A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible — I Kings

Gill, John, 1697-1771 · 123,839 words · 410 reading sections

SECTION 181

1 Kings 10:11

1 Kings 10:11 Ver. 11. And the navy also of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir,.... This perhaps was before Solomon was concerned with Hiram in navigation and merchandise; though in 2Ch 9:10 both their servants are said to bring it; and it is here inserted perhaps to show that Solomon had not his gold, at least all of…

287 words
SECTION 182

1 Kings 10:12

1 Kings 10:12 Ver. 12. And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the Lord, and for the king's house,.... Or terraces, as in 2Ch 9:11, causeways; and means the ascent or causeway he made from his own house to the temple; the pavement of which, as Jarchi interprets the word here, was made of the wood…

179 words
SECTION 183

1 Kings 10:13

1 Kings 10:13 Ver. 13. And King Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked,.... Some curious things she saw, and was desirous of, she asked for, and had them: besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty; of his own good will and pleasure, without asking: so she turned and w…

89 words
SECTION 184

1 Kings 10:14

1 Kings 10:14 Ver. 14. Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty and six talents of gold. From Ophir and Tarshish, and wherever he traded; which was of our money, according to Berewood {k}, 2,997,000 pounds; or as another learned man {l}, who makes it equal to 5,138,520 ducats o…

80 words
SECTION 185

1 Kings 10:15

1 Kings 10:15 Ver. 15. Besides that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffic of the spice merchants,.... What they paid him as a duty or custom for the importation of their goods: and of all the kings of Arabia; who were subject to him, and paid him a yearly tribute, or at least made presents, see 1Ki 4:21 and …

3,229 words
SECTION 186

1 Kings 11:1

1 Kings 11:1 INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 11 This chapter relates the false steps Solomon took, notwithstanding all his wisdom, in marrying strange wives, and worshipping other gods, 1Ki 11:1 upon which the Lord threatens him to rend the kingdom in his son's time, 1Ki 11:9 and he raised up adversaries against him, Hadad, …

269 words
SECTION 187

1 Kings 11:2

1 Kings 11:2 Ver. 2. Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you,.... That is, they should not intermarry with one another; this is to be understood of the last mentioned, the Hittites, who were one of the seven nations this…

115 words
SECTION 188

1 Kings 11:3

1 Kings 11:3 Ver. 3. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines,.... In all 1000, a prodigious number; though these might not be all for use, but for state after the manner of the eastern monarchs; these were a far greater number than are alluded to in So 6:8, unless the virgins without n…

111 words
SECTION 189

1 Kings 11:4

1 Kings 11:4 Ver. 4. And it came to pass, when Solomon was old,.... Toward the latter end of his reign, when he might be near sixty years of age; for Rehoboam his son and successor was forty one when he began to reign, 1Ki 14:21 which is observed either as an aggravation of the sin of Solomon, that in his old age, whe…

151 words
SECTION 190

1 Kings 11:5

1 Kings 11:5 Ver. 5. And Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians,.... Enticed by the Zidonian women, or woman, he had, 1Ki 11:1. According to the Phoenician histories {i}, Solomon married a daughter of Hiram, king of Tyre and Zidon; so Clemens of Alexandria says {k}, that Hiram gave his daughter to S…

204 words
SECTION 191

1 Kings 11:6

1 Kings 11:6 Ver. 6. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord,.... As idolatry is, nothing more provoking to him: and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father; for though he did not relinquish the worship of the true God, and the service of the temple, yet inasmuch as he worshipped other gods besid…

84 words
SECTION 192

1 Kings 11:7

1 Kings 11:7 Ver. 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Mesh,.... Of this idol, See Gill on "Jer 48:7", an high place for which he ordered to be built, or at least suffered it to be built, at the instigation of his Moabitish woman or women, 1Ki 11:1, this was built in the hill that is …

99 words
SECTION 193

1 Kings 11:8

1 Kings 11:8 Ver. 8. And likewise did he for all his strange wives,.... That is, built high places for their idols, or suffered them to be built; for when he had done it for one, he could not refuse it to another, without greatly disobliging them; even for as many of them, which burnt incense, and sacrificed unto the…

118 words
SECTION 194

1 Kings 11:9

1 Kings 11:9 Ver. 9. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel,.... Or from the fear of him, as the Targum, which must in a great measure be cast off, or he could not have given in to idolatry in any shape as he did; for it was for that the Lord was displeased, the w…

129 words
SECTION 195

1 Kings 11:10

1 Kings 11:10 Ver. 10. And had commanded him concerning this thing that he should not go after other gods,.... Which is another aggravation of his sin that it was against an express command of God, and was particularly given him, and he was warned to observe it, and threatened with evil should he break it: but he kep…

70 words
SECTION 196

1 Kings 11:11

1 Kings 11:11 Ver. 11. Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon,.... Not in a vision, as before, but by a prophet; the Jews say {n}, Ahijah the Shilonite, which is probable, see 1Ki 11:29 forasmuch as this is done of thee, that thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes which I have commanded thee; but broke them by …

107 words
SECTION 197

1 Kings 11:12

1 Kings 11:12 Ver. 12. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake,.... Not for the merits of David, but the promises made to him, 2Sa 7:12, but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son; and immediate successor, Rehoboam.…

51 words
SECTION 198

1 Kings 11:13

1 Kings 11:13 Ver. 13. Howbeit, I will not rend away all the kingdom,.... The whole kingdom of Israel: but will give one tribe to thy son; but it seems he had both Benjamin and Judah, and only ten tribes were rent from him; the reason of this mode of expression may be, either because he gave him one of the tribes of …

219 words
SECTION 199

1 Kings 11:14

1 Kings 11:14 Ver. 14. And the Lord stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite,.... Though he did not take his kingdom from him for his sin, he chastised him with the rod of men, as he said he would; suffering one, and then another, to rise up and disturb his peace in his old age, see 2Sa 7:14 he was of …

75 words
SECTION 200

1 Kings 11:15

1 Kings 11:15 Ver. 15. For it came to pass, when David was in Edom,.... Fighting with the Edomites, and subduing them, and putting garrisons in the land, 2Sa 8:14 and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain: the Israelites that fell in battle, or whom the Edomites afterwards, through stratagem and …

328 words
SECTION 201

1 Kings 11:16

1 Kings 11:16 Ver. 16. For six months did Joab remain with all Israel,.... With the whole army: until he had cut off every male in Edom; as he supposed; for it was not fact, since after this they increased again, and became a powerful people, and had a king over them, and revolted from Judah, 2Ki 8:20.…

60 words
SECTION 202

1 Kings 11:17

1 Kings 11:17 Ver. 17. That Hadad fled,.... While Joab was burying the slain: he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him; who either was a king, and these some of his officers and courtiers; or however was of the royal family, and had an equipage, and these some of them: to go into Egypt; that was the…

108 words
SECTION 203

1 Kings 11:18

1 Kings 11:18 Ver. 18. And they arose out of Midian,.... A country which lay in their way to Egypt, and where it seems they made some stay, and then departed: and came to Paran; near to which was a wilderness of the same name, in which the Israelites wandered when they came out of Egypt, and which lay between Edom an…

3,195 words
SECTION 204

1 Kings 12:1

1 Kings 12:1 INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 12 This chapter relates Rehoboam's going to Shechem to be made king, and Jeroboam's return from Egypt, 1Ki 12:1, the people's request to Rehoboam to be eased of their taxes, as the condition of making him king, 1Ki 12:3, his answer to them, after three days, having had the advice …

321 words
SECTION 205

1 Kings 12:2

1 Kings 12:2 Ver. 2. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it,.... Of the death of Solomon, and of the meeting of the Israelites at Shechem: (for he was fled from the presence of King Solomon; see 1Ki 11:40 and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) until the death of Solomon; some r…

114 words
SECTION 206

1 Kings 12:3

1 Kings 12:3 Ver. 3. That they sent and called him,.... That is, the people of Israel, some of the principal of them, especially of the tribe of Ephraim, sent messengers to him, and gave him an invitation to come to them at Shechem; or, they had sent {e}, as Kimchi interprets it, which was the reason of his returning …

134 words
SECTION 207

1 Kings 12:4

1 Kings 12:4 Ver. 4. Thy father made our yoke grievous,.... Laid heavy taxes upon them, for the finishing of his buildings, for the maintenance of his household, for keeping such a large number of horses and chariots, and for the salaries of his officers, and for the support of his magnificent court; though they had v…

227 words
SECTION 208

1 Kings 12:5

1 Kings 12:5 Ver. 5. And he said unto them, depart yet for three days, then come again to me,.... Suggesting that he would consider of their proposal and inquire into the merits of it and as things should appear to him he would give them an answer in three days time; which at first sight may seem a point of prudence i…

178 words
SECTION 209

1 Kings 12:6

1 Kings 12:6 Ver. 6. And King Rehoboam consulted with the old men that stood before Solomon his father, while he yet lived,.... Which was very prudently done; for as these were men in years, and had been his father's counsellors, from whom, do doubt, they had learnt much wisdom, being often in cabinet council with him…

93 words
SECTION 210

1 Kings 12:7

1 Kings 12:7 Ver. 7. And they spake unto him, saying,.... They gave their advice as follows: if thou wilt be servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them; condescend to them, behave in an humble manner towards them, for this day however, and gratify and oblige them; though indeed a king is but a servant to …

203 words
SECTION 211

1 Kings 12:8

1 Kings 12:8 Ver. 8. But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him,.... He did not rightly relish it, nor cordially receive it; it did not suit with his haughty temper, he could not brook it, to stoop to his people; he thought it a lessening of his dignity to do anything that looked like courting…

194 words
SECTION 212

1 Kings 12:9

1 Kings 12:9 Ver. 9. And he said unto them, what counsel give ye, that we may answer this people, saying,.... See Gill on "1Ki 12:4".…

28 words
SECTION 213

1 Kings 12:10

1 Kings 12:10 Ver. 10. And the young men that were grown up with him, spake unto him, saying,.... Gave him the following advice: thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying; as is said, 1Ki 12:4 thus shall thou say unto them, my little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins; or, "is t…

216 words
SECTION 214

1 Kings 12:11

1 Kings 12:11 Ver. 11. And now, whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke,.... Which was putting words into his mouth, owning the charge and accusation brought against his father, as he did, 1Ki 12:14, which was very unbecoming, if true; unless this is said according to the sense of the people: I will add to y…

290 words
SECTION 215

1 Kings 12:12

1 Kings 12:12 Ver. 12. So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day,.... Jeroboam came to him at the head of the people, being the head of the faction, and designed for their king: as the king had appointed, saying, come to me again the third day; see 1Ki 12:5.…

56 words
SECTION 216

1 Kings 12:13

1 Kings 12:13 Ver. 13. And the king answered the people roughly,.... In a blustering manner, gave them hard words and severe menaces, being worked up to such a spirit by his young counsellors: and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him: to give them good words and kind promises.…

53 words
SECTION 217

1 Kings 12:14

1 Kings 12:14 Ver. 14. And spake to them after the counsel of the young men,.... And in the very language in which they gave it: saying, my father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke; my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions, See Gill on "1Ki 12:11".…

61 words
SECTION 218

1 Kings 12:15

1 Kings 12:15 Ver. 15. Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people,.... To lessen their taxes, and ease them of their burdens, as they desired: for the cause was from the Lord; it was according to his will and appointment; the defection of the people was willed by the Lord, and various things in Providence turne…

130 words
SECTION 219

1 Kings 12:16

1 Kings 12:16 Ver. 16. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them,.... To grant their requests: the people answered the king, saying, what portion have we in David? or in his posterity, which are not of our tribes, nor are we obliged to have a king of that family; nor can we expect any benefit or ad…

3,539 words
SECTION 220

1 Kings 13:1

1 Kings 13:1 INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 13 In this chapter is an account of a man of God being sent to exclaim against Jeroboam's altar, and threaten its destruction, of which he gave a sign, which was accomplished, and with it the withering of the king's hand, which was healed upon the prophet's prayer for him, 1Ki 13:…

380 words
SECTION 221

1 Kings 13:2

1 Kings 13:2 Ver. 2. And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord,.... By his order and command: and said, O altar, altar; addressing himself not to Jeroboam, but the altar, thereby reproving his stupidity, the altar being as ready to hear as he; and because that was what moved the indignation of the Lord; …

282 words
SECTION 222

1 Kings 13:3

1 Kings 13:3 Ver. 3. And he gave a sign the same day, saying, this is the sign which the Lord hath spoken,.... As a confirmation of the truth of what the prophet had said, and for the proof of his being a true prophet of the Lord: behold, the altar shall be rent; of itself, by an invisible hand, by the power of God: …

114 words
SECTION 223

1 Kings 13:4

1 Kings 13:4 Ver. 4. And it came to pass, when King Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, who had cried against the altar in Bethel,.... He was highly provoked: so that he put forth his hand from the altar; on which he was burning incense: saying, lay hold on him; he put forth his hand, and either shook it at …

169 words
SECTION 224

1 Kings 13:5

1 Kings 13:5 Ver. 5. The altar also was rent,.... Split into two parts perhaps, and one fell one way, and the other another; and the ashes poured out from the altar; the ashes of the burnt offering, these were spilled on the ground; all which was done without any outward force, or any visible means thereof: accordin…

80 words
SECTION 225

1 Kings 13:6

1 Kings 13:6 Ver. 6. And the king answered and said unto the man of God,.... In another tone than when he bid the people lay hold on him; not in a haughty, but humble manner; not as threatening, but supplicating: entreat now the face of the Lord thy God; he does not say "my God", for he had apostatized from him, and …

253 words
SECTION 226

1 Kings 13:7

1 Kings 13:7 Ver. 7. And the king said unto the man of God, come home with me, and refresh thyself,.... By eating a meal with him, after such a journey he had taken, and delivered his prophecies, and put up his prayers for the king: and I will give thee a reward; for his prayers, by means of which his hand was restor…

91 words
SECTION 227

1 Kings 13:8

1 Kings 13:8 Ver. 8. And the man of God said unto the king,.... In answer to his civility to him, to assure him it was not out of contempt to him, or ill will to him, or slight of his favour, but in obedience to the will of God: if thou wilt give half of thine house; of the riches in it, and even of his kingdom: I w…

93 words
SECTION 228

1 Kings 13:9

1 Kings 13:9 Ver. 9. For so it was charged me by the word of the Lord,.... The command of the Lord, by which he came to Bethel, and cried against the altar there, 1Ki 13:1 saying, eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest: signifying that no communion was to be had with idolaters,…

88 words
SECTION 229

1 Kings 13:10

1 Kings 13:10 Ver. 10. So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel. Neither ate nor drank with the king, though that is not expressed; nor did he go back the same way he came; but in each particular observed the divine command, and was obedient to it.…

57 words
SECTION 230

1 Kings 13:11

1 Kings 13:11 Ver. 11. Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel,.... The Targum is, a false prophet, so Josephus {b}; it is hard to say what he was, a good man or a bad man; if a good man, he was guilty of many things which are not in his favour, as dwelling in such an idolatrous place suffering his sons to attend ido…

356 words
SECTION 231

1 Kings 13:12

1 Kings 13:12 Ver. 12. And their father said unto them, what way went he?.... Having a strong inclination to see him, and converse with him: for his sons had seen what way the man of God went which came from Judah; they took notice of it; and, as the Targum, they showed it to their father.…

58 words
SECTION 232

1 Kings 13:13

1 Kings 13:13 Ver. 13. And he said unto his sons, saddle me the ass,.... Which he used to ride on; intimating he had a mind to ride after him, and overtake him, as he might reasonably think he might, since the man of God was on foot: so they saddled him the ass, and he rode thereon; after the man of God, taking the w…

70 words
SECTION 233

1 Kings 13:14

1 Kings 13:14 Ver. 14. And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak,.... To shelter him from the heat, and being faint, hungry, and thirsty; so the ancients of old made use of oaks for a covering, before houses were invented {e}; thus Abraham pitched his tent in the plain, or under the oak, of Mam…

118 words
SECTION 234

1 Kings 13:15

1 Kings 13:15 Ver. 15. Then said he unto him, come home with me, and eat bread. In which invitation no doubt he was hearty, and might have no ill design in it, only to have some conversation with him, as being a good man, and a prophet of the Lord, especially upon the subject of his prophecies at Bethel.…

61 words
SECTION 235

1 Kings 13:16

1 Kings 13:16 Ver. 16. And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee,.... Into the city, and into his house in it, being such an idolatrous place, and especially being forbidden of God: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place; he was resolute and determined to abide by the comm…

80 words
SECTION 236

1 Kings 13:17

1 Kings 13:17 Ver. 17. For it was said to me by the word of the Lord,.... By the angel that was sent to him, who gave him his message and instructions; which he was persuaded came from the Lord himself, and therefore looked upon himself under obligation to regard them as such: thou shall eat no bread, &c. the same th…

71 words
SECTION 237

1 Kings 13:18

1 Kings 13:18 Ver. 18. And he said unto him,.... That is, the old prophet said to the man of God: I am a prophet also as thou art; meaning, that he was a prophet of the true God, and not of any idol deity; that he not only believed in him, and was a worshipper of him, but had revelations from him, and of the same thi…

2,207 words
SECTION 238

1 Kings 14:1

1 Kings 14:1 INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 14 This chapter relates the sickness of Jeroboam's son, the application of his wife, at his instance, to the prophet Ahijah, in the child's favour, 1Ki 14:1, the prophecy of the prophet concerning the ruin of Jeroboam's house, and the death of the child, which came to pass, 1Ki 14…

148 words
SECTION 239

1 Kings 14:2

1 Kings 14:2 Ver. 2. And Jeroboam said to his wife,.... Who she was is not known: arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself; put off her royal apparel, and clothe herself like a common person, mimic the dress and language of a country woman: that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam: by any that should see he…

288 words
SECTION 240

1 Kings 14:3

1 Kings 14:3 Ver. 3. And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him,.... It being usual to carry a present to a prophet when he was inquired of on any account, see 1Sa 9:7 and this being a plain present, and of such things as the country afforded, she might be taken for a plain count…

226 words
← PreviousPage 4 of 7Next →

Source & rights

Public domain; John Gill (1697–1771). Source item is marked Public Domain on Internet Archive.

Project Gutenberg source record →

Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.