1 Kings 11:41-43

Solomon’s death 11:41-43

The writer of Kings referred to other ancient records (1 Kings 11:41; cf. 1 Kings 14:19; cf. 1 Kings 14:29). The Acts of Solomon was the first of these. [Note: J. Liver, "The Book of the Acts of Solomon," Biblica 48:1 (1967):75-101.] It is no longer extant. Solomon’s long reign of 40 years (971-931 B.C.) ended with the king in decline both spiritually and politically. [Note: See Rodger C. Young, "When Did Solomon Die?" Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 46:4 (December 2003):589-603.]

"What is the image of Solomon which emerges from the narrative? He was the divinely chosen descendent (1 Kings 8:20) of a divinely chosen ruler (1 Kings 8:16), reigning in a divinely chosen city (1 Kings 8:44; 1 Kings 8:48). He was a righteous judge (chap. 3) and an efficient administrator (chap. 4). He ruled extensive territory and promoted the peace of his realm and the prosperity of his people (1 Kings 4:20 to 1 Kings 5:8 [1 Kings 4:20-28]). His building projects were on a grand scale, encompassing sanctuary and palace (chap. 6), fortress and store-city (1 Kings 9:15-19). He pursued an active commercial policy and indulged in a conspicuous display of wealth (chap. 10). The key to his success was his divinely endowed wisdom. He was wiser than all men and all came to see and behold and leave their tribute (1 Kings 5:9-14 [1 Kings 4:29-34], chap. 10)." [Note: Porten, pp. 113-114.]

"Few figures are more difficult to evaluate than Solomon, and that not merely because the records concerning him are neither so full as could be wished nor in chronological order. He was obviously a man of great astuteness who was able to realize to the fullest the economic potentialities of the empire created by David. At the same time, he exhibited in other areas a blindness, not to say a stupidity, that hastened that empire toward disintegration." [Note: Bright, p. 190.]

Solomon, Saul, and David each reigned 40 years. Saul was God’s anointed only because the people demanded a king. David and Solomon were God’s anointed because the Lord elected them as His sons. Saul never really appreciated his role as Yahweh’s servant. David and Solomon both appreciated their servant roles, but Solomon acted as though he appreciated his less than David did his. David had a heart for God that he maintained throughout his lifetime. Solomon also had a heart for God, but he failed to maintain it. Saul’s reign was a tragedy, David’s was a triumph, and Solomon’s was both.

"If he [Solomon] partly escapes Saul’s condemnation, he quite fails of David’s commendation." [Note: Baxter, 2:87.]

In the lives of all three men, the writers of Scripture have carefully pointed out how their responses to God’s grace and His Law determined their destinies. Because they were the leaders of the nation, what befell them also affected their kingdoms.

The man best qualified to live life successfully, Solomon, chose not to do so. Success in life from God’s viewpoint does not come automatically with the gift of wisdom, but when one applies wisdom to one’s life. Spiritual success depends on choices as well as understanding.

II. THE DIVIDED KINGDOM 1 Kings 12 -2 Kings 17

The second major part of the Book of Kings records the histories of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. [Note: See the chart "Kings of Judah and Israel and the Preexilic Prophets" in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, p. 513. See also the map "The Divided Monarchy" in Merrill, Kingdom of . . ., p. 317, for the locations of many places referred to in the text.] During this era of 209 years (931-722 B.C.) the two kingdoms experienced differing relations with one another. For 57 years (931-874 B.C.) they were antagonistic (1 Kings 12:1 to 1 Kings 16:28). Then for the next 33 years (874-841 B.C.) they were allies (1 Kings 16:29 -2 Kings 9:29). Then renewed antagonism erupted and continued for the final 119 years (841-722 B.C.; 2 Kings 9:30 to 2 Kings 17:41).

Throughout this history the writer’s purpose continued to be what it had been: to demonstrate that failure to honor the Mosaic Covenant brings ruin and destruction, but obedience brings blessing. This is clear from the material he chose to record. While he gave a basic historical record of the period, he departed often from official matters to record events that have theological and practical significance. He also gave more information about the Northern Kingdom of Israel than he did about the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The reverse emphasis appears in 1 and 2 Chronicles.

"In the books of Kings in general there are some forty instances where a prophet or prophetess plays a part in the narrative or delivers a message from Yahweh." [Note: N. H. Wallace, "The Oracles Against the Israelite Dynasties in 1 and 2 Kings," Biblica 67:1 (1986):21.]

It is interesting that there were also 40 kings in both kingdoms.