1Král Šalomoun miloval - vedle faraonovy dcery - mnoho cizích žen: Moabitky, Amonitky, Edomitky, Sidoňanky, Chetitky, 2z oněch národů, o nichž Jahve Izraelitům řekl: „Nepůjdete k nim a oni nepůjdou k vám; určitě by odvrátili vaše srdce ke svým bohům.“ Ale Šalomoun k nim přilnul láskou; 3měl sedm set manželek knížecího stavu a tři sta vedlejších žen. 4Když byl Šalomoun starý, odvrátily mu jeho ženy srdce k jiným bohům a jeho srdce už nepatřilo plně Jahvovi, jeho Bohu, jako srdce jeho otce Davida. 5Šalomoun chodil za Aštartou, božstvem Sidoňanů, a za Milkomem, ohyzdou Amonitů. 6Dělal, co se Jahvovi nelíbí, a neposlouchal ho dokonale jako jeho otec David. 7Právě tehdy Šalomoun postavil svatyni ohyzdě Moabu Kemošovi, na hoře na východ od Jeruzaléma, a ohyzdě Amonitů Milkomovi. 8Tak to udělal pro všechny své cizí ženy, které přinášely svým bohům kadidlo a oběti. 9Jahve se na Šalomouna rozhněval, protože se jeho srdce odvrátilo od Jahva, Boha Izraele, jenž se mu dvakrát zjevil 10a jenž mu tehdy zakázal chodit za jinými bohy; on však tento příkaz nezachoval. 11Jahve tehdy Šalomounovi řekl: „Protože ses tak choval a protože jsi nezachoval mou smlouvu a předpisy, které jsem ti dal, určitě ti vyrvu tvé království a dám je jednomu z tvých služebníků. 12Jenže z ohledu na tvého otce Davida to neudělám za tvého života; vyrvu je z ruky tvému synovi. 13A ještě mu nevyrvu celé království: ponechám tvému synovi z ohledu na svého služebníka Davida a na Jeruzalém, který jsem si vyvolil, jeden kmen.“ 14Jahve Šalomounovi vzbudil nepřítele, Edomitu Hadada z edomského královského rodu. 15Když David porazil Edom, pobil vše, co v Edomu bylo mužského pohlaví, zatímco náčelník vojska Joab odešel pohřbít mrtvé. 16(Joab a celý Izrael tam zůstali po šest měsíců, až bylo v Edomu zničeno vše, co bylo mužského pohlaví); 17Hadad uprchl spolu s Edomity, kteří sloužili jeho otci, do Egypta. Hadad byl tehdy mladý hoch. 18Odešli z Madianu a přišli do Paranu; vzali s sebou muže z Paranu a šli do Egypta k faraonovi, egyptskému králi, který mu dal dům, postaral se o jeho obživu a dal mu pozemek. 19Hadad se u faraona těšil velké přízni, a on ho oženil se sestrou své ženy, sestrou Velké Paní Tachpenes. 20Tachpenesina sestra mu porodila syna Genubata, jehož Tachpenes vychovávala ve faraonově paláci, a Genubat žil ve faraonově paláci mezi faraonovými dětmi. 21Když se Hadad v Egyptě dozvěděl, že David ulehl se svými otci a že náčelník vojska Joab je mrtev, řekl faraonovi: „Propusť mě a já půjdu do své země.“ 22Faraon mu řekl: „Co ti u mne chybí, že usiluješ odejít do své země?“ On odpověděl: „Nic, ale propusť mě.“ (25b)Tohoto zla se dopustil Hadad: měl odpor proti Izraeli a vládl nad Edomem. 23Šalomounovi vzbudil Bůh protivníka také v Eljadovu synovi Rezonovi. Ten utekl od svého pána, krále Soby Hadadezera; 24připojili se k němu různí muži a on se stal náčelníkem tlupy (a tehdy je David pobil). Rezon se zmocnil Damašku, usadil se tam a vládl nad Damaškem. 25(a)Byl protivníkem Izraele po celý Šalomounův život. 26Jeroboam byl syn Efraimovce Nebata ze Seredy a jeho matka byla vdova jménem Serua; byl v Šalomounových službách a vzbouřil se proti králi. 27Jeho vzpoura se udála takto: Šalomoun stavěl Milo, uzavíral mezeru ve městě svého otce Davida. 28Ten Jeroboam byl zámožný muž; Šalomoun si všiml, jak ten mladík plní svůj úkol, a pověřil ho dozorem nad robotou celého Josefova domu. 29Stalo se, že Jeroboama, když vyšel z Jeruzaléma, na cestě oslovil prorok Achija ze Sila: byl oblečen v novém plášti a oba byli na poli sami. 30Achija vzal nový plášť, který měl na sobě, a roztrhal jej na dvanáct kusů. 31Potom řekl Jeroboamovi: „Vezmi si deset kusů, neboť Jahve, Bůh Izraele, mluví takto: Hle, vyrvu království ze Šalomounovy ruky a dám ti těch deset kmenů. 32On bude mít jeden kmen z ohledu na mého služebníka Davida a na Jeruzalém, město, jež jsem si vyvolil ze všech kmenů Izraele. 33To proto, že on mě opustil, že se klaněl před Aštartou, bohyní Sidoňanů, Kemošem, bohem Moabu, Milkomem, bohem Amonitů, a že nechodil po mých cestách, takže by dělal, co je v mých očích správné, nesledoval mé zákony ani má nařízení jako jeho otec David. 34Ale království nevezmu z ruky jemu, neboť jeho jsem ustanovil knížetem na celou dobu jeho života z ohledu na svého služebníka Davida, kterého jsem vyvolil a který zachovával má přikázání a mé zákony; 35království odejmu z ruky jeho synovi a dám je tobě, totiž těch deset kmenů. 36Přece však jeho synovi ponechám jeden kmen, aby můj služebník David měl přede mnou stále lampu v Jeruzalémě, městě, jež jsem vyvolil, abych tam vložil své Jméno. 37A tebe vezmu, abys vládl nade vším, nad čím budeš chtít, a budeš králem nad Izraelem. 38Budeš-li poslouchat ve všem, co ti přikáži, budeš-li chodit po mých cestách a dělat, co je v mých očích správné, tak, že budeš zachovávat mé zákony a má přikázání, jako to dělal můj služebník David, pak budu s tebou a vystavím ti dům tak stálý, jako jsem vystavěl Davidovi. Dám ti Izraele 39a pokořím proto Davidovo potomstvo; nicméně ne navždy.“ 40Šalomoun se snažil Jeroboama usmrtit; on odešel a uprchl do Egypta, k egyptskému králi Šešonkovi, a zůstal v Egyptě až do Šalomounovy smrti. 41Zbytek Šalomounových příběhů, všechno, co udělal, i jeho moudrost, což to není zapsáno v knize Šalomounových příběhů? 42Šalomounova vláda v Jeruzalémě nad celým Izraelem trvala čtyřicet let. 43Pak Šalomoun ulehl se svými otci a pohřbili ho ve městě jeho otce Davida a namísto něho vládl jeho syn Roboam.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 SOLOMON'S WIVES AND CONCUBINES IN HIS OLD AGE. (
1Kgs 11:1-8)
But King Solomon loved many strange women--Solomon's extraordinary gift of wisdom was not sufficient to preserve him from falling into grievous and fatal errors. A fairer promise of true greatness, a more beautiful picture of juvenile piety, never was seen than that which he exhibited at the commencement of his reign. No sadder, more humiliating, or awful spectacle can be imagined than the besotted apostasy of his old age; and to him may be applied the words of Paul (
Gal 3:3), of John (
Rev 3:17), and of Isaiah (
Isa 14:21). A love of the world, a ceaseless round of pleasure, had insensibly corrupted his heart, and produced, for a while at least, a state of mental darkness. The grace of God deserted him; and the son of the pious David--the religiously trained child of Bath-sheba (
Pro 31:1-
Pro 31:3), and pupil of Nathan, instead of showing the stability of sound principle and mature experience became at last an old and foolish king (
Eccl 4:13). His fall is traced to his "love of many strange women." Polygamy was tolerated among the ancient Hebrews; and, although in most countries of the East, the generality of men, from convenience and economy, confine themselves to one woman, yet a number of wives is reckoned as an indication of wealth and importance, just as a numerous stud of horses and a grand equipage are among us. The sovereign, of course, wishes to have a more numerous harem than any of his subjects; and the female establishments of many Oriental princes have, both in ancient and modern times, equalled or exceeded that of Solomon's. It is probable, therefore, that, in conformity with Oriental notions, he resorted to it as a piece of state magnificence. But in him it was unpardonable, as it was a direct and outrageous violation of the divine law (
Deut 17:17), and the very result which that statute was ordained to prevent was realized in him. His marriage with the daughter of Pharaoh is not censured either here or elsewhere (see on
1Kgs 3:1). It was only his love for many strange women; for women, though in the East considered inferiors, exert often a silent but powerful seductive influence over their husbands in the harem, as elsewhere, and so it was exemplified in Solomon.
3 he had seven hundred wives, princesses--They were, probably, according to an existing custom, the daughters of tributary chiefs, given as hostages for good conduct of their fathers.
concubines--were legitimate, but lower or secondary wives. These the chief or first wife regards without the smallest jealousy or regret, as they look up to her with feelings of respectful submission. Solomon's wives became numerous, not all at once, but gradually. Even at an early period his taste for Oriental show seems to have led to the establishment of a considerable harem (
Song 6:8).
4 when Solomon was old--He could not have been more than fifty.
his wives turned away his heart after other gods--Some, considering the lapse of Solomon into idolatry as a thing incredible, regard him as merely humoring his wives in the practice of their superstition; and, in countenancing their respective rites by his presence, as giving only an outward homage--a sensible worship, in which neither his understanding nor his heart was engaged. The apology only makes matters worse, as it implies an adding of hypocrisy and contempt of God to an open breach of His law. There seems no possibility of explaining the language of the sacred historian, but as intimating that Solomon became an actual and open idolater, worshipping images of wood or stone in sight of the very temple which, in early life, he had erected to the true God. Hence that part of Olivet was called the high place of Tophet (
Jer 7:30-
Jer 7:34), and the hill is still known as the Mount of Offense, of the Mount of Corruption (
2Kgs 23:13).
5 Ashtoreth--Astarte,
Milcom--Molech,
and Chemosh--He built altars for these three; but, although he is described (
1Kgs 11:8) as doing the same for "all his strange wives," there is no evidence that they had idols distinct from these; and there is no trace whatever of Egyptian idolatry.
8 burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods--The first was considered a higher act of homage, and is often used as synonymous with worship (
2Kgs 22:17;
2Kgs 23:5).
9 GOD THREATENS HIM. (
1Kgs 11:9-13)
the Lord was angry with Solomon--The divine appearance, first at Gibeon [
1Kgs 3:5], and then at Jerusalem [
1Kgs 9:2], after the dedication of the temple, with the warnings given him on both occasions [
1Kgs 3:11-14;
1Kgs 9:3-9], had left Solomon inexcusable; and it was proper and necessary that on one who had been so signally favored with the gifts of Heaven, but who had grossly abused them, a terrible judgment should fall. The divine sentence was announced to him probably by Ahijah; but there was mercy mingled with judgment, in the circumstance, that it should not be inflicted on Solomon personally--and that a remnant of the kingdom should be spared--"for David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, which had been chosen" to put God's name there; not from a partial bias in favor of either, but that the divine promise might stand (
2Sam 7:12-16).
13 I will give one tribe to thy son--There were left to Rehoboam the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi (
2Chr 11:12-13); and multitudes of Israelites, who, after the schism of the kingdom, established their residence within the territory of Judah to enjoy the privileges of the true religion (
1Kgs 12:17). These are all reckoned as one tribe.
14 SOLOMON'S ADVERSARIES. (1Ki. 11:14-40)
the Lord stirred up an adversary--that is, permitted him, through the impulse of his own ambition, or revenge, to attack Israel. During the war of extermination, which Joab carried on in Edom (
2Sam 8:13), this Hadad, of the royal family, a mere boy when rescued from the sword of the ruthless conqueror, was carried into Egypt, hospitably entertained, and became allied with the house of the Egyptian king. In after years, the thought of his native land and his lost kingdom taking possession of his mind, he, on learning the death of David and Joab, renounced the ease, possessions, and glory of his Egyptian residence, to return to Edom and attempt the recovery of his ancestral throne. The movements of this prince seem to have given much annoyance to the Hebrew government; but as he was defeated by the numerous and strong garrisons planted throughout the Edomite territory, Hadad seems to have offered his services to Rezon, another of Solomon's adversaries (
1Kgs 11:23-25). This man, who had been general of Hadadezer and, on the defeat of that great king, had successfully withdrawn a large force, went into the wilderness, led a predatory life, like Jephthah, David, and others, on the borders of the Syrian and Arabian deserts. Then, having acquired great power, he at length became king in Damascus, threw off the yoke, and was "the adversary of Israel all the days of Solomon." He was succeeded by Hadad, whose successors took the official title of Ben-hadad from him, the illustrious founder of the powerful kingdom of Damascene-Syria. These hostile neighbors, who had been long kept in check by the traditional fame of David's victories, took courage; and breaking out towards the latter end of Solomon's reign, they must have not only disturbed his kingdom by their inroads, but greatly crippled his revenue by stopping his lucrative traffic with Tadmor and the Euphrates.
26 Jeroboam--This was an internal enemy of a still more formidable character. He was a young man of talent and energy, who, having been appointed by Solomon superintendent of the engineering works projected around Jerusalem, had risen into public notice, and on being informed by a very significant act of the prophet Ahijah of the royal destiny which, by divine appointment, awaited him, his mind took a new turn.
29 clad--rather, "wrapped up." The meaning is, "Ahijah, the Shilonite, the prophet, went and took a fit station in the way; and, in order that he might not be known, he wrapped himself up, so as closely to conceal himself, in a new garment, a surtout, which he afterwards tore in twelve pieces." Notwithstanding this privacy, the story, and the prediction connected with it [
1Kgs 11:30-39], probably reached the king's ears; and Jeroboam became a marked man [
1Kgs 11:40]. His aspiring ambition, impatient for the death of Solomon, led him to form plots and conspiracies, in consequence of which he was compelled to flee to Egypt. Though chosen of God, he would not wait the course of God's providence, and therefore incurred the penalty of death by his criminal rebellion. The heavy exactions and compulsory labor (
1Kgs 11:28) which Solomon latterly imposed upon his subjects, when his foreign resources began to fail, had prepared the greater part of the kingdom for a revolt under so popular a demagogue as Jeroboam.
40 Shishak--He harbored and encouraged the rebellious refugee, and was of a different dynasty from the father-in-law of Solomon.
