Since blood represents life--or the opposite of death--its sprinkling around the temple would act like a detergent. Postscript: Today we have freedom of religion within the ‘secular state’. Katherine, O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, King to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act. The 10 Plagues of Egypt is a fascinating account of the freedom of the Israelites and triumph over the Egyptian Kings who enslaved them. 1 See answer Jgidds77 is waiting for your help. I love reading this blog and commenting – it’s good practice for the conferences in my online psych classes! Even with the greatest wisdom that any man has had or will have, one can still wander astray with disastrous consquences. Several revolts threatened the throne; the most dangerous, and most tragic, was the one headed by Absalom, Davids favorite son. This became why the birthright was not passed to Reuben as the firstborn. Solomon's prayer at the time of the dedication of the Jewish Temple is a remarkable piece of literature. (1 Kings 9:6-7). After Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam was set to become the next king. 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant … As with any human being there are ambiguities about Solomon and aspects taht one will praise and another condemn. Surely. King Solomon. After the death of King Solomon, nothing is ever the same in Israel. The reading for Saturday morning’s Mass brought us to a high point in the life of King Solomon. This hardly made him the most likely son to succeed his father as king. The death of the firstborn was the last plague, but it was not the final judgment on the gods of Egypt. Or does power really corrupt, and absolute power corrupt absolutely? This was a common practice of the day for Kings. The river Nile turned the colour of blood, the water stank and the fish died 2. (Or were the books written in explanation after the event?) Perhaps that was one reason—but it’s probably more accurate to say that the oppressive leadership of Rehoboam was the last straw for most of Israel. And Solomon … Msgr. The Largest Extent of the Kingdom of Israel under Solomon . I think in a way I was afraid of being shunned for the things that happened to me. Soon all Israel heard about this judicial decision, and the people recognized that the wisdom of God was within Solomon. Many of the Israelites rebel against God, no longer follow God’s elected Judahite kings, and form the new Northern Kingdom with their own kings and heretical temples. But he gave up his ‘personal authority’ and binding with God for ‘power’ it seems, and material advantage, perhaps despite himself. Jeroboam and Rehoboam were wicked kings. The Seal of Solomon (or Ring of Solomon) is known as the Star of David in Jewish tradition and was the magical signet ring attributed to King Solomon in medieval Jewish tradition and in both Islamic and Western occultism. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Solomon, when presented the opportunity to ask anything whatsoever from God chose not gold or glory but Wisdom. Only afterward, in ch. Swarms of gnats attacked … The kingdom then split to the north half Israel and the south half Judah. Fearing that he would not be appointed heir to the throne, Absalom killed his brother Amnon and raised the banner of revolt. The Book of Exodus, various translations, chapters 7 to 12--The plagues: 1. Did King Solomon die in a state of broken fellowship with God or did he have union with God through faith? On a bad day, I feel like everybody is judging me, and like I am alone. Did lust and greed cause him to make steady compromises with the world? Origen pointed out that the Israelites made utensils for Jehovah’s temple out of Egyptian gold. 2 They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. The great and wise Solomon, once close to God’s heart and preferring nothing of the world to God’s wisdom. (Deut 17:16-17). Did Solomon come to love the world more than God? Moses counted them and found that there were over 600,000 fighting men, but only two of them were over 60 years old, Joshua and Caleb, the two spies who 31 years before had said that the could take the land of Canaan then with God's help. Clearly, the Beloved adored her Lover (Song of Songs 1:4). Dr. Eskenazi is editor-in-chief of The Torah: A Women’s Commentary, winner of the 2008 Jewish Book of the Year Award, and co-author (with T. Frymer-Kensky) of the JPS Bible Commentary: Ruth, winner of the Jewish Book Council Award in Women’s Studies in 2012. It seems that you are witnessing this battle but aren’t aware that everybody else is also fighting inside. Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. When Rehoboam followed his father’s misguided policies the ten tribes in the north had enough and they divided from Judah. Deuteronomy begins with many chapters in which Moses is portrayed as delivering a historical retrospective and extended exhortations to the people about to cross over the Jordan River into the land of Israel. - But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen [see however 1 Kings 5:13, 18.This service, though compulsory, was not servile. After all, books of Wisdom are attributed to him, and I would like to say that for the times, the case could be made that he did extraordinary things. He endorsed belief in Jesus as the divine savior. (Of course this would have taken money, (taxes) and power from the individual tribes). is in scripture (eg 1 Kings 11). After Solomon's death, however, the division became pronounced and longstanding. Jeroboam used the occasion to plot Solomon's overthrow. A sobering story, and in this day and age I think it is difficult for many of us not to be at least a mini-Solomon. (too much television perhaps, fancy this that and the other thing, etc. Because I have had some bad experiences with the church, I sometimes feel very insecure when I go to church. (I would still give him praise for his wisdom, but obedience. The gate of the Temple symbolizes Jesus Christ and His sacrifice (see chart). It is in this context that God delivered them over to the Israelites, that is, in the context of the battle. You have written artistically but so much so that I am not sure I understand your point. But that was the downfall then: turning to the pagan gods; just what he had been warned against. 43 Then he rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. I do not know that. Once you recognize both wolves, you will learn that scitzophrenia (sp) has value. It can be a very slow, and seemingly smooth downward slope, can’t it? Solomon's son Rehoboam took the throne in Jerusalem.But he lacked the skill to keep Israel united as previous kings had done, nor would he listen to advice. One more major god remained to be further judged and proven to be no god at all. Starting with the fourth plague, only the Egyptians were affected by the plagues. Interpreters dispute whether the book of Ecclesiastes is an OT record of the repentance of Solomon prior to his death. That the tribes disintegrated into separated units would show, politically that in secular terms, he was ahead of what was possible to achieve. And the Lord did indeed grant Solomon great wisdom. The first three plagues affected both Israelites and Egyptians. etc.) His insu… Adonijah was the older half-brother of Solomon, but David had promised the throne to Solomon. Beyond that, because I survived my risky behavior doesn’t mean you will.” It’s important to set a good example, but it might be even more important to talk about our failings, for keeping quiet may suggest acceptability. Alexander died in 323 B.C., and his death plunged his empire into a civil war that lasted for the next 20 years. Pharaoh asked Moses to remove this plague and promised to grant the Israelites their freedom. Thereupon, Jeroboam came out strongly against the step, maintaining that Solomon did this against David's wishes. When he would not reduce the high taxation burden and treat this subjects better, the northern 10 tribes revolted and split from the kingdom, setting up their own nation of Israel, leaving only the two tribes Judah and Benjamin of the original nation loyal to … Was it the foreign entanglements ignited by that greed and desire for power? When Joshua chose to OBEY God, God was no longer angry with His people, and once again, God blessed them. It is a very sad tale. A) It was a large project that employed many people at several sites across t... A. the deliberate murder of enemy civilians B. the intentional destruction of... A. The background to this is the first chapter of 1 Kings. While King Solomon reigned there was peace, but when he died the peace had stopped. There’s hope though “As for the other events of Solomon’s reign all he did and the wisdom he displayed – are they not written in the book of the annals of Solomon?” (Maybe he is indeed IN THE BOOK!) I am not saying I accept all this but only that the authorship by SOlomon was/is highly disputed. Was it corruption by the world that greed, foreign entanglements and admiration of foreign ways caused? the monks of the desert were distinguished for their ascetic life, and the mortification of bodily passions and concupiscences. 12, does it turn to the specific laws (the Deuteronomic Law Collection) that the people were meant to observe in the land. Israel is small country in the Middle East, about the size of New Jersey, located on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea and bordered by Egypt, Jordan, It was a necessary part of the story that the Israelites were unaffected. The rest remained with Solomon's successor, Rehoboam, leader of the southern kingdom of Judah (1 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 10-11). 8:20–32. Some of us feed one wolf more than the other. The many wives may have been a product, and necessary action to take, in organizing his governance. Take a look at an icon of the Harrowing of Hell; in many versions, on one side you’ll see two crowned, haloed figures. Compromises possibly? The Lord caused the Egyptians to treat the Israelites in a kind way. But they were were very ‘different times’. Surely. It is the road that Solomon trod. He pardoned many ex-Confederates. Adonijah tried to usurp the throne by conspiring with Joab et al . However, everyone that decides to go through this door must, like Jesus, carry out their daily sacrifice towards salvation. But first, let’s review some of the events of Solomon’s life. 13 They worked the Israelites ruthlessly… Failing to heed God brings destruction. So God said to him: “Because you have asked for this–not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right– I do as you requested. Solomon had not died a popular king. The kingdom then split to the north half Israel and the south half Judah. 11:36, 39. Reuben transgressed against Jacob (Genesis 35:22). While King Solomon reigned there was peace, but when he died the peace had stopped. Without a doubt. In the biblical account of his reign, God tells Solomon he will punish him for his apostasy by breaking up his kingdom after his death. 2 The news of the … In our times, we would likely herald his diplomacy in government affairs. how did Solomans death affect the Israelites. 22 But Solomon did not consign any of the Israelites to slavery, because they were his men of war, his servants, his officers, his captains, and the … In the morning, we discussed the incident. Death of all the Egyptians’ firstborn as the only plague (Exod 13:14-16). At the same time, she did not underrate herself. Because of His compassion for David, He mercifully did this only after Solomon’s death and left a remnant for David’s descendants to reign over and planned for eventual unification. The angel of death passed over the Israelites because of the blood of a lamb. Clearly. trying to please his wives to keep it together perhaps, rather than pleasing God). Answers (i) Rehoboam following the the advice of the young men to rule Israel more harshly than Solomon. And this is where we pick up the reading from Mass this past Saturday Morning: In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. Abba Moses, one of the desert father of scetis, of African decent, a christian monk and solitaire (hermit) after the order of St Antony, Poemen, and so many other monks and solitaries of ancient times some becoming bishops of the early church, c.a. The leaders of Israel decided, “‘We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 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