1K4-1: The Bloody Road to Solomon’s Peaceful Kingdom

Today, we begin 1 Kings Chapter 4.

For the Complete Jewish Bible, click HERE.

For the King James Version, click HERE.

Chapter 4 kicks off fast and furious with a listing of the key officials in King Solomon’s administration.

This is actually similar to the one in 2nd Samuel Chapter 8 that listed David’s top administrators.

The timing of this list is from around the middle of Solomon’s reign.

How do we know that?

Because of these verses:

“the son of Avinadav,
in all the area of Dor;
he had Tafat the daughter
of Shlomo as his wife;“
-1 Kings 4:11

And this one:

“Achima‘atz, in Naftali;
he also took Basmat the daughter
of Shlomo as his wife;“
1 Kings 4:15

In other words, two of the officers mentioned had Solomon’s daughters as their wives.

That means these officers had to be at least 15 years old.

We know Solomon was around 20 when he became king.

So I highly doubt that Solomon fathered a couple of daughters when he was only about 5 or 6 years old.

Ya feel me here?

Now, let’s back up to verse 1.

“King Shlomo was king over all Israel,
and these were his high officials.”
1 Kings 4:1

The part where it says Solomon was king over all Israel ain’t a throwaway phrase, folks.

That sentence clearly indicates Solomon was the undisputed ruler over all 12 tribes and their associated territories.

Before David, no ruler could claim that.

It’s even a bit of a stretch to say David ruled completely over a united Israel.

During his reign, the northern and southern tribal alliances were always at odds.

Plus, let’s not forget the 2 1/2 tribes of Reuben, Gad, and one half of Manasseh who settled in the Transjordan (east of the Jordan River) outside of the holy land.

The situation of these coalitions and their alliances was pure chaos at times.

Having said that, at the conclusion of David’s reign, two major rebellions had been quelled, and enemy leaders had been disposed of.

Solomon continued that political dirty work when he came on board.

He dismissed one of the two high priests.

He then went on to execute David’s military commander, Joab, the old man Shimei, who had cursed David, and Solomon’s half-brother Adonijah, who had gathered many supporters in Israel.

Once all of this dirty work was taken care of, the situation stabilized, and Solomon understood the next step was to begin creating wealth to further strengthen Israel.

So what’s the takeaway here today?

Simple.

Before there can be peace, unfortunately, sometimes there has to be war.

Solomon ruling over all 12 tribes of Israel is a picture of peace.

But before there was peace, there was a ton of violence.

And that violence was necessary.

The same pattern applies to the coming of the Messiah.

Before Yeshua sits on his throne in Jerusalem…

The war to end all wars will occur at Armageddon.

It ain’t gonna be pretty.

But when it’s finished…

The world will enter an unprecedented period of peace.

Alrighty, that does it for today.

Shabbat Shalom!

CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

“Do not think that I have
come to bring peace to the earth.
I have not come to bring peace,
but a sword. For I have come
to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law.
And a person’s enemies will be
those of his own household.”
-Matthew 10:34-36

“These are spirits of demons,
performing signs, which go out
to the kings of the earth and
of the whole world,
to gather them to the battle of
that great day of God Almighty.”
— Revelation 16:14

“Now out of His mouth
goes a sharp sword,
that with it He
should strike the nations.
And He Himself will rule
them with a rod of iron.”
— Revelation 19:15

“And the armies in heaven,
clothed in fine linen,
white and clean,
followed Him on white horses.”
— Revelation 19:14