answer the demand He places on us today. No matter how well we began our walk with the Lord, no matter how faithfully we answered ADONAI’s call to service, no matter how earnestly we turn to YHVH in prayer, no matter what we have accomplished in ministry, the choice is still before us today and every day the rest of our lives.²⁰⁰

Solomon’s future accomplishments: Solomon was also a success at completing huge building projects. The king had a passion for building, and in addition to the Temple and his palace complex, his massive labor force constructed extensive military fortifications. Following is the account of the forced labor levied by King Solomon for building the house of ADONAI, his own palace, the Ophel or the terraces to fortify the southern slope of the Temple compound, the wall of Yerushalayim, and the chariot cities of Hazor, Megiddo and Gezer. Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, taken Gezer, burned it to the ground and killed the Canaanites living in the city; then he had given it as a dowry for his daughter, Solomon’s wife. This was an important city because it was a Canaanite blockade on the Via Maris road, the main trade route of that day, and when this was cleared out by the Egyptians it was able to add wealth to Solomon. So Solomon rebuilt Gezer; he also built Lower Beth-Horon, Ba‘alath, Tadmor in the desert, in the Land, as well as all the cities that Solomon had for storing supplies, the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and the other buildings Solomon wanted to build for himself in Yerushalayim, in the Lebanon and throughout the land he ruled (First Kings 9:15-19). Solomon built whatever he wanted to build.

In addition to all his wealth and military might, Solomon also had power over his people. Thousands of workers came from other nations. All the people still left from the Amorites Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not part of the people of Isra’el, that is, their descendants remaining after them in the land, whom the people of Isra’el were not able to destroy completely – from them Solomon levied his permanent forced laborers. Other workers were Israelites, who did not labor as slaves, but as temporary servants of the king (see Az – Materials and Labor for the Temple). But Solomon did not raise any of his forced labor from the people of Isra’el; rather, they were the soldiers, his servants, administrators and commanders, and the officials in charge of his chariots and horsemen. There were 550 chief officers over Solomon’s work, in charge of the workers (First Kings 9:20-23).

Even though there was peace throughout Solomon’s reign, he maintained a standing army. The king felt that was necessary to deter other nations from attacking Isra’el. However, Deuteronomy 17:16a says that he was not to acquire many horses for himself. The principle reason for acquiring horses was related to warfare, specifically chariot warfare. But the Israelite form of warfare was not supposed to be in the number or type of troops but in the strength and presence of their God. They had already experienced YHVH’s aid against an enemy equipped with horse-drawn chariots at the Sea of Reeds. In the days ahead, there would be similar occasions. For example, in Debra’s war (Judges 4-5), the Israelite forces were at a strong disadvantage in facing the chariot-equipped Canaanite forces, but once again victory was achieved through the intervention of Ha’Shem.²⁰¹

Solomon also had a beautiful wife, who was well cared for, with a palace of her own, due to her special status. Pharaoh’s daughter came up from the City of David to her house, which Solomon had built for her. After that he built the Ophel terraces (First Kings 9:24).

The king also fulfilled his religious duties. Three times a year, at Pesach, Shavu’ot, and Sukkot, Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he had built for ADONAI, offering incense with them on the altar before ADONAI (First Kings 9:25).

There is more. King Solomon also had a royal navy, which enabled him to form lucrative shipping partnerships that gained him even more gold. He built ships at Ezion-Geber, which is near Elath in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea. Archeologists have discovered the remains of chariot wheels at Ezion-Geber at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba. This site, on the eastern arm of the Red Sea, gave Isra’el access to trade routes of the south and Ophir, apparently a location in Southern Arabia where the children of Isra’el crossed the Sea of Reeds (see the commentary on Exodus Ch – The LORD Will Fight for You, You Need Only to Be Still). Hiram sent some of his own servants, experienced sailors who understood the sea, to serve with Solomon’s servants. They went to Ofir, today called Yemen, and that was probably how the Queen of Sheba learned about Solomon (see Bu – Solomon and the Queen of Sheba). They took from there gold, fourteen tons of it, which they brought back to King Solomon (1 Kings 9:26-28). This is the first of three agreements of a navy agreement between Hiram and Solomon. It is also mentioned in First Kings 10:11-12 and 10:22. This shows that the disagreement over the land of Kabul (1 Kings 9:14) did not annul the treaty between them.²⁰²

In short, Solomon had everything that a king could ever want out of life; money, property, possessions, servants, and beautiful women. It was his kingdom, and he was living in it, with more of everything than anyone else in the world. Yet every day he still had to make a spiritual choice. No matter how successful he was – no matter how much money he had, how much power over other people – Solomon still had to choose for God or choose against Him. Would he thank the LORD for all his money, and then put it to use for Kingdom work? Would he exercise his power to serve the poor and protect the weak? Would he grow proud of what he had accomplished, or would he give all the glory to ADONAI?

The more we have of what this world has to offer, the easier it is to think that we are on the right track, even when we are wandering down the road to idolatry. What really counts in life is not academic success, or athletic accomplishments, or a bigger bank account, or reaching the top of our profession, or taking pride in our family, but the spiritual choice we make in our hearts every single day for God or against Him.²⁰³

What Yeshua chose: To see what is at stake in this choice, we need only to consider what happened to King Solomon. He didn’t finish nearly as well as he started as we will discover when we get to Chapter eleven and read about his spiritual bankruptcy. Solomon didn’t stay on the right road, but chose to turn in another direction. So even when the Bible records the splendors of the Solomonic age, it is setting the stage to show how even the greatest earthly glories are lost when people stop choosing the one true God.

How can we avoid Solomon’s folly and keep choosing God? It would be nice to think that we will make the right choices in life, and keep on making them, but this will take more than our good intentions. Not everyone makes the right choice in life. Indeed, not everyone can. In fact, there is a sense in which no one can.

This was the lesson that Isra’el learned in the last days of Joshua, and afterward. The choice that God gave to Solomon was very similar to the choice that Joshua gave the people of Isra’el just before he died. That day Joshua challenged the people to choose which God they would serve. They chose wisely saying: We will serve ADONAI, for He is our God. It was a promising beginning. But Joshua believed in the doctrine of depravity, and thus he responded with a reality check: You can’t serve ADONAI; because He is a holy God (Joshua 24:18-19). Joshua was right in saying that sinful people are really incapable of making all the right choices in life. So even if we begin with the best of intentions, without the grace of God we still end up on the road to destruction. Joshua’s warning turned out to be the story of Solomon’s life. It also happens to be the story of our own lives; not always choosing for God, but often going in the wrong direction, even to our own destruction.

Praise God that we have a Savior who always made the right choice in life, going down the road that led to the cross. Yeshua had to make the same choice that we have to make. There were always two roads before Him, forcing Him to choose for, or against, the will of the Father. He had to make the choice when He was a little boy and needed to learn obedience. He had to make it again when He was attacked by the devil in the wilderness, facing all the temptations of hell. He had to make it when He was with His Father in the garden, wondering if there might be some alternative to crucifixion.

Yeshua chose God. He chose God every moment of every day, even when it cost Him His life. But because He is the only person who ever did choose God – all the time . . . every time – He was able to make perfect atonement for our sins. Now Yeshua is able to bring us all the way down the road to salvation. He Himself is the road to God, the way of eternal life. If we trust in Him, His right choices count for us, even when we make the wrong choice. And when the choice comes to us again, as it does every day, and we are struggling hard to choose for God, Yeshua is there to keep us on the road that leads to life.²⁰⁴

Solomon Builds His Palace
First Kings 7: 1-12

Solomon builds His palace DIG: Was Solomon guilty of spending almost twice as long building his own place than the Temple? Why? Why not? Why did Solomon spend so much time, effort, and money on his palace? Was he greedy?

REFLECT: How much time, effort and money do you spend on your own house compared to God’s house? If you could build five buildings for the Lord, what would they be? What kind of materials would you use? Thrifty or expensive?

Solomon did everything imaginable to show that as YHVH is a great God, he was a great king.

There are two houses in this story: one for God and one of Solomon. The king built his own house – the royal palace – for himself and for his successors, but he did not begin until he had finished the house of God, so that nothing might hinder that holy work. We know this because First Kings 9:10 says: At the end of twenty years, during which time Solomon had built the two buildings, the house of ADONAI and the royal palace. Solomon built a palace for himself, taking thirteen years to finish it (7:1). Some commentators view this statement as a negative, because he took seven years to build the Temple, but it need not be so. The Temple had only two rooms with a single purpose, whereas Solomon’s residence had many rooms for a variety of different purposes. In addition, David had made extensive preparations in advance for the building of the Temple that would not have been true for the Palace.¹⁹⁰

Solomon’s palace included five buildings that were part of the great royal complex. The Temple had quite a bit of cedar of Lebanon (First Kings 6:9-10 and 15-16, 18, 20 and 36); however, the palace was packed with so many cedars (First Kings 7:2-3, 7, 11 and 12) that it was called the House of the Lebanon Forest.¹⁹¹

The first building described was the throne hall. Solomon’s throne was overlaid with gold, reflecting the king’s glory. Twelve lions, one on each of the six steps leading to the throne, may have been intended to represent the twelve tribes of Isra’el. It was one hundred and seventy-five feet long, eighty-seven-and-a-half feet wide and fifty-two-and-a-half feet high, on four rows of cedar posts, which made it appear forest-like, with cedar beams on the posts, making that one room itself larger than the Temple. It had a roof made of cedar and supported by beams lying on forty-five posts, fifteen in a row. There were three rows of window openings, placed so that the windows on facing walls were opposite each other at all three levels. All the doors and doorways were rectangular and opposite each other at all three levels (First Kings 7:2-5). It also served as a state treasury, displaying selected objects received as tribute. This hall displayed 200 large shields of hammered gold, seven-and-a-half pounds each, and 300 smaller shields of hammered gold, three-and-three-quarters pounds each. Evidently the 500 shields were intended for spectacle only for gold is a soft metal.¹⁹²

Within the complex he made a hall of pillars, eighty-seven-and-a-half feet long and fifty-two-and-a-half feet wide, with a columned, eaved porch in front of it (First Kings 7:6). It may have served as a waiting-room for those seeking an audience with the king. In addition, he made the hall of judgment; it was covered with cedar from floor to ceiling (First Kings 7:7). This was where the king governed and where the court sessions would be held, including the famous case of the disputed baby (to see link click At – A Wise Ruling). His own living quarters, in the other courtyard, set back from the hall of judgment, were similarly designed. He also made a house for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom Solomon had taken as his wife (First Kings 7:8). Nothing is said of Solomon’s own living quarters and the house for Pharaoh’s daughter except they were of similar design and set back from the public building.

All these buildings were made of expensive stone blocks, cut to measure and finished by saws on the inner surfaces as well as the outer ones. These stones were used from the foundation to the eaves and outward from the buildings all the way to the Great Courtyard, which united both the Temple and all five of these buildings. The foundation was of expensive stone blocks, very large ones – stones fourteen to eighteen feet long. Above these were costly stones, cut to measure, and cedar-wood, and this description of the building materials seems to apply to all the buildings Solomon built, including the Temple. The surrounding Great Courtyard had three rows of cut stone. Limestone in the area can be cut with a saw when freshly quarried, but hardens when exposed to the elements. And a row of cedar beams like the inner courtyard of the house of ADONAI and the courtyard by the hall of the house (First Kings 7:9-12).

Fine stone and wood were used to build these structures. Indeed, Solomon had built himself an impressive home. But is the project self-indulgence or another example of God’s blessing? The author does not comment, though his readers must wonder if this extravagance is in keeping with Moshe’s declaration that kings must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold (Deuteronomy 17:17). At least it is quite possible that Solomon did everything imaginable to show that as ADONAI was a great God, he was a great king. Or, is what was displayed here far more about Solomon’s riches and honor than his wisdom?¹⁹³

Dear Great Heavenly Father, Praise You for the awesome home Yeshua is preparing for me. Though King Solomon’s palace was magnificent by earthly standards, it totally pales in comparison to the home Messiah is now preparing in heaven for His bride (Second Corinthians 11:1). Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you may also be (John 14:1-3).

There will be many great and wonderful aspects to my home in heaven; including no pain, no sorrow and death being a thing of the past, never more to occur for all eternity! But the most wonderful part of heaven will be Your presence continually with me! Behold, the dwelling of God is among mankind, and He shall tabernacle among them. They shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them and be their God. He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more. Nor shall there be mourning or crying or pain any longer, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:3-4).

What a comfort it is for me to focus on my eternal heavenly home and realize that the hard times on earth are only a blink compared to the forever joy of living in my heavenly home! For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). We worship and thank You for all the pain and suffering You went thru to redeem me. I delight in living for You with my heart full of love, expressed in my living to please You as best I can. In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

His Love Endures Forever
Psalm 136: 1-26

His love endures forever DIG: This psalm is called “the Great Hallel” and is recited at the Pesach Seder. What is the purpose of the “call and response” to prayer? What types of “wonders” are listed? In what different spheres of life has ADONAI been actively involved? How so? How are the acts of verses 10 and 17-20 signs of God’s everlasting love? How can the refrain be translated? Is the refrain monotonous or does it center your thoughts?

REFLECT: Which one of the wonders listed here especially moves you to thanksgiving? Why do you think ADONAI so earnestly calls us to give thanks in his and other psalms? Is there anything you want to thank YHVH for? Why? Do you ever tell yourself that God’s love for you is conditional, dependent on your performance? How can you hold on to the reality that God’s love is unconditional and once you are saved, you are His child and He loves you?

Yes, indeed, His love endures forever.

The general theme of this Psalm is a call to praise ADONAI on account of what He, in nature and history, has revealed Himself to be. This is the Great Hallel psalm, which was associated with the Pesach Seder. While we do not know who wrote this Psalm, we do know that it was sung in Solomon’s Temple (Second Chronicles 7:3 and 6), and by the armies of Jehoshaphat when they sung themselves into victory in the wilderness of Tekoa (Second Chronicles 20:20-21). The chief characteristic of the Psalm, so immediately apparent, is the recurrence, twenty-six times, of the refrain for His love endures forever. These lovely words are included in every verse. Being an expression of relationship, the word love (Hebrew: chesed) could be translated faithfulness, kindness, goodness, mercy, love or compassion, but primarily loyalty to a covenant (see the commentary Ruth, to see link click Af – The Concept of Chesed). The repetition of this phrase was for liturgical reasons. It was to be sung responsively, either by the Levitical singers or by the congregation.¹⁸⁷

A. Call to Worship: These verses give us a threefold call to worship. Here, we are encouraged to: Give thanks to ADONAI, for He is good (1), His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods (2), His love endures forever. And give thanks to the LORD of lords (3), His love endures forever (Psalm 136:1-3). In this exhortation we learn that we are to worship ADONAI, the personal God of Isra’el (Exodus 3:14). He is also the God of gods, there are no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3). He is also the LORD of lords, there is no other dominion or authority above Him.

But why are we to worship this God? The answer is not merely because He exists. We are to worship Him because He has revealed Himself to us worthy of our worship. He is good; that is, He is perfect and brings all things to His perfection. But this is not the bottom line. Even more than His goodness is His love, which endures forever. He is the God who commits Himself unconditionally to His people and never abandons that commitment (Deuteronomy 31:6-8). We change, the world changes, but ADONAI endures forever and His love never wavers toward us. No wonder we are to worship this God. But how are we to understand His love? The answer is given by surveying God’s power in creation. In the created world where we live, God commits Himself to us.

B. Praise to the Creator: It is of utmost importance for the Bible that the God of Redemption is also the God of Creation. It is from His throne that He brings all things into being. As He creates us, He addresses His court, which consists of the holy angels gathered before Him. This explains why He says in the plural: Let us make man in our image (Genesis 1:27). Since He is the Creator, when He redeems us, He is not redeeming us from creation; He is redeeming us as His fallen creation.

The psalmist calls us to give thanks to God, who alone does great wonders. These great wonders or miracles are usually related to His mighty acts of redemption. Here, however, they are applied to His acts of creation. He is the God that by His understanding made the heavens. As Proverbs tells us: ADONAI by wisdom founded the earth, by understanding He established the heavens (Proverbs 3:19). What this means is that He has a divine plan in creation, which comes through His wisdom. He also spread out the earth upon the waters, made the great lights, the sun to govern the day, the moon and stars to govern the night (Genesis 1:14-18). In the creation, YHVH shows us His power, His order, and His sovereign plan for the world. It is also upheld by Him, and a sign of His covenant love. As we meditate on each facet of His great wonders, we are to remember that all of this comes from Him by reciting: His love endures forever (Psalm 136:4-9).¹⁸⁸

C. Praise to the Redeemer: Having dwelt on the wonder of creation, and having there found so many reasons for thanksgiving and praise, the psalmist now turns to another great wonder, the deliverance of Isra’el from Egypt from bondage. This section of the Psalm parallels Psalm 135:8-9 where the psalmist exhorts us to praise him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt. This was the last and the greatest of the plagues (see the commentary on Exodus By – At Midnight the LORD Struck Down all the Firstborn in Egypt). He brought Isra’el out from among them, they would never again return to Egyptian bondage. Here is another instance of the loving kindness that endures forever, and another reason for praise. YHVH was their Redeemer from slavery. It was evident that only a divine power could have accomplished it. How right that the remembrance of the exodus should be an integral part of the Great Hallel, the psalm of praise.

Having brought His people out from Egypt with a mighty hand and outstretched arm, Ha’Shem then divided the Sea of Reeds for them. The waters obeyed their Creator and stood up in walls on either side of the pathway which God designed. He brought Isra’el through the midst of it to freedom, but swept the tyrant Pharaoh and his army, pursuing with their horses and chariots into the Sea of Reeds. The Redeemer had fulfilled His promise that His love endures forever (Psalm 136:10-15).

D. Through the Wilderness: Deliverance from Egypt was not ADONAI’s entire purpose for His people. His intention was to lead His people through the wilderness, but the inhospitable wilderness lay between Egypt and Canaan. This part of the psalm is analogous to Psalm 135:10-12. Having led them out, now the LORD led them on, until their way was barred by great nations (Ps 135:10) whose kings are described as great, mighty, and famous. These were men of valor, men of renown, mighty in battle. As in Psalm 135, two of them are particularly identified, Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan. Those kings blocked Isra’el’s way to Canaan, and, despite their fame and might, Ha’Shem struck them down.

In the plan and purpose of ADONAI, the land of Sihon and Og was not legitimately theirs. God had reserved it for Isra’el His firstborn, and those who lived there were merely squatters. The Land had been given to them as an inheritance, an inheritance which would forever after be disputed by the Gentile nations. His love endures forever (Psalm 136:16-22). Isra’el was not only His firstborn, but also His servant. Those who had been the slaves of Pharaoh were now servants of YHVH. The LORD had demanded of Pharaoh: Let My people go, that they may serve Me (Exodus 9:1 and 13, 10:3). Pharaoh had oppressed them, but the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would give them a land of their own: His love endures forever.

C. Praise to the Redeemer: It was not the greatness of the children of Isra’el that prompted the LORD to free them from their enemies. They were but a feeble people, a nation of slaves. But He remembered their low estate. It could be said of them, “ADONAI did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples. But it was because you were the fewest of all peoples” (Deuteronomy 7:7). In His sovereign grace, He had remembered them, and had redeemed them from enemies far greater than they. It was the reason for giving thanksgiving and praise: His love endures forever (Psalm 136:23-24).

B. Praise to the Creator: He gives food to every creature. But great as His love for Isra’el might be, ADONAI’s gracious redemption is not confined to the apple of His eye. This even goes beyond the boundaries of humanity. Another Psalm declares: The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing (Psalm 145:15-16). It is not only mankind, but animals and birds, also, reptiles and fish, and even the flying and creeping insects of the land, air, and sea, are still dependent upon Him who cares for us all. Yes, indeed, we can all enthusiastically join in the refrain: His love endures forever (Psalm 136:25).

A. Call to worship: The Great Hallel ends as it began, with a renewed appeal to grateful people to render due thanksgiving to the God of heaven. How wonderful is this, that the praise of those on the earth should ascend to YHVH in heaven. Heaven and earth in one accord, uniting in praise, cry out: His love endures forever (Psalm 136:26).¹⁸⁹

Fire from Heaven
First Kings 8:54-66 and
Second Chronicles 7:1-10

Fire from heaven DIG: Why sacrifice so many animals? Why can’t Isra’el eat fat or blood (Leviticus 3:16-17). How do the bronze and gold alters differ (Exodus 30:6-7)? What feast is celebrated during this time of year (Lev 23:34, 41-43)? What irony do you see in this timing?

REFLECT: What good things has God done for you lately? What sacrifices does God require today and why? What exactly do you worship? Your spouse? Your family? Your job? Your body? A sports team? Your computer? Are you offering God the praise that He deserves?

Just as the Israelites went home praising their God and their king,
we too are called to take the joy of the Lord with us everywhere we go.

For every festival there must be a feast. What would a wedding be without a reception, or Christmas without a family dinner, or a youth soccer championship without a pizza party, or a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah without knish at the kiddush after the service? Good food and drink are essential to any grand celebration. Since this is true, then there was only one appropriate way for Solomon’s Temple prayer to end. The king was dedicating the most important building in the history of the world – the one place where God promised to meet with His people. So, after the king’s prayer was finished, and the burnt offerings and sacrifices had been made, fire came down from heaven and consumed them. Then it was time for a feast.

To see how the people feasted, and why, we first need to hear the blessing that Solomon gave – a blessing that was also a prayer. When Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and plea to ADONAI, he got up from in front of the altar of ADONAI, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven, stood up, and raised his voice to bless the whole community of Isra’el. He said: “Blessed be ADONAI, who has given rest to His people Isra’el, in accordance with everything He promised in His covenant with Moshe (see the commentary on Exodus, to see link click Dd – The Mosaic Covenant). Not one word has failed of His good promise, which He made through Moshe his servant (First Kings 8:55-56).

The blessings we need from God:

1. Solomon asked for God’s abiding presence: May ADONAI our God be with us, as He was with our ancestors. May He never leave us or abandon us (First Kings 8:57). More than all the other blessings that YHVH has to give, we need God Himself in the living presence of His grace. All the great spiritual leaders in the Bible understood this. We see it in Moses, who was promised that the God of the burning bush would go with him wherever he went (Exodus 3:12). We see it in Joshua, who was told that YHVH would never leave him or abandon him (Joshua 1:9; Deuteronomy 31:6-8). We see it in the psalmist, who said: ADONAI will not abandon His people (Psalm 94:14; Hebrews 13:5). In all of life’s decisions and difficulties, we need God to be with us to help us through.

2. King Solomon had a specific reason for asking God to be with his people. He wanted them to be holy. So he prayed for God’s sanctifying Spirit: In this way He will incline our hearts toward Him, so that we will live according to His ways and observe His mitzvot, statutes and ordinances which He ordered our fathers to obey (First Kings 8:58). This prayer shows deep insight into the spiritual need of fallen human beings. The sad truth is that because of sin, our hearts are not inclined to walk in God’s ways, to say nothing of keeping his commandments. Have you ever wondered why it is so easy to sin, and so hard to be holy? It is because our sinful hearts lean away from YHVH, not toward Him. Therefore, we need a powerful work of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh to turn our hearts back in His direction. So we pray for the sanctifying Spirit to make our hearts want what God wants.

3. Next Solomon prayed for God’s listening ear: More specifically, he asked God to listen to his people when they made any of the seven requests he just prayed (see Bm – Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication). May these words of mine, which I have used in my plea before ADONAI, be present with ADONAI our God day and night, so that He will uphold the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Isra’el day-by-day (First Kings 8:59). Solomon was asking God to let his prayer of dedication stand for all time, so that when his people prayed for justice, forgiveness, or protection, or deliverance – whatever they asked in faith, at any time of the day or night – God would hear their prayers and answer in power.

4. Then King Solomon prayed for God’s universal glory, asking then all the peoples of the earth will know that ADONAI is God; there is no other. So be wholehearted with ADONAI our God, living by His commandments and observing His mitzvot, as You are doing today (First Kings 8:60-61; Deuteronomy 4:35; Isaiah 45:5). This prayer was based on the belief that there is only one God. The people of YHVH declared this every morning in their daily confession: Hear, Isra’el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one (Deuteronomy 6:4). Since this is true – that God is unique, that He is the one-and-only God – then it should be acknowledged everywhere. Therefore, Solomon prayed for God’s glory among the nations, that He would be known to be God by all people in all places.¹⁸³

Fire from heaven: Having finished with Solomon’s prayer of dedication, the Chronicler continued to follow the account of Kings. He recorded a powerful display of God’s acceptance of Solomon’s Temple, prayers, and sacrifices as fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices (to see a video on the dedication of the Temple click here). The descent of fire upon a sacrifice appears elsewhere as a miraculous display of divine approval. This had happened on two other occasions. First, fire came down from heaven to consume the sacrifice that David offered on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (see the commentary on The Life of David El – David Builds an Altar), and it would happen again, in a time of crucial decision for Isra’el on Mount Carmel (see the commentary on Elijah and Elisha Aq – Elijah and the Prophets of Ba’al) when ADONAI’s fire came down and devoured the burnt offering, wood, stones, and dust, and licked up the water from the trench.

Dear Heavenly Father, How magnificent You sending down fire from heaven to consume Solomon’s sacrifice, yet how fantastic and awesome will be the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!  Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude – like the roar of rushing waters or like the rumbling of powerful thunder – saying, “Halleluyah! For Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot reigns! Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready (Revelation 19:6-7). How beautiful will be the bride, the Church (Second Corinthians 11:1), dressed in righteous deeds-white linen. It was granted to her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure,” for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints (Revelation 19:8). What joy floods my heart when I focus my eyes and hope on my eternal home in heaven with You. Trials are but for a short time, while the joy of living with You, our Loving Eternal Father, in heaven will be forever! For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). We love and worship you! In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

And the Sh’khinah glory of ADONAI filled the house, so that the priests could not enter because the glory of the LORD filled God’s house. This glory recalls the Sh’khinah that previously halted priestly services inside the Temple. Perhaps the Sh’khinah subsided slightly during Solomon’s prayers and the priests tried to proceed with their responsibilities. At this point, however, the priests could not enter because the glory of ADONAI filled God’s house. All the people of Isra’el saw when the fire came down, and the Sh’khinah glory was on the house; they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the flooring; prostrating themselves, they gave thanks to ADONAI, “for He is good and His steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 136). Earlier only the priests sang this psalm , but now the entire assembly added their voices to this song (Second Chronicles 7:2-3). Mention of Solomon (7:1), the priests (7:2) and all the people of Isra’el (7:3) created an ever widening circle of joy. The Chronicler reported how God’s response to Solomon’s prayer overwhelmed all who were there in order to inspire his readers to re-establishing the Temple and its services in their day. They wanted to exchange their hardships for joy. Yet, such splendid festivity could occur only if they followed Solomon’s example and give due attention to the Temple.¹⁸⁴

The priests stood at their appointed stations, while the Levites used the instruments that David the king had provided for making music to ADONAI in order to “give thanks to ADONAI, for His grace continues forever,” by means of the praises David had composed. Opposite them the priests sounded trumpets; and all Isra’el stood up. Then the king, together with all Isra’el, offered more sacrifices before YHVH. Before Solomon’s prayer innumerable sacrifices were made (Second Chronicles 5:6). For the sacrifice of peace offerings which Solomon alone offered 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. It is impossible to assess whether the enormous numbers of sacrifices are to be taken literally or not. Apparently 142,000 animals would have meant an offering every three seconds for ten hours a day for twelve days. The most that can be safely said is that the numbers were unusually large even for Solomon’s time, requiring a special dedication of the courtyard (see below) and presumably simultaneous offerings.¹⁸⁵ Thus, the king and all the people of Isra’el dedicated the house of ADONAI. So numerous were the sacrifices that Solomon arranged to dedicate the center of the courtyard in front of the Temple; because he had to offer so many of the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings there. For the bronze altar before ADONAI was too small to receive the burnt offering, the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings (First Kings 8:61-64; Second Chronicles 7:4-7).

So, Solomon celebrated the festival at that time for seven days, together with all Isra’el, an enormous gathering; they had come all the way from the northern border at the entrance of Hamat to the southern border at the brook of Egypt. The geographic references in this verse may be unfamiliar to most believers today, but it indicates that the whole nation of Isra’el celebrate this feast. They all were doing the same thing. They were united in their praise to ADONAI and His anointed king. In addition to blessing the LORD, the people blessed their king. So at the same time they rejoiced in God and His holy Temple, they also rejoiced in Solomon and his royal kingship. They blessed their king for the honor he gave to YHVH in building a holy Temple for worship. Solomon was the joy of his people.

But this does not mean this fulfilled the Abrahamic Covenant because much of this territory was under tribute and not under Jewish settlement in peacetime. So people who use this verse to prove that the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant have already been fulfilled and there is no future promise for Isra’el, do not read these verses in context.

We have a similar, yet greater, joy in the Kingdom of Yeshua Messiah. The praise we offer to ADONAI is centered on our King, Yeshua Messiah, both on His glory as the Son of God and on His salvation through the cross and an empty tomb. This joyful worship is not just for Shabbat or Sunday, but for every day of the week and every place we go. Just as the Israelites went home praising their God and their king, we too are called to take the joy of the Lord with us everywhere we go.

On the eighth day, which followed the seven-day Festival of Sukkot (see the commentary on Leviticus Eg – Hag Sukkot), the people assembled for another seven days, just before returning to their homes, a total of fourteen days in all. Then, on the twenty-third day of the seventh month, the people blessed the king and he sent them away to their tents full of joy and glad of heart for all the goodness ADONAI had shown to David his servant, to Solomon and to Isra’el His people (First Kings 8:65-66; Second Chronicles 7:8-10).

When Solomon and his people dedicated the Temple, they had the volume turned all the way up. With every blessing they pronounced and every animal they sacrificed, they declared the glory of God. They kept the volume up all the way home as they praised their king and his kingdom. How do you go home from worship in the house of the LORD? Do you go rejoicing in Messiah and His Kingdom, offering Him the obedience He requires and the sacrifice He demands? Or does your attention quickly turn to the things you really worship: the relationships, the pleasures, and the entertainments that claim your higher allegiance? Whatever you choose to worship, make sure it is worthy of a feast, as only Yeshua is.¹⁸⁶

Solomon’s Prayer of Intercession
First Kings 8:31-61 and
Second Chronicles 6:22-42

Solomon’s prayer of intercession DIG: How can Isra’el reverse the curses of disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15-24)? What does this passage say about repentance and salvation? Why are spoken words so important? Would private faith, unexpressed and silent, be just as powerful? What was the reason the Jews turned and faced God’s house when they prayed?

REFLECT: Do you consider affliction to be punishment for sin – always, sometimes, or never? In what cases? What prayers do you want to direct toward God’s heavenly Temple? Do you first need to confess some sin? Have you taken advantage of the promise of “rest” given to God’s people? Who are you interceding for? What intercessory prayer do you need now?

Every request that Solomon prayed for is answered in Yeshua Messiah.

As he relates in his commentary on First Kings, Philip Ryken writes that there are many notable “sevens” in the Bible, including some that really do reach perfection. In seven days at the beginning of the world, God created everything there is, and then rested from His work. Noah brought seven pairs of clean animals with him on the ark (Genesis 7:2). The blood sacrifice was sprinkled seven times to make complete purification (Leviticus 16:14 and 19). Messiah performs seven miraculous signs in the Gospel of John, and there are seven letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation, where seven is also the number of the fullness of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh (Revelation 5:6).

Then there is the prayer that King Solomon offered up when he dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem, which contains seven requests for the people of God. According to Yeshua, the Temple should be a house of prayer (Luke 19:46). Thus, it was appropriate for Solomon to dedicate his Temple with a long prayer. The king opened by praising ADONAI and asking Him to keep the promises He had made to his father David. Then he blessed the people and God (to see link click Bm – Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication). But the heart of Solomon’s prayer consisted of seven appeals of future confession. The mention of the Temple, or “this house,” is crucial. The reason God established the Temple as a place to pray for forgiveness was that it was where the sacrifices were made for sin. Knowing how certain his people were to sin, the king anticipated the trouble they would get themselves into and interceded for their forgiveness, even before they sinned! Standing in front of the bronze altar where atonement was made for sin, he asked Ha’Shem to listen to the prayers for the Israelites and forgive them for their many transgressions: Hear from where You live in heaven; and when You hear, forgive (1 Kings 8:30).

Solomon’s prayer is a model for our own intercession. It teaches us how to pray, both for ourselves and for the people of God. It also reminds us how Yeshua prayed for us as our Savior. Thus, Solomon’s prayer is everything that anyone could ever want in a prayer – a sevenfold perfection of intercession. There is a request for everyone somewhere in this prayer.¹⁷³

The first request – a prayer for justice: If a person sins against a fellow member of the community, and he is made to swear under oath, and he comes and swears before Your altar in this house; protect the sanctity of the oath and hear it in heaven, act, and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked, so that his way of life devolves on his own head, and vindicating the one who is right, giving him what his righteousness deserves (First Kings 8:31-32; Second Chronicles 6:22-23; Exodus 22:6-12; Leviticus 5:21-24). The situation Solomon described is a familiar one. In fact, one that the king had already dealt with himself (see At – A Wise Ruling). Sin is all too common; it happens every day. But what if there are no witnesses? How will justice ever be done? Not even Solomon in all his wisdom could adjudicate everything. Therefore, Solomon prayed that when an oath is brought before Ha’Shem, the Judge of all the earth (Genesis 18:25), would judge the guilty party and established the innocence of the other.¹⁷⁴

The second request – a prayer for rescue: Solomon’s second request was a prayer for rescue and return. Again, it is clear that the king believed in the utter depravity of the Israelites. When Your people Isra’el sin against You and in consequence are defeated by an enemy; then if they turn back to You, acknowledge Your name, and pray and make their plea to You in this house; hear in heaven, forgive the sin of Your people Isra’el, and bring them back to the Land You gave to them and their ancestors (First Kings 8:33-34; Second Chronicles 6:24-25). According to Leviticus 26:17 and Deuteronomy 28:25, one of the ways God will punish Isra’el is by allowing her enemies to defeat her. Isra’el’s defeat by lowly Ai (Joshua 7:1-11), the constant losses in Judges, and the humiliation at the hand of Philistia (First Samuel 4:1-11) illustrate this principle.¹⁷⁵  Solomon knew that Isra’el was likely to experience this kind of judgment again. Sooner or later, God’s people would be defeated in battle and carried off by some foreign army – a theme which he will return in the seventh request. But Solomon also believed in the loving mercy of a forgiving God. So he prayed that when his people were defeated, God would hear their prayers at the Temple, forgive their sin, and bring them back to the Land that He had promised.

Because the Temple was where sacrifices for sin were made, the king was praying that there would be a way back home for fallen sinners, as there always is. YHVH is such a loving Father that when we finally come back home after wandering far away in our sin, He will come running to meet us (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Hu – The Parable of the Lost Son and His Jealous Brother). Yeshua Messiah is the Good Shepherd who comes looking to find every lost sheep that belongs in His pasture (see The Life of Christ Hs – The Parable of the Lost Sheep). When we are lost and far away, the God of mercy will hear our prayer for rescue and return.¹⁷⁶

The third request – a prayer for provision: Military defeat was not the only punishment that God’s people would undergo. Sometimes the Land itself would suffer for Isra’el’s sin. When they sin against You, and in consequence the sky is shut, so that there is no rain; then, if they pray toward this house, acknowledge Your name and turn from their sin when You have brought them low; hear in heaven, forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Isra’el – since You keep teaching them the good way by which they should live – and send down rain on Your Land, which You have given Your people as their inheritance (1 Kings 8:35-36: 2 Chronicles 6:26-27). Notice that in his requests, Solomon is dealing with the principles of the Torah with its blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (Leviticus 26:19). The situation described in these verses is straight out of Deuteronomy 11:13-14 and 16-17, which shows how important knowing the Scriptures is to the life of prayer. Solomon does hope, then, and his hope is founded on God’s Word; but that hope is not wishful thinking or giddy optimism spawned by the excitement of the moment. Rather, it is the real hope that comes from applying the realistic Word of a realistic God. Anything else is not true hope.¹⁷⁷

The fourth request – a prayer for deliverance: Solomon’s fourth request was similar to the third. As the king anticipated further difficulties his people were likely to face as a result of their sin, he prayed for deliverance from disaster. Solomon began by listing a comprehensive series of natural disasters: Famine in the Land (Leviticus 26:19-20 and 26; Deuteronomy 28:25), or blight (Leviticus 26:25), windstorm, mildew (Leviticus 28:22), locusts (Deut 28:38) or shearer-worms; or if their enemy comes to the Land and besieges them in any of their cities, or plague or sickness (Leviticus 26:16; Deut 28:59-61). We should not necessarily assume every time we see one of these disasters take place somewhere in the world that Ha’Shem is punishing a nation directly for its sin. The Gentile nations are not in covenant with ADONAI in the way that Isra’el is.

Nevertheless, there are some biblical judgments against sin, all of which call for prayers of repentance. So, Solomon said: Then, regardless of what prayer or plea anyone among all Your people Isra’el makes – for each individual will know what is plaguing his own conscience – and the person spreads out his hands toward this house; hear in heaven where You live, and forgive, and act, and, since You know what is in each one’s heart, give each person what his conduct deserves (because You, and only You, know all human hearts), so that they will fear You and therefore live according to Your ways throughout the time they live in the Land You gave our ancestors (First Kings 8:37-40; Second Chronicles 6:28-31).

Like the rest of Solomon’s prayer, this request was answered later in the book of Kings. In the days of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, besieged Jerusalem (2 Kgs 18:13 to 19:13). The situation was desperate, for in those days Assyria had the world’s strongest army. But Hezekiah did what a king should do when his nation is in trouble; he went into the Temple and spread out his hands toward God’s house in prayer, asking God to save his people (2 Kgs 19:14-19). God answered Hezekiah’s prayers (see the commentary on Isaiah Gw – Then the Angel of the LORD Put To Death a Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Men in the Assyrian Camp). History actually shows us how these prayers actually work, giving us confidence for our own requests. Whenever we are afflicted, we may pray for God to deliver us. He knows what is really in our hearts. If our repentance is sincere, He will forgive our sins and deliver us if that is His will.¹⁷⁸

The fifth request – a prayer for foreigners: For the people who were present at the dedication of the Temple, Solomon’s fifth request surely must have been the most surprising. Most of them undoubtedly regarded the Temple as a house of worship for the Jews. Yet Solomon also prayed for the foreigners, Gentile proselytes, converting to the God of Isra’el. He said: Those who do not belong to Your people Isra’el – when they come from a distant country because of Your great reputation, Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray toward this house; then hear in heaven where You live, and act in accordance with everything about which the foreigner is calling to You; so that all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear You, as does Your people Isra’el, and so that they will know that this house which I have built bears Your name (First Kings 8:41-43; Second Chronicles 6:32-33).

The Temple was an international house of prayer. This is because ADONAI has always had a missionary heart for the nations of the world. Even His sovereign election of the Jews was for the sake of all peoples. The global reach of His grace went all the way back to the promise He made to Abraham (see the commentary on Genesis Dt – I Will Bless Those Who Bless You and Whoever Curses You I Will Curse). They were a light to the Gentiles (Isaiah 49:6). Solomon longed for these foreigners to join the family of God. Thus, he asked YHVH to hear and answer their Temple prayers , so that everywhere on earth people would know the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.¹⁷⁹

The sixth request – a prayer for those who are engaged in war but are far away from Isra’el: If Your people go out to fight against their enemies, no matter by which way You send them, and they pray to ADONAI toward the City You chose, toward the house I built for Your name; then, in heaven, hear their prayer and plea, and uphold their cause (First Kings 8:44-45; Second Chronicles 6:34-35). Solomon was honest about his people’s sin; he knew that often they were their own worst enemy. But he also knew that they had other enemies as well, enemies who would wage war against them. So, the king prayed that when his people went out to battle and prayed for the help of their God, He would grant them the victory. It was not the Temple per se that would render their prayers effective; it was Ha’Shem, who had seen fit to dwell there, who would answer as they prayed.¹⁸⁰

This does not mean that every army that prays to God will win the battle. The kind of warfare Solomon had in mind was a holy war in which ADONAI-Tzva’ot explicitly sent His own people to fight the enemies of His Kingdom (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Ag – The Problem of Holy War in the TaNaKh). Therefore, Solomon’s prayer has no direct application to any army, either then or now. Where it does have direct application is to the Church of Yeshua Messiah in its spiritual warfare with Satan and the powers of darkness. Today we fight our spiritual battles, and when we pray, God hears our plea and upholds our case.

The seventh request – a prayer for those who have been carried away into captivity: Solomon’s last request was probably the most important – a prayer for total forgiveness, and Isra’el’s “worst-case scenario.” Here’s how the king began his final request: When they sin against You – for there is no one who doesn’t sin – and You are angry with them and hand them over to the enemy, so that they carry them off captive to the land of their enemy, whether far away or nearby (First Kings 8:46; Second Chronicles 6:36). Of course, that is exactly what happened. Solomon’s “if” was really more like a “when.” By the inspiration of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh, his last request was a preview of Isra’el’s future history. The people did sin against the LORD, and He was angry with them, and He did give them to an enemy, and they were carried away captive. Solomon was praying in advance about the tragic events of 586 BC (see the commentary on Jeremiah Ga – The Fall of Jerusalem), when Jerusalem and its Temple were destroyed by the mighty armies of Nebuchadnezzar, and when God’s people were carried off to Babylon for seventy long years of exile (see Jeremiah Gu – Seventy Years of Imperial Babylonian Rule).

Yet, Solomon believed in the grace of ADONAI as much as he believed in God’s justice. Thus, he prayed for Isra’el’s forgiveness, prophesying the nation’s repentance and return, saying: Then, if they come to their senses in the land where they have been carried away captive, turn back and make their plea to You in the land of those who carried them off captive, saying, “We sinned (Hebrew: chata, meaning to miss the mark), we acted wrongly (Hebrew: avah, meaning, to commit iniquity) , we behaved wickedly (Hebrew: rasha, meaning to be wicked),” if, in the land of their enemies who carried them off captive, they return to You with all their heart and being, and pray to You toward their own Land, which You gave to their ancestors, toward the City You chose and toward the house I have built for Your name; then, in heaven where You live, hear their prayer and pleas, uphold their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned (Hebrew: psha, meaning rebellion) against You – forgive their transgressions which they have committed against You, and give them compassion in the sight of their captors, so that they will show compassion toward them; for they are Your people, Your inheritance, whom You brought out of Egypt, out of the flames of the iron furnace (First Kings 8:47-51; Second Chronicles 6:37-39). Solomon believed in the merciful compassion of a rescuing God. Even when we fall into sin and wander far away from God, He will still hear our prayers, and when we pray, He will forgive, even though we still have to suffer the consequences of our own sin in this world. Throughout his prayer Solomon put great emphasis on the Temple, but he did not do so for reasons of vain glory, as though the building was his special accomplishment. His basic concern was for his people. Now, my God, please, let Your eyes be open, and let Your ears pay attention to the prayer being made in this place, so that You will hear them whenever they cry out to You (First Kings 8:52; Second Chronicles 6:40). But God, who is not confined by a building and who is certainly not dependent upon it, will even survive its destruction and hear the people’s prayers in exile.¹⁸¹

Solomon’s prayer ends as it began, with hope for the present and the future based on ADONAI’s past covenant loyalty to Isra’el. He asks that the LORD pay the utmost attention to His requests. Why? Solley because the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob made a distinction between them and all the peoples of the earth by making them His inheritance, as He said through Moshe Your servant when He brought our ancestors out of Egypt (Exodus 19:5; Leviticus 26:40-45). Solomon concluded his prayer by saying: Now go up, ADONAI, God, to Your place of rest, You and the ark through which You give strength. May Your priests, ADONAI, God, be clothed with salvation; may those loyal to You take joy in good. ADONAI, God, don’t turn away the face of Your anointed one; remember the mercies of Your servant David (First Kings 8:53; Second Chronicles 6:41-42).

Praying like Solomon: Solomon’s seven requests cover almost everything that anyone could ever need, even in all the desperate troubles of a fallen world. Solomon prayed for deliverance from danger, provision for daily needs, and victory over fierce enemies. He prayed that even in the worst-case scenario, God would bring His people back home. Solomon prayed this for his people who were far away from ADONAI, even for people who had never known Him at all. But most of all, Solomon prayed for our biggest need, which is the forgiveness of our sins against a holy God.

We also make Solomon’s prayer our own by offering these requests for one another. When he made these requests, Solomon was not praying for himself, but for all the people of God. This was a corporate prayer, and we too are called to pray for God’s people. We pray that justice will be done in the Church, so that any dispute will be fairly judged, and that the persecuted Church will receive its reward on the last day. We pray that God will provide for His people’s needs and rescue them from every danger, including natural disasters. We pray for victory over our enemies: sin, death, and all the temptations of the Adversary. We pray for all the people and nations that are far away from ADONAI, asking Him to create the circumstances that would give them a moment of “spiritual clarity” so they could make a decision to follow Him. We pray for all the wayward sinning believers whose faith is in a spiritual desert, asking the LORD to bring them home from their spiritual exile. These are the prayers we offer for all the people of God.¹⁸²