Category: Biblical Reflections

Jeroboam's son, Abijah, became ill.  Jeroboam sent his wife to Ahijah the prophet to see if the child would live.  She disguised herself and went to Shiloh.  The Lord told Ahijah, who was nearly blind, that the woman was Jeroboam's wife.  He proceeded to tell what the Lord had said, that Jeroboam's house would be … Continue reading The Fall of Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:1 – 20; 2 Chronicles 11:5 – 23)

A prophet, a man of God, cried out to Jeroboam, declaring that Josiah would be born and that he would kill the priests of the high places on the altar.  The sign would be that the altar would split apart.  King Jeroboam instructed the guards to arrest the man of God, but when he pointed … Continue reading The Man of God (I Kings 13; 2 Chronicles 11:5 – 23))

Rehoboam was to become king over Israel.  Jeroboam heard of it and returned from Egypt.  He and the assembly of Israel came to Rehoboam asking him to relieve the yoke of burden his father imposed upon them.  He asked for three days to decide.  He consulted the elders who assisted his father, and they encouraged … Continue reading Revolt Against Rehoboam and Jeroboam’s Idolatry (1 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 10:1 – 19, 11:1 – 4)

Jereboam, the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite, was the officer over all the labor force that built the Millo and repaired the damages to the City of David.  When Jereboam was leaving Jerusalem one day, the prophet Ahijah met him wearing a new garment.  They were alone in a field.  Ahijah tore the garment into … Continue reading Another Enemy and the End of Solomon’s Reign (1 Kings 11:26 – 43; 2 Chronicles 9:29 – 31)

Solomon began to have enemies that would rise up against him.  Hadad the Edomite was a descendant of a king in Edom.  David and Joab had gone to Edom and killed every male in the kingdom, but some of the king's servants had escaped to Egypt with Hadad when he was a young man.  He … Continue reading Solomon’s Adversaries (1 Kings 11:14 – 25)

Solomon's wealth was staggering.  He received 666 talents of gold every year in tribute from surrounding nations, plus more from merchants and more remote kings.  A talent was worth approximately 6000 days' wages which, in moderate terms, would be worth about $480,000 today.  Therefore, the tribute he received annually was in the neighborhood of 320 … Continue reading Solomon’s Wealth and His Apostacy (1 Kings 10:14 – 11:13; 2 Chronicles 9:13 – 28)

Solomon continued to build, subdue people living in Canaan, and acquire wealth in the days after completing the temple.  He built his wife, Pharaoh's daughter, a house in Jerusalem.  The Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame and wisdom, and decided to visit him to see for herself if his wisdom was a great as … Continue reading Solomon and the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 9:15 – 10:13; 2 Chronicles 8:4 – 9:12)

When Solomon finished building the temple and the king's house, the Lord appeared to him a second time.  The Lord acknowledged that He had heard Solomon's prayer, and had consecrated the temple to His name forever.  He then reiterated His promise to have a son of David on the throne, with the caveat that Solomon … Continue reading God Appears to Solomon Again (1 Kings 9:1 – 14; 2 Chronicles 7:11 – 22, 8:1 – 3)

Solomon blessed the people by invoking God's presence as He was with their ancestors.  He then asked God to "maintain the cause of His servant...and His people Israel."  He then calls all the people to be loyal to the Lord and walk in His statutes.  He then dedicates the temple by offering thousands of bulls … Continue reading Solomon Blesses the People, Dedicates the Temple (1 Kings 8:54 – 66; 2 Chronicles 7:1 – 10)

Due to the fact that much of 1 & 2 Chronicles parallels the books of Samuel and Kings, I will begin listing the Scriptures that cross-reference the same material in each day's blog.  I will also go back and update previous blogs in an effort to avoid redundancy in later blogs.  Thanks for your patience! … Continue reading Solomon’s Speech and Prayer (1 Kings 8:14 – 53; 2 Chronicles 6:1 – 42)