1 Reis 3

1 Reis 3

Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission 1 Kings Chart from Charles Swindoll THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL 1 Kings 3:1 Then Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her to the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem. Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt,: 2Ch 18:1 Ezr 9:14 and took: 1Ki 7:8 9:24 1Ki 11:1 the city: 2Sa 5:7 1Ch 11:7 his own: 1Ki 7:1-12 the house: 1Ki 6:1-38 7:13-15 2Ch 2:1-4:22 Ezr 5:11 the wall: 1Ki 9:15-19 Related Passages: Proverbs 16:12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, For a throne is established on righteousness. Nehemiah 13:26 “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin regarding these things? (FOREIGN WIVES - Neh 13:23-25) Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin. 1 Kings 2:46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and fell upon him so that he died. Thus the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon. Exodus 34:13-16+ “But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim 14 –for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God– 15 otherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they would play the harlot with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice, 16 and you might take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters might play the harlot with their gods and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods. Deuteronomy 7:3-4+ “Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them (CANAANITES Dt 7:1-2); you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. 4 “For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you. Deuteronomy 17:14+ "When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, 'I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,' 15 you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses (GOD CHOOSE SAUL, THEN DAVID AND THEN SOLOMON), one from among your countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your countryman. 16 "Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the LORD has said to you, 'You shall never again return that way.' 17 "Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself. 18 "Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19 "And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left; in order that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel. 2 Chronicles 1:1-13 Now Solomon the son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and exalted him greatly. 2 Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households. 3 Then Solomon and all the assembly with him went to the high place which was at Gibeon, for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. 4 However, David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5Now the bronze altar, which Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the LORD, and Solomon and the assembly sought it out. 6 Solomon went up there before the LORD to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. 7In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” 8 Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made me king in his place. 9 “Now, O LORD God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10“Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?” 11 God said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you.” 13 So Solomon went from the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel. 1 Kings 11:1+ Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 Corinthians 6:14-15+ Do not be bound together (present imperative with a negative) with unbelievers; for (TERM OF EXPLANATION - 4 REASONS GIVEN!) what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? NORTH WEST EAST Ancient City of David (Replica) THE KINGDOM ESTABLISHED BUT WITH EARLY WARNING SIGNS Then - This is one of the more important "then's" (see then) in this book (there are 151 "then's" in 1 Kings). Why do I say that? First, note the context. Here he was with the "kingdom established" (1Ki 2:46) in his hands. What else could a person want? Well, for one thing once you get to the top of the hill in the little game called "king of the hill" your main object is to stay on top by whatever means necessary. So here we find Solomon "on top" and forming a politically expedient alliance with Egypt! This is man's way, not God's way. Why didn't he simply focus on cleaning out the high places (1Ki 3:2). These were enemy strongholds in God's land and would come back to wreak havoc on the children of Israel (1Ki 11:1ff). God had warned Israel over and over...clean out the idolatry...no compromise...no mercy...be radical and exterminate this vermin from "the Land". But they were apathetic and complacent and unfortunately it seems quite comfortable with the status quo. The book of Judges set the pattern for Israel with the repeated phrase "did not drive out..." the pagans and their idolatry (Jdg 1:19, 21, 29, 30, 31, 33+). And as a result of Solomon's failure to extirpate the evil spiritual strongholds, they persisted in the land in the form of these high places. But now was the golden moment to be seized. Solomon could have led the people in a radical destruction of the high places but instead we see this chapter begin "then Solomon formed a marriage alliance..." THOUGHT - The little (or big) word "compromise" plays out in so many lives, just as it would prove to do in the case of Solomon's live. Holy people cannot compromise with unholy people and think there will be no consequences! Do not be deceived beloved. If you are compromising in some area of your life, you can be assured you too will reap consequences (Gal 6:7-8+, Hosea 8:7). Mark it down as axiomatic - COMPROMISE ALWAYS YIELDS COSTLY CONSEQUENCES! Recall David's charge to Solomon was crystal clear in 1Ki 2:3-4 “Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 so that the LORD may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ Solomon formed a marriage alliance (chathan/hathan) with Pharaoh king of Egypt (cp Dt 7:3 although this refers to intermarriage with Canaanites): The marrying of a princess of one royal house to someone in a foreign royal family customarily sealed a political alliance in the ancient Near East. (See note on 2Sa 5:13-15+) However, the giving of Pharaoh’s daughter to a foreign king is virtually without precedent (but see 1Ch 4:18). The fact that the king of Egypt did so testifies to his respect for Solomon but also to the decline of Egyptian power for heretofore the Pharaohs forbade foreign marriages. This Pharaoh saw it to his political advantage to ally with the stronger nation Israel. And clearly Solomon saw it was to his political advantage and so he chose to conform to the pattern of the world. The tragedy is that Solomon was forming an unholy alliance with Egypt, the very nation from which God had liberated the nation, the nation that was “the antithesis of everything Israelite!” (Walter Brueggemann)! THOUGHT - This alliance suggests that early on Solomon was seduced by power. And this by the man who wrote Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This just proves the point that head knowledge and/or theological knowledge does not necessarily produce heart (transforming) knowledge, the heart of course being the controlling influence in one's life. Sadly, two of the men I discipled in very in depth Bible study and were both relatively mature in the faith, failed to let their head knowledge control their heart and both ended up divorcing their wives after pursuing sexual dalliances! This was so sad and the consequences in both cases were so severe! Beloved reader the message is clear "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." (Pr 4:23+) “Unequal matches of the sons of God with the daughters of men have often been of pernicious consequence.” -- Matthew Henry And took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her to the city of David: Marriage with an Egyptian princess was not a transgression of the law, as it was only marriages with Canaanite women that were expressly prohibited (Ex 34:13-16; Dt 7:3-4), whereas it was allowable to marry even foreign women taken in war (Dt 21:10ff.). At the same time, it was only when the foreign wives renounced idolatry and confessed their faith in Jehovah, that such marriages were in accordance with the spirit of the law. There is no evidence that Pharaoh's daughter expressed belief in the one true God, so on that grounds this marriage would have been condemned. Later Solomon built a palace for Pharaoh's daughter (1Ki 7:8; 9:24; 2Chr 8:11) It is interesting to note that Pharaoh gave Gezer as dowry to his daughter. Gezer lay on the route between the seaport of Joppa and Jerusalem and provided for an unhindered trade route through the city. Note that the city of David (2Sa 5:7; 1Ki 2:10) refers in this context to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem and not to Bethlehem of David's hometown (i.e., 1Sa 16:1), but here it refers to Jerusalem. Solomon extended the city to the north, where he also built the temple. See related topics SPECIAL TOPIC: MORIAH, SALEM, JEBUS, ZION, JERUSALEM and "Why did God allow Solomon to have 1,000 wives and concubines?" Patterson adds "That such a marriage came about gives some indication of the importance of the kingdom Solomon inherited from his father as well as the decline of Egyptian power at this time. Formerly Egyptian Pharaohs consistently refused to allow their daughters to marry even the most important and powerful foreign kings. In this instance it appears that Pharaoh felt it to be advantageous to ally himself with Solomon, giving him not only his daughter but also Gezer as a wedding gift. This would give him clear trade routes through Palestine. Solomon, on the other hand, could by this means secure his southern border. The rendering “made an alliance with Pharaoh” reflects accurately the literal Hebrew: “became Pharaoh’s son-in-law,” which stresses the relationship between father-in-law and bridegroom rather than that between the bride and the bridegroom. This was a rather common practice as a means of cementing and maintaining international agreements and securing a nation’s borders....Pharaoh’s daughter was not housed in David’s palace. She was not to live in David’s palace “because the places the ark of the LORD has entered are holy.” (Borrow Expositor's Bible Commentary page 42) Eugene Merrill adds that regarding the marriage alliance indicating Solomon's power - “That this is the case is clear from his willingness to provide his own daughter as a wife for Solomon, a concession almost without parallel in Egyptian history since it was a candid admission to the world of Egypt’s weakness and conciliation. Normally Egyptian kings took foreign princesses but did not give up their own daughters to foreign kings.” (Borrow Kingdom of priests : a history of Old Testament Israel page 292) Edersheim adds "Such a union was not forbidden by the law [which only forbade alliance with the Canaanites (Exod 34:16; Deut 7:3)], nor was the daughter of Pharaoh apparently implicated in the charge brought against Solomon’s other foreign wives of having led him into idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-7). In fact, according to Jewish tradition, the daughter of Pharaoh actually became a Jewish proselyte. Still, Solomon seems to have felt the incongruity of bringing her into the palace of David, within the bounds of which “the Ark of the Lord” appears to have been located (2 Chron 8:11), and she occupied a temporary abode “in the city of David,” until the new palace of Solomon was ready for her reception." (Quoted by Paul Apple) Until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD (Jehovah) and the wall around Jerusalem: Both Solomon’s palace and the temple are called a house. Just as Solomon occupied the palace, the Lord was considered uniquely present with His people in the temple. This verse sounds innocent enough, but the order is suggestive -- finished...his own house and the house of the LORD. The fact is that Solomon spent more time and resources building his own domicile than he did on the Temple he built for Jehovah! (read 1 Kings 6 and compare it with 1 Kings 7). Rod Mattoon - Solomon makes an alliance with Egypt and seals it by marrying the daughter of Pharaoh. This was a very significant marriage. The Amarna Tablets of the 18th Egyptian Dynasty stated that no daughter of Pharaoh was to be married to a foreigner. By the 21st Egyptian Dynasty, Egypt was very weak and saw an advantage to making an alliance with Israel. Solomon treated her royally indeed. He built her a palace (1Ki 7:8), and her dowry was the city of Gezer (1Ki 9:16). The unfortunate truth of this marriage was it set a pattern for Solomon which led to his ruin. Solomon married heathen wives to form alliances with other nations. These women turned his heart from the Lord to idolatry. He had hundreds of concubines and wives....The Bible gives us a New Testament principle for today that is related to this incident. Christians are not to date or marry unsaved people lest they turn their heart from the Lord. You are not to use dating or marriage as a mission project to get someone saved. Wait until they are born again first before you consider courting or marrying them. (see 2Co 6:14-15+) (Treasures from 1 Kings) Tony Merida applies this passage to our lives today - Solomon was living out the values of his culture, but he was violating God’s word. A prevalent example of this today is cohabitation. When people talk about cohabitation, they have many reasons couples should live together. They say things like, “You should test drive the car before you buy it.” “It’s economical.” “You need to see if you’re compatible.” The problem is it’s not God’s plan for marriage. Repeatedly we come back to this fundamental issue: Under whose authority are you living? What are you allowing to shape you? Culture? Feelings? Or Scripture? The writer of Proverbs says, “The one who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe” (Prov 28:26). Don’t trust in your own mind or the minds of others, but look to God’s Word for wisdom, and you will experience freedom and fulfillment. (See Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings) William Sanford LaSor: Solomon’s reign can be evaluated politically and spiritually. Politically, it is splendid. Spiritually, it deteriorates into idolatry. For some strange reason, Christian literature has idealized Solomon so that he hardly resembles the scriptural portrait. (Quoted by Paul Apple) Guzik makes an interesting observation - This was not Solomon’s first marriage. 1 Kings 14:21 tells us that his son Rehoboam came to the throne when he was 41 years old, and 1 Kings 11:42 tells us that Solomon reigned 40 years. This means that Rehoboam was born to his mother – a wife of Solomon named Naamah the Amonitess – before he came to the throne and before he married this daughter of Pharaoh....2 Samuel 3:3 tells us that David married the daughter of a foreign king: Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. Marrying a foreign woman was not against the Law of Moses – if she became a convert to the God of Israel. What did not ruin David did ruin Solomon. Formed a marriage (02859)(chathan/hathan) means to become related by marriage and can refer to the entire marriage process (Ge 34:9, Dt 7:3, Josh 23:12), becoming a son-in-law (1Ki 3:1) and/or forming a political alliance (2Chr 18:1). Feinberg on the verb form chathan/hatan - The denominative verb occurs only as a Hithpael "make oneself a daughter's husband," "become somebody's son-in-law." (KJV, ASV, and RSV render alike in Joshua 23:12, "make marriages.") Joshua, in his final address to Israel, explicitly warned them against contracting marriages with the native Canaanites lest the latter become a snare to the people of God (Joshua 23:12-13). Once Solomon was established on the throne of Israel, he began the well-known practice of contracting marriages for political purposes (1 Kings 3:1). The nation had been admonished on this very score with regard to the nations already resident in the land of promise (Deut. 7:3). The questionable value of contracted marriages to settle problems between peoples had already been witnessed in the case of the sons of Jacob and Shechem the Hivite, who had violated the sanctity of Jacob's household. Saul the king enticed David to become his son-in-law to satisfy his inordinate jealousy (1 Samuel 18:26-27). Examples of the relationship of sons-in-law to a father-in-law are seen in the history of Jacob (Genesis 29-31) and Moses (Exodus 2:20-22; Exodus 4:18). THE RELATED NOUN - ḥātān. Daughter's husband, bridegroom. The first designation shows the relationship to the bride's father; the second, to the bride. (KJV, ASV, and RSV translate alike.) Some twenty references to the noun are found in the OT. The root appears in Ugaritic as noun and verb. Married life was the normal state among the Hebrews. The family was the basic social unit. Marriage had important family and tribal consequences. If a woman proved unsatisfactory to her husband, she would return to her father's house, with an aftermath of strained relations between the families (Judges 14:20; 1 Samuel 18:19). The natural procedure, then, was for the families involved to contract the conditions for the union. This did not rule out automatically the consent of the couple (Genesis 24:8), and love matches were possible also (Genesis 29:20; Genesis 34:3; Judges 14:1; 1 Samuel 18:20). The husband was his bride's master (Isaiah 62:4), but this was not an absolute norm (Genesis 21:10ff.). When the husband was incorporated into the tribe of his wife, the children were considered as belonging to her tribe or family (cf Jacob and Laban, Genesis 31:31, 43; Moses and Jethro, Exodus 2:21; Exodus 4:18). Betrothal among the ancient Israelites was a binding agreement, considered a part of marriage (Genesis 24:58, 60). Dowry was paid to the parents of the bride, and this was the central element in the betrothal. In Jacob's case it took the form of a stipulated number of years of service; for David it involved a specific task for Saul (1 Samuel 18:25). The betrothal consisted of a settlement of the terms of the marriage in the presence of witnesses. The union could take place some months or even years after the betrothal. Unfaithfulness of a betrothed couple was considered adultery (Deut. 22:23, see also Matthew 1:19). At the time of the marriage the wedding procession was the first part of the ceremonies (Psalm 45:15). The friends of the bridegroom (John 3:29) went, as a rule by night, to take the bride and her party to the groom's home (Matthew 9:15), an event marked by much joy (Jeremiah 7:34). The marriage supper took place in the home of the groom, a feast as elaborate as means permitted. No formal religious ceremony was part of the marriage ceremony, unlike our custom. The union was consummated in the bridal chamber or tent (Genesis 24:67). The biblical basis for marriage is in Genesis 2:18, 24. It is to be monogamous (Genesis 2:24). Polygamy was common (Judges 8:30; 2 Samuel 5:13), but the assumption underlying references in Psalm 128; Proverbs 12:4; Proverbs 31:10-31 is monogamy. The prophets used marriage as a figure of God's love for Israel (Isaiah 61:10; Isaiah 62:5; Hosea 2:21-22; Song). Marriages which involved close relations (but not first cousins) were forbidden (Leviticus 18, 20). Children were a blessing and barrenness a misfortune (Psalm 127:3-5). Little is known about the marriage ceremony. The act is referred to simply as "taking a wife" (Exodus 2:1). Some type of feast as a celebration took place (Genesis 29:22). Processions for the bride and groom were a chief part of the celebrations. Bibliography: Burrows, M., The Basis of Israelite Marriage, American Oriental Society, 1938. Epstein, L. M., Marriage Laws in the Bible and the Talmud, Harvard University Press, 1942. Goodman, P. & H., The Jewish Marriage Anthology, Jewish Publishing Co., 1965. Kahana, K., The Theory of Marriage in Jewish Law, Brill, 1966. Neufeld, E., Ancient Hebrew Marriage Laws, Longmans, 1944. (See online TWOT page 334) Gilbrant - This verb chathan/hatan refers to taking a wife with special emphasis on the fact that the groom is linking himself to his wife's family. Not only is he gaining a wife, he is also gaining a father-in-law, a new authoritative figure. The word is used in the OT only the Hithpael stem, for reflexive action. Sometimes it simply means "to become a son-in-law." It is found particularly in reference to Israelites intermarrying with the people of Canaan, one of their besetting national sins. God forbade it (Deut. 7:3), and Joshua warned against it (Josh. 23:12), but Israel did it anyway. In fact, such forbidden marriages were still a problem among the Jews who returned from the Babylonian captivity (Ezra 9:14). The word is also used for David's marriage to Michal, which made him son-in-law to King Saul (1 Sam. 18:21ff, 26f). Such a marriage would entail a serious status shift for David, as he would become part of the royal lineage. David's prestige caused Saul to want David to join himself to the royal household, rather than be a rival. A second sense is the more formal, "to form a marriage alliance" with someone. The OT gives only negative examples of this meaning. Shechem proposed marriage to Jacob's daughter, Dinah, as a way of building closer relationships between his people and the Israelites (Gen. 34:9). Solomon married the daughter of Pharaoh for political reasons (1 Ki. 3:1), and Jehoshaphat allied himself with king Ahab through marriage (2 Chr. 18:1). The Qal participle is used as a noun, referring to a relative on the wife's side of the family, usually the father-in-law (Deut. 27:23 being the only biblical example of "mother-in-law." Most OT references use it as a title for Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses (Exo. 3:1; 4:18; 18:1-27). Chāthan is also used in Judg. 4:11 as part of the family line of Jael, slayer of Sisera (cf. vv. 17-21). It can also be used to describe the father of a concubine, thus broadening beyond a formal marriage contract (Jdg. 19:4, 7, 9). (Complete Biblical Library) CHATHAN/HATHAN - 11V - allied himself by marriage(1), become the son-in-law(4), formed a marriage alliance(1), intermarry(4), marriage alliance(1), son-in-law(1). Gen. 34:9; Deut. 7:3; Jos. 23:12; 1 Sam. 18:21; 1 Sam. 18:22; 1 Sam. 18:23; 1 Sam. 18:26; 1 Sam. 18:27; 1 Ki. 3:1; 2 Chr. 18:1; Ezr. 9:14 Tony Merida's Outline - Solomon’s Wisdom 1 KINGS 3:1–5:18 - Exalting Jesus in 1-2 Kings Main Idea: The new king, Solomon, attained and used God-given wisdom. I. Understanding Wisdom II. The Wisdom of Solomon A. Early warning signs (3:1–4) B. Seek wisdom (3:5–15). C. Use wisdom (3:16–4:20). D. Spread wisdom (4:21–5:18). III. Someone Greater than Solomon Is Here. 1 Kings 3:2 The people were still sacrificing on the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the LORD until those days. KJV 1 Kings 3:2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days. BGT 1 Kings 3:2 πλὴν ὁ λαὸς ἦσαν θυμιῶντες ἐπὶ τοῖς ὑψηλοῖς ὅτι οὐκ ᾠκοδομήθη οἶκος τῷ ὀνόματι κυρίου ἕως νῦν LXE 1 Kings 3:2 Nevertheless the people burnt incense on the high places, because a house had not yet been built to the Lord. NET 1 Kings 3:2 Now the people were offering sacrifices at the high places, because in those days a temple had not yet been built to honor the LORD. CSB 1 Kings 3:2 However, the people were sacrificing on the high places, because until that time a temple for the LORD's name had not been built. ESV 1 Kings 3:2 The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD. NIV 1 Kings 3:2 The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the LORD. NLT 1 Kings 3:2 At that time the people of Israel sacrificed their offerings at local places of worship, for a temple honoring the name of the LORD had not yet been built. NRS 1 Kings 3:2 The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD. NJB 1 Kings 3:2 The people, however, were still sacrificing on the high places, because at that time a dwelling-place for the name of Yahweh had not yet been built. NAB 1 Kings 3:2 However, the people were sacrificing on the high places, for up to that time no temple had been built to the name of the LORD. YLT 1 Kings 3:2 Only, the people are sacrificing in high places, for there hath not been built a house for the name of Jehovah till those days. GWN 1 Kings 3:2 The people were still sacrificing at other worship sites because a temple for the name of the LORD had not yet been built. BBE 1 Kings 3:2 But all this time the people were making their offerings in the high places, because no house had been put up to the name of the Lord till those days. RSV 1 Kings 3:2 The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD. NKJ 1 Kings 3:2 Meanwhile the people sacrificed at the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the LORD until those days. ASV 1 Kings 3:2 Only the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was no house built for the name of Jehovah until those days. DBY 1 Kings 3:2 Only, the people sacrificed on the high places; for there was no house built to the name of Jehovah, until those days. Only the people: . 1Ki 22:43 Lev 17:3-6 26:30 De 12:2-5 2Ch 33:17 was no: 1Ki 5:3 1Ch 17:4-6 28:3-6 Ac 7:47-49 Related Passages: Leviticus 26:27,30 (WARNING TO ISRAEL FOR HER DISOBEDIENCE) Yet if in spite of this you do not obey Me, but act with hostility against Me....30 I then will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and heap your remains on the remains of your idols, for My soul shall abhor you. Numbers 33:52+ (GOD'S COMMAND TO ISRAEL TO DESTROY HIGH PLACES WHEN THEY ENTERED PROMISED LAND) then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten images and demolish all their high places; (THERE IS NO RECORD IN JOSHUA OR JUDGES THAT ISRAEL DEFINITELY DESTROYED THE HIGH PLACES). Judges 2:2+ and as for you, you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed Me; what is this you have done? Deuteronomy 12:12-14+ “And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance with you. 13 “Be careful that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every cultic place (THESE WERE OFTEN "HIGH PLACES") you see, 14 but in the place which the LORD chooses in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you. Jeremiah 2:20 “For long ago I broke your yoke And tore off your bonds; But you said, ‘I will not serve!’ For on every high hill And under every green tree You have lain down as a harlot. 2 Chronicles 1:3+ Then Solomon and all the assembly with him went to the high place which was at Gibeon, for (term of explanation - explaining why it was "kosher" to do this) God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. 1 Kings 11:7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon. Hill of Gibeon as seen from nearby mosque Nebi Samwil (Parsons Bible Pictures) The NAS translation misses something important here, failing to translate the Hebrew "raq" which NAS does translate in 1Ki 3:3 as "except." The KJV is more accurate rendering it "Only the people sacrificed..." The HCSB has "However, the people were sacrificing...." NIV has "The people however...." The Septuagint has "Nevertheless the people..." However often indicates a contrast or qualifies what is being said. You say "So what?" Well, the point is that the fact that the people were still sacrificing at the high places was not a good thing, even though overall Solomon's kingdom was in good condition. There was just this one little point of "spiritual leakage," which would in fact prove to the one of the problems that led to Solomon's fall (1Ki 11:7, cf 2Ki 16:4). The people were still sacrificing (zabach) on the high places (bamah) - Dt 12:14 stated that it was not right to offer sacrifices in any place but where the tabernacle and ark were (symbolizing God's presence). The tabernacle was now at Gibeon, (2 Ch 1:3+) and therefore Solomon going the high place to sacrifice incurred no censure from Yahweh. Israel had been commanded to bring their sacrifices to the tabernacle, and the tabernacle at this time had been erected on the high place at Gibeon (1Ch 16:39, 21:29) after temporary sojourns at Gilgal, Shiloh and Nob. It is possible that this situation contributed to David's strong desire to build a permanent temple for the worship of God at Jerusalem. Note that the text says high places plural implying that Gibeon was not the only high place, but it would have been the only one that had the divine seal of approval! The problem with high places (bamah) were also used by pagans to worship their idols and sadly these high places would ensnare the Israelites into pagan practices and idolatry! One is reminded of the first "high place" which was not a natural structure like a mountain but was a place the people built exclaiming "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." (Ge 11:4+) As soon as God had established his people in the Land of Promise, they were to worship at a sanctuary in the place appointed by God. Patterson adds that the "high places" "were open-air sanctuaries that were mostly found on hill tops (1 Kings 11:7; 2 Kings 16:4), but also in towns (1 Kings 13:32) and in valleys (Jer 7:31; Ezek 6:3). De Vaux (pp. 284–88) points out that they were mounds or knolls, places of eminence for purposes of worship....The high places were a constant sore point in Israel, and the prophets of God frequently spoke out against them. There were two basic problems with them: (1) they detracted from the principle of the central sanctuary (Dt 12:1–14); and (2) since worship at high places was a Canaanite custom, syncretism was not only a very real danger but an all too common occurrence. Israel was specifically forbidden to utilize pagan high places and altars (Dt 12:2–4, 13), and as soon as God had established his people in the Land of Promise, they were to worship at a sanctuary in the place appointed by God. Eli’s time the tabernacle had been at Shiloh; but with the Philistines’ capture of the ark, Shiloh lost its significance as the place of God’s presence among his people. Even after the ark was returned by the Philistines, it remained for years in the house of Abinadab (1 Sam 7:1), until David removed it to Jerusalem (2 Sam 6) to a tent he had prepared for it there (v.17). In the meantime the tabernacle was removed from Shiloh after the capture of the ark. The ark next appears at Nob (1 Sam 21), where it remained until Saul massacred the priests there (1 Sam 22). At some point after this event, it was moved to Gibeon where it is mentioned in connection with Zadok’s high priestly ministry (1 Chronicles 16:39–40). There were then, in effect, two tabernacles during David’s reign. The one in Gibeon was without the ark; the one in Jerusalem had the ark but not the original trappings of the tabernacle (2 Chronicles 1:3–5). This state of affairs matched that of the double priesthood of Zadok and Abiathar. (Borrow Expositor's Bible Commentary page 44) Paul Apple - Discernment was needed to guard against destructive syncretistic practices that would undermine genuine worship. During the period of the Judges, the Israelites adopted the Canaanite custom of offering sacrifices at high places. These were on hilltops and other elevations. The pagan Canaanites felt that the closer they got to heaven the more likely was the possibility that their prayers and offerings would reach their gods. The pagan Canaanites felt that the closer they got to heaven the more likely was the possibility that their prayers and offerings would reach their gods. Offering sacrifices at places other than the tabernacle was prohibited in the Law (Lev 17:3-4+). Nevertheless this practice was commonly observed in Israel at this time, even by Solomon. (from my commentary on Ezekiel 6:3) The First "High Place" The Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1563) (High places) probably originated at the Tower of Babel and then was carried worldwide by the subsequent dispersion Henry