Study Desk

So Solomon had the special supper at that time, and all Israel with him. There were many people gathered, from the way into Hamath to the river of Egypt. They were before the Lord our God for seven days and seven more days, fourteen days in all.

Solomon sent the people away on the eighth day, and they gave thanks to the king. Then they went to their tents full of joy and glad in their hearts for all the good things the Lord had shown to His servant David and to His people Israel.

As for you, walk before Me as your father David walked, with a true heart doing what is right. Do all that I have told you. Obey My Laws. If you do,

then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them. And I will put away from My eyes the house which I have set apart for My name. Israel will become a word of shame among all peoples.

For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and taken Gezer and burned it with fire. He killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and then gave it as a wedding-gift to his daughter, Solomon's wife.

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

And their children were left after them in the land. The people of Israel were not able to destroy all of them. So Solomon made these people work for him, even to this day.

But Solomon did not make the people of Israel work for him. For they were men of war, his servants, his rulers, his captains, his war-wagon drivers, and his horsemen.

But Pharaoh's daughter went up from the city of David to her own house which Solomon had built for her. Then he built the Millo.

The king used the almug trees to make pillars for the house of the Lord and for the king's house. And he used them to make different kinds of harps for the singers. No such almug trees have come in again or have been seen to this day.

King Solomon made 200 large body coverings for battle of beaten gold. For each covering he used 600 pieces of gold.

Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one on each end. Nothing like it was made for any other king.

For the king had a group of ships of Tarshish at sea with the ships of Hiram. Every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks.

Every one of them brought his gift. They brought objects of silver and gold, clothing, objects for fighting in battle, spices, horses and donkeys, so much year by year.

Solomon had horses brought from Egypt and Kue. The king's traders bought them from Kue, each for a price.

A war-wagon could be brought from Egypt for 600 pieces of silver, and a horse for 150 pieces of silver. They got them in the same way for all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.

They were from the nations about which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, "Do not take wives from them. And do not have them take wives from you. For they will be sure to turn your heart away to follow their gods." But Solomon held on to these women in love.

For Solomon followed Ashtoreth the false goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom the hated god of the Ammonites.

Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the hated god of Moab, and for Molech the hated god of the sons of Ammon, on the mountain east of Jerusalem.

He did the same for all his wives from other nations, who burned special perfume and gave gifts to their gods.