I Kings and Proverbs 8:12-36
From Hadad's Scrolls
I alone escaped with the help of my father's officials.
I could not have escaped without their help, not far anyway. I was only a boy. We fled through Midian, Paran, and on to Egypt. Once we arrived my father's officials asked to speak with the Pharaoh. There they requested safety.
The Pharaoh treated us kindly. He gave me a house, land, and food.
During the days that followed, I managed to please the pharaoh. He gave me a sister of his wife, Queen Tahpenes, to marry. We had a son and named him Genubath. Tahpenes raised our son in the palace with Pharaoh's other children.
Then one day I heard king David had died. His captain, Joab also died. I knew I could safely return to my country, Edom, without being harmed.
I asked Pharaoh for his permission to leave. Understandably he didn't like the idea of letting his grandson and sister-in-law leave Egypt. Once I return to my country, I plan to repay Israel. I will raise up an army against them.
From Rezon's Scrolls
My name is Rezon, I am the son of Eliada. I fled from my master Hadadezer, king of Zobah. I have gathered many men to join my rebellion. I remember when king David attacked Zobah, destroying the army. I am my rebellion moved to Damascus. We took control of the city. I dedicated my life to causing trouble for the Israelites as long as Solomon lived. I understand another also causes trouble, one called Hadad. I won't bother him as long as he and his army leave us alone.
From Jeroboam's Scrolls
My name is Jeroboam. I am an official of Solomon's court and an Ephraimite. Solomon praised me for my work when filling in the gap in the city wall and promoted me, putting me in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.
One day, as I walked out of the city of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah stopped me. He wore a new cloak. We stood there alone. Ahijah took his cloak off and ripped it into twelve pieces. He set them on the ground and said, "Take ten pieces for yourself. The Lord God of Israel says, 'I will tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hand and give ten tribes to Jeroboam. For the sake of my servant David and the city of Jerusalem, however, I will give one tribe to Solomon's son so that David, my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem.
'I am doing this because they have sinned against me and walked away from me by worshiping Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Molech the god of the Ammonites. They have not walked in my ways nor have they done what is right in my eyes, or kept my statues and laws as David, Solomon's father did.
'I won't take the kingdom from Solomon, I will take it from his son.
'You Jeroboam will rule over all that your heart desires. You will be king over Israel. If you do whatever I command you and walk in my ways and do what is right inmy eyes by keeping my statues and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I build for David and will give Israel to you. I will humble David's descendants because of this, but not forever.' And that was the end of the Lord's message to me."
When Solomon heard what the Lord said, he tried to kill me. I fled to Egypt, to the house of king Shishak and stayed there until Solomon died.
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photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com
1. Who were the three men who rebelled against Solomon?
2. What nations were they from?
3. Why did God allow the rebellions?
Proverbs 8:12-36
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
I have counsel and sound wisdom;
I have insight; I have strength.
By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.[a]
I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
and I find knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
I have counsel and sound wisdom;
I have insight; I have strength.
By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.[a]
I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
“The Lord possessed[b] me at the beginning of his work,[c]
the first of his acts of old.
Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
when he made firm the skies above,
when he established[d] the fountains of the deep,
when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his[e] delight,
rejoicing before him always,
rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.
the first of his acts of old.
Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
when he made firm the skies above,
when he established[d] the fountains of the deep,
when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his[e] delight,
rejoicing before him always,
rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.
“And now, O sons, listen to me:
blessed are those who keep my ways.
Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord,
but he who fails to find me injures himself;
all who hate me love death.”
blessed are those who keep my ways.
Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord,
but he who fails to find me injures himself;
all who hate me love death.”
