mh_parser/vol_split/11 - 1Kings/Chapter 9.xml

<div2 id="iKi.x" n="x" next="iKi.xi" prev="iKi.ix" progress="54.64%" title="Chapter IX">
<h2 id="iKi.x-p0.1">F I R S T   K I N G S</h2>
<h3 id="iKi.x-p0.2">CHAP. IX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iKi.x-p1">In this chapter we have, I. The answer which God,
in a vision, gave to Solomon's prayer, and the terms he settled
with him, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.1-1Kgs.9.9" parsed="|1Kgs|9|1|9|9" passage="1Ki 9:1-9">ver. 1-9</scripRef>. II.
The interchanging of grateful kindnesses between Solomon and Hiram,
<scripRef id="iKi.x-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.10-1Kgs.9.14" parsed="|1Kgs|9|10|9|14" passage="1Ki 9:10-14">ver. 10-14</scripRef>. III. His
workmen and buildings, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.15-1Kgs.9.24" parsed="|1Kgs|9|15|9|24" passage="1Ki 9:15-24">ver.
15-24</scripRef>. IV. His devotion, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.25" parsed="|1Kgs|9|25|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:25">ver. 25</scripRef>. V. His trading navy, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.26-1Kgs.9.28" parsed="|1Kgs|9|26|9|28" passage="1Ki 9:26-28">ver. 26-28</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iKi.x-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9" parsed="|1Kgs|9|0|0|0" passage="1Ki 9" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iKi.x-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.1-1Kgs.9.9" parsed="|1Kgs|9|1|9|9" passage="1Ki 9:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Kgs.9.1-1Kgs.9.9">
<h4 id="iKi.x-p1.8">God's Answer to Solomon. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.x-p1.9">b. c.</span> 1001.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iKi.x-p2">1 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished
the building of the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.x-p2.1">Lord</span>, and the king's house, and all Solomon's
desire which he was pleased to do,   2 That the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.x-p2.2">Lord</span> appeared to Solomon the second time, as he
had appeared unto him at Gibeon.   3 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.x-p2.3">Lord</span> said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and
thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed
this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever;
and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.   4
And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in
integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that
I have commanded thee, <i>and</i> wilt keep my statutes and my
judgments:   5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom
upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying,
There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.   6
<i>But</i> if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your
children, and will not keep my commandments <i>and</i> my statutes
which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and
worship them:   7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land
which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for
my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb
and a byword among all people:   8 And at this house,
<i>which</i> is high, every one that passeth by it shall be
astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.x-p2.4">Lord</span> done thus unto this land, and to this
house?   9 And they shall answer, Because they forsook the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.x-p2.5">Lord</span> their God, who brought forth
their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon
other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore
hath the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.x-p2.6">Lord</span> brought upon them all
this evil.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.x-p3">God had given a real answer to Solomon's
prayer, and tokens of his acceptance of it, immediately, by the
<i>fire from heaven</i> which consumed the sacrifices (as we find
<scripRef id="iKi.x-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.1" parsed="|2Chr|7|1|0|0" passage="2Ch 7:1">2 Chron. vii. 1</scripRef>); but here
we have a more express and distinct answer to it. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.x-p4">I. In what way God gave him this answer. He
appeared to him, as he had done at Gibeon, in the beginning of his
reign, in a dream or vision, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.2" parsed="|1Kgs|9|2|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. The comparing of it with that intimates that it was
the very night after he had finished the solemnities of his
festival, for so that was, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.1.6-2Chr.1.7" parsed="|2Chr|1|6|1|7" passage="2Ch 1:6,7">2 Chron.
i. 6, 7</scripRef>. And then <scripRef id="iKi.x-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.1" parsed="|1Kgs|9|1|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>, speaking of Solomon's finishing all his buildings,
which was not till many years after the dedication of the temple,
must be read thus, <i>Solomon finished</i> (as it is <scripRef id="iKi.x-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.7.11" parsed="|2Chr|7|11|0|0" passage="2Ch 7:11">2 Chron. vii. 11</scripRef>), and <scripRef id="iKi.x-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.2" parsed="|1Kgs|9|2|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef> must be read, <i>and the
Lord had appeared.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.x-p5">II. The purport of this answer. 1. He
assures him of his special presence in the temple he had built, in
answer to the prayer he had made (<scripRef id="iKi.x-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.3" parsed="|1Kgs|9|3|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>): <i>I have hallowed this
house.</i> Solomon had dedicated it, but it was God's prerogative
to hallow it—to sanctify or consecrate it. Men cannot make a place
holy, yet what we, in sincerity, devote to God, we may hope he will
graciously accept as his; and <i>his eyes and his heart shall be
upon it.</i> Apply it to persons, the living temples. Those whom
God hallows or sanctifies, whom he sets apart for himself, have his
eye, his heart, his love and care, and this perpetually. 2. He
shows him that he and his people were for the future <i>upon their
good behaviour.</i> Let them not be secure now, as if they might
live as they please now that they have the <i>temple of the
Lord</i> among them, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.7.4" parsed="|Jer|7|4|0|0" passage="Jer 7:4">Jer. vii.
4</scripRef>. No, this house was designed to protect them in their
allegiance to God, but not in their rebellion or disobedience. God
deals plainly with us, sets before us good and evil, the blessing
and the curse, and lets us know what we must trust to. God here
tells Solomon, (1.) That the establishment of his kingdom depended
upon the constancy of his obedience (<scripRef id="iKi.x-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.4-1Kgs.9.5" parsed="|1Kgs|9|4|9|5" passage="1Ki 9:4,5"><i>v.</i> 4, 5</scripRef>): "<i>If thou wilt walk
before me as David did,</i> who left thee a good example and
encouragement enough to follow it (and advantage thou wilt be
accountable for if thou do not improve it), <i>if thou wilt walk as
he did, in integrity of heart and uprightness</i>" (for that is the
main matter—no religion without sincerity), "<i>then I will
establish the throne of thy kingdom,</i> and not otherwise," for on
that condition the promise was made, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.12" parsed="|Ps|132|12|0|0" passage="Ps 132:12">Ps. cxxxii. 12</scripRef>. If we perform our part of
the covenant, God will not fail to perform his; if we improve the
grace God has given us, he will confirm us to the end. Let not the
children of godly parents expect the entail of the blessing, unless
they tread in the steps of those that have gone before them to
heaven, and keep up the virtue and piety of their ancestors. (2.)
That the ruin of his kingdom would be the certain consequence of
his or his children's apostasy from God (<scripRef id="iKi.x-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.6" parsed="|1Kgs|9|6|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>): "But know thou, and let thy
family and kingdom know it, and be admonished by it, that <i>if you
shall altogether turn from following me</i>" (so it is thought it
should be read), "if you forsake my service, desert my altar, and
go and serve other gods" (for that was the covenant-breaking sin),
"if you or your children break off from me, this house will not
save you. But, [1.] Israel, though a holy nation, will be cut off
(<scripRef id="iKi.x-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.7" parsed="|1Kgs|9|7|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), by one
judgment after another, till they become a proverb and a by-word,
and the most despicable people under the sun, though now the most
honourable." This supposes the destruction of the royal family,
though it is not particularly threatened; the king is, of course,
undone, if the kingdom be. [2.] "The temple, though a holy house,
which God himself has <i>hallowed for his name,</i> shall be
abandoned and laid desolate (<scripRef id="iKi.x-p5.7" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.8-1Kgs.9.9" parsed="|1Kgs|9|8|9|9" passage="1Ki 9:8,9"><i>v.</i> 8, 9</scripRef>): <i>This house which is
high.</i>" They prided themselves in the stateliness and
magnificence of the structure, but let them know that it is not so
high as to be out of the reach of God's judgments, if they vilify
it so as to exchange it for groves and idol-temples, and yet, at
the same time, magnify it so as to think it will secure the favour
of God to them though they ever so much corrupt themselves. <i>This
house which is high.</i> Those that <i>now pass by it are
astonished</i> at the bulk and beauty of it; the richness,
contrivance, and workmanship, are admired by all spectators, and it
is called a stupendous fabric; but, if you forsake God, its height
will make its fall the more amazing, and those that pass by will be
as much astonished at its ruins, while the guilty, self-convicted,
self-condemned, Israelites, will be forced to acknowledge, with
shame, that they themselves were the ruin of it; for when it shall
be asked, <i>Why hath the Lord done thus to his house?</i> they
cannot but answer, It was <i>because they forsook the Lord their
God.</i> See <scripRef id="iKi.x-p5.8" osisRef="Bible:Deut.29.24-Deut.29.25" parsed="|Deut|29|24|29|25" passage="De 29:24,25">Deut. xxix. 24,
25</scripRef>. Their sin will be read in their punishment. They
deserted the temple, and therefore God deserted it; they profaned
it with their sins and laid it common, and therefore God profaned
it with his judgments and laid it waste. God gave Solomon fair
warning of this, now that he had newly built and dedicated it, that
he and his people might not be high-minded, but fear.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iKi.x-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.10-1Kgs.9.14" parsed="|1Kgs|9|10|9|14" passage="1Ki 9:10-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Kgs.9.10-1Kgs.9.14">
<h4 id="iKi.x-p5.10">Solomon and Hiram. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.x-p5.11">b. c.</span> 1001.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iKi.x-p6">10 And it came to pass at the end of twenty
years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.x-p6.1">Lord</span>, and the king's house,  
11 (<i>Now</i> Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with
cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his
desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the
land of Galilee.   12 And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the
cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.
  13 And he said, What cities <i>are</i> these which thou hast
given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto
this day.   14 And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of
gold.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.x-p7">What agreement was made between Solomon and
Hiram, when the building-work was to be begun, we read before,
<scripRef id="iKi.x-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.1-1Kgs.5.18" parsed="|1Kgs|5|1|5|18" passage="1Ki 5:1-18"><i>ch.</i> v.</scripRef> Here we
have an account of their fair and friendly parting when the work
was done. 1. Hiram made good his bargain to the utmost. He had
furnished Solomon with materials for his buildings, according to
all his desire (<scripRef id="iKi.x-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.11" parsed="|1Kgs|9|11|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>), and with gold, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.15" parsed="|1Kgs|9|15|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. So far was he from envying
Solomon's growing greatness and reputation, and being jealous of
him, that he helped to magnify him. Solomon's power, with Solomon's
wisdom, needs not be dreaded by any of his neighbours. God honours
him; therefore Hiram will. 2. Solomon, no doubt, made good his
bargain, and gave Hiram <i>food for his household,</i> as was
agreed, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.9" parsed="|1Kgs|5|9|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:9"><i>ch.</i> v. 9</scripRef>. But
here we are told that, over and above that, he gave him twenty
cities (small ones we may suppose, like those mentioned here,
<scripRef id="iKi.x-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.19" parsed="|1Kgs|9|19|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>) <i>in the
land of Galilee,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.x-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.11" parsed="|1Kgs|9|11|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>. It should seem, these were not allotted to any of
the tribes of Israel (for the border of Asher came up to them,
<scripRef id="iKi.x-p7.7" osisRef="Bible:Josh.19.27" parsed="|Josh|19|27|0|0" passage="Jos 19:27">Josh. xix. 27</scripRef>, which
intimates that it did not include them), but continued in the hands
of the natives till Solomon made himself master of them, and then
made a present of them to Hiram. It becomes those that are great
and good to be generous. Hiram came to see these cities, and did
not like them (<scripRef id="iKi.x-p7.8" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.12" parsed="|1Kgs|9|12|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>): <i>They pleased him not.</i> He called the country
the land of <i>Cabul,</i> a Phoenician word (says Josephus) which
signifies <i>displeasing,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.x-p7.9" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.13" parsed="|1Kgs|9|13|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. He therefore returned them to
Solomon (as we find, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p7.10" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.8.2" parsed="|2Chr|8|2|0|0" passage="2Ch 8:2">2 Chron. viii.
2</scripRef>), who repaired them, and then <i>caused the children
of Israel to inhabit them,</i> which intimates that before they did
not; but, when Solomon received back what he had given, no doubt he
honourably gave Hiram an equivalent in something else. But what
shall we think of this? Did Solomon act meanly in giving Hiram what
was not worth his acceptance? Or was Hiram humoursome and hard to
please? I am willing to believe it was neither the one nor the
other. The country was truly valuable, and so were the cities in
it, but not agreeable to Hiram's genius. The Tyrians were
merchants, trading men, that lived in fine houses, and became rich
by navigation, but knew not how to value a country that was fit for
corn and pasture (that was business that lay out of their way); and
therefore Hiram desired Solomon to take them again, he knew not
what to do with them, and, if he would please to gratify him, let
it be in his own element, by becoming his partner in trade, as we
find he did, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p7.11" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.27" parsed="|1Kgs|9|27|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>.
Hiram, who was used to the clean streets of Tyre, could by no means
agree with the miry lanes in the land of Cabul, whereas the best
lands have commonly the worst roads through them. See how the
providence of God suits both the accommodation of this earth to the
various dispositions of men and the dispositions of men to the
various accommodations of the earth, and all for the good of
mankind in general. Some take delight in husbandry, and wonder what
pleasure sailors can take on a rough sea; others take as much
delight in navigation, and wonder what pleasure husbandmen can take
in a dirty country, like the land of Cabul. It is so in many other
instances, in which we may observe the wisdom of him whose all
souls are and all lands.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iKi.x-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.15-1Kgs.9.28" parsed="|1Kgs|9|15|9|28" passage="1Ki 9:15-28" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Kgs.9.15-1Kgs.9.28">
<h4 id="iKi.x-p7.13">Solomon's Buildings; Solomon's
Greatness. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.x-p7.14">b. c.</span> 991.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iKi.x-p8">15 And this <i>is</i> the reason of the levy
which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.x-p8.1">Lord</span>, and his own house, and Millo, and
the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.   16
<i>For</i> Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and
burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the
city, and given it <i>for</i> a present unto his daughter,
Solomon's wife.   17 And Solomon built Gezer, and Beth-horon
the nether,   18 And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in
the land,   19 And all the cities of store that Solomon had,
and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that
which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in
all the land of his dominion.   20 <i>And</i> all the people
<i>that were</i> left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites,
Hivites, and Jebusites, which <i>were</i> not of the children of
Israel,   21 Their children that were left after them in the
land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to
destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto
this day.   22 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make
no bondmen: but they <i>were</i> men of war, and his servants, and
his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his
horsemen.   23 These <i>were</i> the chief of the officers
that <i>were</i> over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, which
bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.   24 But
Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house
which <i>Solomon</i> had built for her: then did he build Millo.
  25 And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt
offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto
the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.x-p8.2">Lord</span>, and he burnt incense upon
the altar that <i>was</i> before the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.x-p8.3">Lord</span>. So he finished the house.   26 And
king Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion-geber, which <i>is</i>
beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.
  27 And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had
knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.   28 And
they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and
twenty talents, and brought <i>it</i> to king Solomon.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.x-p9">We have here a further account of Solomon's
greatness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.x-p10">I. His buildings. He raised a great levy
both of men and money, because he projected a great deal of
building, which would both employ many hands and put him to a vast
expense, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.15" parsed="|1Kgs|9|15|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. And
he was a wise builder, who sat down first, and counted the cost,
and would not begin to build till he found himself able to finish.
Perhaps there was some complaint of the heaviness of the taxes,
which the historian excuses from the greatness of his undertakings.
He raised it, not for war (as other princes), which would spend the
blood of his subjects, but for building, which would require only
their labour and purses. Perhaps David observed Solomon's genius to
lie towards building, and foresaw he would have his head and hands
full of it, when he penned that song of degrees for Solomon, which
begins, <i>Except the Lord build the house, those labour in vain
that build it</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.x-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.127.1" parsed="|Ps|127|1|0|0" passage="Ps 127:1">Ps. cxxvii.
1</scripRef>), directing him to acknowledge God in all his ways,
and, by prayer and faith in his providence, to take him along with
him in all his designs of this kind. And Solomon verily began his
work at the right end, for he built God's house first, and finished
that before he began his own; and then God blessed him, and he
prospered in all his other buildings. If we begin with God, he will
go on with us. Let the first-fruits be his, and the after-fruits
will the more comfortably be ours, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.6.33" parsed="|Matt|6|33|0|0" passage="Mt 6:33">Matt. vi. 33</scripRef>. Solomon built a church first and
then he was enabled to build houses, and cities, and walls. Those
consult not their own interest that defer to the last what they
design for pious uses. The further order in Solomon's buildings is
observable. God's house first for religion, then his own for his
own convenience, then a house for his wife, to which she removed as
soon as it was ready for her (<scripRef id="iKi.x-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.24" parsed="|1Kgs|9|24|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>), then Millo, the town-house or
guild-hall, then the wall of Jerusalem, the royal city, then some
cities of note and strength in the country, which were decayed and
unfortified, Hazor, Megiddo, &amp;c. As he rebuilt these at his own
charge, the inhabitants would be not only his subjects, but his
tenants, which would increase the revenues of the crown for the
benefit of his successors. Among the rest, he built Gezer, which
Pharaoh took out of the hands of the Canaanites, and made a present
of to his daughter, Solomon's wife, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.16" parsed="|1Kgs|9|16|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. See how God <i>maketh the earth
to help the woman.</i> Solomon was not himself a warlike prince,
but the king of Egypt, who was, took cities for him to build. Then
he built cities for convenience, for store, for his chariots, and
for his horsemen, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.19" parsed="|1Kgs|9|19|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>. And, <i>lastly,</i> he built for pleasure in
Lebanon, for his hunting perhaps, or other diversions there. Let
piety begin, and profit proceed, and leave pleasure to the
last.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.x-p11">II. His workmen and servants. In doing such
great works, he must needs employ abundance of workmen. The honour
of great men is borrowed from their inferiors, who do that which
they have the credit of. 1. Solomon employed those who remained of
the conquered and devoted nations in all the slavish work,
<scripRef id="iKi.x-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.20-1Kgs.9.21" parsed="|1Kgs|9|20|9|21" passage="1Ki 9:20,21"><i>v.</i> 20, 21</scripRef>. We may
suppose that they renounced their idolatry and submitted to
Solomon's government, so that he could not, in honour, utterly
destroy them, and they were so poor that he could not levy money on
them; therefore he served himself of their labour. Herein he
observed God's law (<scripRef id="iKi.x-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.44" parsed="|Lev|25|44|0|0" passage="Le 25:44">Lev. xxv.
44</scripRef>, <i>Thy bondmen shall be of the heathen</i>), and
fulfilled Noah's curse upon Canaan, <i>A servant of servants shall
he be unto his brethren,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.x-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.9.25" parsed="|Gen|9|25|0|0" passage="Ge 9:25">Gen. ix.
25</scripRef>. 2. He employed Israelites in the more creditable
services (<scripRef id="iKi.x-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.22-1Kgs.9.23" parsed="|1Kgs|9|22|9|23" passage="1Ki 9:22,23"><i>v.</i> 22,
23</scripRef>): <i>Of them he made no bondmen,</i> for they were
God's freemen, but he made them soldiers and courtiers, and gave
them offices, as he saw them qualified, among his chariots and
horsemen, appointing some to support the service of the inferior
labourers. Thus he preserved the dignity and liberty of Israel and
honoured their relation to God as a kingdom of priests.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.x-p12">III. His piety and devotion (<scripRef id="iKi.x-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.25" parsed="|1Kgs|9|25|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>): <i>Three times in a
year</i> he offered burnt-offerings extraordinary (namely, at the
three yearly feasts, the passover, pentecost, and feast of
tabernacles) in honour of the divine institution, besides what he
offered at other times, both statedly and upon special occasions.
With his sacrifices he burnt incense, not himself (that was king
Uzziah's crime), but the priest for him, at his charge, and for his
particular use. It is said, He offered <i>on the altar which he</i>
himself <i>built.</i> He took care to build it, and then, 1. He
himself made use of it. Many will assist the devotions of others
that neglect their own. Solomon did not think his building an altar
would excuse him from sacrificing, but rather engage him the more
to it. 2. He himself had the benefit and comfort of it. Whatever
pains we take, for the support of religion, to the glory of God and
the edification of others, we ourselves are likely to have the
advantage of it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.x-p13">IV. His merchandise. He built a fleet of
trading ships at Ezion-geber (<scripRef id="iKi.x-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.26" parsed="|1Kgs|9|26|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>), a port on the coast of the Red
Sea, the furthest stage of the Israelites when they wandered in the
wilderness, <scripRef id="iKi.x-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.33.35" parsed="|Num|33|35|0|0" passage="Nu 33:35">Num. xxxiii.
35</scripRef>. Probably that wilderness now began to be peopled by
the Edomites, which it was not then. To them this port had
belonged, but, David having subdued the Edomites, it now pertained
to the crown of Judah. The fleet traded to Ophir in the East
Indies, supposed to be that which is now called <i>Ceylon.</i> Gold
was the commodity traded for, substantial wealth. It should seem,
Solomon had before been Hiram's partner, or put a venture into his
ships, which made him a rich return of 120 talents (<scripRef id="iKi.x-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.14" parsed="|1Kgs|9|14|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>), which encouraged him
to build a fleet of his own. The success of others in any
employment should quicken our industry; for <i>in all labour there
is profit.</i> Solomon sent his own servants as factors, and
merchants, and super-cargoes, but hired Tyrians for sailors, for
they had <i>knowledge of the sea,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.x-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.27" parsed="|1Kgs|9|27|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>. Thus one nation needs another,
Providence so ordering it that there may be mutual commerce and
assistance; for not only as Christians, but as men, we are members
one of another. The fleet brought home to Solomon 420 <i>talents of
gold,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.x-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.28" parsed="|1Kgs|9|28|0|0" passage="1Ki 9:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>.
Canaan, the holy land, the glory of all lands, had no gold in it,
which teaches us that that part of the wealth of this world which
is for hoarding and trading is not the best part of it, but that
which is more immediately for the present support and comfort of
life, our own and others'; such were the productions of Canaan.
Solomon got much by his merchandise, but, it should seem, David got
much more by his conquests. What were Solomon's 420 <i>talents</i>
to David's 100,000 <i>talents of gold?</i> <scripRef id="iKi.x-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.22.14 Bible:1Chr.29.4" parsed="|1Chr|22|14|0|0;|1Chr|29|4|0|0" passage="1Ch 22:14,29:4">1 Chron. xxii. 14; xxix. 4</scripRef>. Solomon got
much by his merchandise, and yet has directed us to a better trade,
within reach of the poorest, having assured us from his own
experience of both that the <i>merchandise of wisdom is better than
the merchandise of silver and the gain thereof than fine gold,</i>
<scripRef id="iKi.x-p13.7" osisRef="Bible:Prov.3.14" parsed="|Prov|3|14|0|0" passage="Pr 3:14">Prov. iii. 14</scripRef>.</p>
</div></div2>