1 Reis 9
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Reis 9
NJB (MT versing) God's Promise and Warning God's Second Appearance to Solomon Solomon's Vision God Appears to Solomon Again Yahweh Appears A Second Time 9:1-5 9:1-9 9:1-5 9:1-9 9:1-9 9:6-9 9:6-9 Cities Given to Hiram Solomon and Hiram Exchange Gifts An Interlude Solomon's Agreement with Hiram The Bargain with Hiram 9:10-14 9:10-14 9:10-14 9:10-14 9:10-14 Solomon's Additional Achievements The Forced Levy Further Achievements of Solomon Forced Labor for Solomon's Building Program 9:15-22 9:15-19 9:15-22 9:15-22 9:15-23 9:20-22 Miscellaneous Details 9:23 9:23 9:23 9:23 9:24 9:24 9:24 9:24 9:24 9:25 9:25 9:25 9:25 9:25 Solomon As Ship Builder 9:26-28 9:26-28 9:26-28 9:26-28 9:26-28 Etc.
1 Reis 9:1-5
9:1 See Contextual Insights in chapter 7. 9:2 "the Lord" See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. ▣ "appeared to Solomon a second time" The first time is recorded in 1 Kgs. 3:3-15 (cf. 2 Chr. 7:12-22). This appearance is similar in its promises and conditions (i.e., "if's" of vv. 4,6; 1 Kgs. 3:14). This is often referred to as "blessings and curses" (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). 9:3 "by putting My name there" The name was an idiomatic way of asserting YHWH's personal presence (cf. Deut. 12:5,11,12; 14:23,24; 16:2,6,11; 1 Kgs. 8:16,17,19,29,43,44,48; 11:36; 2 Kgs. 21:4,7; 23:27). In typical eastern tension, the immanence (name there) and transcendence (dwells in the highest heaven) are held together. As YHWH dwelt above the mercy seat (i.e., His footstool), He was constantly reminded of His laws and His people. The space above the lid of the ark and between the wings of the two cherubim was the theological place where heaven and earth met! ▣ "forever" In English this word does not communicate the conditional nature of YHWH's covenant. The same is true for the parallel phrase, "will be there perpetually." The apparent contradiction between an unconditional promise and a clearly stated condition (i.e., 1 Kgs. 2:4) with negative consequences, has always bothered western people. Eastern literature presents truth in tension-filled pairs (i.e., paradoxes). SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam) SPECIAL TOPIC: EASTERN LITERATURE (biblical paradoxes) ▣ The anthropomorphic imagery of "eyes" and "heart" are meant to convey YHWH's personal presence and constant attention. See Contextual Insights, B. in chapter 8. This is symbolized in YHWH putting His name there. SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH 9:4 Notice the "if" (also v. 6). The "two ways" (i.e., Deuteronomy 30; Psalm 1) are both true. Blessings and prosperity do not come without lifestyle obedience (i.e., walk). in integrity of heart uprightness doing all that I commanded keeping YHWH's law (see SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP) It appears that Solomon wanted an unconditional promise related to 2 Samuel 7 (i.e., 1 Kgs. 8:25-26) but YHWH would not affirm this. YHWH wanted a revelatory nation to reach the nations, not an elite favorite people only. Israel had a missionary mandate! The temple's existence itself was conditional on Israel's obedience (cf. vv. 6-9). But note, not sinlessness (i.e., David's life and the examples of 1 Kgs. 8:31-53). ▣ "heart" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART. ▣ "My statutes and My ordinances" See SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION. 9:5 This refers again to YHWH's promise to David in 2 Samuel 7 (cf. 1 Chronicles 17). However, remember that this promise was abrogated because of the Israelites' disobedience which resulted in the exile of Israel (i.e., the northern tribes) by Assyria, 722 b.c. the exile of Judah and the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem by Babylon in 586 b.c.
1 Reis 9:6-9
9:6 Notice how idolatry is characterized. turn away from following Me (you or your children) not keep commandments serve other gods, v. 9 worship them, v.9 adopt them, v. 9 SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY ▣ "indeed turn away" This is an emphatic grammatical construction of an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB of the same root (BDB 996, KB 1427). This same root is also used of turning to YHWH or repenting. This is the shocking opposite! 9:7-9 These verses obviously speak of a forced exile from the promised land (i.e., Assyrian and Babylonian). 9:7 "Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples" YHWH's judgment on His covenant people for their disobedience (cf. Deut. 29:25-28; 1 Kgs. 9:9; Jer. 2:10-13) will be a revelation to the nations. This negative revelation is characterized in several idiomatic ways. a proverb ‒ 2 Chr. 7:20; Jer. 24:9; Ezek. 14:8 a byword ‒ 2 Chr. 7:20; Ps. 44:14; Joel 2:17 a horror ‒ Deut. 28:37; Jer. 25:9; 29:18; 49:17; 50:13 a taunt ‒ Deut. 28:37; Jer. 24:9 astonished ‒ 2 Chr. 7:21; Jer. 18:16; 19:8 sneer at ‒ Ps. 22:7 a reproach ‒ Ps. 44:13; 79:4; Jer. 24:9; 29:18; Joel 2:17; Micah 6:16 a scoffing ‒ Ps. 44:13; 79:4 a derision ‒ Ps. 44:13; 79:4; Micah 6:16 laughingstock (lit. "shaking of the head") ‒ Ps. 44:14; Jer. 18:16 hissing ‒ Jer. 18:16; 19:8; 25:9; 29:8; 50:13; Lam. 2:15; Zeph. 2:15 a terror ‒ Jer. 24:9; 29:8 a curse ‒ Jer. 24:9; 29:8 everlasting desolation ‒ Jer. 25:9; Micah 6:16 clap their hands ‒ Lam. 2:15 shake their heads ‒ Ps. 22:7; Lam. 2:15; Isa. 37:22; Jer. 18:16 Israel was meant to be a revelation of YHWH to bring the nations to Him, but their disobedience caused her to be a negative witness, showing only YHWH's judgment. ▣ The NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 273, offers a good list of the VERBS used to describe the divine removal of the covenant people from the land of Canaan because of their covenant disobedience (I have expanded below its list). be spewed out ‒ Lev. 18:28 perish quickly ‒ Deut. 4:26; 7:4 be destroyed ‒ Deut. 6:15; Josh. 23:15; 1 Kgs. 13:34; Amos 9:8 be torn from ‒ Deut. 28:63 be plucked from ‒ Deut. 28:63 scatter you ‒ Deut. 28:64 be uprooted ‒ Deut. 29:28; 1 Kgs. 14:15; 2 Chr. 7:20; Jer. 12:14; 45:4 will perish ‒ Josh. 23:13; Deut. 8:19-20 be cut off ‒ 1 Kgs. 9:7 blot it out ‒ 1 Kgs. 13:34 be carried away ‒ 2 Kgs. 17:6,23; 25:21; Jer. 13:19; 20:4; 39:9; 52:27 has removed ‒ Isa. 6:12 9:8 NASB, NRSV "a heap of ruins" "will be exalted" "a pile of ruins" NJB, JPSOA "once exalted" "exalted house" REB, Peshitta "in ruins" The MT has "will become high." The UBS Text Project, p. 310, suggests "will become a ruin." The 2 Chr. 7:2 parallel has "which was exalted." The Masoretic scholars suggested this change to the MT. "high" ‒ עליון (BDB 751) "ruin" ‒ עליין (BDB 730) It is possible that "high" (MT) is imagery for "a prominent ruin." The Aramaic Targums seem to combine these by "and this house that was high will be a ruin." 9:9 "therefore the Lord has brought all this adversity on them" YHWH judges in order to restore His people to faith and obedience. Even His acts of judgment are acts of love. He is a hurt parent!
1 Reis 9:10-14
9:10-13 Hiram, King of Tyre, supplied lumber, precious metals, and artisans for this. Solomon paid him with twenty cities but Hiram did not like the cities (v. 12). ▣ "twenty years" It took seven years to build the temple (1 Kgs. 6:38) and thirteen years for the king's palace (1 Kgs. 7:1). 9:11 "in the land of Galilee" Josephus (Antiq. 8.5.3.) Says they were in western Galilee close to Tyre. As a matter of fact, Josephus (Antiq. 8.5.3.) gives an elaborate explanation about a bet between Solomon and Hiram concerning riddles. These cities and Hiram's gold were part of the wager. 9:13 "my brother" This term (BDB 26) normally refers to kin, but here it could imply covenant partner ‒ like Num. 20:14; Deut. 2:4,8; Lam. 1:11; Obad. v. 10 a fellow believer ‒ possibly here; Hiram was very friendly to David ▣ "Cabul" This word (BDB 459) has an uncertain etymology. In context the cities are not accepted by Hiram. There may be an intended word play. Solomon thought they were glorious (BDB 458 II) Hiram thought they were not good from Arabic root for "binding" or "fetters" (BDB 459) these Hebrew letters are similar to "good as nothing" or "like nothing" Josephus, Antiq. 8.5.3., says it is of Phoenician origin and means "what does not please" it is possible the term means "border town" ▣ "to this day" This is a literary marker of a later editor (cf. v. 21; 1 Kgs. 8:61). Some have speculated that Hiram wanted land suitable for farming, not a mountainous region. 9:14 "talents" Possibly a round shape (NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 636). See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES. The Jewish Study Bible, p. 694, suggests that this extra payment of gold was the difference between the value of these cities and what Solomon owed Hiram for his materials and artisans.
1 Reis 9:15-22
9:15-22 "forced labor" Verse 21 asserts that the forced laborers used to build Solomon's projects were Canaanites left in the land after the Conquest. Verse 22 specifically asserts that Solomon did not use Israelites (see Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 199-200 and Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, pp. 141-142). The problem comes when Solomon's son, Rehoboam, is rejected because a labor supervisor from Ephraim, Jeroboam, caused a revolt based partly on Israelite forced labor (cf. 1 Kgs. 5:13-18; 11:23-40; 12:4; also note 1 Kgs. 9:23). This occurred in 922 b.c. The United Monarchy split into Judah and Israel. Some have tried to solve the seeming contradiction by asserting that Canaanites were the forced laborers (i.e., slaves), but the Israelites from the tribes rotated as their supervisors. Israelites were used only for limited periods and the load was divided among the tribes. 9:15 There are several building projects listed. the temple the king's palace (see Josephus, Antiq. 8.5.1-3) the Millo (see note below) parts of the wall of Jerusalem military cities that guarded Israel from invasion (v. 19) Hazor Megeddo Gezer Also note vv. 17-19 for more projects. It does not mention the house for Pharaoh's daughter, but she is talked about in v. 16 and it is mentioned specifically in v. 24. ▣ "Millo" The Hebrew root (BDB 571) has several possible meanings. fill dirt (cf. 1 Kgs. 11:27; 1 Chr. 11:8; 2 Chr. 32:5) for a terrace (Akkadian root) for a wall for a foundation a citadel (it has a DEFINITE ARTICLE, LXX, JPSOA) 9:16 "the Canaanites" This is a collective term for all the tribes living in Canaan. Amorites, v. 20 Hittites Perizzites Hivites Jebusites SPECIAL TOPIC: PRE-ISRAELITE INHABITANTS OF PALESTINE 9:18 NASB, NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB, JPSOA "Tamar" NKJV, Peshitta "Tadmor" The MT has "Tamar" ("palm," BDB 1071) but the Masoretic scholars suggest "Tadmor," following 2 Chr. 8:4. There is a city called Tamar mentioned in Ezek. 47:19; 48:28, which was near the Dead Sea, possibly another name for En-gedi. 9:21 "destroy utterly" See SPECIAL TOPIC: CURSE (OT). ▣ "even to this day" See note at 1 Kgs. 9:13.
1 Reis 9:25
9:25 "three times in a year" There were three major required annual feasts. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL, D. ▣ "burnt offerings" See SPECIAL TOPIC: BURNT OFFERINGS. ▣ "peace offerings" SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE OFFERINGS ▣ "burning incense with them on the altar which was before the Lord" This altar in the holy place is also called unnamed in Exod. 30:1-10 altar of incense ‒ Exod. 37:25-29; 2 Chr. 26:19 altar of cedar ‒ 1 Kgs. 6:20 altar of gold ‒ 1 Kgs. 7:48 Number 1 tells its purpose and describes its use. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ALTAR OF INCENSE ▣ "So he finished the house" This phrase is a little strange at this point. It seems the temple was finished and consecrated in chapter 8 (cf. 1 Kgs. 9:3). The timing of this is confused because The temple was said to be finished in the eighth month (cf. 1 Kgs. 6:38), but not dedicated until the seventh month (cf. 1 Kgs. 8:2; 2 Chr. 7:10), eleven months later. The temple was built in seven years but this verse implies it was not dedicated until the twentieth year (1 Kgs. 9:10). Possibly there were two dedications or an annual dedication or covenant renewal ceremony.
1 Reis 9:26-28
9:26 "built a fleet of ships" See 1 Kgs. 10:22; 22:48. Josephus, Antiq. 8.6.4., tells about this fleet. ▣ "Edom" See SPECIAL TOPIC: EDOM AND ISRAEL. ▣ "Red Sea" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE RED SEA. ▣ "Ophir" Ophir's location is uncertain, possibly India (near Mumbai) Africa (Ethiopia or Somalia) Arabia (a tribe, i.e., Gen. 10:29; 1 Chr. 1:23)