Study Desk

Solomon built Baalath and all the store-cities he had. He built all the cities for his war-wagons, and the cities for his horsemen. He built whatever he wanted to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and in all the land under his rule.

But he did not make the people of Israel do hard work. They were soldiers, leaders, captains of war-wagons, and his horsemen.

By the law of David his father, Solomon chose the religious leaders for their different duties. He chose the Levites for their duties of praise and helping the religious leaders for each day's needs. And he chose who should be the gate-keepers at each gate. For David the man of God had said that this must be done.

Huram sent his servants to him with ships and servants who knew the sea. They went to Ophir together with Solomon's servants to get gold. And they brought gold weighing as much as 450 men from there to King Solomon.

She saw the food at his table, and all his captains sitting there. She saw all those who were bringing in the food, and how they were dressed. She saw those who carried the cups, and their clothing. And she saw the burnt gifts that Solomon gave at the house of the Lord. After that, there was no more spirit in her.

Praise be to the Lord your God Who was pleased with you! He set you on His throne as king for the Lord your God. Your God loved Israel and would have them last forever. So He made you king over them to do what is fair and right and good."

There were six steps to the throne, and a part made of gold for his feet was joined to the throne. The throne had arms on each side, and two lions standing beside the arms.

And all the kings of the earth wanted to be with Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put into his heart.

Every one of them brought his gift. Objects of silver and gold, clothing, objects for battle, spices, horses and donkeys, were brought each year.

When he died he was buried in the city of his father David. And his son Rehoboam ruled in his place.

Then King Rehoboam spoke with the leaders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive. He said, "Tell me, how do you think I should answer these people?"

So the king did not listen to the people. God made this happen so that He might make His Word come true which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, the man who made the people work. But the people of Israel killed him with stones. So King Rehoboam got on his war-wagon in a hurry, to go to Jerusalem.

‘This is what the Lord says, "You must not go up to fight against your brothers. Every man return to his house. For I have made this happen."'" So they listened to the word of the Lord and returned. They did not go against Jeroboam.

The Levites left their fields and land and came to Judah and Jerusalem. For Jeroboam and his sons had stopped them from working as religious leaders for the Lord.

He chose religious leaders of his own for the high places, for the goat-gods and for the calves which he had made.

After her he married Maacah the daughter of Absalom. She gave birth to his sons: Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom more than all his other wives and women who acted as his wives. For he had taken eighteen wives and sixty women who acted as his wives. He was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

Rehoboam chose Maacah's son Abijah to be the head leader among his brothers. For he wanted to make him king.

And he acted with wisdom. He spread some of his sons to every strong city in all the lands of Judah and Benjamin. He gave them much food, and found many wives for them.