1 KINGS 11


1 But king Solomon [Sh'lomo Hamelech] loved many strange women [nashim nokhriyyot rabbot (foreign women)], together with the daughter of [besides Bat] Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites [Moaviyyot, Ammoniyyot, Adomiyyot, Tzedeniyyot, Chittiyyot];

2 Of the nations [Goyim] concerning which Yahweh said unto the children of Israel [Bnei Yisroel], Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart [levav] after their gods: Solomon clave [Sh'lomo made his deveykus] unto these in love.

3 And he had 700 wives [nashim sarot sheva me'ot (seven hundred royal wives)] princesses, and 300 concubines [pilagshim]: and his wives turned away his heart [his nashim inclined libo].

How the mighty fall! With such great privileges, and divine blessing, Solomon multiplied wealth, women, weapons and worship. In so doing he brought misery upon himself, the throne and the kingdom. Under the canopy of the ivory throne there was no true and lasting satisfaction (Ecc. 1:2, 18; 2:11, 17). Wisdom was turned to folly, peace into tyranny, prosperity into misery and ruin.

The king countenanced polygamy, polytheism, despotism. It was not merely that he had "many wives," but that they were "strange" (foreign) women, securing the throne by political and marital connections with occupied nations. Solomon permitted them to introduce spiritual adultery into Israel.

The Proverbs of and for Solomon are full of warnings against such in the natural sense, and the Scriptures in the spiritual sense. Solomon permitted his multitudinous Bride licence; contrast the Greater than Solomon in Eph. 5:25-29. So the story of Solomon's sad decline is recorded, to remind us that in spite of his greatness and wisdom, the temptations of his position were too much. It needed a "greater than Solomon" to hold his position without wavering.

...The folly of Solomon leads to the unloosing of "Satan," and it awaits the coming of the Lord Yahshua (to bind "Satan" again: cp. Rev. 20:2) before there will be one to completely defeat the counsels of the flesh and to remove sin in the flesh.

Thus the Wisdom of Solomon is to be seen in the books that flowed from his pen under inspiration, which reveal the true nature of the greater king who will ultimately rule on the throne of his father David.

Bro Graeham Mansfield, Logos.




Here was a man with every possible advantage, and he started out so well, and so wisely. God gave him wisdom beyond any before or since, save Jesus himself.

...We may ask, what is the value of wisdom if the man who had the most was a failure?

Solomon's failure does not detract anything from the value of wisdom. What it does teach is the tremendous power of the flesh, that it could cause such a capable, well-blessed man to turn aside from wisdom.

Perhaps Solomon's incomparable blessings caused his heart to be lifted up in pride, and pride is but a very small step to stupidity. Pride so easily blinds wisdom's eyes, and leads it helpless captive.

The proud are ready dupes for the most foolish and blatant deceptions.

God is just in all His ways. Where much is given, much is expected.

"We must through much tribulation enter the Kingdom" (Acts. 14:22).

Solomon's wisdom served a divine purpose. He was used to record essential teachings, and to manifest a striking lesson, but it did not give him an unfair advantage.

His testing was in accord with his privileges, and he failed, because he forsook the way of wisdom. We can never take salvation for granted. It is a matter of all-out effort, and fear and trembling.

Solomon's case is a marvellous illustration of the direct operation of God upon a man, combined with the wonder of responsible individual free-will. God's special gifts for certain purposes never affect or interfere with the individual working out of their salvation. This is a marvel we cannot understand, but must accept as essential to the justice of God.

Bro Growcott - But where shall wisdom be found



14 And Yahweh stirred up an adversary [raised up satan] unto Solomon [Sh'lomo], Hadad the Edomite [HaAdomi]: he was of the king's seed [zera HaMelech] in Edom.


Yahweh "stirred" them up.

The men themselves were not aware that Yahweh "stirred them up." They simply found themselves the subject of a propensity to be active and enterprising in the promotion of their own interest in antagonism to Solomon. They were instruments in the hands of Elohim for the punishment of Solomon.

The Ways of Providence Ch 18.



43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

Circa 860 BC - Since Asaph's appointment: 140 years

REHOBOAM succeeded to Solomon's office, but lacking his father's wisdom he lost most of his kingdom. Yet, because of the apostasy of Jeroboam to the north, the Levites took their stand with Rehoboam, and the faithful among the tribes who

"set their hearts to seek Yahweh Elohim of Israel"

joined them in Jerusalem. 1 The House of Asaph were at one with all those who came to seek His face, for that was the very spirit of their ministry. 2 Nor was there any reason for their song not to be heard in the days of Abijah who followed. He opposed Jeroboam's idolatry, and encouraged the Levites in Judah to wait upon their business, and to offer the daily offerings, 3 a work which involved the singers, whose song ascended with every evening and morning sacrifice.

His son, Asa, was likewise of a faithful spirit, for he encouraged the nation to enter into a covenant "to seek Yahweh Elohim of their fathers with all their heart". Their commitment was so strong that no idolatry was tolerated, and the covenant of their dedication was made with shouting, trumpets, and rejoicing at their oath. There can be little doubt that the singers added their voice of praise on this day of acclamation and rejoicing. 4

After Asa came Jehoshaphat, who immediately walked in the commandments of God.