Bible Commentaries

affinity = relationship by marriage.

Only. May imply regret rather than censure. Compare 1 Kings 15:14, &c.

in high places., Deuteronomy 12:11, Deuteronomy 12:14, Deuteronomy 12:26, Deuteronomy 12:27, not obeyed since Jehovah had forsaken Shiloh. Compare Psalms 78:60, Psalms 78:67-69. Jeremiah 7:12-14.

statutes of David. Contrast "the statutes of Omri" (Micah 6:16), and"statutes of the heathen" (2 Kings 17:8).

high places. Not necessarily idolatrous (see note on 1 Kings 3:2, and compare 1 Chronicles 16:39; 1 Chronicles 21:29. 2 Chronicles 1:3, 2 Chronicles 1:13), though perhaps copied from Canaanites. Practice too deeply rooted for even Asa and Hezekiah to remove. Josiah it was who finally desecrated them. Anglo-Saxon = Hoes. Gibeon = a high place, where the Tabernacle was. Compare Joshua 9:3. 2 Samuel 2:12, 2 Samuel 2:13.

offer = offer up. See App-43.

dream. One of the twenty in Scripture. See note on Genesis 20:3. God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

said: i.e. in his sleep. Compare 1 Kings 3:15. See note on Psalms 127:2.

mercy = grace, or lovingkindness.

a little child. In his father's eyes a "wise man" (1 Kings 2:6, 1 Kings 2:9).

I know not = I shall not know. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and know not", indicating the Figure of speech Polysyndeton here, and in the following verses. App-6.

to go out or come in. Compare Numbers 27:17. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part). App-6. Put for whole manner of life.

Give. Compare 2 Chronicles 1:10.

understanding = hearing. Solomon began by asking wisdom from God. Rehoboam (his son) began by asking counsel from man (1 Kings 12:6, 1 Kings 12:8).

like thee. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis, by adding "among the kings" from 1 Kings 3:13 with 1 Kings 10:23.

any = a man. Hebrew. ish. App-14.

as = according as.

thy father David. Compare 1 Kings 15:5.

offered = prepared. See App-43. Showing that the Ceremonial Law was in writing before the days of Solomon, and not a later production, as asserted and assumed by some.

there was no stranger. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and there was no stranger".

child = son.

overlaid. One of the ten deaths occasioned by women. See note on Judges 4:21.

spake = talked [very much]. Figure of speech Ellipsis (App-6), to be supplied.

said = kept on saying.

wisdom of God = Divine wisdom. Genitive of Character. See App-17, and compare note on 1 Kings 3:9 above.