But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side ,.... From foreign enemies; for Solomon had no wars with any: so that there is neither adversary ; or Satan, no internal enemy in his kingdom, as well as no external ones, Adonijah, Joab, and other ill-designing persons, being cut off: nor evil occurrent ; nothing that rose up, and met him, to discourage or hinder the prosecution of the good work he had in view. read more
There is neither adversary - שטן אין eyn satan , there is no satan - no opposer, nor any kind of evil; all is peace and quiet, both without and within. God has given me this quiet that I may build his temple. Deus nobis haec otia fecit . read more
The Temple. Read also 2 Chronicles 2:1-10 , where additional light is thrown on this transaction. It marks a period of extreme interest and importance in Hebrew history. It introduces us, by anticipation, to that which was the crowning glory of the reign of Solomon, for his name must ever stand connected with the magnificence of the first Temple, though it be but as a gorgeous dream of the far distant past, which imagination strives in vain to reproduce with distinctness and certainty.... read more
But now the Lord my God hath given me rest [In fulfilment of the promise of 1 Chronicles 22:9 . David had had a brief rest ( 2 Samuel 7:1 ), Solomon's was permanent. He was "a man of rest"] on every side [Heb. round about, same word as in verse 3, and in 1 Chronicles 22:9 ], so that there is neither adversary [Hadad and Rezon, of whom this word is used ( 1 Kings 11:14 , 1 Kings 11:23 ), apparently belonged to a somewhat later period of his reign] nor evil occurrent [Rather,... read more
The contrast is not between different periods of Solomon’s reign, but between his reign and that of his father.Evil occurrent - Rather, evil occurrence. read more
1 Kings 5:3-5. A house unto the name of the Lord For his worship and service. For the wars which were about him on every side Which diverted his cares and thoughts to other things, and occasioned God’s denying him the honour of that work. Until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet That is, made them subject to him, that he could trample upon them at his pleasure. Compare Psa 8:6 ; 1 Corinthians 15:27. I purpose to build a house unto the name of the Lord That shall be called... read more
5:1-9:25 SOLOMON’S BUILDING PROGRAMWhen David had expressed a desire to build a permanent house for God, he was told that God was more concerned with building a permanent ‘house’ for David, namely, a dynasty. As for a symbolic dwelling place for God, God had already shown his ideal for Israel in the tabernacle. Nevertheless, he would allow Israel to have a temple, though it would be built not by David, but by David’s son Solomon (see notes on 2 Samuel 7:1-17).Despite God’s emphasis on the need... read more
adversary. Hebrew. satan. read more
Solomon’s request of Hiram 5:1-6Hiram probably reigned from about 980-947 B.C. [Note: Frank M. Cross, "An Interpretation of the Nora Stone," Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 208 (December 1972):17. Cf. Merrill, p. 239.] Many scholars agree that his reign overlapped David’s by about nine years and Solomon’s by about 24 (cf. 2 Samuel 5:11). Tyre was an important Mediterranean Sea port in Phoenicia north of Israel. Sidon (1 Kings 5:6), another, more important Phoenician port... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 5:1-9
We have here an account of the amicable correspondence between Solomon and Hiram. Tyre was a famous trading city, that lay close upon the sea, in the border of Israel; its inhabitants (as should seem) were none of the devoted nations, nor ever at enmity with Israel, and therefore David never offered to destroy them, but lived in friendship with them. It is here said of Hiram their king that he was ever a lover of David; and we have reason to think he was a worshipper of the true God, and had... read more