Solomon's second divine encounter shifts from his famous request for wisdom to God's stark conditional warnings, marking the only time divine promises to him explicitly include threats of national destruction.
1 Kings 9
God's Second Appearance to Solomon
1When Solomon had finished the building of the LORD’s house, the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do,
2The LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon.
3The LORD said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before me. I have made this house holy, which you have built, to put my name there forever; and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.
4As for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep my statutes and my ordinances,
5then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised to David your father, saying, ‘There shall not fail from you a man on the throne of Israel.’
6But if you turn away from following me, you or your children, and not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them,
7then I will cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and I will cast this house, which I have made holy for my name, out of my sight; and Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
8Though this house is so high, yet everyone who passes by it will be astonished and hiss; and they will say, ‘Why has the LORD done this to this land and to this house?’
9and they will answer, ‘Because they abandoned the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, and worshiped them, and served them. Therefore the LORD has brought all this evil on them.’”
Solomon's Building Projects and Trade
10At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two houses, the LORD’s house and the king’s house
11(now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and cypress trees, and with gold, according to all his desire), King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
12Hiram came out of Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they didn’t please him.
13He said, “What cities are these which you have given me, my brother?” He called them the land of Cabul to this day.
14Hiram sent to the king one hundred twenty talents of gold.
15This is the reason of the forced labor which King Solomon conscripted: to build the LORD’s house, his own house, Millo, Jerusalem’s wall, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
16Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, taken Gezer, burned it with fire, killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and given it for a wedding gift to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.
17Solomon built in the land Gezer, Beth Horon the lower,
18Baalath, Tamar in the wilderness,
19all the storage cities that Solomon had, the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
20As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel—
21their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel were not able utterly to destroy—of them Solomon raised a levy of bondservants to this day.
22But of the children of Israel Solomon made no bondservants; but they were the men of war, his servants, his princes, his captains, and rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen.
23These were the five hundred fifty chief officers who were over Solomon’s work, who ruled over the people who labored in the work.
24But Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of David’s city to her house which Solomon had built for her. Then he built Millo.
25Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he built to the LORD three times per year, burning incense with them on the altar that was before the LORD. So he finished the house.
26King Solomon made a fleet of ships in Ezion Geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.
27Hiram sent in the fleet his servants, sailors who had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
28They came to Ophir, and fetched from there gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to King Solomon.
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Theme
After completing the temple and palace, Solomon receives a second divine appearance where God consecrates the temple but warns that continued blessing depends on obedience to the covenant. God promises to establish Solomon's throne forever if he walks faithfully like David, but threatens exile and destruction if Israel turns to other gods. The chapter then details Solomon's extensive building projects, his trade arrangements with Hiram of Tyre, and his use of forced labor to construct fortified cities throughout his kingdom.
Context
This chapter follows the temple dedication in chapter 8 and sets up the later narrative of Solomon's decline and the kingdom's division.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-2 God's Second Appearance The LORD appears to Solomon again after the completion of his major building projects.
- 3-5 Divine Promise of Blessing God consecrates the temple and promises to establish Solomon's throne forever if he remains faithful.
- 6-9 Warning of Covenant Judgment God warns that disobedience will result in exile and the temple's destruction, making Israel a byword among nations.
- 10-14 Trade Agreement with Hiram Solomon gives twenty Galilean cities to Hiram of Tyre in exchange for building materials, though Hiram is displeased with them.
- 15-25 Solomon's Building Projects Solomon uses forced labor to build fortified cities, storage facilities, and military installations throughout his kingdom.
God's Second Appearance to Solomon
9:1–9:9 narrative speech warning
God appears to Solomon a second time, confirming the temple's sanctification and reiterating the conditional covenant. God promises to establish Solomon's throne forever if he remains obedient, but warns of exile and destruction if Israel turns to idolatry.
person_contrast
Solomon's second divine encounter shifts from his famous request for wisdom to God's stark conditional warnings, marking the only time divine promises to him explicitly include threats of national destruction.
Solomon's Building Projects and Trade
9:10–9:28 narrative narration contemplative
The passage details Solomon's extensive building projects and trade relationships, including his dealings with King Hiram of Tyre and his use of forced labor. It describes the construction of various cities and fortifications throughout his kingdom.
person_contrast
Solomon's unprecedented gift of twenty Galilean cities to Hiram marks the only instance where Israel's king cedes territorial sovereignty for construction materials.
Insights
Solomon's unprecedented gift of twenty Galilean cities to Hiram marks the only instance where Israel's king cedes territorial sovereignty for construction materials.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
1 Kings 9:1 1 reference
1 Kings 9:4 1 reference
1 Kings 9:5 2 references
1 Kings 9:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 7:19 Lexical
But if you turn away and forsake my statutes and my commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other god…
Judges 2:17 Lexical
Yet they didn’t listen to their judges; for they prostituted themselves to other gods, and bowed themselves down to them…
Judges 2:19 Lexical
But when the judge was dead, they turned back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers in following other gods to se…
2 Kings 17:35 Lexical
with whom the LORD had made a covenant and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to…
2 Chronicles 7:22 Lexical
They shall answer, ‘Because they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt…
1 Kings 9:7 3 references
Lexicals 3
2 Chronicles 7:20 Lexical
then I will pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have made holy fo…
Deuteronomy 28:37 Lexical
You will become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where the LORD will lead you away.
Jeremiah 24:9 Lexical
I will even give them up to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth for evil, to be a reproach and…
1 Kings 9:8 1 reference
1 Kings 9:9 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 7:22 Lexical
They shall answer, ‘Because they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt…
Jeremiah 22:9 Lexical
Then they will answer, ‘Because they abandoned the covenant of the LORD their God, worshiped other gods, and served them…
Joshua 24:16 Lexical
The people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
1 Samuel 8:8 Lexical
According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in t…
2 Chronicles 7:19 Lexical
But if you turn away and forsake my statutes and my commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other god…
1 Kings 9:11 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Samuel 5:11 Lexical
Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, with cedar trees, carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.
1 Kings 7:13 Lexical
King Solomon sent and brought Hiram out of Tyre.
Isaiah 14:8 Lexical
Yes, the cypress trees rejoice with you, with the cedars of Lebanon, saying, “Since you are humbled, no lumberjack has c…
Isaiah 41:19 Lexical
I will put cedar, acacia, myrtle, and oil trees in the wilderness. I will set cypress trees, pine, and box trees togethe…
Ezekiel 31:8 Lexical
The cedars in the garden of God could not hide it. The cypress trees were not like its branches. The pine trees were not…
1 Kings 9:12 1 reference
1 Kings 9:14 4 references
Lexicals 4
2 Chronicles 9:9 Lexical
She gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones. There was neve…
2 Chronicles 3:8 Lexical
He made the most holy place. Its length, according to the width of the house, was twenty cubits, and its width twenty cu…
Exodus 38:24 Lexical
All the gold that was used for the work in all the work of the sanctuary, even the gold of the offering, was twenty-nine…
1 Kings 10:10 Lexical
She gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never ag…
1 Kings 9:15 2 references
Lexicals 2
1 Kings 9:16 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Kings 16:18 Lexical
When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the fortified part of the king’s house and burned the king’s house…
Joshua 7:15 Lexical
It shall be, that he who is taken with the devoted thing shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he h…
Jeremiah 37:8 Lexical
The Chaldeans will come again, and fight against this city. They will take it and burn it with fire.”’
Jeremiah 34:22 Lexical
Behold, I will command,” says the LORD, “and cause them to return to this city. They will fight against it, take it, and…
Ezekiel 23:47 Lexical
The company will stone them with stones and dispatch them with their swords. They will kill their sons and their daughte…
1 Kings 9:17 4 references
Lexicals 4
Joshua 16:3 Lexical
and it went down westward to the border of the Japhletites, to the border of Beth Horon the lower, and on to Gezer; and…
2 Chronicles 8:5 Lexical
Also he built Beth Horon the upper and Beth Horon the lower, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars;
1 Chronicles 7:24 Lexical
His daughter was Sheerah, who built Beth Horon the lower and the upper, and Uzzen Sheerah.
Joshua 18:13 Lexical
The border passed along from there to Luz, to the side of Luz (also called Bethel), southward. The border went down to A…
1 Kings 9:19 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 8:6 Lexical
and Baalath, and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsem…
2 Chronicles 1:14 Lexical
Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he p…
1 Kings 10:26 Lexical
Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen.…
2 Chronicles 8:9 Lexical
But of the children of Israel, Solomon made no servants for his work, but they were men of war, chief of his captains, a…
2 Chronicles 9:25 Lexical
Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen that he stationed in the chariot…
1 Kings 9:20 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 8:7 Lexical
As for all the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who w…
Exodus 23:23 Lexical
For my angel shall go before you, and bring you in to the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hivite…
Exodus 33:2 Lexical
I will send an angel before you; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, th…
Deuteronomy 20:17 Lexical
but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite…
Exodus 3:17 Lexical
I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite,…
1 Kings 9:21 1 reference
1 Kings 9:22 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 8:9 Lexical
But of the children of Israel, Solomon made no servants for his work, but they were men of war, chief of his captains, a…
2 Chronicles 9:25 Lexical
Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen that he stationed in the chariot…
2 Chronicles 1:14 Lexical
Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he p…
1 Kings 10:26 Lexical
Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen.…
2 Chronicles 8:6 Lexical
and Baalath, and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsem…
1 Kings 9:23 1 reference
1 Kings 9:25 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 4:10 Lexical
as it is removed from the bull of the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt off…
2 Kings 16:13 Lexical
He burned his burnt offering and his meal offering, poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offe…
2 Chronicles 7:7 Lexical
Moreover Solomon made the middle of the court that was before the LORD’s house holy; for there he offered the burnt offe…
2 Samuel 24:25 Lexical
David built an altar to the LORD there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was entreated for t…
Joshua 22:23 Lexical
that we have built us an altar to turn away from following the LORD; or if to offer burnt offering or meal offering, or…
1 Kings 9:26 3 references
Lexicals 3
2 Chronicles 8:17 Lexical
Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and to Eloth, on the seashore in the land of Edom.
Numbers 21:4 Lexical
They traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. The soul of the people was very d…
Deuteronomy 2:8 Lexical
So we passed by from our brothers, the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and fr…
1 Kings 9:27 2 references
1 Kings 9:28 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 8:18 Lexical
Huram sent him ships and servants who had knowledge of the sea by the hands of his servants; and they came with the serv…
1 Kings 10:10 Lexical
She gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never ag…
2 Chronicles 9:9 Lexical
She gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones. There was neve…
1 Chronicles 29:4 Lexical
even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, with which to o…
2 Chronicles 9:10 Lexical
The servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, also brought algum trees and precious st…
Interlinear
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Lemma
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Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
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Timeline
Exodus
c. 1446 BCIsrael's miraculous deliverance from Egyptian slavery under Moses' leadership, including the ten plagues and Red Sea crossing. This foundational event established Israel as God's chosen nation.
God's conditional covenant with Solomon echoes the covenant relationship established during the exodus.
God's Second Appearance to Solomon