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1 Kings 9

In 1 Kings 9, God appears to Solomon a second time after the completion of the temple and Solomon's palace. God reiterates His covenant, warning Solomon of the consequences of disobedience and reminding him of the blessings that come with faithfulness. The chapter also details Solomon’s other building projects, his dealings with Hiram, and his labor force arrangements.

1 Kings 9:1-5 (NKJV)
1 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he wanted to do,
2 that the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon.
3 And the Lord said to him: “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
4 Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments,
5 then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’

These verses mark God’s response to Solomon’s faithfulness in building the temple and completing the king’s palace. God assures Solomon that He has heard his prayer and consecrates the temple as a place where His presence will dwell. However, God also places conditions on this promise, emphasizing the need for Solomon to walk in integrity and follow His commands, just as David had done. If Solomon remains obedient, God will continue to fulfill His promise to maintain a descendant of David on the throne.

1 Kings 9:6-9 (NKJV)
6 But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them,
7 then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
8 And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’
9 Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore the Lord has brought all this calamity on them.’”

Here, God gives Solomon a clear warning about the consequences of turning away from Him. If Solomon or his descendants forsake God’s commandments and worship other gods, Israel will face severe judgment, including being driven from their land. Even the temple, which God had consecrated, would be destroyed, and Israel would become a cautionary example to other nations. This reflects the seriousness of covenant faithfulness and the potential for national ruin if they abandon God’s ways.

1 Kings 9:10-14 (NKJV)
10 Now it happened at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord and the king’s house
11 (Hiram the king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress and gold as much as he desired), that King Solomon then gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
12 Then Hiram went from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, but they did not please him.
13 So he said, “What kind of cities are these which you have given me, my brother?” And he called them the land of Cabul, as they are to this day.
14 Then Hiram sent the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold.

After completing the temple and his palace, Solomon compensated King Hiram of Tyre for the resources Hiram had provided. Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in Galilee, but Hiram was displeased with the quality of these cities, referring to them as "Cabul," meaning something like "worthless." Despite this disappointment, Hiram continued to provide gold to Solomon, signifying their ongoing alliance. This passage illustrates the complexities of diplomatic relations, even in prosperous times.

1 Kings 9:15-19 (NKJV)
15 And this is the reason for the labor force which King Solomon raised: to build the house of the Lord, his own house, the Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
16 (Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and taken Gezer and burned it with fire, had killed the Canaanites who dwelt in the city, and had given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.)
17 And Solomon built Gezer, Lower Beth Horon,
18 Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land of Judah,
19 all the storage cities that Solomon had, cities for his chariots and cities for his cavalry, and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.

Solomon's large-scale construction projects required a substantial labor force. He not only built the temple and his palace, but also fortified key cities like Jerusalem, Hazor, and Megiddo. Solomon expanded his infrastructure by building storage cities, military facilities, and other essential structures. Notably, Gezer was given to Solomon by Pharaoh as part of his daughter’s dowry, highlighting Solomon’s powerful alliances with foreign rulers. This passage underscores the vastness of Solomon’s reign and his efforts to secure and develop the kingdom.

1 Kings 9:20-23 (NKJV)
20 All the people who were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel—
21 that is, their descendants who were left in the land after them, whom the children of Israel had not been able to destroy completely—from these Solomon raised forced labor, as it is to this day.
22 But of the children of Israel Solomon made no forced laborers; because they were men of war and his servants, his officers, his captains, commanders of his chariots, and his cavalry.
23 Others were chiefs of the officials who were over Solomon’s work: five hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people who did the work.

Solomon employed the descendants of the non-Israelite peoples still living in the land, such as the Amorites and Hittites, as forced laborers for his building projects. However, Solomon did not subject the Israelites to forced labor; instead, they held roles in the military, administration, and leadership. This division of labor shows how Solomon managed the workforce and how the remnants of the Canaanite tribes continued to serve under Israelite authority, contributing to the kingdom’s expansion.

1 Kings 9:24 (NKJV)
24 But Pharaoh’s daughter came up from the City of David to her house which Solomon had built for her. Then he built the Millo.

This verse highlights the movement of Pharaoh’s daughter from the City of David to a palace Solomon built for her. This reflects Solomon’s diplomatic relationship with Egypt and his care for his foreign wife. Additionally, Solomon’s construction of the Millo—a fortification within Jerusalem—demonstrates his efforts to strengthen the city’s defenses and infrastructure.

1 Kings 9:25 (NKJV)
25 Now three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he had built for the Lord, and he burned incense with them on the altar that was before the Lord. So he finished the temple.

This verse underscores Solomon’s ongoing commitment to religious observances. Three times a year, Solomon led the nation in offering sacrifices and incense at the temple, maintaining a regular pattern of worship in line with the major Jewish festivals. His actions represent a continuation of Davidic worship and demonstrate Solomon’s role as both king and spiritual leader. His completion of the temple solidified it as the central place of worship in Israel.

1 Kings 9:26-28 (NKJV)
26 King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.
27 Then Hiram sent his servants with the fleet, seamen who knew the sea, to work with the servants of Solomon.
28 And they went to Ophir, and acquired four hundred and twenty talents of gold from there, and brought it to King Solomon.

These verses describe Solomon’s development of a fleet of ships at the Red Sea port of Ezion Geber. By partnering with King Hiram of Tyre, who provided experienced sailors, Solomon was able to launch trading expeditions, notably to Ophir, from where they brought back vast quantities of gold. This maritime venture reflects the economic prosperity of Solomon’s reign and his efforts to expand Israel’s trade networks, enhancing the wealth of the kingdom.

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