2. Further evidences of God’s blessing 9:10-28Somewhat after the mid-point of Solomon’s 40-year reign, God was blessing him for his faithfulness. What the writer described in this section took place after Solomon had completed his major building projects in Jerusalem, which took about 20 years. read more
God’s Response to Solomon’s Prayer. Solomon and Hiram1. When.. finished] The Temple does not seem to have been dedicated until all the king’s buildings were completed, the Temple and Palace being probably included within a single wall and regarded as a unity. In 1 Kings 9:3-9 is contained the divine response to the prayer offered by Solomon at the dedication festival.3. Mine eyes.. perpetually] Though God’s care extends over all His creation, yet those are nearest to His heart who render to Him... read more
(10) And it came to pass.—To this detailed account of the building and consecration of the Temple, ending at 1 Kings 9:9, succeed, first, a notice of a visit of Hiram; and then a section of wholly different character, a series of brief notes (evidently official records), of the works and the government of Solomon, which continues—broken only by the episode of the visit of the Queen of Sheba—to the end of the next chapter. read more
5. Jehovah Appears unto Solomon and the Greatness of the King CHAPTER 9 1. The second appearance of the LORD to Solomon (1 Kings 9:1-9 ) 2. Transactions with Hiram (1 Kings 9:10-14 ) 3. The levy of the king (1 Kings 9:15-23 ) 4. Pharaoh’s daughter occupies the house (1 Kings 9:24 ) 5. The king’s offerings (1 Kings 9:25 ) 6. Solomon’s navy (1 Kings 9:26-28 ) Jehovah’s righteous government in the midst of His people Israel had now been established. This government was given and... read more
GOD APPEARING AGAIN TO SOLOMON (vs.1-9) The Lord had appeared to Solomon before he built the temple (ch.3:5), now at its completion the Lord appears again to him. There was a danger of Solomon's being puffed up with pride because he was so greatly blessed as the king of the most illustrious nation on earth and had built the most magnificent building that has ever been built. Thus, the appearance of the Lord to him was necessary to give him a sober and subdued realization that he was only a... read more
DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE THE TIME (1 Kings 8:1-2 ) Since the temple was completed in the eighth month of the previous year (1 Kings 6:38 ) and not dedicated until the seventh of the following, how shall we explain the interval? The reason usually assigned is that the king waited for the feast of tabernacles in the fall when one of the greatest assemblies took place, and for this purpose the most appropriate. THE GRAND PROCESSION (1 Kings 8:3-9 ) Observe who were the leading actors (1... read more
Solomon's Prayer Answered 1 Kings 9:0 WE have just studied that most wonderful prayer of ancient history, and have been charmed first with its spiritual music; then with its great intellectual conception; then with its appreciation of human necessities, and altogether with its fine, genial, kingly sympathy with all classes and conditions of men. Placing ourselves at this point of history, and listening to the noble supplication which the king poured out to the majesty of heaven, we say... read more
(10) ¶ And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD, and the king's house, (11) (Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. The amity between these princes may serve, to teach us the happy state of Solomon's reign. Such, Reader, would be the blessed effects in the reign of Jesus,... read more
10-14 Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities. Hiram did not like them. If Solomon would gratify him, let it be in his own element, by becoming his partner in trade, as he did. See how the providence of God suits this earth to the various tempers of men, and the dispositions of men to the earth, and all for the good of mankind in general. read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Kings 9:10-14
Solomon’s gifts to Hiram 9:10-14Solomon mortgaged 20 Galilean towns (settlements) bordering Phoenicia to Hiram. This brought the border of Phoenicia farther south. This arrangement compensated Hiram for all the lumber and 9,000 pounds of gold he had sent to Solomon for his building projects. Hiram may have called them Cabul, a word that sounds like the Hebrew word for "good for nothing" (1 Kings 9:13), because they were not in a productive region. This cheap gift did not contribute to ongoing... read more