Page 556 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_05_MacArthur_Bible_May.qxd 8/8/03 15:42 Page 537

MAY 31
their descendants who were left in the land
after them, whom the children of Israel had
not been able to destroy completely—from
9:3 consecrated. The Lord made the temple these Solomon raised forced labor, as it is to
22
holy by being present in the cloud (8:10). As this day. But of the children of Israel Sol-
proof of the temple’s consecration, the Lord omon made no forced laborers, because they
told Solomon that He had put His name there were men of war and his servants: his officers,
(3:2).forever.God was not saying He will dwell his captains, commanders of his chariots, and
in that building forever, since in less than 400 his cavalry.
years it was destroyed by the Babylonians (vv. 23 Others were chiefs of the officials who were
7–9). He was saying that Jerusalem and the over Solomon’s work: five hundred and fifty,
temple mount are to be His earthly throne as who ruled over the people who did the work.
long as the earth remains,through the millen- 24 But Pharaoh’s daughter came up from the
nial kingdom (Is. 2:1–4; Zech. 14:16). Even dur- City of David to her house which Solomon had
ing the new heaven and new earth, the eter-
nal state,there will be the heavenly Jerusalem, built for her. Then he built the Millo.
25 Now three times a year Solomon offered
where God will eternally dwell (Rev. 21:1,2).
eyes…heart. These symbolized, respectively, burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar
the Lord’s constant attention toward and which he had built for the LORD, and he burned
deep affection for Israel. By implication, He incense with them on the altar that was before
promised them access to His presence and the LORD. So he finished the temple.
answers to their prayers. 26 King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at
Ezion Geber, which is near Elath on the shore
27
of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. Then
and have embraced other gods, and worshiped Hiram sent his servants with the fleet, seamen
them and served them; therefore the LORD who knew the sea, to work with the servants of
28
has brought all this calamity on them.’ ” Solomon. And they went to Ophir, and acquired
10 Now it happened at the end of twenty four hundred and twenty talents of gold from
years, when Solomon had built the two hous- there, and brought it to King Solomon.
es, the house of the LORD and the king’s house Now when the queen of Sheba heard of
11 (Hiram the king of Tyre had supplied Sol- 10 the fame of Solomon concerning the
omon with cedar and cypress and gold, as name of the LORD, she came to test him with
2
much as he desired), that King Solomon then hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a
gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. very great retinue, with camels that bore
12 Then Hiram went from Tyre to see the cities spices, very much gold, and precious stones;
which Solomon had given him, but they did not and when she came to Solomon, she spoke
3
please him. So he said, “What kind of cities are with him about all that was in her heart. So
13
these which you have given me, my brother?” Solomon answered all her questions; there
And he called them the land of Cabul, as they was nothing so difficult for the king that he
4
14
are to this day. Then Hiram sent the king one could not explain it to her. And when the
hundred and twenty talents of gold. queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of
15 And this is the reason for the labor force Solomon, the house that he had built, the
5
which King Solomon raised: to build the food on his table, the seating of his servants,
house of the LORD, his own house, the Millo, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his
the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and cupbearers, and his entryway by which he
Gezer. (Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up went up to the house of the LORD, there was no
16
6
and taken Gezer and burned it with fire, had more spirit in her. Then she said to the king:
killed the Canaanites who dwelt in the city, “It was a true report which I heard in my own
and had given it as a dowry to his daughter,
17
Solomon’s wife.) And Solomon built Gezer,
Lower Beth Horon, Baalath, and Tadmor in
18
the wilderness, in the land of Judah, all the 10:1 Sheba. Sheba was located in southwest-
19
storage cities that Solomon had, cities for his ern Arabia, about 1,200 miles from Jerusalem.
chariots and cities for his cavalry, and whatev- concerning the name of the LORD. The pri-
er Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in mary motive for the queen’s visit was to verify
Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. Solomon’s reputation for wisdom and devotion
20 All the people who were left of the Amorites, to the Lord. hard questions. Riddles designed
Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who to stump the hearer (Judg.14:12).
21
were not of the children of Israel— that is,
537