1 Kings 11:18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 11:14-25

While Solomon kept closely to God and to his duty there was no adversary nor evil occurrent (1 Kgs. 5:4), nothing to create him any disturbance or uneasiness in the least; but here we have an account of two adversaries that appeared against him, inconsiderable, and that could not have done any thing worth taking notice of if Solomon had not first made God his enemy. What hurt could Hadad or Rezon have done to so great and powerful a king as Solomon was if he had not, by sin, made himself mean... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:18

And they arose out of Midian ,.... A country which lay in their way to Egypt, and where it seems they made some stay, and then departed: and came to Paran ; near to which was a wilderness of the same name, in which the Israelites wandered when they came out of Egypt, and which lay between Edom and Egypt: and they took men with them out of Paran ; either as guides and guards through the wilderness, or to make the better appearance before Pharaoh, and that they might meet with the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 11:18

These arose out of Midian - They at first retired to Midian, which lay to the southwest of the Dead Sea. Not supposing themselves in safety there, they went afterwards to Paran in the south of Idumea, and getting a number of persons to join them in Paran, they went straight to Egypt, where we find Hadad became a favourite with Pharaoh, who gave him his sister-in-law to wife; and incorporated him and his family with his own. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 11:14-25

Premonitions of Wrath. Though the full weight of the judgment of God upon the sin of Solomon was not to come upon him in his lifetime, yet did he not, in this world, go altogether without punishment. The foreknowledge of the evils to come upon his family and people was in itself a heavy affliction. But in addition to this, the evening of his days was doomed to be disturbed. To this end— I. GOD STIRRED UP ADVERSARIES AGAINST HIM . 1 . In themselves these were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 11:14-25

The Divine Chastisements. I. CHASTISEMENT IS MERCY . Though the judgment was kept back, Solomon was meanwhile made to feel the rod of correction. We may be forgiven and yet chastised—yea, chastised because we are forgiven. "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth," etc. This, too, was mercy, for— 1 . It was fitted to lead him to seek God in truth . It is easier to feel and confess our folly and sin in adversity than when all is well with us, 2 . It revealed to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 11:18

And they arose out of Midian [a name of wide and somewhat varied significance. Midian embraces the eastern portion of the peninsula of Sinai ( Exodus 2:15 , Exodus 2:21 ; Exodus 3:1 ), and stretches along the eastern border of Palestine. The term has been compared with our "Arabia." And the indefiniteness arises in both instances from the same cause, viz; that the country was almost entirely desert . Midian would thus extend along the back or east of Edom. There is no need,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 11:18

Midian - A town in the south of Judah. Paran is the desert tract immediately to the south of Judaea, the modern desert of et-Tih.Pharaoh - King of the twenty-first (Tanite) dynasty; probably he was Psusennes I, Manetho’s second king. It appears to have been the policy of the Pharaohs about this time to make friends and contract alliances with their eastern neighbors. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 11:18

1 Kings 11:18. They arose out of Midian They first went into Midian and stayed there a while, probably that they might send from thence to know whether Pharaoh would give them entertainment and protection. And came to Paran Another country in the road from Edom to Egypt, where he hired men to attend him, probably either as guides, or that, making his entrance into Egypt in some degree like a prince, he might find more favour from the king and people. Which gave him a house, &c.... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:1-43

Solomon’s idolatry (11:1-43)Although some of Solomon’s marriages were for political purposes, most of his wives and concubines were probably given to him as gifts. These women usually brought their gods into Israel, and Solomon’s weakness in worshipping these gods led finally to his downfall (11:1-8). God’s judgment on Solomon and Israel was to bring the long-standing friction between northerners and southerners to a climax in the division of the kingdom. Only Solomon’s tribe Judah (which had... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Kings 11:1-43

4. Solomon’s apostasy ch. 11The writer brought Solomon’s weaknesses and sins, to which he only hinted previously, into the light in this chapter. Solomon had sown some seeds of departure from God and His Word early in his reign. They bore bitter fruit as he grew older. read more

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