| 1 KINGS |
| Explanatory Footnotes |
 |
| 2:5 An Army Commander Who Went Too Far For the background in David's comments about Joab, see 2 Samuel 3:17-30; 20:4-11. 2:17 After More than a Wife? Solomon had a rather harsh response (2:23) to Adonijah's request to marry King David's companion. But asking for her may have been Adonijah's veiled attempt to regain the throne lost to Solomon. In the ancient Middle East, a person who married any of the late king's wives or concubines publicily claimes the rights of the former king (see 2 Samuel 12:8 and 16:21-22 for examples). Adonijah might have been cunningly hatching another conspiracy; Solomon, at least, seemed to thing so. 2:46 Wise Yet Ruthless Chapters 2 and 3 show conflicting personality traits in Solomon. In the power struggles of Chapter 2 he proved more ruthless than his father David had ever been. This tendency stirred up resentment among the Northern tribes of Israel and eventually led to civil war. But chapter 3 shows Solomon could also be faithful, wise, and even humble. Tragically, he gave in to his darker side more and more as his reign wore on. 4:21 How Large Was Israel? Under the reign of David and Solomon, Israel stretched from the border of Egypt to the border of Babylonia. It was approximately three times the size of the modern nation of Israel, encompassing land that now belongs to Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. 6:3 History of the Temple The Bible describes the temple architecture in some detail though, notably, it does not record detailed instructions from God - in contrast to the very specific commands given for the tabernacle. Solomon's temple lasted about 380 |