The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 238

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera.14-25.-Premonitiona of Wrath. Though the full weight of the judgment of God upon the sin of Solomon was not to come upon him in his lifetime, yet did he not, in this world, go altogether without punishment. The foreknowledge of the evils to come upon hie family and people was in itself a heavy affliction. But in addition to this, the evening of his days was doomed to be disturbed. To this end- I. Goo STIRRED UP ADVERSARIBS AGAINST HIM. 1. In themselvea th Be werb inconsiderable. (1) Hadad the Edomite I What can he do? He is indeed of the seed royal of Edem, but then Edem is tributary to Solomon, and Hadad i an exile in Egypt. (2) Rezon the Syrian I What can he do ? He was only a captain under Hadadezer, king of Zobah, whom David defeated, and who fled with his men, over whom he seems to have acted as a chief of banditti. 2. But they have been quietly acquiring influence. (1) Hadad, who was a lad when he fled from David, has now attained to man's estate; is in high favour with Pharaoh, and has become brother-in-law to the monarch of the Nile. (2) Rezon al.so, taking advantage of the apathy of Solomon, who is too much engaged in the seraglio to pay close attention to the affairs of his distant provinces, is already i Damascus and on the throne of Syria. 8. With God behind them they are now formidable. (1) The fly is a feeble creature, but let God send it forth as a plague, and Egypt is in agony. So He.dad, again amongst his Edomites, is by e. competent ProYidence enabled to work "mischief" even to Solomon ! (2) Rezon also is in a position to gratify his abhorrence of Israel " all the days of Solomon," or to the end of those days. (3) Let us see the hand of God in all the events of life. Let tl e discern- ment of symptoms of His displeasure lead us to repentance and reformation. Let us never despise the day of small things, for the great hand of God ma be in it. It is difficult to distinguish the trifling from the momentous. II. HE STIRRED UP THOSE ADVERSARIBS BY MEANS. 1. They were reminded of the sufferings of their people. (1) When David conquered Edom there was a fearful carnage. For six months J oab was engaged in cutting off all the males, until, no natives surviving, Israel had to bury the slain (vers. 16, 16). This slaughter was sufficiently dreadful, though it may only have extended to those old enough to bear arms. He.dad was not an infant then, but (l~P iVJ) a little boy-of sufficient age to see what was going on and make his escape with the servants. Rezon was of an age and in a position to estimate the miseries which the Syrians suffered when "David slew" them, which sufficiently accounts for the manner in which he " ab- horred Israel" Wars are the cradles of resentments. (2) These terrible massacres have their justification in the sins of the people who suffered them. In executing the wrath of God upon Edem, David fulfilled the famous propheoy of Balaam (see Num. xxiv. 17-19). But in this David was the type of Christ, the true Star o_f Jacob and Prince of Israel, whose anger will sweep His enemies to extermina- tion. 2. They were persuaded that the opportunity was ripe for revenge. (1) They heard that the ww:riors were dead (ver. 21). They were no longer paralyzed by the sound of the once tenible names of David and Joab. (2) As for Solomon, he never was a warrior. And now he is stupefied by idolatry, and enervated in the harem. (3) Consequently they put on a bold front, 1.1,nd from different points harassed and distracted Solomon, apparently with impunity. For the king of Isro.el knew that God was angry, and " oonsoience makes cowards of us all." Who can afford to have God for his enemy? Solomon could not afford it. Can we ? Who wonlu not make peace with such an antagonist ? He proposes His own terms. Why do we not repent a~d believe the gospel ?-M. 1 KINGS. 2 242 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [on. xi. 14-48,