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John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 11:1-43

Solomon’s Errors and their Consequences. His DeathThis chapter furnishes an account of Solomon’s marriages with numerous foreign princesses, and traces the evil effect of such in the toleration of idolatry, which provoked the Lord’s anger. This was manifested in the growth of opposition abroad and disaffection at home, so that an otherwise brilliant reign had a cloudy ending.3. Seven hundred wives] The Persian king Darius Codomannus is said to have had, besides his own wife, 329 concubines. 4.... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Kings 11:31-39

(31, 39) Take thee ten pieces.—The message delivered by Ahijah first repeats exactly the former warning to Solomon (1 Kings 11:9-13), marking, by the two reserved pieces of the garment, the duality of the “one tribe” reserved for the house of David; next, it conveys to Jeroboam a promise like that given to David (so far as it was a temporal promise), “to build thee a sure house, as I built for David,” on condition of the obedience which David, with all his weakness and sin, had shown, and from... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Kings 11:1-43

Solomon and Toleration 1 Kings 11:6-8 I. There is a proverb that tells us that 'no one became thoroughly bad all at once,' 'Nemo repente fit turpissimus'. And so it was with Solomon; as the stream of his career sweeps by us in Holy Scripture, windows, as it were, are opened for us through which we gaze out on that sunny flood, so full of promise, carrying on its bosom such rich opportunities and varied treasures, and we note that as it gets wider it loses its pure beauty, as it gets deeper it... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:1-43

HOLLOW PROSPERITY1 Kings 11:1-43"Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity."- Ecclesiastes 1:2"At every draught more large and large they grow, A bloated mass of rank unwieldy woe, Till, sapp’d their strength, and every part unsound, Down, down they sink, and spread a ruin round." - GOLDSMITH.THERE was a ver rongeur at the root of all Solomon’s prosperity. His home was afflicted with the curse of his polygamy, his kingdom with the Curse of his despotism. Failure... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:14-41

THE WIND AND THE WHIRLWIND1 Kings 11:14-41"He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption."- Galatians 6:8SUCH degeneracy could not show itself in the king without danger to his people. "Delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi." In the disintegration of Solomon’s power and the general disenchantment from the glamour of his magnificence, the land became full of corruption and discontent. The wisdom and experience of the aged were contemptuously hissed off the seat of judgment by the... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Kings 11:1-43

7. Solomon’s Failure: judgment Announced and the beginning of Disruption CHAPTER 11 1. Solomon’s polygamy and departure from God (1 Kings 11:1-13 ) 2. Hadad the Edomite (1 Kings 11:14-22 ) 3. Rezon the second adversary (1 Kings 11:23-25 ) 4. Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:26-40 ) 5. Solomon’s reign and death (1 Kings 11:41-43 ) “But--.” An ominous word with which this chapter begins. It introduces us to the sad picture of Solomon’s great apostasy. “He shall not multiply horses to himself, nor... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 11:1-43

MANY MARRIAGES LEADING TO IDOLATRY (vs.1-13) Solomon also disobeyedDeuteronomy 17:17; Deuteronomy 17:17 in making many marriages with foreign women, from the Moabites, Alnmonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites (v.1). But not only was Deuteronomy disobeyed, which specially forbad a king to make such marriages. All the children of Israel were warned against intermarrying with these ungodly nations (Exodus 34:12-16). Did Solomon think that his superior wisdom would keep him from being badly... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:1-43

CLOSE OF SOLOMON ’S REIGN WISDOM AND WEALTH (1 Kings 9:26 to 1 Kings 10:29 ) A look at a map in the back of your Bible may identify the locality of 1 Kings 9:26 , whence Solomon, with Hiram’s help, extended his influence by sea. Ophir (1 Kings 9:28 ) has been regarded as a general name for all the southern territory in the neighborhood of the inland seas. A “talent” is not easy to estimate but, on the supposition of some that a talent of gold represented about $30,000, we have here a... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 Kings 11:29-39

(29) And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: (30) And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: (31) And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: (32)... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 11:26-40

26-40 In telling the reason why God rent the kingdom from the house of Solomon, Ahijah warned Jeroboam to take heed of sinning away his preferment. Yet the house of David must be supported; out of it the Messiah would arise. Solomon sought to kill his successor. Had not he taught others, that whatever devices are in men's hearts, the counsel of the Lord shall stand? Yet he himself thinks to defeat that counsel. Jeroboam withdrew into Egypt, and was content to live in exile and obscurity for... read more

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