The queen of Sheba admireth the wisdom of Solomon. 13 Solomon's gold. 15 His targets. 17 The throne of ivory. 20 His vessels. 23 His presents. 25 His chariots and horse. 26 His tributes. 29 His reign and death.

AND a when the queen of She

cir. 992. a 1 Kings 10.

ba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon !, &c. Matt. 12. 42. with hard questions at Jerusalem, Luke 11. 31. with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

2 And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not.

3 And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,

4 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his || cup-bearers al- Or, so, and their apparel; and his as-butlers.

cent by which he went up into the house of the LORD; there was no

more spirit in her.

5 And she said to the king, It

CHRIST

cir. 992.

Or, captains.

+ Heb.

hands.

Solomon's magnificence,

had seen it and behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.

7 Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.

8 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thec king over them, to do judgment and justice.

9 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.

10 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, b which brought gold from Ophir, brought calgum-trees and precious

stones.

11 And the king made of the algum-trees ||† terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.

12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, besides that which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants.

13 ¶ Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;

14 Besides that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and || governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.

15 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.

16 And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. 17 Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.

18 And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting-place, and two lions standing by the stays:

19 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.

20 T And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the

in mine own land of thine | acts,

and of thy wisdom:

6 Howbeit, I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes

Or, sayings.

up.

Or, there was no silver

llin them.

gold: none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon.

Before

cir. 992.

21 For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hu- CHRIST ram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

22 And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

23 T And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.

24 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

Or, eleprants' teeth.

25 1 And Solomon dhad four d 1 Kings 4. thousand stalls for horses and cha- 26. & 10. riots, and twelve thousand horse- 26. ch. 1. 14. men; whom he bestowed in the chariot-cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

27 g And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar-g trees made he as the sycamore-trees 10. 27. ch. 1. that are in the low plains in abundance.

15.

cir. 975.

t Heb. gave. 28 h And they brought unto So-h1 Kings 10. lomon horses out of Egypt, and 28. ch. 1. 16. Heb. out of all lands.

29 Ti Now the rest of the acts of i 1 Kings 11. Solomon, first and last, are they 41. not written in the book of Na-+ Heb. than the prophet, and in the pro-words. phecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, k 1 Kin. 11. and in the visions of 1 Iddo the seer 29. against Jeroboam the son of Ne-1 ch. 12. 25. bat?

& 13. 23.

30 m And Solomon reigned in Je-m 1 Kin. 11. rusalem over all Israel forty years. 42, 43.

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

CHAPTER X.

The Israelites, assembled at Shechem to crown Rehoboam, by Jeroboam make a suit of relaxation unto him. 6 Rehoboam, refusing the old men's counsel, by the advice of young men answereth them roughly. 16 Ten tribes revolting kill Hadoram, and make Rehoboam to flee.

975.

AND & Rehoboam went to She-a 1 Kin. 12.

chem for to Shechem were all 1, &c.

Israel come to make him king.

2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was

in Egypt, b whither he had fled from b 1 Kin. 11. the presence of Solomon the king, 40. heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.

3 And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,

4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.

5 And he said unto them, Come
R

laded.

6 And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while ye yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?

7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.

8 But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.

9 And he said unto them, What advice give ye, that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?

10 And the young men that were brought up with him, spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.

11 For whereas my father † put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.

13 And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,

14 And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

15 So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the d hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 T And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jess": every man to your tents, O Israe and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.

17 But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

18 Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam † made 385

Rehoboam raiseth an army.

to flee to Jerusalem.

19 e And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

CHAPTER XI.

1 Rehoboam raising an army to subdue Israel, is forbidden by Shemaiah. 5 He strengtheneth his kingdom with forts and provision. 13 The priests and Levites, and such as feared God, forsaken by Jeroboam, strengthen the kingdom of Judah. 18 The wives and children of Rehoboam. ND

ΑΝ

cir. 975.

e i Kin. 12.

19.

a when Rehoboam was a 1 Kin. 12. come to Jerusalem, he gather-21, &c. ed of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

2 But the word of the LORD

came b to Shemaiah the man of b ch. 12. 15. God, saying,

3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

4 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren return every man to his house for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

6 He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

7 And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

10 And Zorah, and Ajalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fenced cities.

11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.

12 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

their

974.

Heb. presented themselves to him. c Num. 35. 2.

13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel tresorted to him out of all their coasts. 14 (For the Levites left suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for JJeroboam and his sons had cast d ch. 13. 9. them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:

15 e And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for f the devils, and for g the calves which he had made.) 16 h And after them out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.

17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong,

e 1 Kings 12. 31. & 13. 33. & 14. 9. Lev. 17. 7.

Hos. 13. 2.

1 Cor. 10.

20.

1 Kin. 12. 28. See ch. 15. 9. & 30. 11,

18.

ch. 12. 1.

Before

18 T And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

19 Which bare him children, Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. 20 And after her he took k Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)

22 And Rehoboam 1 made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.

CHAPTER XII.

1 Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is pu-
nished by Shishak. 5 He and the princes,
repenting at the preaching of She-
maiah, are delivered from destruction,
but not from spoil. 13 The reign and
death of Rehoboam.

AND
ND a it came to pass, when Re-
hoboam had established the
kingdom, and had strengthened
himself, b he forsook the law of the
LORD, and all Israel with him.

2 c And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD,

3 With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen : and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; d the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.

4 And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.

5 T Then came e Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.

6 Whereupon the princes of Israel, and the king g humbled themselves; and they said, h The LORD is righteous.

7 And when the LORD saw that 1 Kings 21. they humbled themselves, the 28, 29. word of the LORD came to Shomaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out up

Or, a little while.

and spoileth Jerusalem.

on Jerusalem by the hand of Shi-! shak.

8 Nevertheless k they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.

9 m So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had a made.n 1 Kin. 10. 10 Instead of which, king Reho- 16, 17. ch. 9. boam made shields of brass, and 15, 16. committed them to the hands of o 2 Sam. 8. the chief of the guard, that kept the 18. entrance of the king's house.

11 And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guardchamber.

12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not de

stroy him altogether: I and also in! Or, and yet Judah things went well.

in Judah

13 So king Rehoboam strength-there were good things: ened himself in Jerusalem, and see Gen. 18. reigned for P Rehoboam was one 24. & 1 Kin. and forty years old when he began 14. 13. ch. to reign, and he reigned seven- 19. 3.. teen years in Jerusalem, 4 the city P1 Kings which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.

14. 21. q ch. 6. 6.

Before CHRIST 957.

d 2 Sam. 7. 12, 13, 16.

e Num. 18. 19.

Abijah overcometh Jeroboam mount Ephraim, and said, Ilear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;

5 Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel dgave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons e by a covenant of salt?

6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath f1 Kings 11.frebelled against his lord. 26. & 12. 20. Judg. 9. 4.

h1 Kings 18.

28. & 14. 9. Hos. 8. 6.

ch. 11. 14,

15.

k Ex. 29. 35. Heb. to fill his hand: See Ex. 29. 1. Lev. 8. 2.

1 ch. 2. 4.

7 And there are gathered unto him & vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened them. selves against. Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted, and could not withstand them.

8 And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam h made you for gods.

9 i Have ye not cast out the priests and the Levites, and have made of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.

10 But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the LORD, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business:

11 1And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt-sacrifices and sweet incense: m Lev. 24. 6. them shew-bread also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof n to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken him.

n Ex. 27. 20, 21. Lev. 24.

o Num. 10.

12 And behold, God himself is with us for our captain, o and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children p Acts 5. 39. of Israel, p fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

13 But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.

14 And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.

15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God

q ch. 14. 12.4 smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.

17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men