Study notes

1 Kings 9

Introducing 1 KingsWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

9:1–9 Section

God repeated to Solomon the covenant that he had made with David. He told Solomon to walk faithfully with him like David had done. This means that someone is to love God and obey him as long as they live.

David hadn’t obeyed all the Law of Moses. He did some things that God hated. Those events are recorded in 2 Samuel. But he always turned away from his sin, repented and trusted God to forgive him.

He always worshipped only God and never worshipped false gods. The kings from David’s family line were to be like David in those ways.

If they weren’t then the covenant curses would happen to all the Israelites. This included the curses from the Mount Sinai covenant and the temple being destroyed.

Both the people and the king had to obey God and worship only him. Only then would they be safe from their enemies and receive the covenant blessings.

9:2

The Lord had appeared to Solomon before, granting him wisdom (1 Kings 3:3–15). The author of Chronicles adds more details about God's blessings or judgment, based on the faithfulness of Solomon and Israel (2 Chronicles 7:11–22).

9:3–9

The Lord responded to Solomon's prayer by explaining the covenant's conditions. Obedience would lead to prosperity and blessings, while disobedience could cause disaster, including the city's and temple's destruction and the people's exile (see Deuteronomy 28:36–37, 63–68). Although God's covenant was unchangeable, enjoying its blessings required faithfulness to its terms (Psalm 89:24–37).

9:10–14

Solomon made a business deal with King Hiram, trading wheat and olive oil for timber and gold (1 Kings 5:10–11). When Solomon owed Hiram, he gave him twenty towns in Galilee as payment. However, Hiram was unhappy with the towns and returned them to Solomon (see 2 Chronicles 8:2). The two friends agreed on other compensation and continued as allies and trading partners (1 Kings 9:26–28; 10:22).

9:10–11:43 Section

Solomon did many things to make Israel a powerful nation. He had many cities and palaces built. He made agreements with the kings, queens and people groups around Israel. He made his army large and strong. People from many nations were amazed by him. The queen of Sheba praised the Lord for the ways God blessed Israel through Solomon.

Solomon accomplished all of this by doing several things. He required the Israelites to work for him and he made the Canaanites his slaves. He also acquired many horses and chariots to use in battles. This made his army very powerful. And he married women from other people groups. This was a common practice for rulers in his time. It was a way that leaders of people groups made agreements with one another. These agreements were about business, trading and not attacking one another.

Solomon was a very powerful king because of all the workers, horses and wives he had. But these things went against God’s rules for kings in Israel (Deuteronomy 17:14–20). They led Solomon to do evil things. He didn’t worship only God. He wasn’t faithful to the Mount Sinai covenant. Because of this, God allowed enemies to attack Israel. And David’s family line would no longer be allowed to rule over all 12 tribes.

Jeroboam was anointed by Ahijah the prophet to be king over ten of the tribes. When Solomon heard this, he didn’t turn away from his sins and repent. Instead, he acted like Saul had acted. Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam just like Saul had tried to kill David.

9:15

Solomon strengthened the supporting terraces on a slope of the southeastern ridge in the traditional City of David area of Jerusalem (see 2 Samuel 5:9) and the wall of Jerusalem. He also fortified the important cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.

Archaeological research shows that the walls and gates of all three cities have unique features from Solomon’s time. Hazor, in the north, served as a first line of defense against invasion. Megiddo, in the Plain of Sharon, also had important military significance (2 Kings 23:29–30; Revelation 16:12–16).

9:15–24

Solomon used forced labor to finish many construction projects (1 Kings 4:6; 5:13–18; 9:20–23; 12:4, 18–19; compare 1 Samuel 8:10–18).

9:16

Gezer, located west of Jerusalem, was not originally settled by the Israelites. An Egyptian pharaoh conquered it and gave it to his daughter as a wedding gift when she married Solomon. An inscription in the Amon Temple in Tanis seems to show a victory by Pharaoh Siamun of the 21st dynasty, who ruled from 978 to 959 BC, against the Philistines, suggesting Siamun was the pharaoh involved.

9:17–18

Lower Beth-horon was an important defense site for western Judah. Several cities in Canaan were called Baalath; the one here was likely also known as Kiriath-jearim (see 2 Samuel 6:2; Joshua 15:9; 1 Chronicles 13:5, 6). Tamar was probably located in the southeastern part of the Holy Land (see Ezekiel 47:19; 48:28).

9:20–23

Solomon's conscripted workers included early Canaanite settlers. There were 550 chief supervisors, and 250 of them were Israelites, overseeing the laborers (2 Chronicles 8:9–10; see 1 Kings 5:15–16 with 2 Chronicles 2:17–18).

9:21

devote to destruction: See “Complete Dedication” Theme Note.

9:24

Solomon built a new palace for Pharaoh’s daughter, separate from his own, because his palace was considered holy. The ark of the LORD had been there (2 Chronicles 8:11). The ark's location was sacred, as it represented God's presence and made the area holy (Exodus 25:22; see also 2 Samuel 6:7; 1 Chronicles 15:11–13).

9:25

Three times a year, Solomon showed great leadership for Israel by offering sacrifices at the national festivals of:

Unleavened Bread,
Weeks (also called Pentecost or Harvest), and
Tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:16).

9:26–28

The seaport of Ezion-geber was on the Gulf of Aqaba, which connects to the Red Sea. The exact location of Ophir is unknown, but it might have been in southwestern Arabia, eastern Africa, or India. The mention of gold and other valuable goods (see 1 Kings 10:11–12) highlights its importance for trade.

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources