Walking in the Word

Monday, May 22, 2017

Solomon Builds His Palace – 1 Kings 7:1–12

Over thirteen years, Solomon builds his palace. All the specifications are given.

The Temple Furnishings – 1 Kings 7:13–51 & 2 Chronicles 3:15 – 2 Chronicles 4:22

Solomon sends for Hiram king of Tyre, who is the son of a widowed woman from the tribe of Naphtali and man of Tyre. His father was a worker of bronze, so Hiram not only full of wisdom and understanding, but also working in bronze. He does the bronze work for all the bronze pieces in the temple (pillars, bowls, latticeworks, basins and stands, pots and shovels).
Solomon makes all the golden vessels: the able for the bread of the Presence, lampstands, and other items, including the doors of the temple nave.
Solomon finishes the temple, then brings the items that David had dedicated and stores them in the house of the Lord.

Solomon's Wisdom – 1 Kings 3:16–28

Two prostitutes who live in the same house come before Solomon, and the first one tells him that they both had babies (three days apart). The second woman rolled over on her son during the night and he died, and the second woman switched the dead baby with the first woman's live baby. The second woman denies this, claiming the live baby is hers.
Solomon instructs that the living baby be divided in half and a half be given to each woman. The first woman tells him to give the baby to the second woman, but the second woman says to divide the baby. Solomon instructs that the baby be given to the first woman, since she is obviously the child's mother.

Preparations for Building the Temple – 1 Kings 5:1–18 & 2 Chronicles 2:1–18

Hiram king of Tyre, who loved David, sends his servants to Solomon. Solomon sends word to Hiram that he intends to build a temple now that all his enemies (and David's) have been conquered. Hiram rejoices and tells Solomon that he will send down cedar and cypress timber from Lebanon; in response, Solomon will provide food for Hiram's household. The two make a treaty.
Solomon sends many men to Lebanon, and to the hill country to mine stone for the temple's foundation. Solomon's and Hiram's builders and the men of Gebal do the cutting and preparing of the timber.

Solomon Builds the Temple – 1 Kings 6:1–13 & 2 Chronicles 3:1–14

In the 480th year after Israel came out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, in the month of Ziv (the second month), Solomon begins building the temple. All the specifications of the building are given.
God tells Solomon that if he continues to keep the statutes God gave to David, He will dwell among his children of Israel and will not forsake them.

Solomon Builds the Temple – 1 Kings 6:14–38

O God, Do Not Keep Silence – Psalm 83

Asaph's psalm, a community lament for when God's people are threatened by Gentile enemies.

Solomon Anointed King – 1 Chronicles 29:23–25 & 2 Chronicles 1:1

Solomon sits on the throne of the Lord in place of David. He prospers, and all of Israel pledges their allegiance to him. God makes him great in the sight of Israel.

Solomon's Reign Established – 2 Kings 2:13–46

Adonijah comes to Bathsheba and asks that she go to Solomon and ask if Adonijah can have Abishag (David's concubine) for his wife. Bathsheba goes to Solomon and makes the request, and he asks her why she has made this request. He goes on to say that Adonijah is to be put to death, and he sends Benaiah to kill him that day. He then expels Abiathar the priest (who followed Adonijah), though he should put him to death as well.
When Joab (who had also followed Adonijah) hears this, he flees to the tent of the Lord. Solomon learns of this and sends Benaiah to put him to death as well. Benaiah does as instructed and buries his body in the wilderness, as instructed.
Solomon then sends word to Shimei that he should build a house in Jerusalem and never leave there. Shimei agrees, but three years later Shimei is told that his servants are in Gath and he goes there to retrieve them. When Solomon learns of this, he has Benaiah put him to death.
Solomon's kingdom is established.

Solomon's Solomon Worships at Gibeon – 1 Kings 3:1–4 & 2 Chronicles 1:2–6 & 1 Kings 3:3–5

Solomon makes a marriage alliance with Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He takes Pharaoh's daughter as his wife and brings her into the city of David until he finishes building his house in Jerusalem.
Solomon loves the Lord and walks in the statutes of his father, sacrificing only at the high places. He goes to Gibeon with all of the assembly, where he offers a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

Solomon Prays for Wisdom – 2 Chronicles 1:7–13

That night, God appears to Solomon in a dream and tells him to ask for what he wants. Solomon asks God to continue to keep His promise to David, since he has made Solomon king over a people as numerous as dust. He then asks for wisdom and knowledge to lead the people well.
Because Solomon has asked for wisdom and knowledge (instead of possessions, wealth, or honor), God gives him what he has requested, as well as riches, possessions, and honor.
Solomon returns from Gibeon and reigns over Israel.