The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 216

and it was no preparation for the Incro:nation that it should become the home of "gripple merchants." Contact and copartnership with idolaters could hardly be for the advantage of the faith. Nor is it difficult to see that Solomon's commerce grew at lhe expense of his religion. Riches, proverbially a dangerous possession were with him-wise though he was-a step towards utter ruin. .All the time that his fleets were ploughing the main, that caravans of merchants were fillincr his store cities, that he was driving bargains with the Syrians and Hittites (ver: 29), leanness was spreading in his soul-he was becoming more and more a secular prince. It has been justly remarked that the mention of" apes and peacocks" (ver. 22), is a significant indication of the moral and mental deterioration which he was undergoing. To think that the wisest of men should find his pleasure in the antics of the one or the plumage of the other; or that he, the viceroy of Jehovah, should import jibbering baboons and sl;rutting fowls, if not for himself, for the outlandish women of his court. No, these" wide views of commerce," this partnership with the Tyrians, this influx of prosperity, has not been for Solomon's or Israel's good, Indeed, if we study the character of the average nineteenth century Jew, we may form a fair idea of what commercial enterprise and lust of gold did for Solomon, the firnt of Hebrew chapmen. And yet this commerce, it.is easy to see, may have been in its commencement unexceptionable. Possibly it was in part undertaken to provide gold for the embellishment of the temple. But it soon engendered, if indeed it was not en- gendered by, that "love of money which is the root of all evil" As Solomon grew richer he loved riches more. Ver. 23 is full of significance. "So Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and wisdom.'' Time was when wisdom held the first place (eh. iii. 11). And so it came to pass that he who at first was "rich toward God,'' and who, like David his father, had only accumulated gold for the glory of the sanctuary, proceeded to "multiply silver and gold to him- self" (Deut. xvii. 17). Even his drinking vessels were of pure gold (eh. x. 21). So that his commarce and its prodigious gains led at last to a distinct violation of the law. He has not ceased to serve God. He still sacrifices and burns incense three times a year (eh. ix. 25). But he is trying to serve God and mammon, and mammon bas gained the mastery. It is probably mentioned aH a circumstance full of signi- ficance, that the weight of gold that came to him in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents (ver. 14). For as seven is the number of the covenant, so six marks a falling short of that covenant, and the first distinct violation of the covenant consisted in the multiplication of silver and gold . .A.nd when a breach in the law was once m,JJ,de we are not surprised to hear presently that it was widened. Facilia descensus A verni. From the multiplication of the precious metals it was an easy step to the multiplication of horses. And here we see at once how Solomon's conscience has become seared, or he has learnt to disregard its warnings. He knew perfectly well that his "twelve thousand horsemen" were a violation of the law. And he could hardly excuse himself on the Citt. x. 14-29.J '11HE FIRST :BOOK OF KINGS. 219