{"id":61631,"date":"2019-08-20T22:18:18","date_gmt":"2019-08-20T19:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=61631"},"modified":"2023-03-14T14:47:10","modified_gmt":"2023-03-14T12:47:10","slug":"solomon-got-more-than-he-bargained-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/solomon-got-more-than-he-bargained-for\/","title":{"rendered":"Solomon Got More Than He Bargained For"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Having settled his father\u2019s scores, Solomon set out to consolidate his own kingdom. Beginning with his nearest neighbor, Egypt, he entered into a marriage with Pharaoh\u2019s daughter. He then set about building his palace\u2014a multi-year venture\u2014and, in the absence of a temple, took advantage of a loophole in the law that allowed for sacrifices to be offered on a platform, or shrine (<\/span>bamah<\/span><\/em>) the largest of which, at this point in time, was situated in Gibeon.<\/span><\/p>\n

(This marks the debut of a trope that will recur throughout the Book of Kings: A king will be acknowledged for all his meritorious deeds, but a caveat will follow to the effect that \u201chowever, the platforms were not removed; the people continued offering sacrifices and incense on the platforms\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n

It was in Gibeon and on the occasion of a massive sacrifice that God appeared to Solomon in a dream and offered him whatever he would wish for. Read verses 11-14 closely; you should notice a contradiction, an internal inconsistency. Did you catch it? God mentioned three things for which Solomon could have asked: long life, riches, and victory over his enemies. Then He told Solomon that He would grant him his wish for wisdom, adding: \u201c<\/span>I also grant you what you did not ask for.\u201d However, while the riches and glory seem to be unconditional, the long life is made conditional on his \u201cobserving the commandments.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Radak, our stalwart <\/span>peshat<\/span><\/em> commentator on the Early Prophets, noted the contradiction and, based upon Deut. 17:12, \u201cand lest [the king] stray from the commandments\u2014right or left\u2014in order to extend his rule over his kingdom for many years,\u201d he explained:<\/span><\/p>\n

This, indeed, came to pass. Because he failed to observe God\u2019s commandments, he did not live long, only 52 years. However, he possessed wealth and glory throughout his life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another medieval commentary, attributed to R. Yosef Kara, a disciple of Rashi, draws our attention to the fact that Solomon acquired wealth and glory as a direct consequence of his wisdom, to wit: \u201cThroughout the land, they sought to see Solomon and to hear the wisdom God had implanted in his heart. Each would bring a gift of silver and gold\u2026\u201d (1 Kings 10:24-5).<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":61633,"id":61633,"title":"1kings3-more","filename":"1kings3-more.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/solomon-got-more-than-he-bargained-for\/1kings3-more\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"1kings3-more","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":61631,"date":"2019-08-20 19:26:15","modified":"2019-08-20 19:26:27","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1920,"height":1224,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-300x191.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":191,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-768x490.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":490,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-1024x653.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":653,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":979,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1224,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-1200x765.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":765,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-659x420.jpg","home_baner-width":659,"home_baner-height":420}},"embedded_video":"","video_duration":"","show_fb_comments":true,"credit_media":""},"tile":{"top_caption":"","main_caption":"Solomon Got More Than He Bargained For","main_caption_size":"1","sub_caption":"Wealth and glory\u2014yes; 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