Thursday, February 9, 2012

ISRAEL'S POSTEXILIC HISTORY: LESSON 17 NOTES


LESSON 17: A QUEEN COMES TO JERUSALEM—REHOBOAM AND THE KINGDOM (2 CHR. 9-11)

CHAPTER 9:1-12 – THE VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA
This visit is also recounted in 1 Kings 10:1-13.

[A]
[T]he fascinating queen of Sheba story, which has stimulated endless elaboration in the literature of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and modern books and movies. Writers have concocted her name, her hard questions, her conversion to monotheism, her romantic seduction of the king, and her progeny by him. Here is an anonymous Arabian queen who heard of Solomon's wisdom and traveled with a retinue of camels bearing tribute fifteen hundred hazardous miles in order to "prove" him with hard questions or riddles. She was not disappointed (2 Chr. 9:2-6)! Like the Samaritans who believed, not just because of the words of the woman at the well, but because they had come to see and hear the Christ in John 4, the queen declared: "Behold, the half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: thou exceedest the fame that I heard" (2 Chr. 9:6).[1]

Sheba was located in Arabia some fifteen hundred miles south of Jerusalem. It was at the southern extremity of the Red Sea and north of the Indian Ocean. The kind of gifts that she brought would indicate that she had an abundance of wealth at her disposal. Her primary concern was to prove Solomon’s wisdom. This is a good commentary on Jehovah’s promise to give Solomon a wise and an understanding heart. The Arabians found pleasure in riddles, proverbs, in matters pertaining to natural history. The Queen was disposed to doubt that anyone could be as wise as Solomon was heralded to be. The caravan which accompanied the Queen was one of great splendor. Camels were loaded with spices, gold (120 talents -- $642 million in 2010 dollars), and precious stones. Spices were often more precious than gold itself. The gifts she brought were of inestimable value.[2]

In all of the intellectual matters Solomon passed every test and the time came when the royal guest “had seen the wisdom of Solomon.” While she was in Jerusalem, Solomon showed her his house (the Temple and the whole range of palaces). “The ascent” (verse 4) probably refers to the architectual device of winding stairs which provided access to the second and third stories of rooms built in the Temple wall. She paid particular attention to the banquet food, the servants and their dress. The Queen confessed that what she had heard about Solomon’s wisdom was so unbelievable that she could not accept it unless she could personally confirm it. She was most complimentary in her evaluation. “Thou exceedest the fame that I heard.” “The half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me.” In the name of Solomon’s God the Queen of Sheba blessed Solomon and his people. Prophetically she spoke of a reign of justice and righteousness and of Israel’s being established forever.[3]

She and Solomon exchanged gifts. He gave her “all her desire.” When her delightful visit was complete she returned to her own land bearing lavish treasures from Israel. The chronicler records the fact that the Ophir navy also brought much gold, precious stones and algum trees into the land of Israel. The algum trees were native to India and were of excellent texture for exquisite woodwork, especially for making musical instruments. These were days of wonderful prosperity in Israel.[4]

Jesus declared: "The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here" (Mat. 12:42). Though perhaps involving commercial interests (Isa. 60:6; Jer. 6:20; Mat. 2:11), surely she did not come merely to exchange trivial secular riddles, but for deeper spiritual truths! Unlike the Jews to whom Christ spoke, this Gentile queen made her way, at great effort, sacrifice, and humility, to the best source of truth available to her (cf. Mat. 5:6; 6:19-21; 7:7-8; Luke 9-14). I know unbelievers and even brethren who will cruise miles for a music concert or to a theme park, but will not attend a Gospel meeting nearby![5]

Many today both in and out of the church also take their religion for granted without ever testing to see if it is true (1 The. 5:21; Mat. 15:1-13; 1 John 4:1), but not this queen. Jesus' critics had seen His confirmatory miracles – but either ascribed such signs to Beelzebub or had the nerve to ask for "one more" – while the queen accepted the truths that Solomon told her (2 Chr. 9:2, 5) without miraculous evidence. Upon seeing Solomon's light shining before men and his good works she blessed God's people and glorified the Father Who is in Heaven (Matt. 5:16). The Chronicler gently used her words to remind his readers of what Solomon forgot (1 Chr. 9:7-8): God's love for Israel gave him his power, wisdom, and wealth, delighting in him and setting him on His throne to be king, not for his own selfish desires, but "for Jehovah thy God ... to do justice and righteousness." She then gave enough gold, precious stones, and spices (in addition to things received from Ophir) to put most Israelites (and Christians) to shame, before departing to her own pagan land (2 Chr. 9:9-12).[6]

CHAPTER 9:13-28 – SOLOMON’S WEALTH AND WISDOM

The annual tribute was six hundred and sixty six talents of gold. This cannot be accurately figured in terms of our currency, but may have amounted to as much as $3.5 billion in 2010 dollars. In addition to this there were several other important sources of revenue in connection with commerce. The national income far exceeded expenditures. Solomon had the excess gold fashioned into shields which could be properly displayed in the great military museum in the house of the Forest of Lebanon. The “buckler” was a large oblong shield designed to protect the entire body of a warrior. Two hundred of these shields were fashioned. Each shield contained six hundred shekels of gold. Three hundred shields were fashioned each of which contained three hundred shekels of gold. There were thirty six hundred shekels of gold in each talent of gold. These shields represented values from $12,300 to $25,300 in 2010 dollars. They remained in the great military house until they were carried away by Shishak, King of Egypt (I Kings 14:26), in the fifth year of king Rehoboam. Solomon’s throne was a worthy seat for the great king.[7] Ivory was imported from Africa and India. This material was used in the basic construction. It was beautiful in its own right; however this beauty was enhanced by a gold overlay. The throne was elevated. It was fashioned with arms and was provided with a foot-rest of gold. The lion was the symbol of kingly power, This animal was the peculiar symbol that pertained to the tribe of Judah. The arm rests on the throne may have been fashioned like a lion. Whether there were twelve or twenty-four lions fashioned to guard the steps is difficult to determine, The number “twelve” or its double would represent all of the tribes of Israel. The uniqueness of the throne is emphasized by the chronicler. In these days of unrivaled prosperity all of the appointments for Solomon’s personal quarters and for state ceremonies were made of gold, It is possible that this luxurious living had much to do in turning Solomon away from Jehovah.[8]

“The kings of the earth” (verses 22, 23) were those who reigned in territories from Egypt to the Euphrates River. Jehovah had kept His promise. Solomon was the wisest of all and he had great wealth at his disposal. The kinds of goods considered valuable are listed in verse 24-silver, gold, raiment, armor, spices, horses and mules. Solomon was renowned for his chariotry installations. These were necessary from a military standpoint to protect various sections of Israel’s territory. Four thousand stalls for horses and twelve thousand horsemen composed this select service.[9] This was in sharp contrast with Israel’s lack of such resources when Joshua first brought them into Canaan. Solomon procured the horses and chariots from Egypt. The prosperity of Israel is described proverbially in verse 27 when the writer indicates that silver was like stones and cedar trees were as plentiful as sycamores in Jerusalem.[10], [11]

In 2 Chr. 9:13-31, with the post-exilic reader in mind and before the sad end of the king (1 Kings 11:1-25) and kingdom (2 Chr. 10-12), the author contrasted later austerity with this period in which Solomon "exceeded all the kingdoms of the earth in riches and wisdom" and "all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart" (2 Chr. 9:22-23). Foreign stallions from Egypt (2 Chr. 9:28) plus imported exotica from Tarshish such as ivory, apes, and peacocks (2 Chr. 9:21) flowed into the nation as it reached it's physical zenith (2 Chr. 9:26). All of this merely foreshadowed the nation's true apogee when all kings and all nations would fall down and serve the restored Davidic King (Psa. 72:10-11,15; Mat. 28:18). With gifts in hand of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the Magi from the east fell down before the baby Jesus (Mat. 2:1-12; cf. Isa. 60:5-6), Who came to rule over His spiritual kingdom, the church (Dan. 2:44; Acts 2:30; Col. 1:13).[12]

[B]
CHAPTER 9:29-31 – SOLOMON’S DEATH AND SUCCESSOR

Like his father before him, Solomon’s reign reached through forty years. While no adverse word is recorded here, the first twenty four years of Solomon’s reign were productive of much good; but the last sixteen years found Solomon rebelling against Jehovah in every conceivable way. “And Solomon slept with his fathers,” the Bible says. Certainly he was one of God’s choice men; but he died. This experience awaits the wise man and the fool alike. It is of the utmost importance that every person be faithful to God until he dies. At the time of David’s death a royal cemetery was established at Jerusalem. Solomon was buried with all of the honors that were due him as king of Israel. By Jehovah’s grace, Solomon’s successor to the throne was Rehoboam, the king’s only son.[13]

How could this mighty king dedicate the temple to the One God yet fall to the point of building altars whereby little children were slain and their tiny bodies placed (often by their own parents) on the heated arms of Molech (1 Kings 11:5-8; Lev. 18:21; cf. Ahaz in 2 Chr. 28:3 and Manasseh in 2 Kings 21:6)? How can an American President (1) swear (with hand-on-the-Bible) his oath of office, claim to be a Christian, regularly attend worship services, and use Scriptures in speeches while promoting abortion-on-demand (whereby tiny babies are gruesomely murdered and parts used for experiments), (2) push "Russian roulette" sex education and free contraceptives in the schools, and (3) (in addition to encouraging them in the military) appoint known homosexuals and lesbians to office? The terminology of FOCA (Freedom Of Choice Act) regarding abortion, the pitching of sodomy in terms of "equality and civil rights," and the fact that people (even some Christians) were swayed, by constant brainwashing on the economy, to vote their "pocketbooks" should not be missed by the perceptive reader who knows hedonism when he sees it![14]

CHAPTER 10 – REHOBOAM’S HARSH RULE AND JEROBOAM’S REVOLUTION

Rehoboam steps onto the scene now. The son of Solomon, he goes to Shechem to be appointed king. Why to Shechem? This is unknown, but possibly it was the people as one commentary writes: “This ancient, venerable, and central town was the place of convocation; and it is evident, if not from the appointment of that place, at least from the tenor of their language, and the concerted presence of Jeroboam (1Kin. 12:3), that the people were determined on revolt.”[15]

[C]

In any case this man shows the short-sightedness many “young” people have. He meets the people properly at first, listening to their complaint presented by the rebel leader Jeroboam (1 Kin. 11:26ff)—see verses 3-4. He continues to show promise as a leader when he asks them for a three day “research period.” In that time he shows what a true leader should do—he seeks counsel. First, he hears the counsel of the “old men” who tell him to “give in to their demands and they will support you.” He then turns to the counsel of his peers, the “young men,” who tell him to “put the hammer down.” Rehoboam’s short-sightedness comes out in seeing him rely on the counsel of the “young men” rather than the counsel of the “old men.” Does this mean we should listen only to the counsel given by old men? No by far! It means that we should always weigh any counsel given to us by the principles and guidance of the “Ancient of Days.” What had he warned the kings long before there was a king? “(20) That his heart be not lifted up above his brethrem…” (Deu. 17:20).


Like America's present civil administration and many congregations of God's people, he rejected the wiser, sensible counsel of older, more experienced men from an earlier generation (2 Chr. 10:2-6), who urged him to be a servant-type leader more in line with New Testament teaching (1 Pet. 2-3; Mat. 20:20-28). Just because his rejection of their advice is said to have been brought about by God (2 Chr. 10:15), this does not mean the king had no choice in the matter, any more than Jesus' foreknowledge of the Jews' rejection of Him meant they had no choice in that matter (Matt. 23:37-38; Acts 2:23). God al-ways knows what men will freely choose to do, but uses indirect influences in relationship to that free will to accomplish His sovereign will.[16]

[D]

"Power" to Rehoboam was force to be exercised "roughly" with no regard for feelings or an understanding of the situation (2 Chr. 10:13). He was so ignorant that he sent the man in charge of labor up north to his death (2 Chr. 10:18), and it took the Word of the Lord to stop him from trying to force his brethren to serve him (2 Chr. 11:1-4). He could not possibly have given a worse reply to the northern tribes had he intentionally wished to split the kingdom, thereby opening the door for four hundred years of strife and leading eventually to the destruction of the entire nation.[17]

Jeroboam is setup as king over the ten northern tribes, Israel, and Rehoboam maintains leadership of Benjamin and Judah. Rehoboam accepted this split on God’s command in 2 Chronicles 11:3-4.

CHAPTER 11—REHOBOAM BUILDS STRONGHOLDS


Rehoboam begins to establish the kingdom, at first intending to stop the splitting of the kingdom with a civil war, but as already mentioned he submits to God’s desires and accepts the splitting of the nation in verses 3-4.

For a period of three years (v. 17) Rehoboam is the kind of king he should be, he strengthens the cities, accepts the priests and Levites (those that want to be true to God) from Israel—for Jeroboam “ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves he had made” (v. 15). Jeroboam set up Baal worship in Bethel (southern border of his kingdom) and Dan (northern frontier of the kingdom). He determined to make religion convenient for his people, He did not want them to return to the Temple in Jerusalem. He made priests out of any who wanted to serve without regard to Levitical connection (1 Kings 12:28-33). He changed the date for the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles from the seventh month and the fifteenth day to the eighth month and the fifteenth day. He set up idolatry throughout his kingdom. Reacting to these developments, priests and Levites and a remnant of representatives from the northern tribes moved into Judah and the southern kingdom.[18] What an example this should be for us today. How many souls have been lost when to congregations turning from truth and people not wanting to leave where they have “always lived” even though the leaders have been as Jeroboam. Or the example it should be to us to ensure that our young people understand the preciousness of God’s church and ways before they are lead away in denominationalism by those around them—just as the northern kingdom was!


[A] Thomas C. Brisco. Holman Bible Atlas. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998.
[B] Logos Bible Software. Logos Bible Software Infographics. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009.
[C] Thomas C. Brisco. Holman Bible Atlas. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998.
[D] Ibid.
[1] Terry M. Hightower. “The Grandeur of Solomon’s Reign; the Kingdom was Divided” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles. Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993. 
[2] Robert E. Black. The Books of Chronicles in Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991. 
[3] Ibid. 
[4] Ibid. 
[5] Terry M. Hightower. “The Grandeur of Solomon’s Reign; the Kingdom was Divided” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles. Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993. 
[6] Ibid. 
[7] Adam Clarke. A Commentary and Critical Notes, Vol. II, p. 648. 
[8] Robert E. Black. The Books of Chronicles in Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991. 
[9] Gleason G. Archer, Jr. A Survey of Old testament Introduction, p. 394. 
[10] W. A. L. Elmslie. The Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. III, p. 469. 
[11] Robert E. Black. The Books of Chronicles in Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991. 
[12] Terry M. Hightower. “The Grandeur of Solomon’s Reign; the Kingdom was Divided” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles. Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993. 
[13] Robert E. Black. The Books of Chronicles in Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.
[14] Terry M. Hightower. “The Grandeur of Solomon’s Reign; the Kingdom was Divided” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles. Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.
[15] Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown. A Commentary on the Old Testament. From e-Sword.
[16] Terry M. Hightower. “The Grandeur of Solomon’s Reign; the Kingdom was Divided” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles. Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.
[17] Terry M. Hightower. “The Grandeur of Solomon’s Reign; the Kingdom was Divided” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles. Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.
[18] Robert E. Black. The Books of Chronicles in Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.

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