For Study and Discussion. (1) The location of the several nations conquered by David and how the victories were won, especially the capture of Jebus. (2) David’s plan to build the Temple and God’s message to him II Sam.  Ch. 11.  Point out the different elements in it. (3) Absolom’s conspiracy and final defeat, II Sam.  Chs. 15 and 18. (4) The death of the child of Uriah’s wife, II Sam.  Ch. 12. (5) The different times David showed kindness to his enemies, II Sam. 9, 10, 16, and 19.  Learn the details of each case. (6) The organization of his kingdom, II Sam. 8:l6-18, 15:37, 16:16, 20:23-26; I Chron. 27:33. (7) Tie rebellion of Sheba, II Sam. 20:1-22. (8) The story of Adonijah, I K. Ch. 1. (9) List David’s last commands to Solomon, I K. 2:1-9. (10) Nathan’s parable to David, II Sam. 12:1-9, 13-15. (11) The greatest fault of Absalom, of Joab. (12) Joab, the avenger, II Sam. 2:17-32, 3:22-30, 18:9-15, 20:4-10.

Chapter XII.

Solomon’s Reign.

I K. Chs. 1-12; II Chron.  Chs.1-9.

The Riddle of Solomon’s Character.  Few Biblical characters manifested such contradictory elements of character.  Early in life he manifested an earnest, conscientious and religious spirit.  He was prayerful and sought above all else wisdom and that for the good reason that he might be able to rule well.  He built the temple and thereby magnified the worship of Jehovah.

His prayer at the dedication of this temple were not only humble and fervent but were expressive of the very highest loyalty to Jehovah as the one supreme God and to all the high purposes of the divine will in Israel.  But in spite of all this he put upon the people such heavy burdens of taxation as to crush them.  He trampled under foot the democratic ideals of the nation and adopted the policy of oriental despots which tended to make free-born citizens mere slaves of the king.  He lived a life of the basest sort of self-indulgence.  He depended upon foreign alliances rather than upon Jehovah to save his nation.  He married many strange wives and through them was led to establish in Israel the worship of strange Gods.  I K. 11:1-8.  On the whole his reign was such as to undo what had been accomplished by David and proved disastrous.  Although counted the wisest he proved to be in many ways the most foolish king that ever ruled over Israel.

His Policies.  As a ruler it is easy to think of his policies under three heads, (1) His home policy.  This was one of absolution.  He became a despot and robbed the people of their freedom and put them under a yoke of oppression by imposing upon them heavy burdens of tax that he might carry out his unholy plans for selfish indulgence. (2) His foreign policy.  This was a policy of diplomacy.  By means of intermarriage, by the establishment of commercial relations and by the adoption of the customs and religions of other nations he bound them in friendly alliance. (3) His religious policy.  This was a policy of concentration.  He built die temple and, through the splendor of its worship, tried to concentrate all worship upon Mount Moriah.  This desire may also have contributed to his erection of altars to foreign deities.