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27 And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, ship- | train, with camels that bare spices, and very much men that had knowledge of the sea, with the ser- gold, and precious stones: and when she was come vants of Solomon. to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

28 And they came to Ophir," and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.

CHAPTER X.

Still Solomon looks great, and every thing in this chapter adds to his magnificence.

We read nothing indeed of his charity, of no hospitals he built, or alms-houses; he made his kingdom so rich, that it did not need them; yet, no question, many

poor were relieved from the abundance of his table. A church he had bailt, never

to be equalled; schools or colleges he need not build any, his own palace is an academy, and his court a rendezvous of wise and learned men, as well as the

centre of all the circulating riches of that part of the world. 1. What aboudence of wisdom there was there, appears from the application the queen of Sheba made

to him, and the great satisfaction she had in her entertainment there, (v. 1-13,) and others likewise, v. 24. II. What abundance of wealth there was there, appears here by the goid imported, with other things, yearly, (v. 14, 15,) and in a triennial return, v 22

Gold presented, (v. 25,) and guld used in targets and shields, (v. 16, 17,) and vessels, v. 21. A stately throne made, v. 18-20. His

chariots and horsemen, v. 26. His trade with Egypt, (v. 28, 29,) and the great plenty of silver and cedars among his people, v. 27. So that, putting all together,

it must be owned, as it is here said, (v. 23,) that king Solomon exceeded all the

kings of the earth for riches, und for wisdom. Yet what was he to the King of kings? Where Christ is, by his word and Spirit, behold, a greater than Solomon

is there.

AND "when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. 2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great n c. 10. 11. o Job 22. 24. a 2 Chr. 9. 1, &c. Matt. 12. 42. b Prov. 1. 5, 6. words. standing.

altar would excuse him from sacrificing, but rather engage him the more to it. 2. He himself had the benefit and comfort of it. Whatever pains we take, for the support of religion, to the glory of God, and the edification of others, we ourselves are likely to have the advantage of it.

3 And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.

4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, 5 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cup-bearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.

6 And she said to the king, It was a true $report that I heard in mine own land of thy "acts and of thy wisdom.

7 Howbeit, I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and, behold, the half was not told me: thy" wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.

8 Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.

9 Blessed "be the LORD thy God, which delighted

tor, butlers. § word. I or, sayings. thou hast added wisdom and goodness to. e Prov. 8. 34. d c.5.7.

but she would go herself, and know the truth of it. 2. To receive instruction from him; she came to hear his wisdom, and thereby to improve her own, (Matt. 12. 42,) that she might be the better able to govern her own kingdom by his maxims of policy. Those whom God has called to any public employment, particularly in the magistracy and ministry, should, by all means possible, be still improving themselves in that knowthem to discharge their trust well. But, it should seem, that which she chiefly aimed at, was, to be instructed in the things of God; she was religiously inclined, and had heard not only of the fame of Solomon, but concerning the name of the Lord, (v. 1,) the great name of that God whom Solomon worshipped, and from whom he received his wisdom, and with this God she desired to be better acquainted. Therefore does our Saviour mention her inquiries after God, by Solomon, as an aggravation of the stupidity of those who inquire not after God, by our Lord Jesus Christ, though He, having lain in his bosom, was much better able to instruct them.

IV. His merchandise. He built a fleet of trading ships, at Ezion-geber, (v. 26,) a port on the coast of the Red sea, the furthest stage of the Israelites, when they wandered in the wil-ledge which will more and more qualify them for it, and enable derness, Num. 33. 35. That wilderness, probably, now began to be peopled by the Edomites, which it was not then. To them this port had belonged, but David having subdued the Edomites, it now pertained to the crown of Judah. The fleet traded to Ophir in the East Indies; supposed to be that which is now called Ceylon. Gold was the commodity traded for: substantial wealth. It should seem, Solomon had, before, been Hiram's partner, or put a venture into his ships, which made him a rich return of 120 talents, (v. 14,) that encouraged him to build a fleet of his own. The success of others, in any employment, should quicken our industry; for in all labour there is profit. Solomon sent his own servants for factors, and merchants, and supercargoes, but hired Tyrians for sailors, for they had knowledge of the sea, v. 27. Thus one nation needs another; Providence so ordering it, that there may be mutual commerce and assistance: for not only as Christians, but as men, we are members one of another. The fleet brought home to Solomon 420 talents of gold, v. 28. Canaan, the holy land, the glory of all lands, had no gold in it: which teaches us that that part of the wealth of this world, which is for hoarding and trading, is not the best part of it, but that which is more immediately for the present support and comfort of life, our own and others; such were the productions of Canaan. Solomon got much by his merchandise, but, it should seem, David got much more by his conquests; what was Solomon's four hundred and twenty talents, to David's hundred thousand talents of gold? 1 Chr. 22. 14.-29. 4. Solomon got much by his merchandise, and yet has directed us to a better trade, within reach of the poorest, having assured us, from his own experience of both, that the merchandise of Wisdom is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold, Prov. 3. 14.

NOTES TO CHAPTER X.

V. 1-13. We have here an account of the visit which the queen of Sheba made to Solomon, no doubt, when he was in the height of his piety and prosperity. Our Saviour calls her the queen of the South, for Sheba lay south from Canaan. The common opinion is, that it was in Africa; and the Christians in Ethiopia, to this day, are confident that she came from their country, and that Candace was her successor, who is mentioned Acts 8. 27. But it is more probable that she came from the south part of Arabia the Happy. It should seem, she was a queen regent, sovereign of her country. Many a kingdom had been prevented of its greatest blessings, if a Salique law had been admitted into its constitution. Observe,

I. On what errand the queen of Sheba came; not to treat of trade or commerce, to adjust the limits of their dominions, to court his alliance for their mutual strength, or his assistance against some common enemy, which are the common occasions of the congress of crowned heads, and their interviews; but she came, 1. To satisfy her curiosity; for she had heard of his fame, especially for wisdom, and she came to prove him, whether he was so great a man as he was reported to be, v. 1. Solomon's fleet sailed near the coast of her country, and, probably, might put in there for fresh water: perhaps it was thus that she heard of the fame of Solomon, that he excelled in wisdom all the children of the east, and nothing would serve her,

II. With what equipage she came; with a very great retinue, agreeable to her rank, intending to try Solomon's wealth and generosity, as well as his wisdom, what entertainment he could, and would, give to a royal visitant, v. 2. Yet she came not as one begging, but brought enough to bear her charges, and abundantly to recompense Solomon for his attention to her nothing mean or common, but gold, and precious stones, and spices, because she came to trade for wisdom, which she would purchase at any rate.

III. What entertainment Solomon gave her; he despised not the weakness of her sex, blamed her not for leaving her own business at home, to come so long a journey, and put herself and him to so much trouble and expense, merely to satisfy her curiosity; but bid her welcome, and all her train; gave her liberty to put all her questions, though some perhaps were frivolous, some captious, and some over-curious; he allowed her to commune with him of all that was in her heart, (v. 2,) and gave her a satisfactory answer to all her questions, (v. 3,) whether natural, moral, political, or divine. Were they designed to try him? He gave them such turns as abundantly satisfied her of his uncommon knowledge. Were they designed for her own instruction? (as we suppose most of them were,) she received abundant instruction from him, and he made things surprisingly easy, which she apprehended insuperably difficult, and satisfied her that there was a divine sentence in the lips of this king. But he informed her, no doubt, with particular care, concerning God, and his law and instituted worship. He had taken it for granted, (ch. 8. 42,) that strangers would hear of his great name, and would come thither to inquire after him; and now that so great a stranger came, we may be sure he was not wanting to assist and encourage her inquiries, and give her a description of the temple, and the officers and services of it, that she might be persuaded to serve the Lord whom she now sought.

IV. How she was affected with what she saw and heard in Solomon's court. Divers things are here mentioned which she admired; the buildings and furniture of his palace; the provision that was made every day for his table. When she saw that, perhaps she wondered where were mouths for all that meat; but when she saw the multitude of his attendants and guests, she was as ready to wonder where was the meat for all those mouths. The orderly sitting of his servants, every one in his place, and the ready attendance of his ministers, without any confusion, their rich liveries, and the propriety with which his cup-bearers waited at his table, these things she admired, as adding much to his magnificence. But above all these, the

in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.

10 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.

11 And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of *almug-trees, and precious stones.

12 And the king made of the almug-trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug-trees, nor were seen unto this day.

13 And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty: so she turned, and went to her own country, she and her servants.

14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,

15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffic of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country. 16 And king Solomon made two hundred targets

e Ps. 72. 2. Prov. 8. 15. f Ps. 72. 10, 15. g c. 9. 27. 2 Chr. 2. 8. 9. 10, 11.
algum-trees. ta prop, or, rails. according to the hand of king Solomon.
or, captains. A c. 14. 26. i c. 7. 2.
first thing mentioned, is his wisdom, (v. 4,) of the transcen-
dency of which she now had incontestable proofs: and the last
thing mentioned, which crowned all, is, his piety, the ascent by
which he went up to the house of the Lord, with what gravity
and seriousness, and an air of devotion in his countenance, he
appeared, when he went to the temple, to worship God; with
as much humility then, as majesty at other times. Many of
the ancient versions read it, The burnt-offerings which he offered
in the house of the Lord; she observed with what a generous
bounty he brought his sacrifices, and with what a pious fervour
he attended the offering of them; never did she see so much
goodness with so much greatness. Every thing was so sur-
prising, that there was no more spirit in her, but she stood
amazed; she had never seen the like.

V. How she expressed herself upon this occasion.
1. She owned her expectation far outdone, though it was
highly raised by the report she heard, v. 6, 7. She is far from
repenting her journey, or calling herself a fool, for undertaking
it, but acknowledges it was well worth her while to come so far,
for the sight of that which she could not believe the report of
Usually things are represented to us, both by common fame
and by our own imagination, much greater than we find them
when we come to examine them; but here the truth exceeded
both fame and fancy. Those who, through grace, are brought
to experience the delights of communion with God, will say
that the one half was not told them of the pleasures of Wis-
dom's ways, and the advantages of her gates. Glorified saints,
much more, will say that it was a true report which they heard
of the happiness of heaven, but that the thousandth part was
not told them, 1 Cor. 2. 9.

2. She pronounced them happy, that constantly attended him, and waited on him at table; Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, (v. 8;) they may improve their own wisdom by hearing thine." She was tempted to envy them, and wish herself one of them. Note, It is a great advantage to be in good families, and to have opportunity of frequent converse with those that are wise, and good, and communicative. Many have this happiness, who know not how to value it. With much more reason may we say this of Christ's servants, Blessed are they that dwell in his house, they will be still praising him.

3. She blessed God, the Giver of Solomon's wisdom and wealth, and the Author of his advancement, who had made him king, (1.) In kindness to him, that he might have the larger opportunity of doing good with his wisdom. He delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel, v. 9. Solomon's preferment began in the prophet's calling him Jedidiah, because the Lord loved him, 2 Sam. 12. 25. It more than doubles our comforts, if we have reason to hope they come from God's delight in us. It was his pleasure concerning thee, (so it may be read,) to set thee on the throne; not for thy merit's sake, but because it so seemed good unto him. (2.) In kindness to the people, because the Lord loved Israel for ever, designed them a lasting bliss, long to survive him that laid the foundations of it. He has made thee king, not that thou mayest live in pomp and pleasure, and do what thou wilt, but to do judgment and justice." This she kindly reminded Solomon of, and, no doubt, he took it kindly. Both magistrates and ministers must be more solicitous to do the duty of their places, than to secure the honours and profits of them. To this she attributes his prosperity, not to his wisdom, for bread is not always to the wise, (Ec. 9. 11,) but whoso doeth judgment and justice,

of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.

17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. 18 Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.

19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round "behind: and there were stays" on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.

20 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.

**

21 And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.

22 For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, Hivory, and apes, and peacocks.

23 So 'king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.

24 And all the earth sought to "Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

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on the hinder part thereof. ¶ bands. ** so. t or, there was no silver in them. k Gen. 10. 4. 2 Chr. 20. 96. It or, elephants' teeth. I c. 3, 12, 13. 4. 29-34. §§ the face of. m Prov, 2. 6, Jam. 1. 5."

it shall be well with him, Jer. 22. 15. Thus giving of thanks must be made for kings, for good kings, for such kings; they are what God makes them to be.

VI. How they parted. 1. She made a noble present to Solomon, of gold and spices, v. 10. David had foretold concerning Solomon, that to him should be given of the gold of Sheba, Ps. 72. 15. The present of gold and spices which the wise men of the east brought to Christ, was signified by this, Matt. 2. 11. Thus she paid for the wisdom she had learned, and did not think she bought it dear. Let those that are taught of God, give him their hearts, and the present will be more acceptable than this of gold and spices. Mention is made of the great abundance Solomon had of his own, notwithstanding she presented, and he accepted, this gold. What we present to Christ, he needs not, but will have us so to express our gratitude. The almug-trees are here spoken of, (v. 11, 12,) as extraordinary, because, perhaps, much admired by the queen of Sheba. 2. Solomon was not behindhand with her. He gave her whatsoever she asked, patterns, we may suppose, of those things that were curious, by which she might make the like; or, perhaps, he gave her his precepts of wisdom and piety in writing, beside that which he gave her of his royal bounty, v. 13. Thus they who apply themselves to our Lord Jesus, will find him not only greater than Solomon, and wiser, but more kind; whatsoever we ask, it shall be done for us; nay, he will, out of his divine bounty, which infinitely exceeds royal bounty, even Solomon's, do for us more than we are able to ask or think.

V. 14-29. We have here a further account of Solomon's prosperity:

I. How he increased his wealth. Though he had much, he still coveted to have more, being willing to try the utmost the things of this world could do, to make men happy. 1. Beside the gold that came from Ophir, (ch. 9. 28,) he brought so much into his country from other places, that the whole amounted, every year, to six hundred and sixty-six talents, (v. 14,) an ominous number; compare Rev. 13. 18, and Ezra 2. 13. 2. He received a great deal, in customs, from the merchants, and in land taxes, from the countries his father had conquered, and made tributaries to Israel, v. 15. 3. He was Hiram's partner in a Tharshish fleet, of and for Tyre, which imported, once in three years, not only gold, and silver, and ivory, substantial goods, and serviceable, but apes to play with, and peacocks to please the eye with their feathers, v. 22. I wish this may not be an evidence that Solomon and his people, being overcharged with prosperity, by this time, grew childish and wanton. 4. He had presents made him every year, from the neighbouring princes and great men, to engage the continuance of his friendship, not so much because they feared him, or were jealous of him, as because they loved him, and admired his wisdom, had often occasion to consult him as an oracle, and sent him these presents by way of recompense for his advice in politics; and (whether it became his grandeur and generosity or no, we will not inquire) he took all that came, even garments and spices, horses and mules, v. 24, 25. 5. He traded to Egypt for horses, and linen yarn, (or, as some read it, linen cloth,) the staple commodities of that country, and had his own merchants or factors whom he employed in this traffic, and who were accountable to him, v. 28, 29. The custom to be paid to the king of Egypt for exported chariots and horses out of Egypt, was very high, but (as Bishop Patrick understands it) Solomon, having married his daughter, got him to compound for the

CHAPTER XI.

25 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and This chapter begins with as melancholy a but as almost any we find in all the bible. armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

26 And Solomon gathered together chariots "and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.

27 And the king "made silver to be in Jerusalem

Hitherto, we have read nothing of Solomon, but what was great and good; but the lustre both of his goodness, and of his greatness, is here sullied and eclipsed, and his sun sets under a cloud. I. The glory of his piety is stained by his de parture from God, and his duty, in his latter days, by marrying strange wives, and worshipping strange gods, v. 1-8. II. The glory of his prosperity is stained by God's displeasure agalust him, and the fruits of that displeasure. 1. He sent him an angry message, v. 9-13. 2. He stirred up enemies, who gave him disturbance; Hadad, v. 14-22. Rezon, v. 23-25. 3. He gave away ten tribes of his twelve, from his posterity after him, to Jeroboam, whom therefore he sought in vain to slay, (v. 26-40,) and this is all that remains to be told concerning Solomon, except his death and burial, (v. 41-43;) for there is nothing perfect under the sun, but all is so above the sun.

as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore-BUT

trees that are in the vale, for abundance.

28 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

29 And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: And so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.

2 Chr. 1. 14, &c. ⚫ gave. And the going forth of the horses which was Salomon's.

customs, so that he could bring them up cheaper than his neighbours, which obliged them to buy them of him, which he was wise enough, no doubt, to make his advantage of. This puts an honour upon the trading part of a nation, and sets a tradesman not so much below a gentleman as some place him, that Solomon, one of the greatest men that ever was, thought it no disparagement to him, to deal in trade. In all labour there is profit.

II. What use he made of his wealth. He did not hoard it up in his coffers, that he might have it to look upon, and leave behind him. He has, in his Ecclesiastes, so much exposed the folly of hoarding, that we cannot suppose he should himself be guilty of it. No; God that had given him riches, and wealth, and honour, gave him also power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, Ec. 5. 19.

1. He laid out his gold in fine things for himself, which he might the better be allowed to do, when he had, before, laid out so much in fine things for the house of God. (1.) He made 200 targets, and 300 shields, of beaten gold, (v. 16, 17,) not for service, but for state, to be carried before him, when he appeared in pomp. With us, magistrates have swords and maces carried before them, as the Romans their rods and ares, in token of their power to correct and punish the bad, to whom they are to be a terror; but Solomon had shields and targets carried before him, to signify that he took more pleasure in using his power for the defence and protection of the good, to whom he would be a praise. Magistrates are shields of the earth. (2.) He made a stately throne, on which he sat, to give laws to his subjects, audience to ambassadors, and judgment upon appeals, v. 18-20. It was made of ivory, or elephants' teeth, which was very rich; and yet, as if he had so much gold that he knew not what to do with it, he overlaid that with gold, the best gold. Yet, some think, he did not cover the ivory all over, but here and there. He rolled it, flowered it, or inlaid it, with gold. The stays or arms of this stately chair, were supported by the images of lions in gold, so were the steps and paces by which he went up to it, to be a memorandum to him of that courage and resolution wherewith he ought to execute judgment, not fearing the face of man. The righteous, in that post, is bold as a lion. (3.) He made all his drinking vessels, and all the furniture of his table, even at his country seat, of pure gold, v. 21. He did not grudge himself what he had, but took the credit and comfort of it, such as it was. That is good, that does us good. 2. He made it circulate among his subjects, so that the kingdom was as rich as the king; for he had no separate interests of his own to consult, but sought the welfare of his people. Those princes are not governed by Solomon's maxims, who think it policy to keep their subjects poor. Solomon was, herein, a type of Christ, who is not only rich himself, but enriches all that are his. Solomon was instrumental to bring so much gold into the country, and disperse it, that silver was nothing accounted of, v. 21. There was such plenty of it in Jerusalem, that it was as the stones; and cedars, that used to be great rarities, were as common as sycamore-trees, v. 27. Such is the nature of worldly wealth, plenty of it makes it the less valuable ; much more should the enjoyment of spiritual riches lessen our esteem of all earthly possessions. If gold in abundance would make silver to seem so despicable, shall not wisdom, and grace, and the foretastes of heaven, which are far better than gold, make it seem much more so?

Well, thus rich, thus great, was Solomon, and thus did he exceed all the kings of the earth, v. 23. Now let us remember, (1.) That this was he, who, when he was setting out in the world, did not ask for the wealth and honour of it, but asked for a wise and understanding heart. The more moderate our desires are toward earthly things, the better qualified we are for the enjoyment of them, and the more likely to have them. See, in Solomon's greatness, the performance of God's promise, (ch. 3. 13,) and let it encourage us to seek first the righteousness of God's kingdom. (2.) That this was he, who, having tasted all these enjoyments, wrote a whole book, to show the vanity

OUT king Solomon loved many strange women, (*together with the daughter of Pharaoh,) women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

2 of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods. Solomon clave unto these in love.

3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses,

o Ea. 27. 7. p 2 Kings 7. 6. ‡ hand. or, beside. a Mx. 34. 16. Deut. 7.

3, 4.

of all worldly things, and the vexation of spirit that attends them, their insufficiency to make us happy, and the folly of setting our hearts upon them; and to recommend to us the practice of serious godliness, as that which is the whole of man, and will do infinitely more toward the making of us easy and happy, than all the wealth and power that he was master of; and which, through the grace of God, is within our reach, when the thousandth part of Solomon's greatness is a thousand times more than we can ever be so vain as to promise ourselves in this world.

NOTES TO CHAPTER XI.

V. 1-8. This is a sad story, and very surprising, of Solomon's defection and degeneracy.

I. Let us inquire into the occasions and particulars of it. Shall Solomon fall, that was the beauty of Israel, and so great a blessing of his generation? Yes, it is too true, and the scripture is faithful in relating it, and repeating it, and referring to it long after; (Neh. 13. 26,) There was no king like Solomon, who was beloved of his God, yet even him did outlandish women cause to sin; there is the summary of his apostacy; it was the woman that deceived him, and was first in the transgression.

1. He doted on strange women, many strange women. Here his revolt began. (1.) He gave himself to women, which his mother had particularly cautioned him against; (Prov. 31. 3,) Give not thy strength unto women; (perhaps alluding to Samson, who lost his strength by giving information of it to a woman;) for it is that which, as much as any thing, destroys kings. His father David's fall began with the lusts of the flesh, which he should have taken warning by. The love of women has cast down many wounded, (Prov. 7. 26,) and many (says Bishop Hall) have had their head broken by their own rib. (2.) He took many women, so many, that, at last, they amounted to 700 wives, and 300 concubines; 1000 in all, and not one good one among them, as he himself owns in his penitential sermon, (Ec. 7. 28,) for no woman of established virtue would be one of such a set. God had, by his law, particularly forbidden the kings to multiply either horses or wives, Deut. 17. 16, 17. How he broke the former law, in multiplying horses, and having them out of Egypt too, (which was expressly prohibited in that law,) we read, ch. 10. 29, and here how he broke the latter, (which proved of more fatal consequence,) in multiplying wives. Note, Lesser sins, made bold with, open the door to greater. David had multiplied wives too much, and, perhaps, that made Solomon presume it lawful. Note, If those that are in reputation for religion, in any thing, set a bad example, they know not what a deal of mischief they may do by it, particularly to their own children. One bad act of a good man may be of more pernicious consequence to others, than twenty of a wicked man. Probably, Solomon, when he began to multiply wives, intended not to exceed his father's number; but the way of sin is down hill, they that are got into it, cannot easily stop themselves. Divine wisdom has appointed one woman for one man, did so, at first; and they who do not think one enough, will not think two or three enough; unbridled lust will be un ounded, and the loosened hind will wander endlessly. But this was not all: (3.) They were strange women, Moabites, Ammonites, &c. of the nations which God had particularly forbidden them to intermarry with, v. 2. Some think it was in policy that he married these foreigners, by them to get intelligence of the state of those countries. I rather fear it was because the daughters of Israel were too grave and modest for him, and those foreigners pleased him with the looseness and wantonness of their dress, and air, and conversation. Or, perhaps, it was looked upon as a piece of state to have his seraglio, as his other treasures, replenished with that which was far-fetched; as if that were too great an honour for the best of his subjects, which would really have been a disgrace to the meanest of them-to be his mistresses. And, (4.) To complete the mischief, Solomon clave unto these in love, v. 2. He not only kept them, but was extravagantly fond of them, set his heart upon them, spent his time

and three hundred concubines: and his wives 'turned away his heart.

4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father: 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after *Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.

7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem; and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense, and sacrificed unto their gods. 9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.

11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it 'to thy servant.

12 Notwithstanding, in thy "days I will not do it, for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

b Deut. 17. 17. Neh. 13. 26. e c. 8. 61. d c. 9.4. called Molech. ver. 7. ↑ fulfilled not after. Num. 14, 24. e Num. 33. 52. 2 Kings 23. 13. ƒ Num. 21. among them, thought every thing well they said and did, and despised Pharaoh's daughter, his rightful wife, who had been dear to him, and all the ladies of Israel, in comparison of them. Solomon was master of a great deal of knowledge, but to what purpose, when he had no better a government of his ap-fall; we see how weak we are of ourselves, without the grace petites?

2. He was drawn by them to the worship of strange gods; as Israel to Baal-peor, by the daughters of Moab. This was the bad consequence of his multiplying wives. We have reason to think it impaired his health, and hastened upon him the decays of age; it exhausted his treasure, which, though vast indeed, would be found little enough to maintain the pride and vanity of all these women; perhaps it occasioned him, in his latter end, to neglect his business, by which he lost his supplies from abroad, and was forced, for the keeping up of his grandeur, to burden his subjects with those taxes which they complained of, ch. 12. 4. But none of these consequences were so bad as this, His wives turned away his heart after other gods, v. 3, 4.

29. Judg. 11.24. g Ps. 78. 58. h c. 3. 5. 9. 2. 1 with thee. ils. 29. 13, 14.
k ver. 31. c. 12. 16, 20. m c. 21. 29. 2 Kings 20. 17, 19. 22. 19, 20.
it. God foresaw it, when he said concerning him that should
build the temple, If he commit iniquity, &c. 2 Sam. 7. 14.
(2.) But it concerns us to inquire what good use we may make
of it. [1.] Let him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he
of God; let us therefore live in a constant dependence on that
grace. [2.] See the danger of a prosperous condition, and how
hard it is to overcome the temptations of it; Solomon, like
Jeshurun, waxed fat, and then kicked; the food convenient,
which Agur prayed for, is safer and better than the food abun-
dant, which Solomon was even surfeited with. [3.] See what
need those have to stand upon their guard, who have made a
great profession of religion, and showed themselves forward and
zealous in devotion, because the devil will set upon them most
violently, and if they misbehave, the reproach is the greater:
it is the evening that commends the day; let us therefore fear,
lest, having run well, we seem to come short.
V. 9-13. Here is,

(1.) He grew cool and indifferent in his own religion, and remiss in the service of the God of Israel. His heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, (v. 4,) nor did he follow him fully, (v. 6,) like David. We cannot suppose that he quite cast off the worship of God, much less that he restrained or hindered it; (the temple service went on as usual;) but he grew less frequent, and less serious, in his ascent to the house of the Lord, and his attendance on his altar; he left his first love, lost his zeal for God, and did not persevere to the end as he had begun; therefore it is said, he was not perfect, because he was not constant; and he followed not God fully, because he turned from following him, and did not continue to the end. His father David had many faults, but he never neglected the wor-worshipping of any other God; it was also such a distinguishship of God, nor grew remiss in that, as Solomon did, his wives using all their arts to divert him from it, and there began his apostacy.

I. God's anger against Solomon for his sin: the thing he did, displeased the Lord: time was, when the Lord loved Solomon, (2 Sam. 12. 24,) and delighted in him, (ch. 10. 9;) but now the Lord was angry with Solomon, (v. 9,) for there was in his sin, 1. The most base ingratitude that could be; he turned from the Lord which had appeared unto him twice, once, before he began to build the temple, (ch. 3. 5,) and once, after he had dedicated it, ch. 9. 2. God keeps account of the gracious visits he makes us, whether we do or no; knows how often he has appeared to us, and for us, and will remember it against us, if we turn from him. God's appearing to Solomon, was such a sensible confirmation of his faith, as should have for ever prevented his ing favour, and put such an honour upon him, as he ought never to have forgotten, especially considering what God said to him in both these appearances. 2. The most wilful disobedience: this was the very thing concerning which God had commanded him-that he should not go after other gods, yet he was not kept right by such an express admonition, v. 10. Those who have dominion over men, are apt to forget God's dominion over them, and while they demand obedience from their inferiors, to deny it to him who is the Supreme.

(2.) He tolerated and maintained his wives in their idolatry, and made no scruple of joining with them in it. Pharaoh's daughter was proselyted (as is supposed) to the Jews' religion, but when he began to grow careless in the worship of God himself, he used no means to convert his other wives to it; in complaisance to them, he built chapels for their gods, (v. 7, 8,) maintained their priests, and occasionally did himself attend II. The message he sent him hereupon; (v. 11,) The Lord their altars; making a jest of it, as if there were no harm in said unto Solomon, (it is likely by a prophet,) that he must exit, but all religions were alike; which (says Bishop Patrick)pect to smart for his apostacy. And here, 1. The sentence is has been the disease of some great wits; when he humoured one just, that since he had revolted from God, part of his kingdom thus, the rest would take it ill, if he did not, in like manner, should revolt from his family; he had given God's glory to the gratify them, so that he did it for all his wives, (v. 8,) and, at creature, and therefore God would give his crown to his servant, last, came to that degree of impiety, that he set up a high place "I will rend the kingdom from thee, in thy posterity, and will for Chemosh in the hill that is before Jerusalem, the mount of give it to thy servant, who shall bear rule over much of that for Olives, as if to confront the temple which he himself had built; which thou hast laboured." This was a great mortification to these high places continued here, not utterly demolished, till Solomon, who pleased himself, no doubt, with the prospect of Josiah did it, 2 Kings 23. 13. This is the account here given the entail of his rich kingdom upon his heirs for ever; sin brings of Solomon's apostacy. ruin upon families, cuts off entails, alienates estates, and lays men's honour in the dust. 2. Yet the mitigations of it are very kind, for David's sake, (v. 12, 13;) that is, for the sake of the promise made to David; thus, all the favour God shows to man, is for Christ's sake, and for the sake of the covenant made with him; the kingdom shall be rent from Solomon's house, but, (1.) Not immediately; Solomon shall not live to see it done, but it shall be rent out of the hand of his son, a son that was born to monitess, (ch. 14. 31,) and, probably, had been a promoter of idolatry. What comfort can a man take in leaving children and an estate behind him, if he do not leave a blessing behind him; Yet if judgments be coming, it is a favour to us, if they come not in our days, as 2 Kings 20. 19. (2.) Not wholly; one tribe, that of Judah, the strongest and most numerous, shall remain to the house of David, (v. 13,) for Jerusalem's sake, which David built, and for the sake of the temple there, which Solomon built, these shall not go into other hands; Solomon did not quickly nor wholly turn away from God, therefore God did. not quickly nor wholly take the kingdom from him,

II. Let us now pause a while, and lament Solomon's fall; and we may justly stand and wonder at it. How is the gold become dim! How is the most fine gold changed! Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, as the prophet exclaims in a like case, Jer. 2. 12. Strange! 1. That Solomon, in his old age, should be insnared with fleshly lusts, youthful lusts; as we must never presume upon the strength of our resolutions, so neither upon the weakness of our corrup-him by one of his strange wives, for his mother was an Amtions, so as to be secure and off our guard. 2. That so wise a man as Solomon was, so famed for a quick understanding and sound judgment, should suffer himself to be made such a fool of by these foolish women. 3. That one who had so often and so plainly warned others of the danger of the love of women, should himself be so wretchedly bewitched with it; it is easier to see a mischief, and to show it others, than to shun it ourselves. 4. That so good a man, so zealous for the worship of God, who had been conversant with divine things, and who prayed that excellent prayer at the dedication of the temple, should do these sinful things-Is this Solomon? Are all his wisdom and devotion come to this, at last? Never was gallant ship so wrecked; never was crown so profaned.

What shall we say to this? (1.) Why God permitted it, it is not for us to inquire; his way is in the sea, and his path in the great waters; he knew how to bring glory to himself out of

Upon this message which God graciously sent to Solomon, to awaken his conscience and bring him to repentance, we have reason to hope that he humbled himself before God, confessed his sin, begged pardon, and returned to his duty; that he then published his repentance in the book of Ecclesiastes, where he

13 Howbeit will not rend away all the king-house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household, dom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David among the sons of Pharaoh. my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, which I have chosen.

14 And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.

15 For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab, the captain of the host, was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom,

16 (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom,) 17 That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child.

18 And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.

19 And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife "the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. 20 And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's

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bitterly laments his own folly and madness, (ch. 7. 25, 26,) and warns others to take heed of the like evil courses, and to fear God and keep his commandments, in consideration of the judgment to come, which, it is likely, had made him tremble, as it did Felix; that penitential sermon was as true an indication of a heart broken for sin, and turned from it, as David's penitential psalms, though of another nature; God's grace in his people works variously; thus, though Solomon fell, he was not utterly cast down; what God had said to David concerning him, was fulfilled, I will chasten him with the rod of men, but my mercy shall not depart from him, 2 Sam. 7. 14, 15. Though God may suffer those whom he loves to fall into sin, he will not suffer them to lie still in it. Solomon's defection, though it was much his reproach, and a great blemish to his personal character, yet did not so far break in upon the character of his reign, but that it was afterward made the pattern of a good reign, 2 Chr. 11. 17, where they are said to do well, while they walked in the way of David and Solomon. But though we have all this reason to hope he repented, and found mercy, yet the Holy Ghost did not think fit expressly to record it, but left it doubtful, for warning to others, not to sin upon presumption of repenting, for it is but a peradventure whether God will give them repentance, or if he do, whether he will give the evidence of it to themselves or others; great sinners may recover themselves, and have the benefit of their repentance, and yet be denied both the comfort and credit of it; the guilt may be taken away, and yet not the reproach.

V. 14-25. While Solomon kept close to God and to his duty, there was no adversary nor evil occurrent, (ch. 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 and weak? And then, those little people menace and insult him. If God be on our side, we need not fear the greatest adversary; but if he be against us, he can make us fear the least, and the very grasshopper shall be a burden.

Both these adversaries God stirred up, v. 14, 23. Though they themselves were moved by principles of ambition or revenge, God made use of them to serve his design of correcting Solomon. The principal judgment threatened, was deferred, namely, the rending of the kingdom from him, but he himself was made to feel the smart of the rod, for his greater humiliation. Note, Whoever are, any way, adversaries to us, we must take notice of the hand of God stirring them up to be so, as he bade Shimei curse David; we must look through the instruments of our trouble to the author of it, and hear the Lord's controversy in it. Both these adversaries had the original of their enmity to Solomon and Israel laid in David's time, and in his conquests of their respective countries, v. 15, 24. Solomon had the benefit and advantage of his father's successes, both in the enlargement of his dominion, and the increase of his treasure, and would never have known any thing but the benefit of them, if he had kept close to God; but now he finds evils to balance the advantages, and that David had made himself enemies, which were thorns in his sides; they that are too free in giving provocation, ought to consider that perhaps it may be remembered in time to come, and returned with interest to theirs after them; having so few friends in this world, it is our wisdom not to make ourselves more enemies than we needs must.

1. Hadad, an Edomite, was an adversary to Solomon ; we are VOL. I.-105

21 And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab, the captain of the host, was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.

22 Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.

23 And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer," king of Zobah.

24 And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.

25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.

26 And Jeroboam "the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, (whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman,) even he lifted up his hand against the king.

27 And this was the cause that he lifted up his

1 Gen. 21. 21. u Gen. 41. 45. c. 2. 10, 34. • Send me away. ↑ Not. 12 Sam. 8.3.2 Sam. 10. 8, 18. y c. 12. 2. 2 Chr. 13. 6. z 2 Sam. 20. 21. not told what he did against him, nor which way he gave him disturbance; only, in general, that he was an adversary to him: but we are told, (1.) What induced him to bear Solomon a grudge. David had conquered Edom, (2 Sam. 8. 14;) Joab put all the males to the sword, (v. 15, 16;) a terrible execution he made, avenging on Edom their old enmity to Israel, yet perhaps with too great a severity. While Joab was burying the slain, (for he left not any alive of their own people to bury them, and buried they must be, or they would be an annoyance to the country, Ez. 39. 12,) Hadad, a branch of the royal family, then a little child, was taken and preserved by some of the king's servants, and brought to Egypt, v. 17. They halted by the way, in Midian first, and then in Paran, where they furnished themselves with men, not to fight for them, or force their passage, but to attend them, that their young master might come into Egypt with an equipage agreeable to his quality; there he was kindly sheltered and entertained by Pharaoh, as a distressed prince, was well provided for, and so recommended himself, that, in process of time, he married the queen's sister, (v. 19,) and, by her, had a child, which the queen herself conceived such a kindness for, that she brought him up in Pharaoh's house, among the king's children. (2.) What enabled him to do Solomon a mischief. He returned to his own country again, upon the death of David and Joab, in which, it should seem, he settled, and remained quiet, while Solomon continued wise and watchful for the public good, but from which he had opportunity of making inroads upon Israel, when Solomon, having sinned away his wisdom, as Samson did his strength, (and in the same way,) grew careless of public affairs, was off his guard himself, and had forfeited the divine protection. What vexation he gave to Solomon, we are not here told, but only how loath Pharaoh was to part with him, and how earnestly he solicited his stay; (v. 22,) What hast thou lacked with me? "Nothing," says Hadad; "but, however, let me go to my own country, my native air, my native soil." Peter Martyr has a pious reflection upon this; "That heaven is our home, and we ought to keep up a holy affection to that, and desire toward it, even then when the world, the place of our banishment, smiles most upon us." Does it ask, What have you lacked, that you are so willing to be gone? We may answer, "Nothing that the world can do for us; but however, let us go thither, where our hope, and honour, and treasure are.

2. Rezon, a Syrian, was another adversary to Solomon; when David conquered the Syrians, he headed the remains, lived at large by spoil and rapine, till Solomon grew careless, and then he got possession of Damascus, reigned there, (v. 24,) and over the country about, (v. 25 :) and he created troubles to Israel, probably, in conjunction with Hadad, all the days of Solomon, namely, after his apostacy; or he was an enemy to Israel, during all Solomon's reign, and upon all occasions vented his then impotent malice against them; but till Solomon's revolt, when his defence was departed from him, he could not do them any mischief; it is said of him, that he abhorred Israel; other princes loved and admired Israel and Solomon, and courted their friendship, but here was one that abhorred them. The greatest and best of princes and people, that are ever so much respected by the most, yet perhaps will be hated and abhorred by some.

V. 26-40. We have, here, the first mention of that infamous name, Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, that made Israel to sin; he is here brought upon the stage as an adversary to Solomon, whom God had expressly told, (v. 11,) that he would give the greatest part of his kingdom to his servant, and Jeroboam was the man. We have here an account,

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