Westminster Annotations, 1 Kings (3 Kings) · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Vers. 1. LOved] Unduly, and immoderately.
many] So many, as the like not heard of any other, contrary to the law, Deut. 17. 17.
strange] That were not Israelites, but of other nations, out of the covenant, by law forbidden, v. 2.
together with] Or, besides. Not content with her that had been long his wife. See chap. 3. v. 1.
Moabites] Nations round about him.
V. 2. the Lord said] Exod. 34. 16. Deut. 7. 3. Josh. 23. 12. Under the particular nations mentioned in the law, all other out of the covenant are comprised, Gen. 34. 14.
go in] A modest marriage phrase, Gen. 6. 4. and 38. 2, 8.
clave] Inordinately, Gen. 34. 3.
V. 3. seven hundred wives] Whom he solemnly married.
princesses] Such were some, before he married them, as Pharaohs daughter: Others he made such.
concubines] Nor wives, nor wheres: but in a kinde of middle condition. Not wives, because not solemnly married, nor endowed with dowry or joynter: nor had their children any right of inheritance: Gen. 21. 10. and 25. 6. Not whores, because taken by a man to be his alone, as wives, and none others, and in this respect oft stiled Wives, as Gen. 25. 1, 6. 1 Chron. 1. 32. Gen 30. 4. and 35. 22. Judg. 19. 1. Concubines therefore were a kinde of wives, but in an inferiour degree, see the notes on Judg. 19. 1, 2. and on Gen. 22. 24. and 30. 4. It is probable, in regard of the seven hundred wives, and three hundred concubines here mentioned, that Solomon dealt with many of them, as Ahashuerosh did with many of the maidens that went in to him, She came in to the king no more, except the king delighted in her, Esth. 2. 14.
turned away his heart] From the LORD to their idols, vers. 4.
V. 4. old] Betwixt fifty and threescore. Take him to be about twenty when he began to reign (for he had a son of a yeer old, chap. 14. 21.) He had reigned more then three yeers before he began to build (chap. 6. 1.) He was twenty yeers in building his great works (chap. 9. 10.) These summed up, make fourty three. Some yeers must be added to all these for spreading his fame thorowout the world, and for the queen of Sheba's, and other kings coming to him, to hear his wisdom, and departing from him: and for his continuing in the services of the temple: yea, and for gathering together a thousand wives and concubines: and for that boldnesse they took to turn away his heart.
V. 5. Ashto…eth] This being a word of the feminine gender, is by most taken for the goddesse Venus; and because there were sundry sorts of idols stiled Venus: the plurall number is oft used, Judg. 2. 13. 2 King. 23. 13. As Baalim is taken for all manner of gods, so may Ashteroth for all manner of goddesses: And in this large extent are these two words oft joyned together, Judg. 10. 6. 1 Sam. 7. 4. and 12. 10. The Hebrew notation implieth, that this idol was set out in the shape of a sheep. See more on Judg. 2. 13.
Mil…m] This idol is stiled Molech, v. 7. It is like to be that idol to which children were sacrificed. See the notes on Levit. 18. 21. and 20. 2. Jerem. 32. 35. according to the notation of the Hebrew word, it signifieth a king, and by the heathen, was accounted one of the chief of their idols: most apply it to Saturn. Such idols were Adrammelech, and Anammelech, 2 King. 17. 31.
abomination] Because as other idols, (verse 7.) it was most abominable: and also among other idols, it was the most abominable, by reason of the sacrificing of children to it.
V. 6. went not fully after] Heb. fulfilled not after.
V. 7. high place] See chap. 3. 4.
Ch…m…sh] This idol is taken for Bacchus, and said to be worshipped in secret and dark places, as Ezek. 8. 12. These three were the worst of idols. See chap. 15. 13.
Moa… ] So Numb. 21. 29. Jere. 48. 13. If it be objected, that Chemosh is said to be the god of the Ammonites. I answer, That neighbouring countries did oft worship one anothers god: And in this respect, the god of one contrey may also be called the god of another.
hill] Mount of Olives, 2 Sam. 15. 30. mount of corruption (2 Kings 23. 13.) because it was a place of corrupting the Jews.
before Jerusalem] In the …ight of the holy city, where the temple was: so as the true worshippers of God, and idolaters were in the face of one another, and might out-face one another.
which had appeared unto him twice] Chap. 3. 5. and 9. 2.
V. 10. had commanded him concerning this thing] Chap. 6. 12. and 9. 6.
V. 11. is done of thee] Heb. is with thee.
I will surely rend] Heb. rending I will rend.
the kingdom] The greater part of it, v. 31. See v. 13.
thy servant] Jeroboam, v. 29.
V. 12. for Davids sake] By reason of my promise to him, 2 Sam. 7. 16. See 2 King. 13. 23.
thy son] Rehoboam, Chap. 12. 16, 17. we read not of any other son that Solomon had, though he had seven hundred wives, and three hundred concubines; and this son was born long before he had so many wives, Chap. 14. v. 21. See Hos. 4. 10.
V. 13. one tribe] Judah, with Benjamin (Chap. 12. 21, 23.) for Benjamin bordered on Judah, Josh. 18. 11. and in it was Jerusalem, Judg. 1. 21. So much also of Simeon as lay within Judah (Josh. 19. 1, 9.) was comprised under Judah, and the Levites likewise, for they were no distinct tribe: and because their chief service was in the temple, they left their cities in the other tribes, and came to Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 11. 13, 14. See chap. 12. 23.
David my servants sake] Verse 32.
for Jerusalems sake] To which I have made a promise, 2 Chron. 6. 6. See the Notes on v. 36.
V. 14. the Lord] See the Notes on chap. 12. v. 15.
an adversary] Who would not submit himself to Solomon, nor pay tribute. as 2 King. 8. 20. but did much mischief to Israel, v. 25.
seed] Son.
V. 15. it came to passe] These particular circumstances are not registred in the history of David, as we now have it; yet are they to be accounted most true, because they are here mentioned.
when David was in Edom] 2 Sam. 8. 14.
to bury] Such of the Israelites as were slain in the battell or siege.
every male] Of the city besieged, because they would not yeeld to reasonable conditions of peace, Deut. 20. 13.
V. 16. six moneths] From his first setting on the Edomites, till his full conquest of them.
V. 17. a little childe] Young, about twelve yeers old, Gen. 44. 20. 1 King. 3. 7.
V. 18. Midian] Bordering upon Edom, Num. 22. 4. To Midian he first fled, and there sometime abode.
Paran] Betwixt Midian and Egypt, Gen. 14. 16. and 21. 21.
took men] To come the better attended, and more like a kings sonne.
gave him, &c.] Courteously entertained him, and afforded unto him all things fit for present and future maintenance, and abode with him.
V. 20. in Pharaoh's houshold] Trained up in the court.
V. 21. David and Joab] The very names of these two were a terrour to him; but they being dead, he conceived some hope of freeing his nation.
Let me depart] Heb. Send me away.
V. 22. Nothing] Heb. Not.
let me go] Heb. letting go, let me go. Nothing could detain him from prosecuting his purpose of freeing his countrey: what at first he could not effect, was in time brought to passe. He laid the foundation of an utter revolt, 2 King. 8. 20, 22. whereby Isaac's prophesie (Gen. 27. 40.) was accomplished.
V. 23. God] See v. 14.
fled] When he discovered that David had the better, and that his master was like to be utterly overthrown, 2 Sam. 8. 3. Read the title of Psal. 60.
V. 24. gathered men] Such as were put to flight in that battell.
when David slew them of Zobah] 2 Sam. 8. 3. and 10. 18.
slew] Had slain.
they went to Damascus] Where David had put a garison (2 Sam. 8. 6.) which they put out, and dwelt there. Damascus was a royall city in Syria, Isai. 7. 8.
reigned] Established Rezon to be king there.
V. 25. an adversary] As Hadad, v. 14.
all the days] Ever bearing ill will, but most manifesting it after Solomons apostasie; for note 1 King. 5. 4.
that Hadad] See v. 14.
he abhorred] Hated in his heart, and took all occasions of doing mischief, like as Hadad did.
Syria] Heb. Aram: That countrey whereof Damascus was the chief city, and always at enmity with Israel.
V. 26. Jeroboam the son of Nebat] 2 Chron. 13. 6.
an Ephrathite] Of the tribe of Ephraim. Elkanah was so called, because he dwelt in Ephraim, 1 Sam 1. 1.
Solomons servant] One of his chief officers and counsellours, vers. 28. The judgement was the greater, in that such a one was against him, and not strangers, v. 11.
widow] The more likely to put an high minde into him.
lift up his hand] Did that which offended the king, and made the king suspect his loyalty. This phrase sets out plain rebellion, 2 Sam. 20. 21.
V. 27. the cause] One cause.
Millo] See Chap. 9. 15.
repaired] Heb. closed.
V. 28. mighty, &c.] The more fit to be the head of a faction.
was industrious] Heb. did work.
ruler] Thus he might the sooner know the complaints of people, and more readily draw them after him.
charge] Heb. burden.
Joseph] Ephraim and Manasseh. It is probable, that Solomon, to maintain the state of his seven hundred wives, and three hundred concubines, laid great taxes on his people (chap. 12. 4.) which made them complain; and that, upon their complaint, Jereboam might expostulate the case with the king, and the king thereupon eye Jeroboam, as Saul eyed David, 1 Sam. 18. 9.
V. 29. And it came to passe] Another cause of the kings jealousie over Jeroboam, and of Jeroboams high thoughts against the king.
prophet] To distinguish him from the priest, 1 Sam. 14. 3. from the Levite, 1 Chron. 26. 20. from the scribe, Chap. 4. 3. and from Baasha's father, chap. 15. 27.
Shilonite] He dwelt in Shiloh, chap. 14. 2. See chap. 2. 27.
he] The prophet Ahijah; for he might more boldly rend his own garment: and he himself, knowing what he was to do, might purposely put on a new garment.
new] To shew, that, though the kingdom were as a new garment, fresh and strong, yet it should be rent.
alone] Lest it might be too much divulged, 1 Sam. 9. 27. 2 King. 9. 6.
V. 30. rent it] For a signe, to make him the more confidently believe it. So Isai. 20. 2. Ezek. 24. 24.
V. 31. I will] See chap. 12. 15.
V. 32. for my servant, &c.] See v. 13.
V. 33. Ashtoreth, &c.] See v. 5, 7.
V. 34. whole] Nor any part, Psal. 103. 2.
make] Continue, preserve.
V. 35. I will take the kingdom out of his sons hand] Chap. 12. 15.
V. 36. a light] Heb. lamp, or candle. A royall glory in a successour, that, as a light, may shine before his people, and govern them, chap. 15. 4. 2 Sam. 21. 17. 2 King. 8. 19. Psal. 132. 17.
alway] See chap. 8. 13. In the Messiah this is most properly accomplished.
I have chosen, &c.] In that God appointed Jerusalem to be the place where his temple should be (2 Chron. 3. 1. and 6. 6. Psal. 68. 29. and 132. 13. and 135. 21.) God is said to chuse it, to put his Name there. See the Notes on chap. 8. 16. and on 2 Chron. 6. 6.
V. 37. according, &c.] As a supream king, under no superiour on earth.
Israel] Distinguished from Judah.
V. 38. a sure house] A durable continuance of a stock or progenie. See chap. 9. 5. 1 Sam. 2. 35. 2 Sam. 7. 16.
V. 39. not for ever] Sometimes there shall be good kings, who shall well prosper: they shall also be brought out of captivity; and, in the end, the Messiah shall reign most gloriously, Luk. 1. 35.
V. 40. sought therefore] Because he discerned Jeroboams stout stomack, and heard of Ahijah's message to him.
Shishak] This was his proper and peculiar name; Pharaoh was a name common to all the kings of Egypt: Particular persons being kings of Egypt, had other titles added to Pharaoh for distinction sake; as Pharaoh Hophrah (Jer. 44. 30.) Pharaoh Necho (Jer. 46. 2.) It is probable that this Shishak was brother to Solomons wife, and son and heir to Pharaoh their father: but ignorant of the case betwixt Solomon and Jeroboam, and so he might well afford courteous hospitality: or, he might be offended with Solomon for taking so many wives to his sister.
V. 41. acts] Or, words, or things.
book] Large records, not part of canonicall scripture. See 2 Chron. 9. 29.
V. 42. time] Heb. dayes.
fourty yeers] 2 Chron. 9. 30.
V. 43. slept, &c.] See the Notes on 1 King. 2. 10.
Rehoboam] Matth. 1. 7, called Roboam.