a Gen. xix. 27, 28.
^ Compare 1 Kings iii. 1 — 3. with Dcut. xii. 2 — 6.
" Deut. xvii. 16, 17.
^ In amassing gold, not, as David, for the Lord, but for his own aggrandizement: see 1 Kings x. 21. In increasing horses; see 1 Kings iv. 26. and x. 26. and especially from Egypt ; see 1 Kings x. 28. In multiplying wives ; see ver. 3.
2. To what an extent it proceeded —
[There was not any thing more strongly prohibited in the Law than the forming of connexions with heathen women ^ : yet it was not from among the women of his own nation that he took his wives and concubines, but from among the " Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites." What an astonishing infatuation was here ! Perhaps in the first two or three instances he might hope to convert them, as Pharaoh's daughter had been converted : but after having broken down the fence of the divine law, he roved afterwards at pleasure throughout the world. Soon the consequences which might have been expected, ensued : his heart was drawn away from God; and he not only suffered them to commit idolatry in the land, but he even favoured their idolatry, and actually huilt temples for their gods, and that too even i7i Jerusalem itself, where Jehovah's temple was : nor did he do this only for one or two whom he peculiarly favoured, but "for all his strange wdves:" yea, incredible as it may appear, he actually united with them in the ivorship of their idols, and alienated to them the affections due only to the God of Israel^. Who that had seen Solomon at the dedication of the temple, would ever have conceived that he should fall at last to such a degraded state as this?]
3. With what aggravations it was attended —
[Solomon had from a child been eminently beloved of the Lord : God had even given him the name Jedidiah in token of that loveS. He had been esjoecially appointed to build the temple of the Lord^ : and both before and after he had built the temple, was honoured with peculiar visits from God himself'. In the latter of these visits God had strongly warned him against the very evils which he afterwards committed'^ : and yet did Solomon very speedily rush into the commission of them'. Now these things God himself notices as aggravations of his guilt: he comj)lains, that Solomon did these things " after God had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not do it." Surely such ingratitude and impiety were scarcely ever combined in any other child of man !]
e Deut. vii. 3, 4.
^ ver. 4 — 8. His wives turned away his heart after other gods . . . he went after Ashtoreth, &lc. s 2 Sam, xii. 24, 25.
^ 1 Chron, xxii. 9, 10. ^ Compare 1 Kings iii. 5. and ix. 2.
k 1 Kings ix. 3—7.
1 He had reigned at least twenty years before the second visit. 1 Kings ix. 1, 10.
337.] Solomon's fall. 367
4. With what consequences it was followed —
[" God was angry with him," as well he might be ; and he declared to Solomon that the kingdom of wliich he had ren- dered himself so unworthy, should be taken from lum, and given to a servant of his™. This judgment however should be both deferred and mitigated ; yet not for his sake, but for his father David's sake. Great as David's crimes had been in the matter of Uriah, he had never for a moment countenanced idolatry ; and therefore for his sake should two of the tribes be reserved for his descendants, whilst the other ten should be rent away from them ; and for his sake should the evil be de- ferred, till Solomon himself should be removed into the eternal world". Thus was the very mitigation of the punishment as humiliating, as the denunciation of it was painful. Imme- diately did God stir up adversaries to Solomon, to disquiet his peaceful reign, and to embitter the remainder of his days°. WHiat the event of his transgression was in the eternal world, we cannot certainly declare. We hope and believe that Solo- mon repented, and was forgiven ; (the Book of Ecclesiastes seems to have been written after this period, and to contain the evidence of his repentance :) but there is no express mention of any such thing ; so that it must remain uncertain till the day of judgment, whether he was not left to suffer the ever- lastmg displeasure of an offended God. Wliat a fearful thought! that so bright a sun should set at last under so dark a cloud!]