Day 97. 1 Kings 3-5

The account of the glorious reign of Solomon begins with the shadows of the clouds that will overcast the end of his reign. First we are told that he seals an alliance with the Pharaoh of Egypt by marrying one of his daughters (3:1). These foreign wives will bring with them their retinues and their diverse religious practices and become a source of corruption in Israel. We will hear much more about this later. Then we are told that the people are continuing to sacrifice "at the high places" (3:2). Solomon will build a magnificent temple in Jerusalem to centralize worship, but he will not suppress the local cultic centers, and that failure will lead the people back to the worship of the pagan deities native to the country, in addition to the LORD. The word is "syncretism"—a combining of beliefs and practices condemned so roundly in the Book of Deuteronomy. But at the beginning of his reign, Solomon does have his priorities straightened out. When in a dream the LORD says, "Ask what I should give you" (3:5), Solomon requests that which he most needs—a wise and understanding mind to help him rule well (3:9).  The request pleases the Lord, who not only blesses the young king with unparalleled wisdom, but also with riches and honor, so that "no other king shall compare" with him (3:13). But the promise is to some degree conditional-- Solomon is told that if he walks in the LORD's ways, and keeps his statutes and commandments as his father David did, the span of his life will be increased together with his wisdom (3:14). Then in order to prove that God has indeed given Solomon the wisdom he asked for, we are told the famous story of the two prostitutes who come to him, each claiming one baby. The king calls for a sword to divide the child into two. One prostitute says "divide it, (3:26)"; the other offers to give up her claim upon the child to save its life, and proving  herself it's mother by her sacrificial love (3:27). The story is a classic, and it spread far and wide, so that we are told that "all Israel. . .perceived that the wisdom of God was in [Solomon], to execute justice" (3:28). Chapter 4 need not delay us long, except to note that the division of the country into twelve districts (4:1-19) shows Solomon's attempt to organize his administration according to sound business practices and at the same time to break down the old tribal system in favor of centralized government. And his reforms worked. The reign of Solomon was remembered afterwards as time of prosperity and order when Israel and Judah "lived in safety, from Dan to Beer-sheba, all of them under their vines and fig trees" (4:25). It was a period of cultural brilliance and accomplishment, led by Solomon himself, who excelled in everything. Not only was he a prudent administrator, but this  true Renaissance man was, we are told, a composer of wise proverbs and a poet who wrote songs (4:32). He was also a naturalist who knew the names of trees, animals, birds, reptiles and fish (4:33). But beneath the splendor of Solomon's court there was another reality. His magnificent building projects, including the temple in Jerusalem, were constructed largely by conscripted labor. We are told that someone named "Adoniram was in charge of forced labor" (5:14). Forced labor as a form of taxation was practiced in many ancient countries, most notably in Egypt. But in Israel it was an unwelcome novelty. Free citizens were sent to Lebanon to cut timber, where they would stay one month and then return home for two. In other words they became one-third slaves of the state. This arrangement is an increasing burden to ordinary people throughout the reign of Solomon and becomes the major contributing favor in the division of the country into two kingdoms, Judah and Israel, after his death.