- 72-
It need scarcely be said, that public sin such as that of Solomon would soon bring
down judgment. As preparatory to it we regard that solemn warning, when the LORD a
second time appeared in vision to Solomon (1 Kings 9:4-9). This being misunderstood
or neglected, the actual announcement of judgment followed, probably through Ahijah.
The terms of the sentence were terribly explicit. Solomon's kingdom would be rent
from him, and given to his servant. Yet even so Divine mercy would accord a twofold
limitation-the event foretold should not happen in the days of Solomon himself, and
when it took place the kingdom should not be wholly taken away, but partially remain
in his line. And this for the sake of David - that is, not from partiality for him, nor on
account of any supposed superabundant merit, but because of God's promise to David
(2 Samuel 7:14-16), and for God's own glory, since He had made choice of Jerusalem
as the place where He would forever reveal His Name (1 Kings 9:3).
But although execution of the judgment was stayed, indications of its reality and
nearness soon appeared. Once more we mark a succession of natural and intelligible
causes, of which the final outcome was the fulfillment of the Divine prediction. It will
be remembered that, of the two great wars in which David was involved after his
accession, the most formidable was that against the hostile combination of tribes along
the eastern boundary of his kingdom.^162
The distance, the character of the country, the habits of the enemy - the alliance of so
many nationalities, their determination, and the stubborn resistance which they offered,
made this a really great war. We know that the armies of David, under the leadership of
Joab and Abishai, were victorious at all points (2 Samuel 8; 10; 1 Chronicles 19.). But,
although the enemy may have been subdued and even crushed for a time, it was, in the
nature of things, impossible wholly to remove the elements of resistance. In the far
southeast, terrible, almost savage, vengeance had been taken on Edom (1 Chronicles
18:12).
From the slaughter of the people a trusty band of Edomites had rescued one of the
youthful royal princes, Hadad^163 (or Adad), and brought him ultimately to Egypt,
where he met a hospitable reception from the then reigning Pharaoh - probably the
predecessor of Solomon's father-in-law. If Pharaoh had at first been influenced by
political motives in keeping near him one who might become a source of trouble to the
growing Israelitish power, the young prince of Edom soon enlisted the sympathy and
affection of his host (1 Kings 11:14-19). He married the sister of Tahpenes,^164 the
Gevirah, or queen dominant (principal) of Pharaoh's harem; and their child was
acknowledged and brought up among the royal princes of Egypt.
When tidings of the death of David and afterwards of Joab reached Hadad, he insisted
on returning to Edom, even against the friendly remonstrances of Pharaoh, who by this
time would rather have seen him enjoying his peaceful retreat in Egypt than entering
(^)