Inductive Bible Studies,

Thirteenth Study.—The Reign of Solomon.¹

[The material of this "study" has been furnished by Prof. Beecher. It is edited by Prof. Harper.]

I. BIBLICAL LESSON.

Prepare for recitation 1 Kgs. 1-11, with parallel passages, taking up the topics in the following order:

(1) Adonijah's attempt, and Solomon's coronation, 1:5-53; 1 Chron. 29:22b-25.

Note. Is 1 Chron. 29:22b-25 a summary of 1 Kgs. 1? Compare the former, clause by clause, with the latter: "They made Solomon the son of David king," v. 43; " a second time," 13,17,30; "and anointed [him]," 34,39,45; "for Nagidh," 35; "and Zadok for priest," 34,38,39,44,8,26, 32; 2:35; "and Solomon sat upon the throne * * * instead of David," 35,30,46,48,27,20,17,13; "and all Israel hearkened unto him," 39,40; "all the captains," 25, with 7,19,41, and 9,47; "and the mighty men," 8,10, with 26,32,36,38,44; "also, all the sons of King David," 9,19,25, 53, "submitted to Solomon the king." Compare also 1 Chron. 29:25 with 1 Kgs. 1:37,47, and the order of statement, topics (2) and (3).

(2) David's last charge to Solomon, concerning the law, Joab, Barzillai, Shimei, 2:1-9 (compare charge, 1 Chron. 22:6-19; 28:9-21).

(3) Death of David, sources of the history, etc., 2:10,11; 1 Chron. 29:26-30.

(4) Fate of Adonijah, Abiathar, Joab, Shimei, 2:12-46; 1:1-4.

Note. Compare 2:26,27,35, with 1 Sam. 2:30,35,36. In speaking of David's throne as eternal, 2:45, 33, does Solomon refer to the promise made in 2 Sam. 7? With 2 Sam. 7 compare also 5:35; 8:15-21,24-26, etc.

(5) The vision at Gibeon, 3:4-15; 2 Chron. 1:1-13.

(6) The two women, 3:16-28.

(7) Preparing to build and building the temple (reserve details to be treated under the special topics, and in the next study), 5-7; 2 Chron. 2-4.

(8) Dedication of temple, 8; 2 Chron. 5-7:11.

Note 1. According to Chronicles, where was the sacred tent that Moses made, in the times of Solomon? Were its altar and furniture yet in existence? What became of these when the temple was built? 2 Chron. 1:3,5-6,13; 1 Chron. 16: 39; 6:32; 9:19,21,23; 23:32; and 2 Chron. 5: 5. Are these statements confirmed or contradicted by the statements made in Kings? 1 Kgs. 3:4,5 (compare 9:2, etc.); 2:28,29,30; 1:39.

Note 2. Where was the ark before and after the dedication of the temple? 2 Sam. 6:17; 2 Chron. 1:4, etc.; and 1 Kgs. 8:1-9,21, etc.

Note 3. How about the three great feasts in Solomon's time? 1 Kgs. 9:25; 8:2,65,66; 2 Chron. 8:12-16; 7: 8-10. How about the high-place worship, before and after the building of the temple? 1 Kgs. 3:2,3,4; 1 Chron. 16:39; 21:29; 2 Chron. 1:3,13; and 1 Kgs. 11: 7,8. How do the cases of Adonijah and Joab taking refuge at the altar agree with Num. 35:6-32; Josh. 20:2,3, etc.? Compare also 1 Kgs. 2:29,34 with Exod. 21:14.

(9) Second vision of Solomon, 9:1-9; 2 Chron. 7:12-22.

(10) Building of cities, with other events, 9:10-28; 2 Chron. 8:1-18.

(11) The Queen of Sheba, 10:1-13; 2 Chron. 9:1-12.

(12) Disturbances, 11:1-40.

(13) Death of Solomon, sources of the history, 11:41-43; 2 Chron. 9:29-31.

II. HISTORICAL AND LITERARY TOPICS.

1. Solomon's Commissary Department. Locate on the map, as nearly as you can, the twelve districts of Solomon's "officers," 4:7-19. Were there twelve of these "officers," and one "officer" in chief? 4:5a,19b. Some specifications as to their duties? 4: 7,22,23,27,28.

2. Extent of his Dominions. Locate the frontiers on a map, 4:21,24; 2 Chron. 9: 26; Compare Gen. 15:18, etc. What portion of this territory was covered by the commissary districts? In what sense were these peoples outside the territory of the twelve tribes subject to Solomon? 1 Kgs. 4:21b. Cf. 1 Kgs. 2:39; 11:14-25.

3. The Canaanite Peoples. Describe their previous history, and their relations to Solomon:

(1) their extermination promised and required, Deut. 20:16,17; 7: 2; 3:6, etc.;

(2) the promise (and therefore the requirement?) revoked, Jud. 2:3;

(3) the Canaanite put to tribute-service, Josh. 16:10; 17:13; Jud. 1:28, " 30,33,35; cf. Deut. 20:11;

(4) peace made with the Amorite," 1 Sam. 7:14;

(5) their treatment by Solomon, 1 Kgs. 9:15,20-22, and next topic.

4. Nature of their Tribute-service.

(1) Under Solomon, 1 Kgs. 9:15,20-22; 2 Chron. 8: 7-10; 2:2,17, 18; 1 Kgs. 5:13-18;

(2) prepared for by David, 2 Chron. 2:17; 1 Chron. 22:2,15;

(3) practiced earlier than David, see 3.

(3) and Josh. 9:21,27, etc.;

(4) like the service of the Israelites in Egypt, Exod. 1: 11, cf. Gen. 49: 15;

(5) a distinct governmental department, 4:6; 2 Sam. 20:24 (not 2 Sam. 8:16-18); 1 Kgs. 12:18; 2 Chron, 10: 18.

5. Solomon's Superintendents of Work. They are called "overseers" (better "leaders"), 2 Chron. 2: 2,18, and "captains of officers," 1 Kgs. 5:16; 9:23; 2 Chron. 8:10. Were there 3,300, all aliens, of one grade (5:16), and 550 of higher grades (9:23), of these 250 being Israelites (2 Chron. 8:10), while the remaining 300 were aliens, like the 3,300 (2 Chron. 2:2,18,17)? Or in what way do you account for the numerical differences in these passages?

6. Solomon's " Government." The heads of departments are called "captains" (sarim), 4:2. What was the nature of their several departments? 4:1-6.

7. General Prosperity. See 4:20,25; 10:27; 2 Chron. 9:27; 1:15. How limited by such facts as 11:9,28,9-40; 12:4, etc.

8. Solomon's Revenues.

(1) Very large, 10:14; 2 Chron. 9:13;

(2) four kinds of tribute;

(a) 4:21;

(b) 10:23-25; 2 Chron. 9:22-24-e. g. 10:1-10,13; 2 Chron. 9:1-9,12;

(c) and

(d) 10:15b; 2 Chron. 9:14b;

(3) the commissary levies, 4: 7-28;

(4) the tribute-service, see above;

(5) commerce, see below.

9. His Commerce.

(1) "Traders" in general, 10:15; 2 Chron. 9:14;

(2) his horse and chariot trade, 10:28,29; 2 Chron. 1:16,17; 9:28;

(3) trade with Phoenicia for building materials and skilled labor, 5:6,8-12; 9:11-14; 2 Chron. 2:8-16; 8:2;

(4) voyages, 9:26-28; 10:11,12,22; 2 Chron. 8:17,18; 9:10,11,21; what were the " Tarshish-ships" of Kings, or the "Tarshish-going ships" of Chronicles? The port whence they started? Their probable course? The 420 of 1 Kgs. 9:28, compared with the 450 of 2 Chron. 8:18;

(5) probable overland trade-Tadmor, etc.-9:18; 2 Chron. 8:4.

10. His Cavalry and Chariots. See 10:26; 2 Chron. 1:14. Compare these with the "40,000 uroth of horses for his chariotry," 4:26, and the " 4,000 uryoth of horses and chariots," 2 Chron. 9: 25. Did Solomon conform to the law, Deut. 17:16?

11. Architecture, Decorative Art, Music, Learning, and Literature.

(1) What do you infer as to the condition of these from the accounts of the edifices and cities built by Solomon, e. g. the temple, the king's house, the house of the forest of Lebanon, the house of Pharaoh's daughter, Tadmor, the storecities, etc.

(2) What from the elegance of his court, as seen by the Queen of Sheba?

(3) What from the fine wood work, the targets and shields, the ivory throne, the gold vessels, 10:12-21; 2 Chron. 9:11-20?

(4) What from the services at the dedication of the temple?

(5) What from the accounts given of Solomon's wisdom (see next topic)?

12. Solomon's Wisdom.

(1) Great, and widely appreciated, 10:23,24; 11:41; 5:7, 12; 2 Chron. 9:22,23; Neh. 13:26;

(2) included literary and scientific culture and learning, 4:29-34;

(3) and mental acuteness evinced in dealing with hard questions, 10:1,3,4,6,7,8; 2 Chron. 9:1,2,3,5,6,7;

(4) and practical wisdom for affairs, 3:9,11,12,28; 2:6,9; 2 Chron. 1:10-12;

(5) with much of moral and spiritual purpose, see (4);

(6) but in spite of all, Solomon's life a partial failure, 11:3-9; Neh. 13:26, etc.

13. His Marriages and Family.

(1) Pharaoh's daughter, 3:1; 7:8; 9:16,24; 2 Chron. 8:11; 1 Kgs. 11: 1;

(2) other non-Israelite wives, 11:1,2; (3) especially Rehoboam's mother, 14:21,31; 11:1,5; 2 Chron. 12:13;

(3) many wives in all, 11:3;

(4) Solomon's purpose in this was doubtless to strengthen his kingdom by a display of magnificence, and by tics of affinity; what was the actual result?

(5) Solomon's daughters, 4:11,15.

14. Age of Solomon at his Accession, and Dates for his Reign.

(1) Solomon reigned forty years, 11:42; 2 Chron. 9:30. Rehoboam was forty-one at his accession, 14:21; 2 Chron. 12:13. If there was no interval between Solomon and Rehoboam, Solomon's marriage with Naamah must have occurred some two years or more before he succeeded David as king. According to the impression made by the narrative, the marriage with Pharaoh's daughter must have preceded by some time that with the Ammonite princess. These considerations, with the phrase "made for me a house," 2:24, have some weight toward proving that Solomon was an adult when he became king, and that the phrase "little child," 3:7, should be understood accordingly. But their weight is greatly diminished by the fact that it is very difficult to reconcile the statements concerning Rehoboam with the idea that he was forty-one years old at the death of Solomon. See 2 Chron. 13:7, for example.

(2) Josephus says that Solomon was fourteen years old at his accession. The Alexandrian copy of the Septuagint and the most common Jewish tradition make him to have been twelve. These traditions are discussed, with references to recent literature, in the Independent of Oct. 27, 1887. On the whole, the evidence is hardly decisive.

(3) Perhaps the following is as probable as any cast of the events of Solomon's reign: first, three years during which affairs were becoming settled, 2:39; 6:1,37; then seven years of building the temple, and thirteen years while the king's house was being builded, twenty years in all, 6:38; 7:1; 9:10; 2 Chron. 8:1; then the remaining seventeen years.

(4) That Solomon married, and perhaps had children before the close of the first three years may perhaps be inferred from 2:24, with the general effect of what is said concerning Pharaoh's daughter, 3:1, for example.

(5) In regard to the number 480 in 6:1, see the third " study," V., note.

1) For general reading, consult (1) the commentaries on the chapters cited; (2) the article on Solomon in Smith's Bible Dictionary; (3) Stanley's History of the Jewish Church, 2d series, Lecture xxvi.; (4) Geikie's Hours with the Bible, Vol. 3., chs. xiv., xv., xvii.