Part 13 (2/2)

I. =Sol. Emp.= Pal. Ed. Mo. Amm. Syr. Zob. Ham. E.-G. G. T. T.

II. =For. Rel.= Ty. Eg. Ar. F. E. W.

III. =Buil.= 1. Tem. 2. Pal. 1.) H. F. L. 2.) P. 3.) T. H. 4.) K. P.

5.) Q. P.

IV. =Sins.= 1. For. mar. 2. Tol. idol. 3. Mag.

Review Questions

What is the reign of Sol'o-mon called? How far is that a correct t.i.tle? What lands were included in Sol'o-mon's empire? What cities were on its boundaries? With what countries did Sol'o-mon have treaties and foreign relations? How was Sol'o-mon connected with the court of E'gypt? What were some of Sol'o-mon's buildings? Name the various parts of his palace. What were the sins of Sol'o-mon?

PART TWO

V. =General Aspects of Is'ra-el in the Reign of Sol'o-mon.=

1. =It was a period of peace.= For sixty years there were no wars This gave opportunity for development, for wealth, and for culture.

2. =It was a period of strong government.= The age of individual and tribal energy was ended, and now all the life of the nation was gathered around the throne. All the tribes were held under one strong hand; tribal lines were ignored in the government of the empire; every department was organized.

3. =It was a period of wide empire.= It was Is'ra-el's opportunity for power in the East; for the old Chal-de'an empire had broken up, the new As-syr'i-an empire had not arisen, and E'gypt was pa.s.sing through a change of rulers and was weak. For one generation Is'ra-el held the supremacy in the Oriental world.

4. =It was a period of abundant wealth= (1 Kings 3. 12, 13; 4. 20; 10.

23, 27). The sources of this wealth were: 1.) The _conquests_ of Da'vid, who had plundered many nations and left his acc.u.mulated riches to Sol'o-mon (1 Chron. 22. 14-16). 2.) The _tribute_ of the subject kingdoms, doubtless heavy (1 Kings 10. 25). 3.) _Commerce_ with foreign countries (E'gypt, A-ra'bi-a, Tar's.h.i.+sh, and O'phir) in ancient times was not carried on by private enterprise, but by the government. The _trade_ of the East from E'gypt and Tyre pa.s.sed through Sol'o-mon's dominions, enriching the land. 4.) There were also _taxes_ laid upon the people (1 Kings 4. 7-19; 12. 4). 5.) The erection of _public buildings_ must have enriched many private citizens and made money plenty.

5. =It was a period of literary activity.= The books written during this epoch were Sam'u-el, Psalms (in part), Prov'erbs (in part), and perhaps Ec-cle-si-as'tes and Sol'o-mon's Song. Not all the writings of Sol'o-mon have been preserved (1 Kings 4. 32, 33).

VI. =Dangers of the Period.= There was an A-ra'bi-an tradition that in Sol'o-mon's staff, on which he leaned, there was a worm secretly gnawing it asunder. So there were elements of destruction under all the splendor of Sol'o-mon's throne.

1. =The absolute power of the king.= Da'vid had maintained the theocratic const.i.tution of the state; Sol'o-mon set it aside and ruled with absolute power in all departments. He a.s.sumed priestly functions (1 Kings 8. 22, 54, 64); he abolished tribal boundaries in his administration (1 Kings 4. 7-19); he ignored both priests and prophets, and concentrated all rule in his own person.

2. =The formal character of the wors.h.i.+p.= There was a magnificent temple and a gorgeous ritual, but none of the warmth and personal devotion which characterized the wors.h.i.+p of Da'vid. The fervor of the Da-vid'ic Psalms is wanting in the literature of Sol'o-mon's age.

3. =Luxury and corruption of morals.= These are the inevitable results of abundant riches and worldly a.s.sociation. We do not need the warnings of Prov. 2. 16-19; 5. 3-6, etc., to know what a flood of immorality swept over Je-ru'sa-lem and Is'ra-el.

4. =The burden of taxation.= With a splendid court, an immense harem, and a wealthy n.o.bility came high prices and high taxes; the rich growing richer rapidly, the poor becoming poorer. The events of the next reign show how heavy and unendurable these burdens grew.

5. =Heathen customs.= With the foreign peoples came the toleration of idolatry, its encouragement, and all the abominations connected with it.

Jer-o-bo'am could not have established his new religion (1 Kings 12. 28) if Sol'o-mon had not already patronized idol wors.h.i.+p.

6. Underlying all was the old =tribal jealousy= of E'phra-im and Ju'dah, fostered by an able leader (1 Kings 12. 26), ready to break out in due time and destroy the empire.

Blackboard Outline

V. =Gen. Asp. Isr.= 1. Pea. 2. Str. gov. 3. Wi. emp. 4. Abun. weal.

1.) Conq. 2.) Trib. 3.) Com. 4.) Tax. 5.) Pub. build. 5. Lit.

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