A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Volume 3 · Commentary on 1 and 2 Kings · Chapter 11
1 Kings CHAP. XI.
THIS Chapter contains, (1.) Solomon's Sins: (2.) His Puniſhments by God's Juſtice for them: And laſtly, Solomon's Death. The Remark in general upon the whole (before we come to the Three parts) is this, That no earthly Felicity, tho' raiſed up to its Zenith, or higheſt point and pitch, yet (through Humane Infirmity in the faln Eſtate) is not durable, but hath its declenſions, and (as P. Martyr noteth) ought not to have any confidence placed in it; the Wheel of Providence in ordering worldly affairs, when at its higheſt point of Exaltation, then begins to decline downward. N.B. The glory of all Kingdoms (as in the four grand Monarchies of the World) hath its Times and its Turns: Solomon here is a clear Specimen hereof, whom the Lord exalted to the higheſt Eminencies and Perfections that this lower World could afford him; yet God ſuffered him to fall ſo foully, that he (like another Adam in his Paradiſe-Happineſs) might exemplifie this great Truth, that there is no constancy in the compleatest worldly Felicity, and nothing here below is to be truſted to, but all is vanity, ſave only the Kingdom which is not of this World, &c. N.B. Behold here a Star of the firſt magnitude fall from Heaven, a None-ſuch Saint into ſcarce None-ſuch Sins; another Lucifer, &c. Iſa. 14.12, &c.
The particular Remarks upon the firſt part; namely, Solomon's Sins are, (1.) The Occaſion of his foul fall from this foreign, or higheſt degree of earthly Excellency, was his love of Women, ver. 1, 2, 3, 4. This is one of Satan's Baits, which hath put a monſtrous [But] at the Doors of the best of men, who were but men at the best, as in thoſe famous Examples upon Scripture-Record. N. B. (1.) In that of Adam the Innocentest Man that ever was in the World, yet was he made Nocent and undone by a Woman, which was given to him for a Comforter, and not for a Counſellor, much leſs for a Controuler: Therefore God in his firſt Sentence againſt Adam expreſſeth this as the cauſe, [Becauſe thou hast obeyed the Voice of thy Wife, &c.] Gen. 3.17. (2.) In that of Sampſon, the ſtrongest Man that ever was in the World, who by his prodigious ſtrength ſlew his Thouſands of Men [laying them heaps upon heaps] yet ſo weak he became in the hands of a Woman, that in fine he loſt his Strength, his Eyes, and his God alſo. And (3.) In this of Solomon, the wiſest Man that ever was in the World, yet how foully did he fall by his exorbitant love of fair Ladies, &c.!
The (2d.) Remark is, The Time when this luſtful Devil took poſſeſſion of Solomon's Soul and prevailed ſo far over him, that himſelf, after his Repentance, calleth it a bitterneſs beyond that of Death, Eccleſ. 7.26. As if he had ſaid, [I had better have been buried alive, than thus to have miſcarried to the great diſhonour of God, and groſs detriment of Iſrael.] This he did in his old Age, &c. ver. 4.
N.B. Solomon, having now Reign'd about 36 years (as Dr. Lightfoot computeth it) and being about 20 years old when he began to Reign, when his Son Rehoboam was one year old, chap. 14.21. was not now ſixty years old: So that in truth he did but now begin to be an old Man, yet might it have been well expected, that the Elder be was, the Wiſer he ſhould have been, Job 32.7. having had ſo long Communion with God, and Experience of his goodneſs, which might have made him Better. Beſide, his body had been long deſpumed, and (one would think) well-nigh drained dry upon his many Wives and Concubines which he multiplied both for his Luſt, and for his Pride and Magnificence, looking upon it as a point of Honour, &c. However his Age here is an Aggravation of his ſin, ſeeing his luſt now was as monſtrous as to behold green Apples upon leafleſs Trees that look gray or white with Snow in Winter. Gray Hairs and green Hearts can never have a comely and commendable Agreement. Whenever the time was, both Piſcator and Junius reckon from it to the Ruine of Solomon's Temple, of Jeruſalem, and of the Kingdom of the Jews 390 years, according to Ezek. 4.5. Solomon's ſin here was the beginning of all the miſchiefs that followed after. N. B. Note well with P. Martyr here; This teacheth, that no Age is free from Temptation, there is ſuch weakneſs and wickedneſs even in the beſt and wiſeſt of Men, that if left to themſelves, they may foully fall. While Solomon was young, he was wholly taken up with his framing famous Fabricks, with Executing Juſtice among his Subjects, and with writing ſundry excellent Books; but now beginning to grow old, he indulg'd himſelf in Amorous Imbracements, &c. therefore ſhould we watch in all Ages, old and young. The (3d.) Remark is, Solomon's Sin; It was the Sin of Idolatry, that Land-deſolating Sin, into which David never fell, tho' he greatly ſinned otherwiſe, ver. 5, 6, 7, 8. where his ſin is marked to be manifold; As, (1.) In Doting upon ſo many Wives, &c. His Father contented himſelf with ſix Wives, 2 Sam. 3.3, 4.5. but his Son will have ſeven hundred Wives, and three hundred Concubines, ver. 3. here. (2.) His marrying ſo many Idolatrous Strangers contrary to the Law of God. (3.) In ſuffering them to ſet up their Idolatrous Worſhip in God's Land, and to practiſe it. (4.) In appointing Places for their Idols. (5.) In raiſing heavy Taxes upon his Subjects (whereof Complaint is made by them in the next Chapter) to maintain the Idolatrous Prieſts and Worſhip of his Wives, &c. (6.) In conforming himſelf to their Deſires, in worſhiping their Idols [Venus, Bacchus, and other Pagan Idols] with them in his own perſon (ſay Lavater and Serrarius) yea and compelling his Hebrews to worſhip them alſo. And 'tis ſaid here, ver. 4. that his Wives turned away his heart after other Gods: For after he had once gratified his Miſtreſſes of Moab, the reſt of his Idolatrous Women wiſhed him to do the like favour for them, and he out of a Complaiſant Humour (being left of God to himſelf) did unlike himſelf comply with them, unwiſely for wiſe Solomon to do, as P. Martyr obſerveth.
The Fourth Remark is, No wonder if the Lord were Angry, v. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. The Effect of his Complicated Sin, and ſo oft twiſted Tranſgreſſion: Though Solomon was Jedidiah God's beloved Darling. Wherein Mark
(1.) God's Chaſtizements of his own Children, as the ground is grieved Love, ſo the end is fuller and freer Embracements: The Antinomian Notion is here condemned, that ſaith [God is never Angry with his People (fall they never ſo foully) no not with a Fatherly Anger.] This is contradicted here, and Iſa. 57.17. and 1 Cor. 11.30.
Mark (2.) When the Heart is won, the whole Man is won in that hidden Man of the Heart, 1 Pet. 3.4. When Solomon's Heart was turned aſide from God, then took he this Liberty to Sin thus grievouſly; 'twas a wicked Heart of Ʋnbelief, that was the grand ground of his great Sin, and ſet him upon departing from the Living God to Dead Idols, Heb. 3.12.
Mark (3.) God's great Favour in appearing twice to Solomon, after an extraordinary manner, was a great Aggravation of Solomon's Apoſtaſy. Tranſcendent Divine kindneſſes do greatly aggravate Humane Ʋnkindneſſes; a double Bond indeed He broke here, yea a truly golden Obligation.
Mark (4.) To Deſpiſe God's expreſs Command is an heinous Offence, ver. 10. as Gen. 2.17. 2 Sam. 12.9. Such Rebellion is as the Sin of Witchcraft, 1 Sam. 15.22, 23.
Mark (5.) The Equity of God's Proceedings againſt Solomon, ver. 11. God Loves to Retaliate: Solomon had ſhared God's Service betwixt God and Idols, and now Solomon's Servant muſt ſhare the Kingdom with his only Son of ſo many Wives and Concubines, ver. 12. and Chap. 12.16, 17.
Mark (6.) In Wrath God remembers Mercy, Hab. 3.2. Here is a double Allay of this Divine Judgment for Solomon's Sin, ver. 12.13. As (1.) There is this mixture of Mercy, that the Doom foretold ſhould not be executed in Solomon's Day for David's ſake: As it is a great Aggravation of a Son's Sin, in ſwerving from the approved Pattern of a Pious Father, ver. 4. So here, this ſinful Son hath his Puniſhment leſſened for the ſake of his Godly Parent; yet Solomon's Son fares the worſe for Solomon's Sin, and the Father is puniſh'd in the Son: The (2.) Mitigation of God's Sentence of Wrath is, [All ſhall not be Rent away, but reſerve one Tribe for him.] Benjamin is included in Judah, ſo much as lay within him, Joſh. 19.1, 9.
The Second Part of this Chapter, is the Puniſhment God inflicted upon Solomon's Perſon, for his perſonal Sin, &c.
Remarks hereupon are, (1.) The Lord ſtirred up an Adverſary againſt him, ver. 14, to 22. Wherein Mark
(1.) Though God was ſo gracious to Solomon, as to put off the Time of puniſhing his Sin, until the Reign of his Son (as before) yet muſt not himſelf paſs altogether unpuniſhed, Jer. 30.11.
Mark (2.) Hadad is the firſt Adverſary, whom God ſtirred up. N. B. Not by infuſing this Malice into him, but by over ruling that Rage (wherewith the Devill had beforehand fill'd his Heart) as an Inſtrument of his Juſtice to puniſh Solomon's Sin, though Hadad himſelf ſought his own ends, to revenge his own quarrel. N. B. Thus a skilful Workman will uſe crooked Tools, wherewith he maketh ſtraight and ſmooth Work.
Mark (3.) This Hadad is deſcribed here to be of the Royal Seed of Edom, flying for his Life while but a Child in David's Day, when Joab had a Commiſſion from the King to kill all the Males of Edom, ver. 15, 16, 17.
Mark (4.) Pharaoh entertains him kindly, giving him both an Houſe to live in, and a Wife to live with, ver. 18, 19, 20. as not knowing but that himſelf might one day have as much need to borrow Mercy, as now he had to lend it.
Mark (5.) Peter Martyr ſaith, this was the ſame Pharaoh that had given his Daughter to Solomon in Marriage, though he knew it could not be well reſented by Hadad, but great Kings make ſmall account of ſuch matches in Croſs-marriages upon Politick deſigns in hedging with contrary Parties. Therefore this Pharaoh gives his Queens Siſter to this Hadad, as well as his Daughter to Solomon.
Mark (6.) Hadad's Lady, though ſhe were a Princeſs, yet gave ſhe Suck to her Child, ver. 20. as Sarah that Princeſs had done before her, Gen. 22.1, 8.
Mark (7.) This Hadad return'd from Egypt into Edom, when David was Dead, and Joab was ſlain by Solomon, ver. 21, 22. Wherein he undeniably begg'd leave of Pharaoh to return home into his Countrey. N. B. Patri am quiſque amat non quia pulchram, ſed quia propriam, ſaith the Orator, we all naturally affect our own Native Countrey. Oh that we could long as much to get to Heaven, which Bernard calls [Repatriâſſe] to go to Heaven is to go home again; to which Peter Martyr adds, 'tis Pity the Delights of this World, ſhould take off our longings to Depart into a better World.
Mark (8.) Hadad was thus importunate to return home to Edom, that he might revenge himſelf of the Poſterity of David, and that he might recover his Father's Kingdom; yet is it not Recorded, wherein this Hadad was miſchievous to Solomon. N. B. Though he could not upon his ſpeedy return, recover the Kingdom of Edom abſolutely to himſelf; yet ſome ſuppoſe, that with Solomon's good leave, through his Father Pharaoh's Mediation, He reigned over Edom under the Law of Tribute paid to Iſrael, which yet in the laſt Days of Solomon he deny'd to pay. N. B. So long as Solomon held faſt his Integrity, God preſerved him from all Hadad's Projects, and poſſibly Pharaoh might lay his Charge upon him not to enterprize any Evil againſt his Son Solomon: But what he at firſt could not effect, was in time brought to paſs: Hadad laid the Foundation of Edom's utter Revolt, 2 King. 8.20, 22. with Gen. 27.40.
The Second Remark upon this Second Part is, the ſecond Adverſary God raiſed up againſt Backsliding Solomon; to wit, Rezon, ver. 23, 24, 25. Wherein Mark.
(1) Twiſted Sins againſt God, bring twiſted Judgments from God: Some ſuppoſe this Rezon was ſtirred up by Hadad; yet God, by diſpoſing of all Men's Hearts, is ſaid to ſtir up both theſe Adverſaries to ſcourge Solomon for his Impieties againſt both Tables.
Mark (2.) This Rezon dealt perfidiouſly with his own Lord by lurching him, and fleeing from him, when he ſaw Hadadezer was like to be defeated by David, 2 Sam. 8.3, 4. and 10.18. He that left his Liege-Lord in the midſt of his Conflict with Joab, and was ſuch a falſe Friend, as was rather a Cauſe of, than a Companion in his King's Calamity; no wonder if he proved a falſe Friend to Solomon as well as Hadad.
Mark (3.) This Rezon rallied his Maſter's Routed Forces, became their Captain, lived till now upon Robbery like Arabians, and being increaſed in Strength, drove out David's Garriſon, 2 Sam. 8.6. out of Damaſcus, while Solomon was wallowing in Luxury (before which time He had no Adverſary, 1 King. 15.4.) and made himſelf King over Syria in Damaſcus: Now Hadad and Rezon Confederate to afflict Iſrael for Solomon's Sins, &c.
The Third Remark is upon the Third Adverſary, God raiſed up againſt Solomon for his Sins; namely not only thoſe two Strangers, Hadad and Rezon, but alſo his own Domeſtick Servant Jeroboam ver. 26, to ver. 40. Wherein Mark
(1.) God hath many Arrows in his Quiver to ſhoot at the Hairy Scalps of ſuch Sinners, as go on in their Sins, Pſal. 68.21. Deut. 32.23. 'Tis ſaid by the Pagan Poet of his Heathen Jove,
Si quoties peccent homines, ſua fulmina mittat
Jupiter, exiguo tempore inermis erit.
If their Jupiter ſhould ſo oft caſt his Thunder-bolts, as Men offend him, his Armory would ſoon be exhauſted and Empty. But this cannot be ſaid of the true Johovah, who hath an inexhauſtible Armory of Arrows, &c. The Lord of Hoſts ſhoots this third Arrow (Jeroboam) againſt Backsliding Solomon.
Mark (2.) Jeroboam was preferr'd by King Solomon (feeing him a Man of great Activity and Accompliſhments) to be Ruler over the whole Houſe of Joſeph, whereby, being of an Ambitious, and Aſpiring Mind, (as the Prophet ſecretly Taxeth him) ver. 37. He had many opportunites to aſperſe Solomon's Government, for laying ſuch heavy Taxes upon his People, to maintain his ſeven hundred Wives, and his three hundred Concubines. Peter Martyr ſaith, He traduced his Maſter Solomon to his Subjects, as Abſalom had done his Father David before him.
Mark (3.) That which fluſh'd him more toward a Rebellion, was Ahijah's Prophecy to him, being added to Solomon's preferment of him: For God's Providence, ordered a Private Conference of the Prophet Ahijah and Jeroboam, going to take his Principality upon him, the Prophet rends his new Garment into twelve Pieces, and gives ten of them to Jeroboam. Doing this for a Sign of what God ſaid, ver. 11. ſhewing that the Kingdom (though it was new, freſh) and ſtrong upon the Shoulders (as 1 Sam. 15.28.) and like a goodly glittering and glorious Mantle, yet (ſaith the all diſpoſing God) I will rend it thus, and thou ſhalt have Ten Parts or Tribes, &c. N. B. God gives to every Man his Meaſure, as he is the Moſt High, Pſal. 115.3. Dan. 5.21, &c.
Mark (4.) God's reſpect to David for his Integrity in the main, He therefore ſhall have a Light continued, ver. 36. So is a good King a Light in Counſel, and Comfort to his People, 2 Sam. 21.17. 1 King. 15.4. Pſal. 132.17. N.B. Peter Martyr ſaith, David and Solomon ſhone ſplendidly like the Sun, whereas their Succeſſors were but leſſer Lights and Lanthorns comparatively.
Mark (5.) The Prophet makes a fair promiſe of an Eſtabliſhed Throne to a woful Sinner, ver. 38. wherein God declares his gracious Diſpoſition to all the Children of Men indefinitely, either to allure Jeroboam to obedience, or to aggravate his diſobedience, and ſo to juſtifie God's Juſtice, in inflicting his Judgments upon him for his Rebellion againſt him.
Mark (6.) Tho' the Houſe of David was afflicted for Solomon's ſins, and for the People's alſo by his Example, ver. 33. yet ſhould it not be for ever, v. 39. For ſome Kings of Judah grew very great, as did Aſa, Hezekiah, Joſiah; the laſt of which recover'd Samaria and the Regions that belonged to the Ten Tribes, &c. N.B. About 256 years after this the Ten Tribes were carried into perpetual Captivity, whereby all their Contentions with Judah were finally concluded, yea and the Jews of Judah returning from Babylon, did almoſt recover the whole Kingdom of Iſrael. N.B. But more eſpecially (ſaith P. Martyr) this word [for ever] muſt relate to the Meſſiah, that Son of David, in whom the Glory of David's Houſe was reſtored, and ſuch as never any mortal King had, even greater than Solomon's, who united the Two broken Sticks of Judah and Joſeph, and Ruleth ſtill both over Jews and Gentiles.
Mark (7.) Solomon underſtood all this private Conference, &c. Kings have long Ears: It may be Jeroboam blab'd it out of Pride, and to make a Party out of Policy.
Hence Solomon ſought to ſlay him, ver. 40. which was a fond Act in ſo wiſe a Man. God's Purpoſe cannot be croſs'd by Man's Projects, as himſelf ſaith, Prov. 21.30. Hereupon Jeroboam fled to Egypt (and Ahijah too with him, ſaith the Chaldee Paraphraſt) whom Shiſhak entertaineth till Solomon's Death; perhaps being offended that he had taken ſo many Wives to his Siſter, or (as ſome ſay) Daughter, as is here noted in ver. 1.
The third part of this Chapter is Solomon's Death, ver. 41, 42, 43. wherein his Time of Reigning, his Death and Burial, and his Succeſſor, are all mentioned; but his Repentance is not expreſly recorded among his other Acts. N.B. From whence ſome have raſhly Judged that he was damned: But on the contrary, Conſider (1.) The Book of Chronicles mentions not Solomon's fall, yet none doubt but he did ſo. (2.) No mention is made of the Repentance of Adam, Noah, Lot, yet none damns them for their ſins. (3.) Solomon's Way is mentioned with honour, 2 Chron. 11.17. where 'tis joyned with the Way of David. (4.) Solomon's Eccleſiaſtes is all penitential, a Monument of his Repentance, as Pſal. 51, &c. are of David's. (5.) He was a Natural Progenitor of Chriſt, Luke 3.23. who were Elect Perſons all accounted. (6.) As he penned part of Sacred Scripture, ſo he is call'd an Holy Man, 2 Pet. 1.21. (7.) He was Jedidiah, beloved of God, and whom God loveth once, he loveth ever, Joh. 13.1, &c. (8.) God his Father forſook him not finally, 2 Sam. 7.14, 15. Pſal. 27.10. & 89.33. (9.) Nor did any complain of his not Reforming Idolatry, chap. 12.4, &c. where his Subjects Roſe up in Rebellion, and laid Lord of Accuſations againſt him for his Miſgovernment in Sacred, as well as Civil Matters; ſo they might have blamed him, had he failed therein, &.