Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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1 Kings
Book: 1 Kings
Chapter: 11
Overview:
Solomon's wives and concubines, His
Idolatry.
(1-8) God's
Anger.
(9-13) Solomon's adversaries.
(14-25) Jeroboam's
promotion.
(26-40) The
Death of
Solomon.
(41-43)
1-8 There is not a more melancholy and astonishing instance of
human depravity in the sacred Scriptures, than that here
recorded.
Solomon became a public
Worshipper of abominable
idols! Probably he
By Degrees gave way to pride and luxury, and
thus lost his relish for true
Wisdom. Nothing forms in itself a
security against the deceitfulness and depravity of the human
Heart. Nor will old
Age cure the
Heart of any evil propensity.
If our sinful passions are not crucified and mortified
By the
Grace of
God, they never will die of themselves, but will last
even when opportunities to gratify them are taken away. Let him
that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall. We see how weak
we are of ourselves, without the
Grace of
God; let us therefore
live in constant dependence
On that
Grace. Let us watch and be
sober: ours is a dangerous warfare, and in an enemy's country,
while our worst foes are the traitors in our own hearts.
9-13 The
Lord told
Solomon, it is likely
By a
Prophet, what he
must expect for his apostasy. Though we have reason to
Hope that
he repented, and found
Mercy, yet the
Holy Ghost did not
expressly record it, but left it doubtful, as a warning to
others not to
Sin. The guilt may be taken away, but not the
reproach; that will remain. Thus it must remain uncertain to us
till the
Day of
Judgment, whether or not
Solomon was left to
suffer the
Everlasting displeasure of an offended
God.
14-25 While
Solomon kept close to
God and to his duty, there
was
No enemy to give him uneasiness; but here we have an account
of two. If against us, he can make us fear even the least, and
the very
Grasshopper shall be a
Burden. Though they were moved
By principles of ambition or revenge,
God used them to correct
Solomon.
26-40 In telling the reason why
God Rent the kingdom from the
House of
Solomon,
Ahijah warned
Jeroboam to take heed of sinning
away his preferment. Yet the
House of
David must be supported;
out of it the
Messiah would arise.
Solomon sought to kill his
successor. Had not he taught others, that whatever devices are
in men's hearts, the counsel of the
Lord shall stand? Yet he
himself thinks to defeat that counsel.
Jeroboam withdrew into
Egypt, and was content to live in
Exile and obscurity for
awhile, being sure of a kingdom at last. Shall not we be
content, who have a better kingdom in reserve?
41-43 Solomon's reign was as long as his
Father's, but his
Life
was not
So.
Sin shortened his days. If the world, with all its
advantages, could satisfy the soul, and afford real joy,
Solomon
would have found it
So. But he was disappointed in all, and to
warn us, has left this record of all earthly enjoyments, "Vanity
and vexation of
Spirit." The New
Testament declares that one
greater than
Solomon is come to reign over us, and to possess
the
Throne of his
Father David. May we not see something of
Christ's excellency faintly represented to us in this figure?