1 KINGS LESSON 16


     We will begin this lesson in I Kings 11:23  "And God stirred him
up [another] adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his
lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:"

     In the last lesson, we saw Hadad as an adversary. Now, we see
Rezon. When David defeated Hadadezer, Rezon fled with some of the men
and began again in Damascus. It was from here, that he became
adversary to Solomon.

     I Kings 11:24 "And he gathered men unto him, and became captain
over a band, when David slew them [of Zobah]: and they went to
Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus."

     David had defeated Damascus, just before Rezon took over, and set
himself up as king.

     I Kings 11:25 "And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of
Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad [did]: and he abhorred Israel,
and reigned over Syria."

     Both Hadad and Rezon hated Israel, and particularly, Solomon.
Rezon ruled over Syria at the time he harassed Solomon.

     I Kings 11:26  "And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of
Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name [was] Zeruah, a widow
woman, even he lifted up [his] hand against the king."

     This is the beginning of the fulfillment of the servant taking
over the kingdom. Ephraim was always in opposition to Judah. We see,
that he was, indeed, the servant of Solomon. The name "Jeroboam" means
whose people are many.

     I Kings 11:27 "And this [was] the cause that he lifted up [his]
hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, [and] repaired the
breaches of the city of David his father."

     This was one of the cities that Solomon built, during the 20
years of building he did. It appears, he built a wall around the city
to ward off invaders. Jeroboam was opposed to the building of the
wall.

     I Kings 11:28 "And the man Jeroboam [was] a mighty man of valour:
and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him
ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph."

     It appears, Solomon was unaware that Jeroboam was opposed to him,
and made him ruler over the house of Joseph. He was industrious, and a
good fighter, and Solomon thought he was loyal.

     I Kings 11:29 "And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam
went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him
in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two
[were] alone in the field:" I Kings 11:30 "And Ahijah caught the new
garment that [was] on him, and rent it [in] twelve pieces:"

     Jeroboam had on his new garment, denoting his elevated office
that Solomon had given him. It appears, that the prophet, Nathan, is
dead at this time, and Ahijah becomes active as a prophet. We know
that the twelve pieces of the garment symbolize the twelve tribes of
Israel.  Them being torn apart symbolize the separation of the tribes
into fragments.

     I Kings 11:31 "And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for
thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the
kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:"

     The ten tribes are all, except Judah and Benjamin. The ten pieces
that he takes shows that the ten tribes will be in the hands of
Jeroboam. Solomon had offended God, and God will take the kingdom from
him.

     I Kings 11:32 "(But he shall have one tribe for my servant
David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen
out of all the tribes of Israel:)"

     The one tribe he is speaking of is Judah, where the city of
Jerusalem is, and the tribe that Jesus will be from. Actually,
Benjamin and Judah both control Jerusalem, so that is why they both
make up the tribe of Judah. The only reason that God had spared Judah,
is because of His love for David. He, also, wanted to spare Jerusalem,
the holy city.

     I Kings 11:33 "Because that they have forsaken me, and have
worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of
the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have
not walked in my ways, to do [that which is] right in mine eyes, and
[to keep] my statutes and my judgments, as [did] David his father."

     One of the reasons the prophet mentions this, again, is to remind
Jeroboam that they had better not fall into this same evil sin. God
still loves David, and reminds them that David never stopped loving
God.

     I Kings 11:34 "Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of
his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for
David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments
and my statutes:"

     Solomon would remain prince, as long as he lived, because God was
showing favor to David. As we said before, David sinned, but he never
stopped wanting to be obedient to God in his heart.

     I Kings 11:35 "But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand,
and will give it unto thee, [even] ten tribes."  I Kings 11:36 "And
unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a
light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to
put my name there."

     The light spoken of was more like a coal at this point. The Light
of all the world will come through the tribe of Judah in just a few
years. Jesus is the Light of the world. God never breaks his covenant.

     I Kings 11:37 "And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign
according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over
Israel."

     At the time this verse is speaking of, there were no more twelve
tribes of Israel. There were ten tribes of Israel and two of Judah.
Jeroboam had desired to be king of Israel. Now, he will have his wish.

     I Kings 11:38 "And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all
that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do [that is] right
in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my
servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as
I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee."

     Jeroboam had a chance to be great, and be over the ten tribes of
Israel. God had offered him the same thing He offered Solomon. God
wants him to keep his commandments. God offered him the opportunity to
be a king with a sure house.

     I Kings 11:39 "And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but
not for ever."

     The chastisement that the LORD sends on Solomon will not be
forever. In Jesus Christ, the everlasting kingdom will be set up.

     I Kings 11:40 "Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And
Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and
was in Egypt until the death of Solomon."

     It would be impossible for Solomon not to find out about this.
Solomon would try to kill Jeroboam, so that he would not take over as
king of Israel. Solomon is still very powerful at this time. Jeroboam
runs to Egypt for safety. Shishak gives refuge to Jeroboam. Jeroboam
remains in Egypt, until Solomon dies.

     I Kings 11:41  "And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that
he did, and his wisdom, [are] they not written in the book of the acts
of Solomon?"

     This is mentioned again in II Chronicles 9:29  "Now the rest of
the acts of Solomon, first and last, [are] they not written in the
book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the
Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the
son of Nebat?"  These books are unknown for the Christian. We will not
assume things we are not sure of.

     I Kings 11:42 "And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem
over all Israel [was] forty years."

     The number "40 symbolizes a time of testing. I will not make any
assumptions, but it is interesting to me, that Saul reigned 40 years,
David reigned 40 years, and Solomon reigned 40 years. The 40 year
reign of Solomon was one of the most spectacular of all history.
Riches, fame, and worldly wisdom do not put you in right standing with
God. All He ever wanted was for His people to love Him, and keep His
commandments.

     I Kings 11:43 "And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried
in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his
stead."

     We are not told exactly how old Solomon was, when he died. I do
not believe he lived to be very old, however. We do not hear of him
dying in his old age. He was buried in a tomb of honor with his
father, David, in Jerusalem. Rehoboam ruled over Judah and Benjamin,
which was called Judah.



































                        1 Kings 16 Questions


1.  Who was the adversary God stirred up, mentioned in verse 23.
2.  Where did he reign?
3.  How long was he an adversary of Israel?
4.  Jeroboam the son of __________.
5.  What tribe was he from?
6.  Why was he an enemy of Solomon?
7.  What kind of man was Jeroboam?
8.  How many years was Solomon building?
9.  What prophet searched out Jeroboam?
10. What did he do with Jeroboam's new garment?
11. How many pieces would Jeroboam take?
12. Why was the tribe of Judah saved out separately?
13. What was God so angry with them about?
14. Why does the LORD mention the sin to Jeroboam?
15. Why would Solomon remain prince for as long as he lived?
16. What would David always have in Jerusalem?
17. What promise did the LORD make to Jeroboam?
18. In _________ _____, the everlasting kingdom will be set up.
19. Where are the rest of the acts of Solomon written?
20. How long did Solomon reign?
21. Where did he reign?
22. What does the number "40" symbolize?
23. How long did Saul reign?
24. How long did David reign?
25. Where was Solomon buried?