The writer brought Solomon's weaknesses and sins, to which he only hinted previously, into the light in this chapter. Solomon had sown some seeds of departure from God and His Word early in his reign. They bore bitter fruit as he grew older.
The writer's condemnation of Solomon in verses 1-2 rests on Deuteronomy 23:3-9 as well as Deuteronomy 7:3-4. The phraseology goes back to 23:3-9 and the motive to 7:3-4 (cf. Exod. 23:31-33; 34:15-16; Ezra 9:1; Neh. 13:26). Solomon's foreign wives were of two categories: Canaanites prohibited in Deuteronomy 7, and women from other nations prohibited in Deuteronomy 23.111Furthermore, God specifically forbade the multiplying of wives by Israel's kings (Deut. 17:17). Solomon violated both the letter and the spirit of the Law.112
Solomon's harem of 700 wives and 300 concubines (secondary wives, not mistresses, v. 3) was the largest of any Israelite king. The next largest was Rehoboam's 18 wives and 60 concubines (2 Chron. 11:21). David had 15 wives (2 Sam. 3:2-5; 5:13-16; 11:27; 1 Chron. 3:1-9) and several concubines (2 Sam. 15:16). Apparently only one of David's wives was a foreigner (2 Sam. 13:37; 1 Chron. 3:2).
"The large number resulted from political alliances, sealed by marriage, with neigbouring [sic] states: Moab, Ammon and Edom to the east; Sidon, through the treaty with Hiram (5:1), and Syria (Hittites' and Arameans, 10:22) to the north. . . . These are cited as examples . . ."113
Solomon did not abandon Yahweh, but he worshipped the gods of the nations along with Him (syncretism; vv. 4, 6). His sin was that his heart (affections) went after false gods (v. 4). He did not follow Yahweh fully (exclusively, v. 6; cf. Exod. 20:3; Deut. 30:15-20). Solomon was noteworthy for his love for God when he began reigning (3:3), but at the end of his reign love for women characterized him (v. 1).
Ashtoreth was the Canaanite fertility goddess whose worship involved licentious rites and the worship of the stars. Molech worship included human sacrifice, even the sacrifice of children (cf. Lev. 18:21; 20:1-5). Chemosh worship was equally cruel. Solomon at least tolerated idolatrous worship if he did not actively promote it. The mountain east of Jerusalem to which verse 7 refers was traditionally south of the Mount of Olives. However it could have been the Mount of Olives in view of what the text says. Evidently Solomon felt compelled to support the worship of his foreign wives whom he had married to secure political alliances. One sin led to others as always happens.
"In the ancient world polytheists tended to worship the gods of nations who had conquered their armies or at least the gods of countries more powerful than their own. Ironically, Solomon worships the gods of people he has conquered and already controls. What could he possibly gain from such activity? The whole episode makes no sense, just as idolatry itself makes no sense."114
Solomon's sin in going after other gods was the quintessence of covenant infidelity. David had sinned against God deliberately (2 Sam. 11), but his heart remained devoted to Yahweh. His sin was not as serious as Solomon's was (cf. Deut. 6:5).
The one tribe Solomon's heir would retain was Judah. Judah had absorbed the tribe of Simeon almost entirely by this time, though some Israelites from Simeon had moved north (2 Chron. 15:9; 34:6).
Hadad hated Solomon because of Joab's severe treatment of the Edomites. He may have been a relation of Solomon's by marriage. Pharaoh Siamun apparently gave his daughter to Solomon in marriage and his sister-in-law to Hadad (v. 19).
Rezon also had reason to oppose Solomon (vv. 23-25). The Lord raised up both these men to bring judgment on Solomon (v. 14).
Jeroboam, who would become the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was from Ephraim, the most prominent tribe in the North (v. 26).
Part of Benjamin affiliated voluntarily with Judah eventually (v. 32; cf. 12:21; 2 Chron. 11:1, 10; 15:2, 9; Ezra 4:1). Really parts of two tribes joined the kingdom of Judah: Simeon and Benjamin.116The reference to 10 northern tribes evidently included the nine remaining tribes plus either Benjamin or Simeon, whichever provided the majority of its tribe to support the Northern Kingdom. This appears to have been Simeon (cf. 2 Chron. 15:9; 34:6). Levi did not figure in either group.
"Tenas the number of completeness and totality is placed in contrast with one, to indicate that all Israel was to be torn away from the house of David, as is stated in ch. xii. 20 . . ."117
David's lamp (v. 36) refers to his descendant on the throne (cf. 2 Sam. 21:17).118
God's conditional promise to Jeroboam was similar to His promises to Saul (1 Sam. 13:13), to David (2 Sam. 7:11, 27), and to Solomon (9:4-7).
God would afflict the descendants of David (v. 39) until He raised up Messiah when all Israel would come under His authority as it had been under David and Solomon's authority.119
The reference to Shishak king of Egypt (v. 40) is the first to identify a Pharaoh by name in the Bible. Shishak later invaded Jerusalem during Rehoboam's reign (14:25-26).
The writer of Kings referred to other ancient records (v. 41; cf. 14:19, 29). The Acts of Solomon was the first of these.120It 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.
"What is the image of Solomon which emerges from the narrative? He was the divinely chosen descendent (8:20) of a divinely chosen ruler (8:16), reigning in a divinely chosen city (8:44, 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 (4:20-5:8 [4:20-28]). His building projects were on a grand scale, encompassing sanctuary and palace (chap. 6), fortress and store-city (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 (5:9-14 [4:29-34], chap. 10)."121
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 did, but Solomon acted as though he did less than David did. 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."122
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.
