The Story Line of the United Kingdom
by Rick Walker, M.A., M.Div.
walker@svitonline.com
Introduction
History can be written from many
different perspectives. A history of Ukraine could be written on the influence of
Marxist ideology on the economy. Another historian writing about the same time
period might choose to write about changing family values or the impact of the Ukrainian
and Russian languages upon one another. History can be written about war and peace or
advances and set backs in the health sciences or other technologies. The perspective of
the author dictates how the history should be read.
But how do we read the history of the united and divided kingdoms? In this story we
encounter an intricate interplay betweens kings and queens and prophets and priests.
At one time there is war and at another peace. There are Jews and Gentiles and
sinners and saints.
But to answer these questions scholars
turn back to the writings of Moses. The books of the kings are typically analyzed in
terms of "Deuteronomistic history," a theological perspective that records
history in terms of the blessings and curses delineated in Deuteronomy 28. Moses promised
that if the Jews would obey the Lord He would set them high above all the nations on earth
and then listed the blessings they would receive (Deut. 28:1-14). However, if they
were disobedient the Lord would bring curses (Deut. 28:15-68). Thus, long before the
united and divided monarchies Moses wrote that how history developed would be determined
by the response of the Jews to the Lord's law. When we read of war against the Jews,
it is not simply one nation warring against another but is the Lord's discipline of his
own people. Swarms of locusts, plundering nations and devastating diseases are not simply
the events that happened, but events that happened because the Jews had turned away from
the Lord. And the richest of blessings awaited them for faithfulness: abundant rain,
fruitful fields and protection from enemies. The Jewish nation would lend and not
borrow; they would be the head and not the tail (Deut. 28:12, 13). At any point in
the story history could have turned out much differently. Initially Moses provided this
perspective of history that we call Deuteronomistic history.. In the next lesson we will
see that at key points in history the Jews were admonished to always keep this perspective
in mind. Their future was dependent upon it.
Deuteronomistic
History
In the
previous lesson we saw that Moses provided a perspective upon the outcome of Jewish
history based upon the obedience to the Jews to the covenant. Deuteronomy 28
lists the blessings or curses that would follow. This perspective
was kept before people as successive generations were continually reminded that their
response to it would determine whether the nation would be blessed or cursed.
Joshua's
Admonition (Joshua
1:7, 8) Before entering Canaan, Joshua
admonished the people:
Mt.
Ebal and Mt. Gerizim
(Joshua 8:30-33) After the Jews entered Canaan they divided
into two groups according to their tribes. One
group stood upon Mt. Gerizim and pronounced all the blessings of that would come with
covenant obedience. The other group stood on
the Mt. Ebal across from Mt. Gerizim and pronounced all the curses that would come if they
were not obedient to the covenant (Josh. 8:30-33). Before he died Moses had instructed the
Jews to perform this act, which was then carried out by the next leader, Joshua (Deut.
27:12, 13).
Joshua
Admonishes the Eastern Tribes (Joshua
22:5) After the eastern tribes had completed their mission of helping the remaining tribes
conquer Canaan, they returned to their land in Transjordan. Moses warned them to be
"very careful to keep the commandments and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord
gave you.
Joshua's
Last Admonition to the Nation
(Josh. 24:16-20) Before he died,
Joshua renewed the covenant at Shechem: Now
fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness.
Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the river and in
Egypt, and serve the Lord.
Period of the Judges. The book of judges gives an account of the history of the Jews after their conquest of the promised land but before the period of the kings. That the curses are coming upon them is obvious in the intrusion of pagan nations into the life of Israel. Twice the very direct statement is made that each man did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6; 21:25).
The Period of the United and Divided Kingdoms
David
hands over the throne to Solomon. (1
Kings 2:3). David handed the throne over to Solomon with the
charge to observe what the Law requires.
The
Division of the Kingdom
(1 Kings 11:31, 33) It is because Solomon had
forsaken God and worshiped the pagan gods that God split the kingdom in two.
The Northern Kingdom
Exiled by the Assyrians
(2 Kings 7:13). When the northern
kingdom was taken into exile in 722 it was because the message of all the prophets had
been rejected. The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: Turn
from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law
that I commanded your fathers to obey 2 Kings 17:5-7 The king of Assyria invaded the
entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege to it for three years. The king of
Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. All this took place
because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their god.
T
from one end of the earth to the other. He exiled Israel by the hand of the Assyrians in
722BC. And he exiled Judah
by the hand of the Babylonians in 586 BC.
Samuel the Priest
During
the period of the judges there was no king to rule over Israel. Thus, for about two
hundred years the Jewish tribes continued under a loose federation. Many stories during this period speak of the
unfaithfulness of the people to live up to the Mosaic covenant. There are many examples of
the Lord's disciplining hand. This historical
period ends on a very negative note. There
was idolatry (Judges 17:1-13), mob homosexuality and rape (Judges 19:1-30) and war among
the tribes (Judges 20:48). The book
concludes: In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit (Judges 21:25). We
might add that Ruth is a very beautiful story of faithfulness during the time of the
Judges and serves to "balance" the negative story of the Judges. There were
some, like Ruth, who were faithful even during in these dark and ungodly days.
The history of the united kingdom
really begins in the opening pages of 1 Samuel. The
faithful element is represented by Hannah, who went to the tabernacle year after year with
her family to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord (1 Sam. 1:3-8). The extent to which ungodliness had invaded Israel
is shown by the unfaithfulness of the sons of Eli, the high priest (Judges 2:12-17, 22). While worshipping at Shiloh one year Hannah took a
vow that if the Lord would open her womb and give her a child she would devote him to the
Lord (1 Sam. 11-17). The son to whom she gave
birth was named Samuel. And to fulfill her vow she delivered the young boy to the
tabernacle and left him in the care of Eli (1 Sam. 1:24-27).
Samuel was raised in the environs of the tabernacle. He "continued to grow in stature and in favor with Lord and men (1 Sam.2:26). He was a boy wearing a linen Ephod, indicating some type of priestly function (1 Sam. 2:18). The text is careful to point out the great contrast between the sins of the priests and the boy Samuel.
offering
with contempt. But Samuel was ministering
before the Lord – a boy wearing a
linen ephod
(2:17, 18).
Samuel the Prophet
While still a
boy the Lord called Samuel to be a prophet. Samuel
slept in the tabernacle at night and heard the Lord call his name (1 Sam. 3:4, 5).
Thinking that Eli was calling him, Samuel arose and ran to the high priest. Samuel sent him back to bed. The Lord called again the second and third nights. Realizing that the Lord was speaking to the boy,
Eli told him that if the voice called again he should say, "Speak Lord for your
servant is listening" (1 Sam. 3:9). On the fourth night the Lord speaks to Samuel
again and gives him the message that Eli will be judged for the wickedness of his sons,
who has not restrained. On the next day Eli
questions the boy prophet Samuel about what the Lord revealed to him. Samuel's first prophecy is that the Lord will bring
judgment upon Eli for the wickedness of his sons (1 Sam. 3:18). As Samuel continued to grow up he continued as a
prophet. He gained a reputation from "Dan to Beersheba" (1 Samuel 3:109-21). The phrase "Dan to Beersheba" meant
"throughout all Israel." Dan was
the northern most city in the land of the Jews and Beersheba the southernmost city.
Samuel the Judge
the sense in which it is used in the book of Judges.
These men and women were not lawyers and judges with courts. Rather, the term means something like
"warlord." When the Jews fell into
sin the Lord would bring a foreign power against them.
And after they were humbled and repented the Lord would send "a judge" to
deliver them from their oppressors.
The Lord had announced through Samuel that he would bring judgment upon Eli. Israel was defeated in battle by the Philistines (1 Sam. 4:1, 2). Thus the elders of Israel decided they would carry the ark of the covenant into the next battle. When the ark was brought into the soldier's camp, they gave a loud shout. The Philistines, hearing the shout, said, "A god has come into their camp" (1 Sam. 4:3-6). Armies of that time period were often carry the god of their nation into battle. The concept was that if their god was in the midst of the conflict he would fight very hard against his enemies to keep from being captured. This was the thinking of the Philistines and caused them to be afraid (1 Sam. 4:5-9).
In the battle which followed the Jews were again defeated. Thirty thousand Jewish men were killed and the ark of the covenant was captured (1 Sam. 4:10, 11). When news that the ark had been captured reached Eli he was so shocked that he fell over in his chair and broke his neck (1 Sam. 4:18). His two evil sons, who were with the ark in the battle were also killed in the battle (1 Sam. 4:1 Sam. 4:4, 5, 17). The wife of one of the sons also died in premature childbirth when she heard that the ark was captured and her husband and father-in-law were dead (1 Sam. 4:19, 20). Though captured by the Philistines, the ark of the covenant continued to war against them as it struck people dead in city after city (1 Sam. 5:12).
Twenty years later the Philistines were still oppressing the Jews (1 Sam. 7:2). Under this discipline of the Lord the Jews finally repented of their many sins (1 Sam. 7:2-6). As happened so many time in the period of the Judges the Lord delivered his people from the oppressors by the hand of a judge after their repentance. While the Jews were gathered at Mizpah to repent and offer sacrifices, the Philistines decided to attack. They thought this would be a perfect time to attack because the Jews were unprepared for battle and were distracted by their religious activities (1 Sam. 7:7-10). When the Philistines drew near the Lord made it thunder so loudly that the Philistines were thrown into confusion and defeated (1 Sam. 7:10-11). Thereafter Israel was able to recapture some of their cities from the Philistines (1 Sam. 7:14, 15). Samuel continued to be a judge in Israel and traveled on an annual circuit of cities and Israel was blessed (1 Sam. 7:16).
Samuel Anoints Saul King
One
day a young man named Saul was out looking for his father's lost donkey. His friend suggested to him that he go and ask
Samuel "the seer" if he could tell him where the donkey could be found (1 Sam.
9:6). The Lord had revealed to Samuel that a
man from the tribe of Benjamin would come to him and he was to be anointed king (1 Sam.
9:15). Samuel invited Saul to go up to the
high place with him. Much to Saul's surprise,
when it was time to eat he was seated at the
place of honor and given the choicest piece of meat (1 Sam.9:22, 23). Saul spent the night and the next morning, before
he left, Samuel was anointed king of Israel. Oil was poured upon his head and he was given
a kiss (1 Sam. 10:1). Saul must have been overwhelmed. He came looking
for a donkey and left as the king of Israel!
How
could Saul know whether he was truly the king as he had been told? Samuel gave him three signs that would reassure
him. All three signs came to pass. That very day, as he passed by Rachel's tomb, two men came and told him that
his father's donkeys had been found. (1 Sam. 10:2). The
next day he passed by the great tree of Tabor and met three men carrying three loaves of
bread. They gave him two loaves. The third sign was that he met a company of
prophets coming down from a high places. The
Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul and he prophesied with them (1 Sam. 10:2-8).
Samuel
gathered all the tribes of Israel together to reveal the Lord's anointed to them. The
nation was gathered together in their typical organized fashion: by tribes, clans and
families. Samuel called for the tribe of Benjamin to come forward from the tribes of
Israel. Then he called for the clan of Matri to come forward from the clans of Benjamin.
Finally he calls for Saul to come forward. But
Saul is not among his people! Where is the king? The Lord revealed to Samuel that he was
hiding among the baggage (1 Sam. 10:22). Not a very impressive fellow!
When Saul was coaxed out of the baggage
and presented before the people there was a mixed reaction. Some said, "Long live the
king" But others asked, "How can this fellow save us?" (1 Sam. 10:24, 27).
Saul's First Military Action
The Fall of Saul
For this sin Saul was rejected as the king of Israel (1 Sam. 15:26). The Lord has sought out another man to replace him, who would turn out to be David. It would be many years before Saul was actually off the throne. But what becomes clear in the ensuing history is that the Spirit of God, which was sent upon kings to help them perform their task, departed from Saul (1 Sam. 16:14). The Spirit came upon him when Samuel anointed him king, and now it would depart. Carefully note the two sins and the outcome. For the first sin Saul was told that his dynasty would not endure. For the second sin Saul was told that he would not continue as king. It was the last time Samuel ever saw Saul.
Samuel told Saul that he was rejected as king because he did not slay all the animals and people after his defeat of the Amalekites (1 Sam. 15:33). The Lord had already sought another man to become the next king of Israel. Just as Samuel had been appointed to anoint Saul the first king of Israel, so he was also sent to anoint David to become the second king of Israel.
The Lord sent Samuel to Bethlehem, to the tribe of Judah, to the house of Jesse to anoint the next king (1 Samuel 16). Jesse had seven sons and the youngest is David. Samuel had all the sons of Jesse pass before him one at a time. As each son passed the Lord told him, "This is not the one." After the six oldest sons of Jesse passed by Samuel asked Jesse if had another sons? Yes, his youngest son was tending the sheep. When the young David was brought to Samuel he was recognized as the one whom the Lord had appointed (1 Sam. 16:1-12).
As
was the case in the Old Testament, the Spirit of God came upon kings to help them in their
appointed task. There is a contrast between David and Saul. The Spirit of the
Lord came upon David and departed from Saul (1 Sam. 16:13,14). David gained the
Lord's help and Saul lost it. This was apparently a private ceremony, unknown to
Saul and many others. Though the young shepherd boy was anointed by the Lord to be
king, it would not be until after the death of Saul that his kingship was acknowledged by
the people. By that time he would have become a man with two wives in addition to
Michal, Saul's daughter (2 Sam. 2:1-4).
When
the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and evil spirit came upon him from the Lord,
which would torment him
(1 Sam. 16:14, 15). His attendants suggested that a harp player be found, noting
that the sound of the harp helped soothe Saul's troubled spirit. As it turned out the
young David was known by one of Saul's attendants as a fine harp player. In addition he
was also a great warrior (1 Sam. 16:18). David lived in Bethlehem; this is why
Bethlehem is called the city of David (cf. Luke 2:4). David not only became Saul's
harp player, but also his armor bearer, for Saul liked him very much (1 Sam. 16:21).
When Saul was troubled by the spirit, David would play the harp. Saul would feel
better and the evil spirit would depart.
When
David food to his brothers who were encamped with Saul's men, he heard Goliath make his
daily challenge (1 Sam. 17:17:24). Saul had
promised to give great wealth, exemption from taxes, and his daughter in marriage to the
man who could defeat Goliath (1 Sam. 16: 25). When
it cam to Saul's attention that a young shepherd boy was willing to challenge the giant in
the name of the Lord, he had David brought to the king.
David overcame Saul's skepticism by telling the king that since the Lord had
helped him kill both a lion and a bear to protect his sheep, he would certainly help him
defeat the uncircumcised giant (1 Sam. 16:33-37).
Because no armor was available which would fit David, the
young boy went into battle unprotected. His
only weapon was a sling. Goliath was insulted and ridiculed the boy saying, "Am I a dog that you come against me with sticks?"
"I will feed your carcass to the birds" (1 Sam. 17:43, 44). Undaunted, David warned the giant that he came
against him in the name of the Lord and that he would cut off the giant's head! Further, David said that before he day was over he
would feed the carcasses of the entire Philistine army to the birds (1 Sam. 17: 46). As
the two combatants approached each other, David took a stone from his pouch and placed it
in his sling. When he hurled the first stone
toward the giant, it struck his forehead with such force that it sunk into his head. After Goliath fell to the ground still alive,
David took his sword and killed him. As
David cut off the head of his enemy, Saul's armies pursued after the Philistines, were
slain! Because the Spirit of the Lord was with David he triumphed in battle over Israel's
enemies. But rather than receiving the
promised rewards from the king of wealth, tax exemption and the king's daughter in
marriage, things would turn out much differently for David.
Saul, who previously liked David very much, was about to become his worst enemy.
Saul Tries to Kill David
For
slaying the giant Goliath, David should have received the rewards Saul promised to the one
who could defeat this enemy of the Lord and Israel (cf. 1 Sam. 16:25). But when David's victory caused him to be
celebrated above the king, he became the most persecuted man in Israel. Initially Saul promoted David to a high rank
within his army and whatever David was sent to do was very successful (1 Sam. 16:5). Saul's son, Jonathan, became David's best friend,
and even gave him his royal robe, sword, bow and belt (1 Sam. 16:1-4). Saul's officers and all the people liked David
very much. But when they returned from David's victory over Goliath, the women were
dancing in the streets, singing, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of
thousands" (1 Sam. 18:1-7, 13-16). This
refrain was more than Saul could bear and from then on not only was he jealous of David,
but sought many opportunities to kill him. David
was blessed by the Lord, celebrated by the people, but persecuted by the king as Saul made
several attempts to kill him.
Saul throws a javelin at David while he is playing the harp for him
(18:10, 11). The day after Saul's jealousy
over the people's celebration of David's heroism, an evil spirit came forcefully upon
Saul. David, as usual, played the harp to
bring comfort to the king. However, rather
than being calmed, Saul thrust a javelin at David in an effort to pin him to the wall.
This may seem a bit odd, but not really. It
is not uncommon for one who has peace to be raise the anger of one who does not.
Saul
throws a javelin at David while he is playing the harp
(19:8-10). Once again David went out to battle when war broke
out between the Philistines and Jews. After
David's victory he returned to playing the harp for Saul.
For the second time Saul threw his javelin and the younger hero. But David escaped to his house.
Saul sends men to David's house (19:11-17). The same night that David escaped to his shouse, Saul sent men to watch his house and to kill him. But, be warned by his wife Michal, David escaped through a window and fled. Michal put an idol in David's bed and covered it with a blanket. She put goat's hair as the head. When Saul's men entered she told them that David was ill. When Saul's men returned and reported this to the king, Saul told them to bring David on his bed and he himself would kill him. Saul became angry with his daughter when he learned of her deception. David fled to Samuel at Ramah.
After David fled to Samuel at Ramah, Saul learned that he was there and sent men to capture him (1 Sam. 19:19-24). However, when the first group of men came upon Samuel he was with a group of prophets who were prophesying. When Saul was told about it he sent a second group of men, who also began prophesying. Finally, Saul came himself, and even he began to prophesy. Saul stripped off his royal robes and prophesied in Samuel's presence. While it seems strange that Saul would prophesy, it seems to this writer that what was probably happening was that Saul's men, and finally he himself, were prophesying some of the nature of the greatness of David as the Lord's anointed. When read in this way Saul's prophesying thus becomes a judgment upon him for his treatment of David. However, this is only conjecture.
When David learned of Saul's presence in Ramah, he fled to Jonathan and asked why his father wanted to kill him (20:1). But David's beloved Jonathan was not convinced that his father's intentions were to take David's life. But David said, "There is only a step between me and death" (20:3).
The two devised a plan to discover Saul's real intentions toward David. David was to dine with the king at the New Moon festival. However, David would not attend. If Saul missed David at the feast and asked Jonathan where he was, Jonathan would reply by saying he had to attend a sacrifice at his hometown of Bethlehem (20:5-7). If Saul's temple flared, Jonathan would know that he still hated David. The feast lasted several days and on the first day Saul noticed David's absence, but assumed he was ceremonially unclean (20:26). But the second day he asked Jonathan about David's absence. When Jonathan responded, Saul's temper flared and he shouted, "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman." "Send and bring him to me, for he must die!" (20:30-32).
David had been hiding in a field, waiting for Jonathan to come and give him a signal by which he would know whether to return to the palace or flee for his life. Jonathan would bring his servant with him to shoot arrows into the field in the general direction of David. When the servant went to retrieve the arrows Jonathan would shout "closer" if it were safe for David to return. But he would shout, "further" if David was to flee. After a final farewell between David and Jonathan, David fled from Saul (21:41-44). David's departure is a major transition in the story of Saul and David. Though David has fled, Saul will try to hunt him down.
Saul Kills the Priests at Nob
David first fled to Nob, where the tabernacle was set up (1 Sam. 21:3). Being hungry, he asked for bread for him and his men. Being hungry, he asked the priests for bread. But the only bread which was available was the bread of the Presence. The bread was kept inside the tabernacle and was changed on a weekly basis. It was only lawful for the priests to eat this bread, and yet it was given to David and his men with the approval of the Lord (Lev. 24:5-9; Matt. 12:4; Mark 6:4). This approval was given through the high priest (1 Sam. 22:15), who had access to the Urim and Thummim, a method by which the Lord would communicate his will directly to the high priest. Thus David was given the bread and when he asked for a sword, he was given the sword of Goliath, which had been wrapped in a cloth for keeping (1 Sam. 21:9, 10). Thus, David fled with his men. But when Saul learned that the priests had given aid to David, he had Doeg the Edomite put eighty five of them to death, along with children and wives (1 Sam. 22:.16-19). David felt a sense of guilt for bringing this tragedy upon the priests at Nob (1 Sam. 22:22, 23).
Jonathan helps David find Strength in God
After David left Nob he learned that the Philistines had attacked the fortified city of Keilah. The Lord instructed David and his six hundred men to go to the city and defeat the Philistines. Heavy losses were inflicted upon the Philistines and David took their livestock. Abiathar the priest priest had escaped the slaughter at Nob and then joined David (1 Sam. 23:1-6).
When Saul learned that David was staying in the city of Keilah, he brought all his forces against the city to capture him. David learned that Saul was coming with his forces and inquired of the Lord what to do. Abiathar the high priest had escaped the slaughter at Nob and had joined David. Along with him he brought the ephod, which was the high priestly vest like garment. In the breast pocket of the ephod were the Urim and Thummim, by which the Lord would communicate to the high priest as questions were asked of the Lord. David told Abiathar to bring the ephod and began to ask a series of questions which the Lord answered (1 Sam. 23:7-12). David asked the Lord if Saul would in fact come against the city. And the Lord said that he would. Then David asked if the citizens of Keilah would give David into the hands of Saul in order to save their city from destruction. Again the Lord said that they would.
David found strongholds in the desert to hide and Saul came in search of him. Jonathan, Saul's son and David's beloved friend, came to him and "helped him find strength in God" (1 Sam. 23:16). Much later, Saul came to the hill of Hakilah where David was. Saul and his men were on one side of the mountain and David and his men on the other side. Saul was closing in on David when a report came that the Philistines had attacked the land. Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to fight against the Philistines (1 Sam. 23:23-29).
David Spares Saul's Life at En Gedi
After dealing with the Philistines, Saul went to the
Desert of En Gedi to continue his pusuit of David. One day Saul went into a cave at
En Gedi to take a nap, not knowing that David and his men were hiding furthrer back in the
cave. David's men told him that he should go and slay Saul in his sleep, for the Lord had
delivered him into his hands. But, rather than killing Saul, David cut off a piece of his
robe. David rebuked his men and would now allow them to attack Saul (1 Sam. 24:1-7).
Some
time later Saul left the cave and David came out behind him. As David called out to Saul,
"My Lord, the king," he bowed to the ground. He showed Saul the corner of
his robe, which was proof that David had no intention of harming Saul (1 Sam.
24:11). Though his men had urged him to kill him, he refused to lift his hand
against the Lord's anointed (24:10). David would not avenge the wrongs Saul had done
to him, but would leave that up to the Lord to do (24:12). He would let the Lord
avenge him – not by delivering Saul into David's hands --- but by delivering David from
Saul's hands (24:15).
In
a surprising turn, Saul began to weep aloud and acknowledged to David, "You are more
righteious thant I." "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly." "I
know that you will be surely be king and that the kingdom
will be established in your hands" (1 Sam. 24:17-21). David then took
an oath, at Saul's request, that when he became king he would not kill of Saul's
descendants, as kings often did to protect their trone from rivals. After this tearful confession of wrong by
Saul and the oath of David not to kill of Saul's descendants when he came to the throne,
we would expect a change in relationship. However, we get a hint of things to come when
the text says, then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold
(24:22). The struggle was not over. Saul would not change in accordance with his
tearful confession of wrong. But David would keep his promises not kill Saul in order to
come to the throne and not to kill Saul's descendants after he came to the throne.
In spite of Saul's repentance, when he learned from the Ziphites that David was hiding in the hill of Hakilah, he took three thousand men to search for David. When David saw where Saul and his general, Abner, were sleeping, along with their army, he slipped in at night and took Saul's spear and water jug which were beside Saul. They did not wake because the Lord had put them in a deep sleep. Again, just like at the cave of En Gedi David's men encouraged him to kill Saul, but he refused. He knew that if he did so he would not be guiltless and that if the Lord wanted Saul dead, he would be the one to bring it about (1 Sam. 26:7-12).
With Saul's spear and water jug in hand, David slipped out
of the campt and across to the opposing hill. From there, at a safe distance, he called
out into the night to Abner, David's general. He
chastised Abner and his men for not protecting the king during his sleep. "Look
around you," he said. "Where are the king's water jug and spear?" When Saul recognized that it was the voice of
David, he asked if it were him. David said
that it was and asked him why he was pursuing him? After
David proclaims his innocence before Saul, Saul again confessed his wrong. "I have
sinned." Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you
again." "I have acted like a fool and erred greatly" (1 Sam. 26:22-24).
David Finds Refuge Among the Philistines!
T
The Philistines Fight Against Saul
The
one Saul named was none other than Samuel(1 Sam. 28:11).
When Samuel came up, Saul bowed down before him and told him that the Lord neither
answered him by prophets nor by dreams. He told Samuel he was fearful because of the
Philistines and wanted to know what to do. Samuel's
answer was not what Saul wanted to hear. This was the result of his sin many years before
when he failed to destroy the Amalekites (1 Sam. 28:18).
"Tomorrow," Samuel said, the
Lord will hand Israel over to the Philistines
and you and your sons will be with me."
The Philistines Mistrust David
As
the Philistines marched out to confront Saul's army, David and his men brought up the
rear. However, along the way, the commander
questioned whether David and his men would not turn against the Philistines, thus trapping
them in the middle between himself and Saul. Though Achich, king of Gath, spoke well of
David, the other officers became angry with him, ordering that David and his men return to
their city of Ziklag. Early in the morning
David and his men left the Philistines and returned to their city (1 Sam. 29:1-11).
David and the Amalekites
After the Philistines ordered David to return home because
they did not trust him to go into battle, he returned to his city of Ziklag. But
while he had been away the Amalekites had attacked and
burned the city and taken the wives and children of David and his men captive (1 Sam. 30:
1-3). David and his men wept bitterly and then called for the priest to bring the ephod
While
David had been fighting the Amalekites, Saul had been fighting the Philistines.
his sons were caught in the heart of the battle. Saul's sons, including David's
friend Jonathan, were killed in the battle. Saul was critically wounded.
Knowing he would die from his wounds, Saul asked his armor bearer to finish him off.
But he refused. Thus, Saul fell on his own sword, ending his life by his own hands. The
next day when the Philistines found Saul and his sons dead on Mt. Gilboa, they cut off
Saul's head and fastened the bodies of Saul and his sons to the wall of Beth Shan.
Their bodies were later taken down by the Jews and buried under a tree at Jabesh (1 Sam.
30:1-13). The way was now open for David to come to his throne.
David
continues to surprise us with the strength of his character after the death of Saul.
Saul from an Amalekite who came to him and said that he had put Saul to death on Mt.
Gilboa. He reported to David that Saul was
criticall wounded and that he himself and struck the final death blow at Saul's request.
This was not true, for it was Saul who ended his own life by falling on his sword after
his own armor bearer refused to put him to death. The Amalekite undoubtedly thought that
David would be pleased with what he reported and would receive some type of royal reward. However, David ordered that the Amalekite be put
to death for killing the Lord's anointed, as he himself had testified (1 Sam. 1:1-16). David then wrote a lament for Saul and Jonathan
and ordered that it be taught to the men of Judah (2 Sam. 1:17-27).
David Spares the House of Saul
Rebellion by Saul's General, Abner
David
went to Hebron to be anointed king by the tribe of Judah (2 Sam.2:4). Since David was from
the tribe of Judah, it was this tribe that embraced him most enthusiastically. However, there was a rebellion led by
Saul's general, Abner. The general gave his
support to Saul's son, Ish-Bosheth, who was anointed king by the remaining tribes. The house of Judah followed David and the rest of
Israel followed Saul (2 Sam. 2:8-10). It would be seven more years before David would be
king over all Israel (2 Sam. 2:11).
During
the next few years two things happened. The
house of David became stronger as the house of Ish-bosheth became weaker. Further, Abner
strengthened his own position in the house of Saul. One
day Ish-bosheth accused Abner of sleeping with one of Saul's concubines (2 Sam. 3:6, 7).. Such an action would be considered a challenge for
the throne. Abner became extremely angry
about the accusation and promised Ish-bosheth that he would hand his kingdom over to David
(2 Sam. 3:8-11). Perhaps the offer was made
partially because Abner could see that David's kingdom was become stronger and
Ish-bosheth's was becoming wearker. Thus, Abner and David made an agreement. David's only
request was that his wife Michal, whom Saul had given in marriage to another man, be
returned to him (2 Sam. 3:13-16; 1 Sam. 25:44).
Before
going to meet with David, Abner met with some of the tribes, who had already been talking
of throwing their allegiance behind David (2 Sam. 3:17-19). After meeting with David Abner
left to gather the tribes of Israel to make an agreement with David (2 Sam. 3:21).
David Rules Over all Israel
The
power vacuum left in Israel by the deaths of Abner, Ish-bosheth, Recab and Baanah
tribes of Israel in their decision to come under the rule of David (2
Sam. 5:1). 280,000 men assembled to coronate
David (1 Chron. 12:23-40). David
had ruled over Judah seven years and six months in Hebron before ruling beginning his rule
over all Israel. David was a brilliant king who was noted for his
political, military and religious achievements.
David's Political Achievements
David's first achievement was that he made Jerusalem his capitol
city. Jerusalem was much better suited than Hebron for
a number of reasons. It was more
centrally located and thus further north. Not
only would this make it better suited to be the capitol in military terms, but also meant that the capitol would be
much closer to the norther tribes which had just recently come under David's reign. It was also a very well protected walled city,
being built on three hills and having walls forty feet thick.
However, Jerusalem had never been in the possession of the Jews. It
was the city of the Jebusites. They were so
confident in their defences that when David and his men came they said, "You will not
get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." David knew that the only way to get into the city
was through the water shaft (2 Sam. 5:8, 9). The
city, at than time called Jebus, had an underground shaft that was used in some way to
bring water in from the Gihon spring during
times of siege. David and his men used this
shaft to enter the city. Visitors to the city of Jerusalem today are able to view this
shaft, which is called "Warren's Shaft." The
shaft is vertical, thus it was not simply a matter of walking through the shaft, but one
of climbing it. After conquering the city,
David built a palace for himself and took more wives and concubines (2 Sam. 5:11-16).
David's Military Achievements
The
Lord continued to give David success as a military commander. Among his fighting men were
those who had done things of heroic dimensions (Read 1 Chronicles 11). When the Philistines heard that David
had been anointed king, they went up against him in full force (2 Sam. 5:17). The rule of
thumb in the ancient world was that the king was weakest when he first came to his throne. With the Lord's promise of victory, David went out
and defeated the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:19-22). Later
the Philistines came out against David again. But
the Lord told David to circle around behind the Philistines and wait until he heard the
sound of armies marching in the tops of the trees. This
would mean that the Lord's armies had marched
out in front of David's army to attack. When
David heard the sound of the Lord's armies marching through the tops of the Balsam trees,
he attacked the Philistines from behind and defeated them (2 Samuel 5:22-25).
David's Religious Achievements
David's
most significant achievements were religious in nature. In addition to making Jerusalem
the capital of his kingdom, he also made it the centralized place of worship. The tabernacle and the ark were in separate
locations. The tabernacle was located at Nob,
where Saul killed the priests for helping David (1 Sam. 21:1-9). The ark of the covenant, however, was located at
Kiriath Jearim, where it had been since the time that the Philistines returned it to
Israel during the time of Samuel.(1 Sam. 7:1, 2). That
was the time that the Lord struck seventy men dead for looking inside (1 Sam. 6:19). After David had built buildings for himself, he
set out to have the ark brought from Kiriath Jearmim to Jerusalem. Apparently the tabernacle was not brought to
Jerusalem, for the text says that David constructed a tent for the ark (2 Sam. 6:1, 2; 1
Chron. 15:1).
Just
as tragedy had struck during the move of the ark in the time of Samuel, so it struck again
as David had it moved to Jerusalem. When an
ox pulling the cart upon which the ark stumbled, Uzzah reached out to keep the ark from
falling to the ground. For this he was struck dead by the Lord. David became very angry at
the Lord for this action (2 Sam. 6:6-9). Thus,
rather than continuing to Jerusalem, the ark remained in the house of Obed for three
months (2 Sam. 6:9-11). It seems harsh that
the Lord would strike a man dead for trying to keep the holy ark from falling to the
ground. However, it is possible that Uzzah's intentions were not pure. Could it be that in his heart he thought
"this is my chance to be justified in touching the holy ark?" Perhaps his real intentions was not so much to
protect the ark, but to touch it? However, we
cannot be sure. After three months the ark
was safely brought to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:12-17).
David Desires to Build a Temple
What is striking is that David asks permission to build a temple
for the Lord and most of the Lord's reponse is
not about the temple, but about David's kingdom! There must be some kind of
connection between temple building and kingdom strength.
Studies in the Ancient Near East reveal that the kings of that period would often
build a "victory temple" to their god, using the spoils of battle. The concept was that if a king honored his god by
building him a temple, the god would be pleased and establish an enduring dynasty for him. Because of the Lord's response to make David's
kingdom endure it seems most evident that this was the kind of thinking taking place in
David's mind. David received the promise that the Lord would establish the kingdom of
David's son (v. 12). David's descendent would be the one to build a house for the Lord,
and the Lord would establish his kingdom forever (v. 13).
And finally, "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your
throne will be established forever" (v. 16). When
David offers a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord because of the gracious words of Nathan,
nothing is said about the building of the temple. Rather,
David's prayer is one of thanksgiving that the Lord has promised to establish his kingdom
forever (2 Sam. 7:18-29).
The Lord would not allow David to build the house of the Lord
because he had shed much blood (2 Chron. 22:8). Though
it would be David's son Solomon who would ultimately build the temple, the Lord revealed
the design to David, who then made extensive preparations for its construction (1 Chron.
28:11, 12; 22:2-5). When
David charged Solomon to build the temple in accordance with the word of the Lord, he
repeated the Lord's promise that he would establish his kingdom over Israel forever (2
Chron. 22:6-10).
Solomon and the Earthly Kingdom
Because of Saul's sin, his kingdom had been taken away and given to another, namely David. Butthe promise to David was that even if the kings in his royal line sinned, they would be punished, but the kingdom would not be taken away from them and given to another, as had been done to Saul. David's kingdom would be established forever. Later, in 2 Kings 8:19, the Lord was not willing to destroy Judah because of his promise to David.
When contemporaray readers encounter such words as "never" and "forever" we should not think in absolute terms. What we, modern day readers, hear, is "No matter what your descendants do the kingdom will continue for all eternity." However, David did not understand the promise in that kind of way. While addressing officials in his kingdom, David said that the Lord would establish Solomon's kingdom forever "if he is unswerving in carrying out (the Lord's) commands and laws" (1 Chron. 28:7). And speaking directly to Solomon, David warned, "If you seek him (the Lord), he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever" (1 Chron. 28:8). Thus, it behoved Solomon and all his descendants to be obedient to the Lord. The promise would continue even if the kings sinned. However there was a limit. to the promise, as the Jews learned in 586 BC when David's earthly kingdom came to an end (2 Kings 24:28ff.; 2 Chronicles 36:15-19). Psalm 89:19-37 celebrates the covenant the Lord made with David to establish his kingdom forever; but vv. 38-45, on the other hand speaks of the Lord rejecting that covenant and casting the throne to the ground. Another such example of something being promised "forever" and then being revoked is the priesthood of the sons of Samuel (1 Sam. 2:30).
David and Bathsheba
One night the king was woke up and was walking on his roof. From there he saw Bathsheba bathing. David sent someone to have her brought to him and they had relations (2 Sam. 11:4). Some time later Bathsheba send a message to David telling him that she was pregnant with his child (2 Sam. 11:5). This sin and David's reaction to the news of Bathsheba's pregnancy would change the entire course of David's personal life. 0
David Murders Uriah the Hittite
David very quickly devised a plan to have Uriah brought home from
the battle to Jeruslaem, knowing that while he was in the city he would sleep with his
wife (2 Sam. 11:6). But, rather than going
into Bathsheba, the soldier did a most unusual thing: he slept on the front porch of the
palace! His reasoning was that it would not be appropriate for him to sleep in his house
while his men were in the fields sleeping in tents (2 Sam. 11:9-11). Thus, on the second
night David got Uriah drunk, thinking that would cause him to go to Bathsheba. But still,
he stayed away from his wife.
Seeing
that he had failed, David devised another plan which would bring about the death of Uriah. He gave Uriah a sealed note to Joab, the army
commnander, to put Uriah in the heaviest fighting. Not
only was he to put Uriah in the fierciest fighting, but after he did so, he was to
withdraw from him, leaving him alone against the enemy. Uriah, not knowing what the letter
said, took it to Joab, who followed the instructions. By this means David became the
murderer of Uriah, a sin for which he would pay dearly (2 Sam. 11:14-17). After David and
Bathsheba learned of the death of Uriah, they became husband and wife (2 Sam. 11:26, 27).
David's
two sins of adultery and murder were a real turning point in David's personal life.
2 Sam. 1 - 10 2 Sam. 11, 12 2 Sam. 13-24
Nathan
Rebukes David
Many
months later, after Bathsheba had given birth to their son, the Lord sent Nathan the
prophet to David (2 Sam.
12:1). If David thought he
had successfully covered up his sin from the eyes of men, he was right. But Nathan was
going
to show him that the Lord knew all!
brought a fictitious case for the king to judge. Nathan
told the king a story about a rich man who had many sheep and a
poor man who only had one. The poor man loved his sheep and it even slept in his arms and
drank from his cup. One
day the rich man had a visitor. But instead
of killing one of his own sheep or cattle, he stole the poor man's sheep and
slaughtered it for his guest (2 Sam. 12:1-4). David burned with anger against the
man who had done this and
ordered that he should be put to death (2 Sam. 12:5).
Then Nathan offered the king this stinging rebuke: You are the
man" (12:7)! Yes, David had done, in
principle, the very thing that he himself said was worthy of death! He was the
one who had many wives, but took the only wife of another man!
have done more if necessary, but David had despised the word of the Lord (2
Sam. 12:7-9).
The
Tragic Consequences
Because of what David and Bathsheba had done Nathan announced that
David's son by Bathsheba would die (2 Sam. 12:14). The child was struck the child with
some illness that very day. David pleaded
with the Lord to have mercy, but mercy did not come. David was in the depths of despair as
he fasted and wept. No one could
offer him any encouragement and he spent his time lying on the ground (12:15-17).
The
child died after seven days and David immediately stopped his mourning. He bathed and put
on fresh clothes. When his puzzled servants
asked him about his strange behaviour of weeping before the child died and returning to
his normal self after the child died, he responded that he had hoped the Lord would spare
the child. But, now that the child was dead, there was no hope for him!
The death of this son was only the beginning of David's sorrows. Nathan announced two other curses that come upon David's house. Because he had struck Urian the Hittite with the sword, the sword would never depart from David's house (12:10). And because David had taken another man's wife, someone from his own household would sleep with his wives in the sight of all Israel (12:11). Later we will see that this person would turn out to be none other than David's own son, Abasalom! Thus, the two curses that came upon David's personal life corresponded to the sins which he had committed: the sword, which struck Urian, and adultery, which he committed with Uriah's wife. There is a very important lesson here. Though David's sins had been forgiven by the Lord (2 Sam. 12:13), he still had to face tragic consequences!
Psalm 51
It is very helpful to read the Pslams which David wrote during
different periods of his life. Though the headings to individual Psalms are not inspired,
neither did they originate in a vacuum. In the English Bible the headings appear
separately from the text. In the Russian Bible they usually appear as verse one. Note that the heading to Psalm 51 indicates that
it was written at the time that Nathan confronted David about his sin. The psalm gives
great insight into the depth of David's despair! One
thing of special note is that David pleads to the Lord not to take his Holy Spirit away
from him (v. 11). In the Old Testament the
Holy Spirit was not given to individuals as a matter of salvation, but rather to men such
as kings to help them in their divinely appointed task. Rember that when Saul was rejected
as king the Holy Spirit departed from him (1 Sam. 16:13, 14).
Tragedy in David's House
After the death of David and Bathsheba's son, she had a second,
whom she named Solomon (2 Sam. 12:24). There
will
be many years of tragedy in the house of David before Solomon grows into a man and
becomes king after the death of his father. Nathan
had announced that the sword would never depart from David's house and that one day
someone close to him would sleep with his wives
in the sight of all of Israel. This
tragic story begins to unfold in 2 Samuel 13.
Ammon Rapes Tamar
Absalom Kills Amnon
After two years passed from the time that Amnon raped his sister,
Absalom invited his brothers to come to him to a celebration (2 Sam. 13:12ff.). Though David did not attend, his sons, including
Amnon went to place where Absalom had invited them.
Absalom gave this order to this men that after Amnon was drunk and he gave
the order to strike him down, they should kill him with the sword (2 Sam. 13:28). When
Absalom's men struck down Amnon all of David's other sons mounted their mules and fled. Perhaps they were thinking that Absalom was
instigating a rebellion in which would kill all of them and then his father David. In this
way he would be able to come to the throne for himself.
There is no indication in the text that this was Absalom's intention, though
many years later he would challenge his father for the throne.
But
rather than challenging his father for the throne, Absalom fled away to Geshur, where he
stayed for three years (2 Sam. 14:1). After
David's anger subsided he greatly desired to see his son. After three years, through the
cunning intervention of Joab, (2 Sam. 14:1-20), David finally allowed Absalom to return to
Jerusalem, with the provision that that he would not come into the presence of the king (2
Sam. 14:21, 24).
After
living in Jerusalem for two years Absalom had a great desire to see his father. He sent
messengers to Joab to come to him so he could take a message to David. But Joab did not
come. Neither did he come after Abasalom's
second request. Therefore, he set Joab's
field on fire, which was next to his (2 Sam. 29-30). When Joab came to ask him why he set
his field on fire, Absalom said it was so he would come and take his message! David agreed and finally, five years after the
murder of Amnon, Absalom and David were reconciled (2 Sam. 14:33).
The reconciliation of David and Absalom was soon followed by
Absalom conspiring to take the throne of his father, David. Kings, such as David, often traveled
with an armed force of men running ahead of their chariots. When Absalom provided himself with a chariot and
fifty me to run ahead of him, he was acting as if he were a king (2 Sam. 15:1; 1 Kings 1:5).
At some time he also set up a monument to himself in the Valley of the Kings
(2 Kings 18:18).
Complaints between citizens of a city were brought to the city gates, where officials
heard and decided their cases. Absalom won the hearts of the people by speaking with
plaintiffs at the city gates. He told them that there was no representative of the king to
hear their cases. After listening to their
comlaint he would tell them that they had a valid case and if he were appointed judge he
would see that everyone received justice (2 Sam. 15:4).
Further, Absalom would flatter the citizens by kissing each one with whom he spoke.
Thus, he stole the hearts of the people.
After
four years of winning the hearts of the people, Absalom planned to launch a rebellion from
Hebron. He told David that he was going to
Hebron to fulfill a religious vow. But soon
after he arrived he sent messengers to all the tribes announcing that when they heard the
sound of the trumpets, he would bethe new king! The
number of men in support of Absalom grew so that he became a viable threat to David.
David Flees Jerusalem
After
Absalom and his men marched into the city unchallenged, Absalom asked the advice of
Ahithophel. His first piece of advice was that Absalom sleep with David's concubines on
the roof of the palace, where everyone would be able to understand what was taking place. Anytime someone slept or made advances toward a
king's concubine, it was considered a direct challenge to the throne. Thus, a tent was set up on the roof of David's
palace and Absalom entered there with his father's concubines (2 Sam. 16:21, 22). This was one of the curses that the prophet Nathan
pronounced agains David for sleeping with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 12: 11, 12).
The
second piece of advice that Ahithophel gave was for
Absalom and his men to leave that night in pursuit of David
and attack while David and his men are tired and still unsettled (2
Sam. 17:1-3). Hushai, who David
had returned to Jerusalem to serve as a spy, gave different advice to Absalom. He advised that Absalom first gather all the men
of Israel and pursue David in mass (2 Sam. 17:11-13).
The Lord used Hushai to frustrate the advice of Athiophel, which was the better
plan (2 Sam. 17:14). David was informed of
Absalom's plans and took appropriate measures (2 Sam. 17:17:21).
Absalom's Death
Absalom and his army went in pursuit of David and camped in the
land of Gilead (2 Sam. 17:20). David and his
men were in the city of Mahanaim (2 Sam. 17:27). Before
David sent his men out into the field against Absalom and his army, he gave them a very
important order: be gentle with Absalom (2 Sam. 18:5). In spite of the meaness of his son
in rebelling against him, David ordered his son's life be spared!
The
ensuing batlle took place in the Forest of Ephraim. There
were some twenty thousand casualties, most of whom were not killed in the fighting, but by
the dangers inherent in fighting in a forest
(2 Sam. 18:8). As Absalom was fleeing through
the forest on his mule, his head got caught in the fork of a branch, leaving him hanging
helplessly in the air as his mule continued on! The
man who found Absalom in this condition refused to kill him because of David's command. Joab, however, pierce Absalom's heart with three
javelins and had his armor bearers strike Absalom down (2 Sam. 8:14, 15). When news of Absalom's death reached David, he
cried: "Oh my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you
– O Absalom, my son, my son" (2 Sam. 18:33).
Sheba's Rebellion
After the defeat of Absalom's army, David and his men returned to the city of Jerusalem. As he crossed over the Jordan River he was accompanied by all the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel, which had supported Absalom in the rebellion (2 Sam. 19:40). This, it seems, was done before all the northern tribes were present (2 Sam.19:41). The interpretation of these events by some of those in the Northern Kingdom was that David was not fully accepting of their support, because of the rebellion. This opened the way for a trouble maker named Sheba to immediately lead another rebellion against David. Thus David returned to Jerusalem with the tribe of Judah (2 Sam. 20:1, 2). When David returned to his palace he punished his concubines who had slept with his son Absalom by putting them in confinement, where they continued until they died of old age (2 Sam. 20:3).
David Counts the Fighting Men
Because the Lord's anger burned against Israel, he incited David to count Israel's warriors (2 Sam. 24:1). Perhaps the Lord was angry against Israel because they had followed Absalom and Sheba in their rebellions. Seeing the sinful nature of taking the census, Joab warned David against it. It was a task that was so repulsive to Joab, that he did not even finish the task (1 Chron. 21:6). After ten months of counting, David received the numbers, but was conscience stricken because of his sin (2 Sam. 24:10).
Israel's Punishment
Through the prophet Gad, David was given a choice between three punishments. The Lord would send three years of famine, three months of fleeing before his enemies, or three days of plague upon the land of Israel (2 Sam. 24:12, 13). When David choose to have three days of plague seventy thousand Israelites throughout the land died within the appointed time (2 Sam. 24:15). David saw the angel which the Lord has sent to destroy Jerusalem standing between heaven and earth with a drawn sword. (1 Chron. 21:15, 16). Grieving over the great calamity, the Lord ordered the angel to stop his destruction.
The
angel told David to build an altar at the threshing floor of Araunah (1 Chron. 21:18). After paying 600 shekels
for the threshing floor, David built an altar, as commanded, and offered sacrifices to the
Lord. The Lord answered
with fire that came down from heaven upon the altar and its sacrifice (1 Chron. 21:25-26). Thus at this site the destroying plague was
stopped (1 Kings 21:25). There is another
significance as well: it was the very site upon
which the temple would be built (1 Chron 22:1).
When
the time came for David to die of old age, Bathsheba came to the king expressing fears
that her son Solomon would not be able to sit on the throne. Her alarm about the matter was raised when
Adonijah, another of David's sons, took the throne for himself even before David's death.
He got royal horses and chariots to ride in and fitty men to run ahead of him (1 Kings
1:5-10). At the Stone of Gzoheleth Adonijah
gave a big celebration feast. However, he did
not invite Nathan the prophet, Solomon, or the special guard (1:9-11).
Earlier David had sworn to Bathsheba that Solomon would sit on the throne. After hearing of what Adonijah had done, David fulfilled his oath (1:13, 30). Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, along with Benaniah, were brought to David. He commanded them to take Solomon and set him upon his own mule . The priest and prophet took Solomon on Gihon, located at the city walls, and anointed him king with oil from the tabernacle (1:38-40). They then sounded the trumpet and shouted "Long live King Solomon!" Hearing the trumpet and the shout, the people of Jerusalem followed King Solomon to the throne, playing flutes and rejoicing (1:40).
Solomon Spares Adonijah's Life
coronation of Solomon was so loud that it was heard by Adonijah and his guests (1:41). When they received news
of what had happened, they all fled from the feast (1:49).
Adonijah himself fled to the tabernacle and placed his
hands on the horns of the altar to protect his lfe (1:51).
After King Solomon swore the would not harm Adonijah
unless he engaged in rebellion, he left the altar and bowed down before the king.
The Death of David
Before
he died David gave the charge to Solomon to always in walk in the ways of the Lord. Keep his decrees and requirements as written in
the Law of Moses. Only in this way could he
be sure that there would always be a man to sit on the throne (1 Kings 2:4). David died and was buried in the city of Jerusalem
(2:10). He had ruled a total of forty years
over Israel. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty three years in Jerusalem.
The
prophecy of David found in Psalm 16:8-11 caused some Jews to believe that one day David
would be raised from the dead. However, in
the first century Peter reminded the Jews that David was still lying in his tomb and the
prophecy concerned another, who was Jesus (Acts 2:25-32).
The Wisdom of Solomon
Solomon
began his reign by "walking in the steps of his father David" (1 Kings 3:3).
The Tale of Two Prostitutes
Two prostitutes who lived in the same house both had babies. They both appeared before the king to
hear a complaint. One of the women said that during the night the other woman's baby died. She then claimed that while she was sleeping she
took her baby from her and left the dead baby in its place.
She was appearing before the king to get her baby back. After the two women argued for some time Solomon
finally indicated that it was impossible to decide. He had a sword brought and ordered
that the living baby be cut in two . Each
woman was to receive half. As the sword was
drawn the defendant cried, "Give her the living baby!" But the other said, "Neither of us shall have
him alive." By this Solomon knew that the baby belonged to the defendant and returned
her to its her rightful mother (1 Kings 3:16-28).
Rabbinic Legends about the Wisdom
of Solomon.
There are also many Rabbinic legends about the wisdom of Solomon
which are unfamiliar to readers of the Bible. One
legend says that the Queen of Sheba handed Solomon a pearl with two holes drilled in it at
an extremely acute angle and asked Solomon to "thread" it for her. Solomon took
a silk worm and sent into one hole and waited for it to come out the other.
Another
story involves King David and the court jeweler. It
issaid that on one occasion King
David summoned the court jeweler into his presence. Said the king to the
jeweler, "Make me a royal ring which I shall wear upon my finger." And upon the
ring place a single inscription which will be able to modulate my pride and relieve my
despair. When I experience great success, it must keep me humble. And when I experience
great defeat, it must lift me up from the depths of despair." David promised the
jeweler a great reward if he would be able to produce such a ring with such an
inscription.
With
great skill the jeweler fashioned a ring of exquisite beauty, fit for the king. However,
finding an inscription which could at the same time humble him in his pride and lift his
spirits when he was in despair proved much more difficult. As the day approached for him
to present his ring to the king, the jeweler thought much about the promised reward and
wondered what punishment he would receive if he failed. As the day drew very near he was
pacing in front of the palace gardens one day in great anxiety. And, as it happened,
Solomon came walking by. The jeweler fell at the feet of Solomon, crying. He looked up at
the king's son and asked, "What can I possibly inscribe on the king's ring that will
humble him when he is filled with pride and lift him when in despair? Solomon carefully
lifted the man to his feet, whispered in his ear, and went on his way. On the appointed
day the jeweler appeared before the king's throne with the ring of exceptional beauty.
After placing it upon his finger, David looked down to read the inscription
which read, "This too shall pass."
In
the final years of his life Solomon described the great building projects of his life. He built houses and planted vineyards and
fruit trees and reservoirs to water them (Ecc. 2:4-6).
When he surveyed all the things he had built
with his wealth, it was meaningless (Ecc. 2:11).
It is intriguing that Solomon did not mention the most significant building project
Though David conceived the idea of building a
magnificent temple, and even started gathering materials and making plans, the Lord told
David that it would be his son, Solomon,
The
project was massive and international. The plans were inspired by the Spirit (1 Chron.
28:12). Phoenician artisans were employed
and wood was brought from Lebanon (2 Chron. 2:7, 8).
Ten thousand men were continually cutting wood in Lebanon. There were
eighty thousand stone cutters, seventy thousand carriers and thirty-three hundred foreman
(1 Kings 5:13-16). After seven years of work
the beautiful temple emerged (1 Kings 6:38). It
was very elaborate. The interior was covered with gold,
The wooden doors and floors were inlaid with gold. The wings of two huge cherubs spread across the
inner temple and touched either, tip to tip (1 Kings 6:23-28). Cherubim, palm trees and olive branches
were carved into the walls (1 Kings 6:29). All of this was accomplished in such a way
that no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was ever heard in the temple (1 Kings 6:7)!
If
Josephus is accurate he gives great insight into how magnificent the temple was. He indicates that there were 80,000 wine pots,
100,000 golden goblets, 80,000 silver goblets
Dedication of the Temple
While
all Israel was gathered for the dedication of the temple, the priests set the ark of the
covenant in place (1 Kings 8:6). At that time
the Could of the Presence, which had not been seen in many years, filled the temple. It was so overpowering that the priests had to
discontinue their duties and withdraw from the building (1 Kings 8:6-11). This is the same cloud that stood over the
tabernacle in the wilderness and led the Jews through the desert for forty years. Solomon
blessed the people (8:14-21), offered prayer (8:22-61) and sacrifices (8:62ff.). So many
sacrifices were offered that the altar could not contain them. Thus part of the courtyard
was turned into a temporary altar (8:64).
22,000 oxen sacrificed 120,000 sheep were sacrificed (8:63).
After
the building of the temple, God appeared to Solomon and warned him about the importance of keeping the covenant.
The Lord promised to bless or curse based upon whether Israel walks in faithfulness
(9:1-9). This was in accordance with the
promises and warnings of Moses, centuries before (cf.
Deuteronomy 27, 28).
The Apostacy of Solomon
The
downfall of David was a woman; the downfall of Solomon was seven hundred wives and three
hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:3). According to rabbinic tradition each of his wives and concubines fixed breakfast
every morning in hopes that the king would come and eat with her (Midrash, Ps. 50, 2
(140b)! Whether or not that is true, we
do know that Solomon went against the direct commands given by Moses concerning the future
kings of Israel. Not only were kings not to
amass silver or gold, as Solomon had done, neither were they to take many wives (Deut.
17:17). The reason for this prohibition was
that many wives would lead the king astray. As
a constant reminder to the king of these commandments,
he was to read a scroll containing these laws all the days of his reign
(Deut. 17:19).
Solomon's
harem was made up of women from many Gentile nations.
We are surely justified in the belief that many of these women belonged to Solomon
as a result of political and economic treaties. Daughters
of kings were often given to kings of other nations to seal a treaty. Foreign women
brought foreign religions and when Solomon was old his wives turned his heart away from
God and he worshipped pagan gods (1 Kings 11:4, 33).
The
same Solomon who built the temple for the Lord in Jerusalem also built a high place to the
Chemosh and Molech, the gods of the Ammonites (1 Kings 11:7). The worship of Ashtoreth was crude in the extreme. The anger of the Lord
burned against Israel soon after they entered the Promised Land because they turned to the
worship of this fertility goddess (Judges 2:13). Molech was also a snare. Molech was often worshipped through the burning of children alive. Was Solomon supportive of this type of worship?
The text does not say. But we do know that he
built a high place to Molech outside of Jerusalem, probably on the Mt. of Olives (1 Kings
11:7).
Prelude to the Division of Solomon's Kingdom
Because
the Lord was angry with Solomon he appeared to him and told him that after he was dead he
would tear part of the kingdom away from his son and give it to one of Solomon's subordinates. Only one tribe would be
left for Solomon's son (1 Kings 11:11-13). Centuries
earlier, during the period of the Judges, the Lord would discipline his people
Though Solomon was troubled by the surrounding nations, the biggest threat would come from Jeroboam, the one
to whom the Lord would give part of the kingdom after Solomon's death. Ahijah
the prophet of Shiloh met Jeroboam to tell him of the Lord's decision to give him a part
of Solomon's kingdom. The prophet tore his
garment into twelve pieces and gave ten to Jeroboam.
By this action he indicated to Jeroboam that the Lord would give him ten of
the tribes of Israel (1 Kings 11:29- 33). By
this method the Lord would humble the house of David, but not forever (1 Kings 11:39). These things were to happen after the death of
Solomon, but Jeroboam "jumped the gun" and became involved in some type of plot
to take control before the appointed time. We
can infer this from the statement that Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, who then fled to
Egypt. He remained there until the death of Solomon
(1 Kings 11:40).