CHAPTER 2

From Samuel to Rehoboam

Samuel

Now there was a certain man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah, and he had two wives.  The name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah.  Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children, and her adversary provoked her greatly, to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.

She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord, and wept much.  She vowed a vow, and said, "O Lord of hosts, if you will truly notice the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give to your handmaid a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life."

Elkanah knew Hannah his wife and the Lord remembered her.  So she bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked him from the Lord.”  And she brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh.  And the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.  And Hannah prayed, and said,

"My heart rejoices in the Lord, my horn is exalted in the Lord:
My strength over my enemies increases, because I rejoice in your salvation.
The barren wife has born seven, and she who has many children has become feeble.
The Lord kills, and makes alive, he brings down to the grave, and brings up.
The Lord makes poor, and makes rich, he brings low, and lifts up.
He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill,
To set them among princes, and to make them inherit a throne of glory:
The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth;
He shall give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed."

DISASTER WITHOUT A KING

In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.  The house of God was in Shiloh and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.  The sons of Eli were sons of the evil one, they did not know the Lord.  The sin of these young men was very great before the Lord.

Now Eli was very old, and heard about all that his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

And a man of God came to Eli, and said to him, "Thus says the Lord, I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, would walk before me for ever.  But now the Lord says, Let it be far from me! for those who honour me I will honour, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.  Look, the days come, that you will see an enemy in my house, and your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall die in one day, both of them."

Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer and the Philistines pitched in Aphek. The Philistines fought, and Israel was beaten, and they fled every man to his tent, and there was a very great slaughter.  Thirty thousand footmen of Israel died, the ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed.

"God abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he had placed among men;
And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.
He also gave his people over to the sword; and was angry with his inheritance.
The fire consumed their young men, their priests fell by the sword."

The ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

ISRAEL ASKS FOR A KING

Samuel was judge of Israel.  Then all the elders of Israel gathered together, and came to him, to Ramah, and said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons don't walk in your ways.  Now make us a king to rule over us like all the nations."

But that displeased Samuel, and he prayed to the Lord.  And the Lord said to him, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them, just as all the actions which they have committed, in which they have forsaken me, since the day when I brought them up out of Egypt, even until this day.  Now therefore listen to their voice.”  They desired a king and God gave them Saul the son of Cish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin.

The word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, "I regret that I have set up Saul to be king: for he has turned back from following me.”  That grieved Samuel, and he cried to the Lord all night.  The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go: I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided a king for myself among his sons, the youngest.”

Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day onward.

Now the Philistines gathered their armies to battle, and Saul and the men of Israel were assembled, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.  And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.  The Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day.  Give me a man, that we may fight together.”  All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were very much afraid.  The Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself for forty days.

Jesse said to David his son, Take now an ephah of this parched grain for your brothers, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp, and see how your brothers are doing.  David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and went, as Jesse had commanded him.

And he came as the army was going out to the fight, and shouted for the battle.  David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone.  He put his life in his hand, and killed the Philistine, and the Lord worked a great salvation for all Israel.

And Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home any more to his father's house.  David went wherever Saul sent him, and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people.  David behaved himself wisely and the Lord was with him.

DAVID'S FLIGHT

When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.  And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.

But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted very much in David and told David, saying, "Saul my father is trying to kill you.  Now therefore, I ask you, take care of yourself and hide yourself.  Go in peace, since we have sworn, both of us, in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and you, and between my seed and your seed for ever.”  So David departed from there, and escaped to the cave of Adullam.

Of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave:

"I cried to the Lord with my voice, to the Lord I made my  supplication.
I poured out my complaint before him, I showed him my trouble.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then you knew my path.
In the way in which I walked they  secretly laid a snare for me.
I looked to my right, but no one would recognize me:
Every refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
I cried to you, O Lord: I said, you are my refuge in the land of the living.
Pay attention to my cry; deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may praise your name.
The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me."

When his brothers and all those of his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there.  And all those who were in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him, and he became captain over them.  There were about four hundred men with him.

Some Benjamites came to the stronghold, to David.  David went out to meet them, and said to them, "If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart shall be knit to yours; but if you have come to betray me to my enemies, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look on it, and rebuke it."

Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, "We are yours, David, and on your side, son of Jesse! Peace, peace be to you, and to your helpers! For your God helps you.”  Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

Saul and his men went to look for him.  And David was told of it.  Therefore he came down to a fortress, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon.  And when Saul heard that, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon.  And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side.  David hurried to get away, for fear of Saul, for Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men, to capture them.

A Psalm of David

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? why are you so far from helping me?
O my God, I cry in the day, but you do not hear; and in the night, and am not silent.
But you are holy, O you who inhabit the praises of Israel.
Our fathers trusted in you; they trusted, and you delivered them.
But I am a worm, and no man, a reproach of men, and despised by the people.
All who see me laugh and scorn me: they stick out their lip and shake their heads, saying,
He trusted in the Lord that he would save him: let him save him, since he delights in him!
Don't be far from me; for trouble is near; for there is no one to help.
Many bulls have surrounded me: strong bulls of Bashan are set around me.
They gaped at me with their mouths, as a raving and roaring lion.
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint:
My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
My strength is small, like a piece of pottery, and you brought me to the dust of death.
For the gathering of the wicked has enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
I can count all my bones: they look at me and stare at me.
They divide my clothes among themselves, and cast lots for my vesture.
Save me from the lion's mouth!
You have heard me!
I will declare your name to my brothers, amid the congregation will I praise you.
You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you the seed of Jacob, glorify him!
For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Neither has he hid his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard.
My praise shall be about you in the great congregation.
I will pay my vows before those who fear him.
The meek shall eat and be satisfied, they shall praise the Lord; you will live forever.
All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the tribes of the nations shall worship before you."

A messenger came to Saul, saying, "Hurry and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.”  So Saul turned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines.  David stayed in the wilderness in strongholds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph.  Saul searched for him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.

THE DEATH OF SAUL

David arose and passed over to Achish, king of Gath, with the six hundred men who were with him.  Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, and he did not look for him any more.  David lived in the country of the Philistines for a year and four months.

And it happened in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for war, to fight with Israel.  David came with the Philistines against Saul to do battle, but they did not help them, for the chiefs of the Philistines, upon advice, sent him away, saying, "He will go back to his master Saul and jeopardize our heads."

The Philistines fought against Israel and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell, slain, in mount Gilboa.  Saul died, his three sons, and his armour bearer, the same day, together.  Saul died for his transgression against the Lord, against the word of the Lord, which he did not keep, and also for asking advice of someone who had a demon, to enquire from it.  And he did not enquire from the Lord.

THE REIGN OF DAVID

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David, at Hebron, and anointed him king over Israel.  In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
David captured the stronghold of Zion, which is the city of David.  David progressed, and became great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.

When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to get hold of David.  David struck the Philistines from Geba until the approach to Gazer.  The fame of David went out into all lands.  The Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.  The Lord preserved David wherever he went.  King David dedicated to the Lord the silver and gold of all nations which he subdued, of Syria, of Moab, of the children of Ammon, of the Philistines, of Amalek, and of Hadadezer, king of Zobah.

David brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed Edom into the city of David with gladness, and set it in its place, in the middle of the tent pitched for it.  And he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.  He spoke to the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

I will love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God in whom I will trust.
I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.
The sorrows of death surrounded me and floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
In my distress I called on the Lord and he heard my voice out of his temple.
Then the earth shook and trembled, because he was angry.
There went up smoke out of his nostrils and a fire out of his mouth.
Yes, he sent out his arrows and scattered them.
He reached from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
He delivered me from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
He brought me out into a large place, he delivered me because he delighted in me.
For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
You will save the afflicted people, you will bring down high looks.
For who is God but the Lord? or who is a rock but our God?
God girds me with strength and makes my way perfect.
You delivered me from the strivings of the people and made me the head of the heathen.
Therefore I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises.

The Promised Eternal Reign of the King, God's Son

David said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I live in an house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is still under curtains".

The same night, the word of God came to Nathan, saying, "Go and tell David my servant, Thus says the Lord, you shall not build me a house to dwell in.  For I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel until this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.  Did I ever speak a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I told to shepherd my people, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"

"What is more, I tell you that the Lord will build you a house.  When your days are expired so that you must go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, who shall be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne for ever.  I will be his father, and he shall be my son.  I will fix him in my house and in my kingdom for ever and his throne shall be established forever."

Psalms of David

Ps 2 "Why do the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth prepare, and the rulers consult together,
Against the Lord, and against his anointed one, saying,
Let us break their fetters apart, and throw away their cords from us.
He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision.
He shall speak to them in his anger, and trouble them in his fierce displeasure.
I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
The Lord said to me, you are my Son, this day I have given you birth.
Ask from me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance,
And the farthest parts of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like pottery.
So be wise now, O you kings, be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish, when his anger is kindled just a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in him."

Ps 110 "The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.
The Lord shall send out the rod of your strength from Zion: rule amid your enemies.
Your people shall be willing in the day of your power: you have the dew of your youth.
The Lord has sworn, and will not change his mind,
You are a priest for ever, of the order of Melchizedek."

The Great Sin of David

David lived in sincerity of heart and in uprightness, all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.  Nathan the prophet said to David, "Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, and done evil in his sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife."

A Psalm of David, when Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba;

"Have mercy on me, O God, in accordance with your love:
In the multitude of your tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my crime, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I admit my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, I have sinned, and done this evil in your sight.
Thus you are justified when you speak, and clear when you judge.
See, I was shaped as not righteous; and in sin when my mother conceived me.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my unrighteousness.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in me.
Do not reject me not far from your presence and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and hold me up with your free spirit.
Then I will teach disobedient ones your ways; and sinners shall be converted to you.
Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, God of my salvation!

Nathan said to David, "The Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die.  Nevertheless, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child who is born to you shall surely die."

The Birth and Youth of Solomon

David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her; and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon.  And the Lord loved him.

David said, "Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be very magnificent, famous and glorious through all countries.  Therefore I will make preparation for it now.”  So David made many preparations before his death.

When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

The Song of Song of Solomon

"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for your love is better than wine.
Because of the savour of your good ointments your name is as ointment poured out.
Draw me, we will run after you; the king has brought me into his chambers.
We will rejoice in you, we will remember your love more than wine; the upright love you.
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

“Who is this who comes out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke,
Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?
Behold his litter! Solomon's eighty valiant men are around it, of the brave ones of Israel.
King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.

Go out, O daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon
With the crown with which his mother crowned him
On the day of his vows, the day of his gladness of heart.
Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm: for love is strong as death;
Jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, a most vehement flame.
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it:
If a man gave all the riches of his house for love, it would be utterly despised."

The Death of David and Reign of Solomon

These are the last words of David, the son of Jesse, the man who was elevated on high, the anointed one of the God of Jacob.  The sweet psalmist of Israel said:

"The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and his word was on my tongue.
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me:
He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
And he shall be as the light of morning, at sunrise, a morning without clouds;
As the tender grass springing out of the earth by bright shining, after rain.
Even though my family be not so with God, yet he has made with me an eternal covenant,
Ordered in all things, and sure; for this is all my salvation, and all my desire."

David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.  Then Solomon sat on the throne of David his father and his kingdom was well established.  Solomon made friends with Pharaoh king of Egypt, married Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David.

Psalms in Honour of Solomon

"My heart is moved with a good theme: I speak my words concerning the king.
You are more handsome than others: grace flows on your lips: God blessed you for ever.
Fasten your sword upon your thigh, O most mighty, with your glory and your majesty.
And in your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, meekness and righteousness;
Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies.
Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of your kingdom is righteous.
You love righteousness, and hate wickedness,
So God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy more than your companions.
All your garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia,
From  ivory palaces, stringed instruments have made you glad.
Kings' daughters are among your honourable women;
At your right hand stands the queen, in gold of Ophir.
Listen, O daughter, and consider; forget your own people, and your father's house;
Thus the king will greatly desire your beauty: for he is your Lord.  Reverence him."

* * *

"Give to the king your judgments, O God, and your righteousness to the king's son.
He shall rule your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
He shall  save the children of the needy, and break in pieces the oppressor.
He shall descend like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
In his days the righteous shall prosper and peace shall abound as long as the moon lasts.
He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.
Those who live in the desert shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust.
The kings of Tarshish shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
Yes, all kings shall fall down before him, all nations shall serve him.
For he shall deliver the needy when he cries out; the poor also, and him who has no helper.
There shall be grain on the earth to the top of the mountains;
Its seed shall wave like Lebanon's trees, and city dwellers shall prosper like grass.
His name shall endure forever; his name shall continue as long as the sun.
Men shall be blessed by him: all nations shall call him blessed."

The Wisdom of Solomon

The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, "Ask for what I should give you.”  And Solomon said, "O Lord my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father and I am only a little child.  I don't know how to go out or come in.  And your servant is surrounded by your people which you have chosen, a great people, who cannot be numbered or counted for multitude.  So give your servant an understanding heart to rule your people, so I may discern between good and evil.  For who is able to rule this your so great a people?"
These words pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.  And God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and greatness of heart, even as the sand on the seashore.   Solomon's wisdom exceeded the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.  For he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol.  He was famous in all the surrounding nations.
He spoke three thousand proverbs and a thousand and five songs.  He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even down to the hyssop that springs out of the wall.  He spoke also of animals, of birds, of reptiles and of fish.
And some came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

Some of Solomon's Proverbs

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
To give prudence to simple ones, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
She is a tree of life to those who seize her, and happy is everyone who retains her.
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding has he established the heavens.

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and discover knowledge of wise ways.
I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the contradicting mouth.
But whoever listens to me shall live in safety and shall be quiet, not fearing evil.
I love those who love me; and those who seek me soon shall find me.
Riches and honour are with me; yes, durable riches and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my reward than choice silver.
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his ancient works.
I was established from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
Before the mountains were placed, before the hills, I was brought out:
While as yet he had not made the earth, or the fields, or the dust of the world.
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he made a circle upon the surface of the depth:
When he established the clouds above: when he gave strength to the fountains of the deep:
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him, and I was daily his delight,
Rejoicing in the habitable  earth; and having my delight in the sons of men.
For whoever finds me finds life, and shall obtain favour from the Lord.
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.  All those who hate me love death."

A foolish woman is noisy: she is simple minded and knows nothing.
For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
To call those who pass by on their way:
Whoever is simple minded, let him turn in there, and he who lacks understanding,
She says to him, “Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
But he does not know that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a burden to his mother.
Watch over your heart with great care, for success in life comes from it.
Hatred stirs up fighting, but love covers all sins.
When pride comes, then shame comes, but wisdom is with the humble.
He who lacks wisdom despises his neighbour: but a man of understanding holds his peace.
The desire of the righteous is only for good: but the expectation of the wicked is anger.
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he who waters shall be watered also himself.
He who holds back grain shall be cursed by the people, but blessing shall be on him who sells it.
There are those who speak like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise gives healing.
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him punishes him sometimes.
There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end of it are the ways of death
A multitude of people is the king's prestige; the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
Don't advance yourself in the presence of the king, and don't take the place of a great man,
For it is better that it be said to you, Come up here; than that you should be put lower .
Say not, I will pay back wrong doing; but wait for the Lord, and he shall save you.
The fear of man brings a snare but whoever puts his trust in the Lord shall be safe.
He who turns his ear away from hearing the Law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.
He who covers his sins shall not prosper; whoever confesses and forsakes them shall find mercy.
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to those who put their trust in him.
Add not to his words, lest he reprimand you, and you be found to be a liar.
Whoever finds a wife finds what is good and obtains a favour from the Lord.
House and riches are inherited from fathers; a prudent wife is from the Lord

Solomon's Achievements

Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates river to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.  They brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.  For he had dominion over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides around him.  Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand which is by the sea, eating and drinking, and making merry.

It happened, in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, that he began to build the house of the Lord.  The Lord said to Solomon, "In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, I will put my name for ever.  Now my eyes shall be open, and my ears attentive to prayer that is made in this place.”`

The king made silver to be considered like stones in Jerusalem, and cedars to be as the sycamore trees that are in the valley, for abundance.  And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines.  His wives turned away his heart.

The Book of Ecclesiastes

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.  What profit does a man have for all his labour which he takes under the sun?

I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem, and I devoted myself to seek and search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven.  This painful work God has given to men to be exercised by it.  I have seen all the works that are done under the sun and, look, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Whatever my eyes desired I kept not from them.  I did not withhold my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour.  Then I looked at all the works that my hands had made, and on the labour that I had laboured to do, and look, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

For what does man get from all his labour, and the trouble of heart, in his labour under the sun?  For that which happens to  men happens to animals; one and the same thing happens to them: As the one dies, so the other dies; yes, they have all one breath.  So a man has no advantage above a beast, for everything is vanity.  All go to one place: all are of the dust, and all return to dust again.  Who knows if the spirit of man goes up and if the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?

He has made everything beautiful its time.  Also he has set eternity in their hearts, so that no man can find out the work that God does, from beginning to end.

And moreover I observed under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the seat of righteousness, that iniquity was there.  So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and look, the tears of those who were oppressed, and had no comforter, and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter.

There is a great evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for its owners to their own hurt.  As he came out of his mother's womb naked, so he shall return, as he came, and shall take nothing from his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.  And this also is a painful evil, that just as he came, so shall he go.  What profit has he had who has laboured for the wind?

Things I have seen in the days of my vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness.  For there is not a just man upon earth, who does good, and does not sin.
All this I tested by wisdom.  I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.  That which is far off, and very deep, who can get to the bottom of it?

Remember your Creator now, in the days of your youth, when the evil days have not come, nor the years drawn nigh, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them.  Before ever the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl broken, or the pitcher broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.  Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

The Ruin of Solomon's Kingdom

It happened, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart away to other gods: and his heart was not entirely with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, "Since you have acted thus, and have not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant.  However in your own days I will not do it, for David your father's sake, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son.  However I will not tear away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to your son, for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake.  And I will  afflict the seed of David for this, but not forever".

And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father.  And Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon, rebelled against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young, and could not withstand them.  Israel rebelled against the house of David until this day.  And it happened, that none followed the house of David, except the tribe of Judah.

When Rehoboam had established his kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.  And it happened, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had sinned against the Lord, with twelve hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horsemen.  The people who came with him were without number, out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.  He took the fenced cities which belonged to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.

Shishak took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house.  He took all.

Rehoboam humbled himself and the anger of the Lord turned away from him, so as not to destroy him completely.

A Psalm of Ethan

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever; my mouth will make known your faithfulness.
Mercy shall be built up for ever.  You shall establish your faithfulness in the heavens.
You spoke in vision to your holy one and said, I have exalted a chosen one from the people.
I have found David my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him:
The enemy shall not exact usury from him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
My mercy I will keep for him forever, and my covenant shall remain with him.
I will make his descendants remain for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
But you have rejected and despised and been angry with your anointed.
You have annulled the covenant of your servant, you have defiled his crown in the dust.
How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself for ever? Shall your anger burn like fire?
Lord, where is your former kindness, which you swore to David in your truth?

Verses used to construct this history:

Chapter 2: Ge49 10; De17 14-20.  SAMUEL 1Sa1 1,2,6,10,11,19,20,24;  1Sa2 11; 1Sa2 1,5-8,10  DISASTER WITHOUT A KING  Jud18 1,31; Jud17 6; 1Sa 1:3; 1Sa2 12,17,22; !Sa2 27,30,32,34; 1Sa4 1,10,11; Ps 78 59-64; 1Sa6 1  ISRAEL ASKS FOR A KING 1Sa7 15; 1Sa8 4-8;  1Sa15  1,11-13 1Sa16 15; 1Sa17 1-24; 1Sa19 5,1,2; 1Sa18 5,15; 1Sa20 42 DAVID'S FLIGHT 1Sa22 1; Ps142 1-7; 1Sa22 1,2,11; 1Sa22 6; 1Ch12 16-18; 1Sa23 25,26.  PROPHETIC PSALM Ps22 2,13,15,17-20,23,28; 1Sa23 27,28,14 DEATH OF SAUL 1Sa28 1; 1Sa27 2-7; 1Ch12 19; 1Sa31 1,6; 1Ch10 13,14 REIGN OF DAVID 2Sa5 1,3,7,9,10,17,25; 1Ch14 17; 1Ch18 6; 2Sa8 11,12; 2Sa6 12,17; 2Sa22 7,14,15,17,20,44;  ETERNAL REIGN OF GOD' SON 1Ch17 1,3,4,10-14,16,26,27; Ps110; Ps2  GREAT SIN OF DAVID  1Ki9 4; 1Ki15 5; Ps51 1-9;2Sa12 13,14;   BIRTH & YOUTH OF SOLOMON  2Sa12 24; 1Ch22 5; 1Ch23 1; THE SONG OF SONGS  So1 1-4; So2 4; So3 6,7,11; So7 1,2,6,7,11; So8 6,7.  DEATH OF DAVID & REIGN OF SOLOMON  2Sa23 1,2,5 (970 B.C.) 1Ki2 10,12; 1Ki3 1.  PSALMS FOR SOLOMON  Ps45 1-3,8,10-12; 1Ki2 23.  Ps72 1,2,4,7,8,10-12,16,17.  THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON  1Ki3 5-10,12,13,28; 1Ki4 29-34 PROVERBS Pr1 1,4,7; Pr3 5-7; Pr8 13; Pr3 13,18,19; Pr1 20,23,33; Pr8 17,23,26,29-31,35; Pr9 13,18; Pr10 1; Pr4 23; Pr10 12; Pr11 2,12,23,25,26; Pr12 11,18; Pr13 24; Pr14 12,28,34; Pr25 8; Pr20 22; Pr29 25; Pr28 9,13; Pr30 5,6; Pr18 22; Pr19 14.  SOLOMON'S ACHIEVEMENTS  1Ki4 21,24,20; 1Ki6 1; 2Ki21 7; 2Ch7 15; 2Ch9 22,17; 1Ki10 27; 1Ki11 3.  THE PREACHER  Ec1 1,2,12-14; Ec2 10,11,22; Ec3 19-21,11; Ec3 16; Ec4 1,13; Ec5 9,14,16; Ec7 15,20,23,24; Ec12 1,10,13,14.  RUIN SOLOMON'S KINGDOM 1Ki11  4,11-13,39, 43;  2Ch13 6,7; 1Ki12 19,20 ; 2Ch12 1,2,4,9,12.  A PSALM OF ETHAN Ps89 1,2, 19,20,22,28,29,38,39,46,49.

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