I Kings 10-11 Lesson # 4

I. Introduction: chapter 9 records a series of Solomon’s building and shipping efforts. However, the chapter also gives a record of the LORD appearing to Solomon for a second time. Though Yahweh accepts Solomon’s prayer and temple, He makes clear that Solomon’s family staying on the throne and Israel staying blessed is contingent on obedience to the Law and keeping away from idolatry.

II. More records of Success: 10:1-29.

A. The visit of the Queen of Sheba: 10:1-13.

>>>>Have someone read I Kings 10:1-7.

Q Why did the queen visit to Solomon’s kingdom?

An = to ply him with questions, and he answered all that was on her heart. Then she saw his court and was taken aback.

Q Why was she positively impressed?

>>>>Have someone read I Kings 10:8-13

Q What impresses her in 10:8-9.

Q The queen gave Solomon gifts in 10:10 and Solomon gave her gifts in 10:13, why does the report of Hiram’s ships disrupt the description of gift giving?

An = Perhaps, the narrator wanted the readers to know that Solomon did not need her gifts because Hiram’s ships also brought gold, Almug trees and precious stones. Then in 10:14-15 even more gold is mentioned and that comes yearly.

B. A Further Description of Solomon’s Wealth: I Kings 10:14-29

>>>>Have someone read I Kings 10:14-22.

Note: In between the mention of international trade bringing wealth in 14-15 and in 22 the narrator describes the gold shields, the throne and gold drinking vessels. The narrator seems to tie this stock pile of gold to international trade.

>>>>Have someone read I Kings 10:23-29.

Q According to verse 23 in what two ways was Solomon greater than all the kings of the earth?

An = Solomon was greater in wealth and wisdom. Verse 24 mentioned that all sought his wisdom. Verse 25 speaks of the stream of tribute. Solomon’s huge chariot numbers and large Calvary are spoken of in verse 26 and in verse 27 Jerusalem was said to flow with gold, making silver common place. Then one more addition is curiously added: Solomon was in the horse and chariot business as a middle man between importing horses from Egypt and Cilicia and marketing them to the Hittites and Syrian kings (Dt. 17:16).

Q Would America view such a leader as a complete success?

C. An Assessment of Chapter Ten.

Break into Small Groups

>>>>Have someone in your group read I Kings 10:6-9

Q Was the Assessment of the Queen positive?

Q Did the Queen give credit to the LORD?

>>>>Have someone read I Kings 10: 23-25.

Q Did the narrator agree with the Queen’s assessment?

Q Was chapter 10 anti-materialistic?

>>>>Have someone read Proverbs 10:22.

Q On a totally different issue, was chapter 10 prophecy?

Note: Have everyone come together and discuss this last question and see this chapter from the standpoint of Psalm 72:8-11 and Isaiah 60:5-6.

III. Solomon’s Failure: I Kings 11:1-43

A. The Cause of Solomon’s Apostasy: I Kings 11:1-8

>>>>Have someone read I Kings 11:1-8.

Q Who truly influences a child religiously the most, the mother or the father? See also, Dt. 7:3-4 and Exodus 34:16

Note: In 11:2-4 five times it is recorded that Solomon’s heart changed from what it was in 3:3.

Q How is the god of the Ammonites spoken of in 11:7?

An = the name of the Ammonite Molech is preceded by the adjective: “detestible”.

>>>>Have someone read I Kings 14:21

Q What was the nationality of the mother of Rehoboam?

An = She was an Ammonitess. See verse 11:7. The seeds of the destruction of Solomon’s dynasty were sown early.

B. The Reaction of the LORD: I Kings 11:9-13.

>>>>Have someone read I Kings 11:9-13.

Q What was the punishment on Solomon?

An = the kingdom will be torn from you and given to one of your subordinates.

C. The Enemies North and South of the Kingdom of Israel: I Kings 11:14-25.

>>>>Have someone read I Kings 11:14-25.

Note: Show them on a map where Aram, Edom and Egypt are.

Q Who harbored Hadad of Edom?

An = The pharaoh in Egypt.

Q Who was the first foreign woman Solomon married so he would have peace on his southern borders.

An = Solomon’s first recorded international action was to make an alliance with Egypt and seal it by marrying a daughter of Pharaoh. He broke Torah instruction by marrying a foreign non-Jewish woman to secure political protection. Yet, it was this same Egypt that protected one of Solomon’s enemies.

Q Did it help Solomon when it counted?

Note: Rezon started out as a marauding bandit, but later became of the King of Damascus and thus the King of Syria or Aram. He later became the most substantial enemy Northern Israel had for many generations.

D. The Splitting of the Kingdom: I Kings 11:26-37.

>>>>Have someone read I Kings 11:26-28.

Q Over what tribe was Jeroboam placed over in controlling the labor force?

Q It appeared that all Israelites were in the building labor force, was it wise to put a man over the oppression of his own tribe?

>>>>Have someone read I Kings 11:29-33

Q When Ahijah speaks about the sign of torn clothes what story in I Samuel does this remind you of?

An = When Samuel announces that David’s line will replace Saul line. See I Samuel 15:26-27.

Q What is the mercy shown to Solomon’s lineage and why did God do it?

An = See 11:32. God does not forget loyalty.

Q Was Jeroboam shown by the prophet Ahijah why the 10 tribes were taken from Solomon’s heirs?

An = Yes, see verse 11:33. Jeroboam needed to know why Solomon’s lineage did not succeed, so he could learn how his lineage could be blessed.

Note: When Ahijah said Solomon kingdom would be torn, history proved the prophet right. Another was to say this is that God speaks and reality or history is created. God created the world with His voice in Genesis 1 and throughout Joshua, Judges, I and II Samuel and I and II Kings, the repeated theme is that God speaks and history conforms. History is in God’s hands and under His control.

>>>>Have someone read I Kings 11:37-40.

Q Which nation sheltered Jeroboam when Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam?

An = Again it was Egypt and it was Jeroboam that was the pivotal leader that deprived Solomon’s lineage of control over the majority of the kingdom of Israel. Smart political moves are not so smart if to do them we break God’s laws (3:1).

>>>>Have someone read I Kings 3:1.

>>>>Have someone read I Kings 11:41-43.

IV. Conclusion

Q Why did God leave 2 tribes to the line of Solomon?

An = God had made other promises to David and though he judged Solomon, God did not abandon His promises to David. Davis (123) says the message at the end of chapter 11 is judgment with two restrictions: not now (until Solomon died) and not all (2 tribes were left).

Note: Verse 11:39 promises that God will eventually restore the Davidic line: or as Davis says (123) “affliction but not abandonment. The rays of hope flicker from behind the clouds of judgment”.

Note: Chapter 11 is a sad report of a man who did not end well. His seeds of his demise were planted early in his reign, but repentance could have changed things as it did with David’s mistakes.

The greatest thing we can leave our children is not wealth, success and a wonderful reputation, but a life of obedience to God’s will. This is true of wealthy businessman or powerful religious leaders.