Lesson nine: God responds to Solomon’s prayer.

1. Read I Kings 9:1 – 9. Is this the first time God has appeared to Solomon? How long ago was the first vision (I Kings 9:10)? Is God pleased with what Solomon has done? How many people in the Bible did God appear to twice? What does this say about Solomon’s relationship with God? What is the main point of what God has to say to Solomon? Is God so enamored with the temple that He could never give it up?
2. Compare what God says to Solomon in the first vision (I Kings 3:3-14) to what He says to Solomon in the second vision. How many verses are devoted to warnings about the rewards of obedience vs. the consequences of disobedience in the first vision? How many are devoted to promising good things to Solomon? In the second vision what are the corresponding numbers of verses devoted to each topic? What pattern is reversed from the first to the second vision? Why would God put so much more emphasis on warnings in the second vision? What does this suggest you should be looking for in the remainder of the chapter?
3. Read I Kings 9:10 – 13. What did Solomon give to Hiram? What do you think about Hiram’s reaction? Do verses 11-13 explain why Hiram reacted the way he did? How long had Solomon and Hiram been helping each other (verse 10)? Do you think Solomon should have treated Hiram this way?
4. Read I Kings 9:15 – 25. Did Solomon know how to run a large organization? Did he know how to get work done by others? Did Solomon see a distinction between Israelites and non-Israelites? What is the difference between the people mentioned in chapter 9 as compared with those in chapter 8:41 – 43? Was Solomon most important wife a foreigner? Is this a contradiction?
5. Read I Kings 9:26 – 28. Where did Solomon build his navy? Where did he get experienced sailors? Was Solomon’s navy competing with Hiram’s navy for the same business? Why would Hiram help Solomon go into a business that Hiram had control of (did Solomon have any experienced sailors?)? Referring to verses 10 – 13, did Hiram love Solomon so much that he didn’t mind when Solomon shortchanged him? How much money did they make in one trip? Do you think Hiram got a cut?
6. Is there a pattern in how Solomon is handling money in chapter 9? Did Solomon shortchange Hiram? Did he pay the laborers mentioned in 9:15-25? Did Solomon pay anything to obtain control of the city of Gezer? Did he have to pay for the war to get rid of his neighboring rivals, the Philistines, that held the city? Did he pay to have Gezer rebuilt? How much gold did Hiram get from the navy he helped Solomon build (why would Hiram help him build a navy at Ezion Geber? What did Hiram have to gain from this?)? Is the only concern how much Solomon gained, and whether or not Hiram got anything doesn’t matter? Is Solomon just a very shrewd businessman, or is he taking advantage of people?