“And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.”
King James Version (KJV)
Fred Scanlan's comment on 2022-06-21 18:56:40:
It came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.5. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.6. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.7
A woman who is not engaged with the same Lord as ours, will become a millstone around a mans neck! If there could be an evil a man would never wish for it would be for an unthankful one of these!
Mark Valesano's comment on 2022-06-19 17:52:40:
I'm not sure where you're coming from. Solomon's marrying Pharoah's daughter apparently didn't stop God from asking Solomon what He should give him in 1 Kings 3:5. I also noted that when leaders go astray, the people do suffer. That may have been his realization when writing Proverbs 29:2. Moses' leadership was also subverted by those who insisted on carrying their idols from Egypt to the promised land (Amos 5:25-26). His (Moses) leadership was honorable and none was more humble than he in serving the Lord. But you're right, Solomon became a poor example to the people he had sought God to help govern. People will choose to do what they want in the end, regardless of who's in charge.
Rehoboam's decision to follow the young princes' advice and not the elders could be partly blamed on his father. But the decision was his and dad wasn't around anymore. As for Jeroboam and Solomon trying to kill him, Jeroboam wasn't anointed, but appointed to be King over Israel and he failed miserably in that role. His wickedness was such that he's referenced multiple times in comparison with the other evil kings (which were all) over Israel.
Ultimately, though, Solomon came back to the Lord prior to his death. I'm not sure of the timeline, but the ending in Ecclesiastes is clear..Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. King Saul didn't have that repentent spirit within him when he sought the witch of Endor or fell on the battlefield against the Philistines.
Have a good week.
T. Levis's comment on 2022-06-19 10:46:58:
1Kings 3:1, 2Chronicles 8:11, this seems to be an on going concern/compromise? Not that God "would allow Solomon to veer, from his good start", James 1:13-16
1Kings 6:12,13, 1Kings 7:8, 1Kings 9:2-9, 1Kings 11:1-3, 1Kings 11:4-6,
1Kings 11:7, isn't that the horrible thing that started abortion? Leviticus 18:21, Leviticus 20:2,3,4,5, Jeremiah 32:35, it seems to have caused sin multipled please see 2Kings 23, how long did those sins stay among the people? How sad for people who follow someone that leads them astray. & when a "wise" king sets up evil, how difficult is it to take out what an admired person sets up? 2Kings 23:13, 1Kings 14:21-31, 2Chronicles 33, Nehemiah 13:26,
also the contrary teachings, is that what made his son disrespectful to the elders, hypocrisy? 1Kings 12,? 2Chronicles 10:6 -8, ?
1Kings 11:9-11,
1Kings 11:12-14,
1Kings 11:40, isn't those actions like Saul's, unlike David who showed mercy to GOD's anointted.
1Chronicles 28:9 "And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the GOD of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever."
James 3:1,
Luke 11:31, Jesus speaking Matthew 11:11, Hebrews 8,
Hopefully these are helpful
Mark Valesano's comment on 2022-06-19 05:34:57:
I'm preparing to study this chapter this morning at our Bible study at church. Went back the 10 years of comments on this and no one points out the fact that Solomon (under the Spirit's direction) wrote 3 books contained in the Bible; Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. That being said, why would God allow Solomon to veer from his 'good start' as king and subsequently watch him drift from his course of following God with all his heart? I believe as a lesson to provide wisdom in the Word of God for those who think anything and everything the world can provide or our own desires imagine cannot satisfy our need for God in our lives. Proverbs is the book of truthful practices that can provide direction for those seeking God by showing them what to avoid and what to embrace. Ecclesiastes is the book containing lifetime experiences that point back to the fact that after all is said and done, no matter how indulgent or seemingly satisfying worldly pursuits seem to be, ultimately their empty of true worth and meaningless in the realm of eternity. Finally, the Song of Solomon is for those who think that one man/one woman relationships are for losers. Out of 700 wives and 300 concubines, Solomon had found true love with one woman. True wisdom on his part would have taken that aspect of his life and turned it over to God for provision, as in the case of Isaac (Abraham's son). Women aren't the problem and neither are men. Sin is the problem and we generate that well enough on our own. Plus the Song of Solomon provides a metaphorical image of Christ and His church.
Do I believe Solomon is in heaven? Absolutely. Like the prodigal son, he came back to his senses and allowed his life to be an example to us that nothing can take the place of a right standing with God Almighty!
john madden's comment on 2015-09-16 06:22:21:
He did all this to please them.he put his and thier pleasures above god