Day 63 Reading Schedule: 1 Kings 10- 14

1 Kings 10: Solomon's Golden Age

[Summary]

Solomon carried out many construction projects in a relatively short period of time after ascending to the throne. He also brought wealth to the kingdom that Israel had never experienced before through active trade. As a result, Israel, a newly emerging power whose national power was growing day by day, came to occupy a central position superior to other surrounding countries. This chapter records the Queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon (vv. 1-13), Solomon's amazing wealth (vv. 14-22), Solomon's gifts (vv. 23-25), and Solomon's chariots (vv. 26-29). However, Solomon's wealth recorded in this chapter is followed by his downfall. This is because Solomon's wisdom came from God, but Solomon turned his attention away from God and began to focus on wealth and honor.

[Explanation]

Solomon's wealth and honor were widely known along with God's name (see 1 Kings 4:34).  This was like a sign of God's blessing, so the Queen of Sheba came to Solomon to confirm whether Solomon was truly worthy of God's blessing. Eventually, the Queen of Sheba confirmed this fact, praised God, and paid tribute to Solomon by offering him a huge gift. 

1 Kings 11: Solomon's Fall

[Summary]

This chapter is the last chapter introducing Solomon's reign. Unfortunately, this last chapter shows Solomon's fall and downfall. Although the full-scale judgment on Solomon's fall is postponed to Solomon's next reign, the rebellions and treason of various enemies who caused Solomon pain are mentioned in this chapter. Solomon, who had a political marriage with a foreign country to stabilize his power, allowed his foreign concubines to worship idols, which brought about religious corruption in Israel (verses 1-8). In response, God foretold Solomon that the judgment of the division of the kingdom would come in later generations (verses 9-13).  In addition, God caused Solomon to suffer by raising up Hadad the Edomite and Rezon the son of Eliada to rebel (vv. 14-25). He continued to send the prophet Ahijah to prophesy that He would give Jeroboam ten tribes in the future. As a result, Jeroboam fled to Egypt (vv. 26-40), and finally Solomon died, and his son Rehoboam became king (vv. 41-43). 

[Explanation] 

God sometimes warned Solomon not to fall into the trap of wealth and honor (cf. 1 Kings 2:1-4; 1 Kings 8). However, Solomon, who had everything, began to walk down the path of corruption at some point. This chapter shows Solomon's corruption and its consequences in detail. 

1 Kings 12: Division of the Kingdom 

[Summary] 

This chapter records the division of the kingdom after Solomon. This division of the kingdom was the result of God's judgment that had already been foretold in relation to Solomon's sins.  First, Rehoboam's oppressive politics are recorded (verses 1-15), and when Jeroboam appeared as the king of Israel, the kingdom began to divide (verses 16-20). Then, God's mediation of the conflict between the southern kingdom of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel (verses 21-24) and the sacrificial system of the northern kingdom of Israel are recorded (verses 25-33). The division of the kingdom as shown in the text is due to Israel's corruption, but it is ultimately God's providence. God accomplishes His plan and will even through the division of the kingdom. 

[Explanation] 

The consequences of Solomon's crime began to appear in reality. In other words, the kingdom of Israel began to divide. Solomon's son, Rehoboam, made foolish decisions and accelerated the division of the kingdom. In the end, Rehoboam ended up ruling the southern kingdom of Judah centered on the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and Jeroboam ended up ruling the northern kingdom of Israel centered on the ten tribes. 

 1 Kings 13: Jeroboam and God's Love

[Summary]

This chapter mentions the incident involving Jeroboam's golden calf altar at Bethel. The significance of this incident is Jeroboam's stubbornness that did not change despite this incident. The content of this chapter records the warning of the man of God (verses 1-10) and the mistake of the man of God (verses 11-19). In addition, the end of the man of God is recorded (verses 20-32), and Jeroboam's continued corruption is revealed (verses 33-34). This chapter shows God's disgust and anger toward the golden calf altar at Bethel.

[Explanation]

Jeroboam's idolatry was rebuked by a prophet sent by God. At this time, Jeroboam did not repent even though he experienced a miracle containing God's warning. Meanwhile, the man of God, on his way back from completing his given mission, was tempted by an old prophet and disobeyed God's word. As a result, he died.  God's stern judgment on sin was a strong warning to Jeroboam. 

1 Kings 14: The Death of Two Kings of the Divided Kingdom

[Summary]

This chapter records the final days of Jeroboam of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Rehoboam of the Southern Kingdom, the first kings of the divided kingdom. Ahijah's warning (vv. 1-16), the death of Jeroboam's son (vv. 17-18), the death of Jeroboam (vv. 19-20), and Rehoboam's sins (vv. 21-24) are recorded. This is followed by the invasion of Shishak (vv. 25-28) and the death of Rehoboam (vv. 29-31). These first kings of the northern and southern kingdoms can be said to be general types of the history of the southern and northern kingdoms, respectively.  In other words, Jeroboam ignored God's admonitions and warnings and consistently followed a stubborn path, while Rehoboam, in contrast, generally disobeyed God but occasionally showed humility and obedience. This reflects the characteristics of the history of the northern and southern kingdoms. 

[Explanation] 

The end of Jeroboam, who committed evil deeds but did not repent, was near. God prophesied the judgment that would come upon him through the prophet Ahijah. The prophet Ahijah was a prophet who had once encouraged Jeroboam and prophesied that he would become the king of northern Israel. However, he now prophesied the destruction of Jeroboam. Witnessing this situation in northern Israel, Rehoboam of Judah, who should have stood uprightly, followed in Jeroboam's footsteps and worshipped idols, and eventually suffered the punishment of being invaded by Egypt. In the midst of this, Rehoboam and Jeroboam, who had ruled the two kingdoms, each died.