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Lesson 9
Lesson 10
Lesson 11
The Thirty Sayings
Structure in the SoS
Chiastic pattern of words and phrases in SoS

 

Lesson one: King Solomon’s lifestyle vs. the lifestyle of a typical high school student

 

 

 

Read I Kings 9:23 – 11:10

 

 

  1. I Kings 10:4 – 7 describe the Queen of Sheba’s reaction to what was probably a banquet given by King Solomon to celebrate the arrival of the Queen in Jerusalem. List the items that she expresses astonishment about. How does your life compare in these areas? For example she was impressed with the clothing of Solomon’s servants. Do you think most high school students today can dress better or worse than the royal servants of Solomon’s day? What can you find out about clothing in Solomon’s day? She was also impressed with Solomon’s wisdom. How much information do you have access to today through the internet and how does it compare to what was available in Solomon’s day? If you went to a big banquet today (for example the Oscar award ceremony) would the arrangements be more or less impressive than Solomon’s court? She was also impressed with Solomon’s palace. You may not live in a palace, but how do housing conditions today compare with those of the average person in Solomon’s day?
  2. I Kings 10:10. How common were spices in Jerusalem? If “silver was as common as stones” in Jerusalem (I Kings 10:27), why couldn’t people buy any spice they wanted? Can you buy any spice you want? How did food in that day compare with the food you eat? Where does the food you eat come from (for example: bananas)?
  3. I Kings 10:11 – 12. Almug trees are reputed to have been valued for the fragrance contained in the inner layers of the trunk. When the trunk was sliced into planks and used to panel a room that room had a pleasant fragrance. If you want your room to have a pleasant fragrance how much would it cost you to get a scented candle or other air freshener? Do you have your choice of a wide array of fragrances? Can you change fragrances from week to week if you want to? How does this compare with King Solomon’s lifestyle?
  4. I Kings 10:22 indicates that Solomon’s navy brought back ivory, apes and peacocks once every three years. Where do you think they traveled to? If you want to see apes and peacocks can you? How much would it cost you? Do you have to wait three years?
  5. I Kings 10:26 states that Solomon had 1400 chariots. How will Solomon’s transportation compare with yours once you get a car? How long would it take Solomon to travel from southern Israel to northern Israel (about the distance from Vista to LA)? How long would it take you to drive to LA? Would you rather have a chariot that can go 20 mph or a car that can go120 mph?
  6. I Kings 11:1 – 3 says that Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines, and that many or most of them were of foreign birth and worshipped idols. How does Solomon’s lifestyle compare with the modern “playboy” lifestyle that is promoted in media today? Does the modern high school student have access to “exotic women” through today’s media? Is it limited to only 1000 women?
  7. Do you think the music that Solomon had access to was comparable to what you have access to today? How about sports/entertainment?