1-15 Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom
- A beginning of Solomon's departure from God: He makes a marriage alliance with the daughter of Pharaoh of Egypt.
- And a second, maybe related second departure: He and the people begin sacrificing and offering on the high places. (From 2 Chronicles, though, it appears that this high place is where the tabernacle is. Maybe this happens when they begin constructing the temple there?)
- God appears to Solomon in a dream and asks what he should give to Solomon.
- Solomon requests an understanding mind to govern the people.
- God is pleased with his request and also grants him riches and honor all his life.
- God also promises Solomon that if he follows his statutes, he will grant Solomon long life.
- Then Solomon awakes; it has been a dream. Does this indicate this really didn't happen? Did Solomon just think he is wise, acts accordingly, and all the other blessings naturally follow? How does Solomon distinguish between what he hears in a dream. As far as I remember, David received his messages from God when he was conscious, or through a prophet, such as Nathan.
- Two prostitutes come to the king, one claiming the other has smothered her own newborn baby in her sleep and then stolen the first woman's child. There are no witnesses to identify the babies or mothers.
- Solomon requests a sword and says the baby must be cut in half, but of course the real mother would rather give up her child than see him dead, revealing the true mother.
- The people perceive Solomon has the wisdom of God.
1-19 Solomon's Administrative Officers
- High officials:
- Priest: Azariah son of Zadok
- Secretaries: Elihoreph and Ahijah sons of Shisha
- Army Commander: Benaiah son of Jehoiada
- Priests: Zadok and Abiathar
- Over the officials: Azariah son of Nathan
- Priest and friend: Zabud son of Nathan
- In charge of palace: Ahishar
- In charge of forced labor: Adoniram son of Abda
- In charge of providing food for the king and his household: 12 officials, one each month, from 12 regions of Israel. Also one from Judah. Two of these are married to Solomon's daughters.
- Judah and Israel numerous and happy; Solomon ruler over all kingdoms from the Euphrates to the lands of the Philistines and Egypt.
- His provisions listed here for one day are enormous, indicating to me the huge number of servants needed to take care of all his possessions
- Judah and Israel live in safety, from Dan to Beersheba, all of Solomon's days, all of them "under their vines and fig trees."
- Nothing is lacking at Solomon's table.
- Solomon's wisdom, discernment, and breadth of understanding, as vast as the sand on the sea, are greater than all the people of the east and of Egypt
- Famous for his wisdom and as a poet (3,000 proverbs) and song writer (1,005 songs)
1-18 Preparations and Materials for the Temple
- King Hiram of Tyre -- a friend of David -- sends a delegation to Solomon, who asks him to send him cedars from Lebanon and workers to work with Israelite builders.
- Hiram gladly agrees to provide wood and workers in exchange for food for his household
- He conscripts forced labor: 30,000 men who are sent to Lebanon in shifts, 1 months there and 2 months at home; also 70,000 laborers and 80,000 stonecutters, 3,300 supervisors
1-13 Solomon Requests Wisdom
- Solomon summons all Israel together, and they inquire of the LORD at the high place at Gibeon, at the tent of meeting, where the ark is, as well as the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur.
- Solomon offers one thousand burnt offerings on the altar (1 Kings 3:4)
- God's offer and Solomon's requests for wisdom, which happens up on Gibeon (1 Kings 3:5-15)
- Horsepower: 1400 chariots, 12,000 horses, stationed in chariot cities and with the king
- Silver and gold as common as stone in Jerusalem, cedar as plentiful as sycamore
- Horses imported from Egypt and Kue, 600-shekel chariot and 150-shekel horse imported from Egypt and exported to kings of Hittites and Aram.
1-2 Preparations for Building the Temple
- ...and a royal house for himself
- Conscripts 70,000 laborers; 80,000 stonecutters; 3,600 overseers (1 Kings 5:13-18 mentions only 3,300 overseers)
- Sends to Huram and requests artisan in gold, silver, bronze and iron; fine fabrics; cedar, cypress and algum timber; woodcutters to work with Solomon's servants
- In exchange Solomon will provide wheat, barley, wine and oil
- Huram gladly sends him Huram-abi as the artisan.
- Solomon takes a census of all aliens and finds 153,600 -- 70,000 he assigns as laborers, 80,000 as stonecutter, and 3,600 as supervisors. (A repeat of verse 2)
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