Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

    

The relationship between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba is told in 1 Kings 10. She comes all the way from her country, which is now known as Ethiopia. She arrived in Jerusalem with a large convoy and much to trade. Solomon gave her a personal interview and answered all her questions. She concluded that what she had heard in her own country was only half of what was told about the Israeli King’s true wisdom.

The wealth and magnificence of Jerusalem and Israel during this time was not to be compared with any other nation at that time. This was in response to what Jehovah had promised Solomon when he had requested wisdom instead of wealth or fame.

We also have the story of the Queen and Solomon in 2 Chronicles 9. The stories are mostly the same. The difference from First Kings and Second Chronicles is that Chronicles story ends with the death of Solomon. The books listed that tell of the other exploits of the third King of Israel are probably combined in all or part for the material in First Kings.

Remember when I said we would read about the reason why Solomon did not receive the same promise that his father, David, did? 1 Kings 11 tells us why Israel splits from Judah. We begin with all the women that became wives of the King. Seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. Imagine having sex with one thousand women.

This alone is a violation of the law of Jehovah. Most Hebrew men of that day would marry as many women as they could afford. The usual excuse is to have children to keep their flocks and maintain their property. Trading daughters to be wives of other rulers is to prevent wars.

The main sin listed here is the accommodation of the religions and gods of all these women. A place to worship Egypt’s deities and all the gods of the nations around them are also created by Israel’s King.

Before the death of Solomon is told, we read about the enemies of Israel including Jeroboam who will lead the ten northern tribes away from Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. This split is the end of the dynasty of King Solomon.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger