Chapter 12 "1 Kings"

"1 Kings" The battle for the throne before the sickbed Time flies, and time flies like an arrow.When David was in his twilight years, his yang was deficient and yin was weak, and his limbs were cold. No matter how thick the quilt was, it was useless.Someone in the palace suggested: "My king is old and cold, why not find a beautiful young girl to serve him and warm him up." The imperial envoy searched for through-selected beauties all over the country, and finally found a beautiful woman named Abishag in Shunem City.Abishag came to the palace, waited on David's bed during the day, and slept on the king's bed at night, warming the aging dragon's body with her youthful body heat.But King David was no longer close to Abishag at that time.

Everyone in the palace knew that David was about to die, and the return date was just around the corner. The struggle for the succession to the throne entered a fierce stage. Among the many princes, there were only two leaders: one was Adonijah, who was born to Haji, and the other was Bathsheba. born of Solomon.After Absalom's death, Adonijah became the elder.He was tall and handsome, but he was a little lonely and arrogant, and he said to everyone, "I will be king." He also prepared chariots and cavalry for himself, and took 50 guards with him.The northern tribes were more inclined to him, and the old commander Joab and the chief priest Abiathar were also willing to help him and helped him to the throne.

Solomon was younger and less well-known, but he was extremely intelligent. His father, King David, liked him the most and held him in high esteem.Among the ministers, the high priest Zadok and the prophets Nathan, Shimei, Ley and others tried their best to support Solomon. Adonijah wanted to preempt others and create a fait accompli.One day, he held a big banquet at the rock of Zoshi by the spring of Logel, slaughtered a fat sheep and a beautiful calf, and invited all the princes and elders of all tribes, except Solomon, Nathan, Zadok and others.Nathan's eyes and ears were very good, and he got the news very quickly. He immediately went to Solomon's mother Bathshe to report: "Adonijah, the son of Hagiel, is about to take the oath to become king. Why are you still in the dark? I don't know, now the only way to save the lives of your mother and child..." Bathsheba followed his plan.She entered the inner room of David's bedroom, knelt down before the king's sick bed, and said: "Long live, Your Majesty."

David turned his head and asked, "What do you want?" Bathsheba replied, "My lord, my king, you swore by the LORD before your handmaid that your son Solomon will take your place and succeed you as king. Now Adonijah the king, but my lord the king does not know." "What did you say?!" "I said that Adonijah slaughtered many fat sheep and young calves today, and invited all the princes, Joab the commander, and Abiathar the high priest, but Solomon, the servant of the king, did not invite him. My lord, my king, the people are looking forward to you, and I hope you will decide who will inherit your throne before you return to the lord's bosom.Otherwise, after my lord the king sleeps with the ancestors, my son Solomon and I will become sinners. "

While Bathsheba was speaking these words, the prophet Nathan also walked in according to the prior arrangement.The courtier bowed his head and whispered in the king's ear, "The prophet Nathan has come." Nathan went to David's sickbed, bowed his face to the ground, and said, "I tell my lord the king, did you really promise Adonijah that you would succeed me as king and sit on my throne?" Many fat sheep and beautiful calves were invited, and all the princes, army commanders, and priest Abiathar were invited. They ate and drank in front of Adonijah, shouting, "Long live King Adonijah!" After hearing what Bathsheba and Nathan said, David's chest heaved violently with anger, and he was out of breath, so he said, "Bathsheba. "

"The maid is here." "As the Lord lives, who delivered my life from all troubles," King David continued after a short pause, "your son Solomon will succeed me as king and sit on my throne. to deliver." "Long live my king, long live, long live!" Bashi said repeatedly with his face on the ground. Immediately, David gave orders to the courtiers who were waiting by his side: "Call Zadok, the high priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." After a while, Sadhu and Benaiah were called to the sickbed in the palace.David said, "Zadok, Nathan, Benaiah."

"The servant is here." The three answered in unison. "At once take your servants and put my son Solomon on my mule and send him to Gihon, where Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint him king over Israel. To blow the trumpet, the mountain shouted: Long live King Solomon!" "Amen!" The three important ministers who were honored by Tuogu said in unison. The three important ministers led a large group of people to Gihon, held a grand anointing ceremony there, and then hugged Solomon all the way back to Jerusalem with thunderous cheers, and the Palace of Man was in place.The people who were eating and drinking by the Luojie Spring asked, "Why is the city so noisy?"

At this time, a servant of Adonijah ran in and reported, "My lord, something is wrong. Solomon has been anointed and crowned as king. Now the whole city is cheering for the new king to be crowned." When the people around Luojie Spring heard this, they all fled in panic.Adonijah ran into the Tent of Meeting in a panic, grabbing the altar and relentlessly.Someone told Solomon about this, and Solomon asked his servants to send a message to Adonijah: "If he is an honest man, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if he does evil, he will surely die." When Doniah heard what the new king had said, he came down from the altar and bowed down before Solomon. Solomon said, "Go home!"

David knew that the time had come, so he called Solomon to him and said to him, "My son, I am now going to take the last step that the world must take. Be strong and be a man. You must follow the law of Moses. written, walk in the way of the Lord, and keep his statutes, commandments, ordinances, and testimonies. Then you will prosper in whatever you do and wherever you go." "Father, my son will definitely do it." "There are things you must do now. Field Marshal Joab will be a serious threat to your throne. He once killed Absalom and Amasa without authorization, and colluded with Adonijah and Abiathar to force the palace to seize power when my life was dying.When I was in power, I had to respect him and accommodate him, because many victories were fought by him and he was credited.If I kill him, the people will say that I am not benevolent or righteous.Now you are the king, there is no need to bear the burden of morality for me.You have to kill him as soon as possible, and you can't let him go to the underworld with his white head. "Baby obeys."

"And Shimei the Benjaminite of Bahurim, who insulted me viciously to my face when I fled from your brother Absalom, and who came to meet me by the Jordan after Absalom's defeat, I made an oath to him: I will never kill you with a knife. Now you are not obliged to fulfill this oath, you are a smart boy, and you naturally know what to do." "My son understands." "Be kind to the sons of Basirai the Kiredite. Their fathers have been kind to me and to the people of Israel. Always eat at their table." "Kid remember." David passed away within a few days after explaining this, at the age of 70.Solomon buried him in the city of David.David was king of Judah and Israel for 40 years, leaving behind a vast country for his descendants.At that time, the Kingdom of Israel ruled from Damascus in the north to Egypt in the south, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the east of the Jordan River.

(1 Kings 1:1-2:12) solomon reigns Solomon was only 20 years old when he came to the throne. He was handsome and intelligent. When he took the throne, he focused on how to complete the last king's last edict, but the political opponents wanted to bully him because he was young and ignorant.One day, the Queen Mother Bathsheba was sitting quietly in the palace, when suddenly a maid came in and reported, "My lord Adonijah came to visit the Queen Mother." "Send him in." When Adonijah walked in, the Queen Mother was wondering why he had come, and the first thing she asked was, "Are you here to say hello?" "Exactly, the servant and the servant's mother, Haji, greet the Queen Mother." He said, looking at the face of the Queen Mother, and then continued hesitatingly, "You know who this throne belongs to; all the people of Israel look up to me Be their king. Unexpectedly, this country has returned to my brother. No wonder, this is all arranged by the Lord... Now, I have something to ask, and I don't know whether to say it or not." "Speak." The kind and honest Bathsheba said calmly. "I beg you to intercede with King Solomon, he will not refuse you. Please give me the Shunam girl Abishag as my wife. I will always remember your great kindness. ,, Adonijah is finally generous The old face told the real purpose of this trip. "This..." Empress Dowager was a little embarrassed, "Let me try." "Thank you Queen, thank you Queen; please, please. I am waiting for your good news." Adonijah withdrew expectantly. Early the next morning, Bathsheba went to the main hall to meet Solomon after washing up.Solomon stood up to greet her, and kowtowed: "My son Solomon greets his mother." "I get up." "Look at the seat." The two maids were ordered to help the queen mother to sit on the right side of the throne, because the Israelites respect the right side. Bathsheba sat down and said, "King." "My son is here." "I have something to ask, I hope you don't refuse." The queen mother said straight to the point. "What's the matter?" Solomon listened attentively. "Give Abishag the Shunammite to your brother Adonijah as his wife." "What!" Solomon said sensitively, "Queen, why did you only ask for the Shunam girl Abishag for him? Why don't you ask for the throne for him." "You..." The Empress Dowager's face turned red all of a sudden. "I swear by the LORD, Adonijah cut himself off from me and gave himself up. He is doomed today!" Solomon immediately ordered Benaiah to execute Adonijah on the spot.Adonijah was waiting for the happy event at home, but he never thought that what Solomon sent was a death sentence: he died at Benaiah's sword in his own home. When Joab heard that Adonijah had been put to death, he felt that his future was not good, so he hurried to the tent of the LORD and grabbed the altar.According to the canon, there is a right of refuge in the sanctuary.Someone reported this to Solomon, and Solomon broke the canon and ordered Benaiah: "Go and kill him before the Lord." Benaiah carried out the king's order exactly. After Joab was executed, Solomon appointed Benaiah as commander in chief. After getting rid of the two biggest confidantes, Solomon dismissed Abiathar from the post of high priest and kept him alive.He was exiled to a small village northwest of Jerusalem.So far, there is only one chief priest in Israel, and this is Zadok who faithfully assisted King Solomon. In dealing with the issue of Shimei, Solomon did not faithfully carry out the will of his father David.He did not execute Shimei, but saved his life, but ordered him not to leave Jerusalem for life, otherwise he would be sentenced to death.Three years later, two of Shimei's servants fled to Achish king of Gath.When Shimei learned about it, he saddled his donkey and left Jerusalem to Gath to pursue the two servants.After he returned to the city, the person who supervised him had already reported to Solomon. Solomon couldn't answer, and immediately ordered Benaiah to behead him. (1 Kings 2:13-2:46) Two mothers contend for children For the peace of the frontier, Solomon adopted a peace policy.He married Egypt, Israel's largest neighbor at that time, married Pharaoh's daughter, and took her into the City of David.In order to pray to Jehovah to bless the country forever, Solomon also made a special trip to Gibeon to hold a large-scale sacrificial activity.At that time, the high place of Gibeon was the largest in all of Israel, and Solomon offered 1,000 head of oxen and sheep as sowing sacrifices on that huge high place.He lived in the palace of Gibeon. One night, Yahweh came to him in a dream and asked him, "What do you want me to give you? You can say it." "Your servant has just succeeded your father, King David, to govern your country Israel, but I am young and ignorant, and I don't know how to treat people in a proper manner. Israel is a big country, and the number of people is innumerable, so the servant only asks you to give me wisdom. It's good to see clearly, to distinguish right from wrong, and to uphold justice." The LORD was very pleased when he heard this, and said to him, "You don't ask for life and happiness for yourself, and you don't ask for the death of your enemies. You only ask for wisdom to hear a lawsuit. I will grant you what you asked for and give you understanding and wisdom. You will be wise and wise, even unprecedented. I will give you what you have not asked for, and you will enjoy all the glory and wealth. No king in the world can compare with you." Solomon awoke with great joy in his heart.After he returned to Jerusalem, he offered sacrifices to Yahweh in front of the ark of the covenant in the Tent of Meeting, and hosted a banquet for the civil and military officials of the court. One day, two prostitutes came to Beijing to complain.They stood in front of Solomon, blaming each other, crying and arguing, and arguing.One said: "I live with this woman. On the third day after I gave birth, she also gave birth to a child. During the night she slept like a dead pig and crushed the child to death. She found the child dead. Taking advantage of my deep sleep, I secretly put my dead child beside me and replaced mine. After waking up in the morning, I wanted to breastfeed my son, only to find that he was dead. I was so anxious that I was dumbfounded at first. , but if you look carefully, this is not my child, she clearly changed my child secretly." Before this one finished speaking, the other rushed to say: "No, she changed my child. The dead child is hers, and the living child is mine." "No, the live child is mine." "..." Solomon said, "don't argue, let me see the child." Solomon looked at the child brought in by the guards, but he couldn't tell which woman the child looked more like.He suddenly frowned, thought carefully, and told the guards: "Bring the knife." A guard stood up with a knife. "Cut a living child in half, give one half to this woman, and half to that woman." The guard with the knife raised his knife and was about to chop.One of the women "boomed," knelt down on the child, and begged, "Don't kill him, don't kill him.As long as the child's life is saved, I will not argue, and the child will belong to her. " But another woman said: "Wow, wow! If I can't make it, you can't do it either. Just cut it off." Seeing the completely different behaviors of the two women, Solomon pointed to the woman who asked to keep the child's life and said, "This child cannot be killed. She is his mother. Only a woman who truly cherishes the child's life is worthy of being the child's mother." The case was thus closed.When the Israelites heard about this incident, they all praised Solomon for his wisdom and respected him in awe. (King 3) Govern the country After Solomon succeeded to the throne, he focused on rectifying the government, recruiting talents, spreading the word, punishing evil and promoting good, and rewarding meritorious ministers.He replaced all the high-ranking officers, and installed his relatives, old friends, old-timers, capable and loyal people in various key departments: Zadok as the chief priest, Zadok's son Azariah as the priest, Shisha's two sons Elihoreb, Ahijah was the secretary, Jehoshaphat son of Herod was the historian, Benaiah was the commander of the army, Nathan the prophet was the counselor of the kingdom, Azariah, one of Nathan's sons, was the chief of the officials, and Zabud, the son of Nathan, was the general , Ashishah was the master, and Abidah's son Adonilan was in charge of the slaves... Solomon divided the whole of Israel into 12 provinces.Appoint 12 governors to manage the provinces. Among them, the governor of Dor and the governor of Naphtali are Solomon's two sons-in-law.The provinces take turns to supply food to the royal palace, each for one month each year.All the countries around Israel accepted Solomon's rule, paid tribute and served Israel. At that time, King Solomon’s palace cost a lot, and every day the wealth was measured by carts. The food consumed in the palace alone was 30 cors of fine flour, 60 cors of coarse flour, 10 fat cows, and 20 cors of pasture cattle. There are only 100 sheep, and there are countless game such as deer, antelope, roe deer and fat birds. Solomon also reorganized the army.His father, King David, only believed in infantry, and only generals rode donkeys.Solomon saw that such equipment was no longer suitable for the needs of the times. He vigorously broke the prejudice of Israelis who underestimated cavalry and formed a cavalry regiment of 12,000.He established horse farms in various provinces, and the fodder for military horses was raised and supplied in turn by 12 provinces. Solomon also placed great emphasis on scientific culture.He himself is an excellent poet. During his lifetime, he composed 3000 proverbs and 1005 poems.He has extensive research on flora and fauna. He commented on the morphological attributes of various plants, from the rare and precious wood cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing on the walls of ordinary people's homes. He has made detailed records.He also commented on the morphological attributes of various birds and beasts, insects and aquariums. During most of the time when Solomon ruled Israel, there were neither internal nor external troubles. The people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and the country was prosperous and peaceful.Hundreds of years later, people still praised the era of Solomon and said: "During the days of Solomon, the Jews and the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba were engaged in peaceful labor in their own vineyards and under the fig tree. Live in peace and work happily." (1 Kings 4) The construction of the temple is a huge project 480 years after the Israelites came out of Egypt, that is, the fourth year of Solomon's reign as king of Israel, in the month of Ziv (February) in the Jewish calendar, Solomon was determined to fulfill his father's last wish, and built a temple in Jerusalem commensurate with the prestige of the Lord.Israel lacked timber and skilled craftsmen, while Tyre happened to be rich in valuable timber and had many skilled craftsmen.King Solomon decided to ask for help from King Hiram of Tire, and sent an envoy to Hiran to send a letter, which read: Your Majesty King Hiram of Tire has observed that your country and Israel have always been friendly and have a long history of mutual exchanges.You know, when my father David was alive, he couldn’t build the great hall for the name of the Lord his God because of years of wars. Now I succeed my father as the king of Israel. Temple, to fulfill my father's promise to God.But there were no forests in Israel, and there were no people in Israel who were as good at felling trees as the Sidonians.So today I specially send envoys to your country to ask for assistance in these two aspects.Command your servants to cut down cedars for me in Lebanon, and my servants will help them; I will repay your country according to the wages you want. Dedicated to Chen.I would like to praise the auspicious details!King Hiram was very pleased when he received this letter. He said, "Praise the LORD today, for he gave David a wise son to rule over this multitude of people." Said: Your Majesty Solomon, King of Israel, Dear Sir: It is a great honor to accept the letter!Your Majesty is young and promising, and he is admired and respected in the world. The letter mentions cedar wood and pine wood, and I will obey my orders.My servant will transport the required wood from Lebanon to the sea, tie it into a raft, and float it to the place you specify, where it will be disassembled for your subjects to collect. As for the wages, please fulfill the wish of my country and give I get grain, oil and food as compensation. Su Jing Chen.Congratulations Shi Qi!Therefore, the two countries reached an agreement on this, and King Hiram transported the cedar and pine logs felled to Israel in accordance with Solomon's request.Solomon gave King Hiram 20,000 cors of wheat and 20 cors of clear oil every year in return. King Solomon selected laborers from among the Israelites to form a labor force of 30,000 men.Among the 30,000 people, 10,000 people took turns going to Lebanon every month to help the Sidonians cut and transport timber, and the rest worked in Jerusalem.They also forced 150,000 Canaanites into hard labor, 80,000 of them digging rocks, and 70,000 of them transported the quarried stones to Jerusalem.In addition, Solomon also used 3,300 Israelites as overseers to supervise these coolies. The main hall is built on Mount Ofer, and there is a road paved with stone steps at the foot of the mountain leading directly to the gate of the outer courtyard of the temple on the mountain.The outer courtyard is very spacious and can accommodate thousands of pilgrims.The inner courtyard is a place for religious ceremonies, and there is an altar in the center with a long burning lamp on it.Next to the altar there is a huge circular copper sea, which is filled with water and used to wash the sacrificed cattle and sheep.The copper sea, which was cast by Hulan, a famous craftsman in Hiram, was 5 cubits high, 10 cubits in diameter, and 30 cubits in circumference.There are reliefs of wild melon patterns on the wall of Tonghai, with 10 claws per hour and 2 rows in total.There are 12 copper bulls supporting the sea under the copper sea: 3 facing north, 3 facing west, 3 facing south, and 3 facing east; the tail of the ox faces inward and the head faces outward.The sea is so large that it can hold 2,000 batts of water.There are also 10 pots with wheels in the courtyard for water transportation.Each pedestal is 4 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 3 cubits high. On each side there are lions, oxen and Jilupa, and Zhenpei hangs from the bottom of each side.Put a basin on each basin base, and each basin can hold 40 batts of water. In the center of the inner courtyard is the main hall.The main hall is not too big, 60 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high.The veranda in front of the temple was 20 cubits long, as wide as it was narrow.There are attached houses on the two side walls and three sides outside the rear wall for the priests to live in.The hall is divided into three entrances, the first entrance is the front hall, the second entrance is the main hall, and the third entrance is the inner hall, which is also a sanctuary.There were no holy images in the sanctuary, but in the mysterious gloom stood the ark of the Lord.Only the highest priest (chief priest) has the right to enter the church, but he can only enter once a year. The beams in the hall are planed and painted cedar trunks, the walls and ceiling are inlaid with cedar wood, and the floor is paved with pine wood.On both sides of the entrance of the front hall, there are 18 cubits high and 12 cubits in diameter distilled gold copper columns, which are decorated with a grid connected by chains and cables, and lilies are decorated on the top of the columns.In the main hall, there is a cedar wooden table covered with gold, which is used for arranging sacrifices. There are 10 exquisite golden lampstands on it, 5 on the right and 5 on the left.There are also gold flowers, lamps, wax scissors, gold cups, gold plates, gold tweezers, spoons, and fire cauldrons on the gold table.The priests light joss sticks here, place offerings and keep the joss sticks alive all year round.The four walls of the inner hall are gilded, and on one side of the two doors is carved a cherub with spread wings. The size and shape of the two cherubs are exactly the same, and the arrangement is completely symmetrical.Kilupa is carved out of olive wood covered with a thick layer of gold. In the eleventh year of Solomon’s reign, in the month of Hele (August), the Temple of the Lord was finally completed, which took a total of 7 years.After the temple and all auxiliary facilities were completed, Solomon summoned the elders of Israel and the leaders of various factions to Jerusalem and held a grand ceremony for laying the ark of the covenant.The priests carried the ark up from Zion, the city of David, and placed it in the newly completed sanctuary.Solomon sacrificed sheep and oxen in the presence of the whole assembly, innumerable in number. The outer courtyard of the Temple of the Lord was crowded with people, and the inner courtyard held a ceremony to lay the ark of the covenant.All the elders, priests, nobles, servants, chorus, harpists, drummers, and trumpeters gathered around the altar.They wore white gowns and black caps, while the women wore turbans, and each wore a scarf with tassels around his neck, and some wore a "phylactery".This attire is considered a sign of God's chosen people, and it is also a display of determination and confidence to serve Jehovah wholeheartedly. Solomon is different, he is wearing a purple robe, wearing a golden crown, sitting in the middle.Behind him stood 500 palace guards holding golden shields.Amidst the smoke and incense of the burnt offering, the drums and trumpets sounded together, and the priests carried the ark of the covenant into the temple. The ark of the covenant was shining golden and dazzling.Accompanied by drums, the choir sang hymns: The Holy Door is wide open, forever open, my Lord comes in!At this time, the singing team is divided into two parts, one part sings: Who is my master?The other part sings: my lord is incomparably powerful, my lord is invincible in the world. The same words were sung over and over again until the ark was placed.Then, the curtain fell.From then on, no one except the chief priests was allowed to enter the church to see the Ark of the Covenant. Finally, Solomon recited a long prayer in front of the whole congregation: O Lord, the great God of Israel!May you guard this hall day and night, and take care of the servants' gratitude... After the ceremony, there will be 14 days of Daqing.The whole country was jubilant, slaughtering cattle and sheep, feasting and drinking.During these days Israel offered burnt offerings as follows: 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep.There is no one in Israel who does not take part in this great sacrifice, and there is no one who does not sacrifice sheep and oxen, (1 Kings 8) Another thirteen years of construction It took Solomon 7 years to build the temple, and in the following 13 years, he built a luxurious palace for himself, built strong frontier fortifications, and increased the military budget. The new palace was built in Jerusalem, not Zion.That is a large-scale project composed of 3 groups of building complexes.The royal palace itself is the first group, divided into two parts, on one side lived Solomon and his concubines; on the other side, built at the request of the pharaoh, lived the Egyptian princess, the subsequent queen of Solomon, and a large number of royal relatives. The "Lebanon Forest Palace" is the second group, a place for gatherings and feasting.The central hall of the palace is supported by 3 rows of Lebanon cedar columns, 15 in each row, 45 in total.The other hall is where the king hears public cases and receives foreign guests.In the hall are displayed 200 shields hammered from pure gold, each weighing 600 shekels; and 300 shields hammered from pure gold, each weighing 3 minas.An ivory throne inlaid with gold was set up on the central table of the hall.There are 6 steps on the throne, the back of the seat is round, there are handrails on both sides, and there are two standing jade lions on the left and right near the handrails. There are 2612 jade lion statues on the 6 steps. To defend the frontiers and major trade routes, Solomon fortified his cities and built new forts.For example, he built strong walls around the northern cities of Hazor and Megiddo, and the central cities of Gezer, Bethhoron, and Barra, and stationed cavalry and infantry in these castles.The squandered money used to strengthen armaments, build fortifications, and build palaces is all obtained from exorbitant taxes and tributes.The taxes and tributes collected from the vassal states alone are equivalent to 666 talents (each 1 talent is equivalent to 150 kilograms) of gold. In addition, Solomon also actively traded with neighboring countries to supplement the huge financial expenditure. Solomon bought a large number of horses from Egypt, except for military use, and sold the rest to the Hittites and the kingdoms of Syria.The Israelites were not good at building ships and sailing. Solomon asked King Hiram for help, and asked him to send someone who was familiar with shipbuilding among his servants to build ships and build a large port of Ezion-Gaber, a coastal city near Elul. Solomon sent his servants to work with Hiram. Together with the king's servants, they sailed to the mysterious country of Ophir every three years, and exchanged the copper of Israel for the gold, silver, ivory, sandalwood, precious stones and even apes and peacocks there.Each time Solomon earned a profit that could be equivalent to 420 talents of gold. But so much money is far from enough to meet the needs of large-scale construction and supply troops to saturate the royal palace.He borrowed 120 talents of gold from King Hiram and pledged 20 cities of Galilee as collateral.King Hiram came out from Tire to inspect the cities ceded to him, but he was greatly disappointed. He lamented, "My brother, what kind of cities have you given me?" The amount of taxes collected has nothing. (1 Kings 9; 10:11-10:29) Queen of Sheba visits Sheba is a distant and mysterious country, on the other side of the desert.The end of the Red Sea.The king of Sheba was a young and beautiful young woman.When the Queen of Sheba heard that King Solomon was very famous, she led an endless caravan of camels across the ocean, across the desert, and came to Jerusalem.The queen brought countless majestic guards and countless glittering gold and silver jewels; she came in a camel sedan, swaying slightly, and floated there.Solomon went out of the city to meet him in a robe embroidered with gold and purple.The dignified, fairy-like, and radiant queen simply dazzled Solomon, who was both surprised and delighted.Like a peacock spreading its tail, he spread his wings of wisdom in front of the queen.Solomon accompanied the Queen of Sheba into the Forest Palace of Lebanon and sat down with her for a long talk.The queen tested Solomon with various difficult questions, and Solomon answered them fluently.The Queen of Sheba saw the palace built under Solomon's personal guidance, tasted the delicacies at the banquet, reviewed the mighty and orderly guard of honor, and was amazed by the ministers sitting in rows, the servants standing on both sides and their costumes Admired... the queen was almost a little distracted, and she said to Solomon: "I heard the legends about your deeds and wisdom in this country, but I still couldn't believe them. Now what I have seen with my own eyes is better than what I have heard. twice as much. Blessed be the LORD your God." At parting, the Queen of Sheba gave 120 talents of gold and many jewels.Spices were given to Solomon.Solomon also gave her countless precious gifts in return. (1 Kings 10:1-10:10) Old age with internal and external troubles In addition to Pharaoh's daughter, Solomon also had many favorite concubines from foreign countries. In his later years, he continued to marry concubines. In his life, he had 700 concubines, all of whom were princesses from other countries, and 300 concubines.Most of these women were foreigners. Among them were Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonites, and Hittites.These concubines believed in pagan gods. Solomon loved them, was influenced by them, and followed them to believe in their gods.Solomon worshiped in particular the goddess Ashtoreth of the Sidonians and the god Miller of the Akhorites.He also built a high place for Molech, the god of Chemosh and the Ammonites, on the hill opposite Jerusalem. Yahweh appeared to Solomon twice and was angry with him, telling him not to stray from the right way, but he persisted and went further and further away.Finally, the LORD said to him: "Your actions have not followed my covenant, and you have not changed after repeated admonitions. I will take back the kingdom I gave you and give it to your subjects. However, for the sake of your father David, I will not do this while you live, I will take the kingdom back from your son and leave him one tribe." Hadad, a descendant of King Edom, was the first to rebel.Before David attacked Edom, Joab led his men and killed all the males. At that time, Hadad was still a child. Several of his father's servants rescued him and fled to Egypt.Pharaoh provided food for Hada, and allocated them fields and houses.Hadad was so favored by Pharaoh that Pharaoh gave him the queen's sister as his wife.Pharaoh also let Hada's son born to the queen's sister grow up in the palace and receive court education.When Hadad heard that Solomon was old and foolish, and that Israel was empty, he asked Pharaoh to allow him to lead the Edomites to attack Solomon and invade Israel to harass him. The second rebellion was Rezon, the son of Eliada.Lixun was once one of the generals under the command of King Zobah. After King Zobah was killed by David, he became a bandit.Once, by luck, he captured Damascus in a battle, killed all the Israelites there, and established himself as the king of Syria there.Lisson also attacked Israeli fortresses at intervals. The third rebel was a native Israelite.He was Jeroboam, one of Solomon's most powerful officers.Jeroboam, a Zelidaite from the tribe of Ephraim, lost his father when he was young, and grew up as an orphan and widow.When Solomon enlisted laborers to renovate the City of David, he was also among the candidates.During the construction of the city, Naroboan was appreciated by his superiors for his ability and diligence, and he was promoted step by step. Later, Solomon promoted him to the post of the chief of the city.One day, when Jeroboam was out of the city on business, he met Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh on the road. The two came to the field by the side of the road. Ahijah tore the new clothes he was wearing into 12 pieces and said to Jeroboam: "You may take ten pieces, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Solomon has now rebelled against my ways and kept my laws, and I will take the kingdom of Israel from him, and I will give you ten tribes. But , and I will reserve a tribe for his son. If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commandments, I will be with you." Encouraged, Jeroboam returned to the city and was preparing to raise a banner to revolt. Unexpectedly, the news was leaked in advance. Solomon chased and killed him. He fled to Shishak, king of Egypt, and lived in Egypt until Solomon died. Solomon died in Jerusalem when he was 60 years old. He was king of Israel for 40 years, and the throne was succeeded by Rehoboam after his death. (1 Kings 11) Israel divided into North and South Rehoboam was 4i years old when he took the throne.What he took over from his old father was a crisis-ridden country. If he could carry out a comprehensive rectification, pay lightly, and rest with the people, Israel would still have the hope of revival, because the glory of David and Solomon was still alive among the people. Not completely annihilated.However, Rehoboam was an arrogant person with great ambition and little talent.He came to Shechem with a full court of civil and military personnel, and held an elders meeting for all Israel there.At that time, Naroboam had returned from Egypt and was elected by the 10 northern tribes as a leader to negotiate with King Rehoboam in Shechem.Jeroboam said to Rehoboam, "Your father made us hard-yoke and hard-work; now make us less hard-work and light-yoke, and we will serve you." Rehoboam said, "Well, I have to think about it. Go back now and come back to me in three days." The servants that Rehoboam brought included not only old servants of the previous king, but also a group of young servants who grew up with him.He first asked the veterans: "What advice do you give me, so that I can reply to these people?" The veterans said: "Now if the king treats the people like servants and pays them well with good words, they will be the king's servants forever." Rehoboam turned back to his fellow youths and asked, "What do you think? Do you have any good ideas?" The young men said: "The king will say this to them: My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. My father made you a heavy yoke, and I will make you a heavier yoke! My father will beat you with a whip." , I will beat you with a scorpion whip!" On the third day, Rehoboam and the others came to listen to the reply. Rehoboam did not answer them according to the ideas of the old officials, but according to the words of the young officials: "My little finger is bigger than my father's waist.还粗。"他晃动着右手的小拇子，"我父亲使你们负重轭，我必使你们负更重的轭！我父亲用鞭子责打你们，我要用蝎子鞭责打你们！" 在场的全体百姓听了这番话，悻悻地散去，他们一边走一边说："我们与大卫有什么关系？！" "耶西的儿子关我们什么事？！" "以色列入哪，各自回家去吧。" "大卫家啊，你们自己照顾自己吧。" 于是北方的以色列各支派都提前退出会议，回自己家去了。只有南方犹大支派和便雅悯支派的人留下来，继续拥戴大卫家为王室，听罗波安发号施令。罗波安差遣掌管服役的亚多兰到北方各支派去征集民工，北方人用石头将他打死。罗波安听说后，急忙上车，逃回耶路撒冷去了。北方10个支派就拥立耶罗波安为王，与耶路撒冷王朝分庭抗礼。 罗波安在那路撒冷召集了18万军队，想去攻打北方人，但是先知示玛雅站出来反对，他来到群众中传达了上帝的旨意："耶和华如此说：你们不可上去与你们的弟兄以色列人争战，各归各家去吧！因为这事是出于我的安排。"人们听了就纷纷散开，各自回家去了。从此以后，北方10个支派被称为以色列人，南方两个支派被称为犹大人，后来转译为犹太人。（王上12：1一12：24） 大国的衰落 北方的以色列国王耶罗波安先定都以法莲地区的山城示剑，后来又迁都毗努伊勒。那个时候，南北两个国家仍然只有一个宗教中心，那就是耶路撒冷。北方以色列国的祭司经常到耶路撒冷从事教务活动，百姓们每年也大批涌到那里去献年祭。耶罗波安看到这种情况，害怕人心仍然归向大卫家族，对自己政权不利，就想在以色列境内重新制造一种宗教，形成一个新的宗教中心。他铸了两个金牛犊，对全国人民说："看哪，这就是领你们出埃及的神。你们每年到耶路撤冷去献祭，跋山涉水，实在太难了。以后你们就崇拜它们吧！" 他把金牛犊一只放在伯特利，一只放在但城，并分别修了两座大庙。果然大多数百姓就不再到耶路撒冷去了，他们每年要么到伯特利，要么到别是巴，给金牛献祭，耶罗波安为了便于控制，还把不属利未人的普通百姓立为祭司。他还规定每年8月15日为节日，每年这个时候，祭祀金牛犊的邱坛上都香烟镣绕，人流如注。 耶罗波安的行为激起了忠于耶和华教的群众的极大不满。有一个神人奉耶和华之命从犹大来到伯特利。耶罗波安正站在坛旁要烧香，神人奉耶和华的命令向坛呼叫，说：坛哪，坛哪！你必将破裂；灰呀，灰呀！你必将倾覆。 耶罗波安听见神人向伯特利的坛呼叫，就从坛上伸手，指着神人说："把他给我抓起来！" 话音未落，耶罗波安的手一下全枯干了，象木乃伊的手，再也不能弯回。接着，坛也破裂了，坛上的灰倾撒了。神人的诅咒完全应验了。耶罗波安赶忙去求那神人："求求你，向耶和华祈祷，使我的手复原吧！" 神人发了恻隐之心，为他祈祷，他的手才恢复了原样。耶罗波安感到十分惊奇，要请他吃饭："请你同我回去吃饭，加添心力，我也必给你赏赐。" 神人说："你就是把你的宫殿一半给我，我也不同你进去，也不在这地方吃饭喝水。"说完就从别的路回去了，而不是从原路回去。 当时在现场的有一个人，是伯特利的一个老先知的儿子，他看到所发生的一切，就回去告诉他父亲。他父亲就问："神人从那条路回去的呢？" "从东南方向的那条路走去了。" "你们为我备驴。" 仆人们就为他准备好驴，他骑着驴追上了那神人，问："你是从犹大来的神人，是不是？" "不敢当，在下就是。" "请你同我回家吃饭。" "遵照耶和华的命令，我不可在这里吃饭喝水，也不可从原路回去。" "我也是个先知；刚才，有天使奉耶和华的命令对我说：你去把那神人带回你的家，吃饭喝水。这不，我正是在耶和华的指引下才知道你来了，才找到了你。" 那神人信以为真，就跟那先知回家吃饭去了。吃喝完了，伯特利的那位先知为那神人备好驴，送他上路。耶和华因为神人违背了诫命，在伯特利地方吃饭喝水，就降罪给他，让狮子在路上拦住他，把他咬死。神人的尸体倒在路边上，他的驴就站在尸体旁边，狮子也站在尸体旁边。狮子却不咬那驴。 有过路的人看到这种情况，就回去告诉伯特利那位请神人吃饭的先知。先知闻讯赶来，为他收尸，把尸体驮回伯特利葬在自己的祖坟里，并告诉自己的儿于们："我死以后，也要和神人葬在一起。" 这是耶和华向北方人显示的神迹，要他们回心转意，专心事奉祖先的神，但耶罗波安仍然不以此为教训。他继续行耶和华眼中看为恶的事情。耶和华打算进一步惩罚他，不久他的儿子病了，想尽了一切办法就是医不好。耶罗波安就对他妻子说："你乔装打扮一番，不要让别人认出你是我妻子，到示罗去找鼓动我起来造反的先知亚希雅。他必告诉你应当怎么办。"妻子快要出门的时候，他又想起了什么，说："噢，别忘了带礼物去。带上这10个饼，几个簿饼和1瓶蜜。" 耶罗波安的妻子就这样到了示罗先知亚希雅的家。亚希雅年纪老迈，眼睛发直，视线模糊。但是那妇人刚一进门，他听见她的脚步声就说："耶罗波安的妻，进来吧。你为什么装扮成别的妇人呢？我奉神的差遣将凶事告诉你，你回去告诉耶罗波安说：耶和华以色列的神如此说：我从我民中高举你，立你作以色列的君，你却背叛我，去事奉别的神，我必降灾祸到你们家，将你家男丁除尽，如扫除粪一般。那死在城中的要被狗吃，死在田野里的，要被空中的飞鸟吃。"此时那妇人已经泪流满面，但老先知不管这些，也不想安慰她，用手指着门外接着说："你回去吧。你前脚迈进家门，儿子就要断气。" 耶罗波安的妻子刚进家门，她儿子就魂归九泉了。那时候南北两国经常打仗，为耶罗波安带兵打仗的人死了很多。耶罗波安作以色列王22年，就与他列祖同睡。他儿子拿答接续他作王。拿答在位两年，被大臣巴沙灭族篡位。后来巴沙的大臣心利又杀了巴沙的全家，篡了巴沙的位。再后来，心利又被暗利所杀……罗波安作犹大王的时候，也不行耶和华指定的正道。他的母亲叫拿玛，是亚扪人，罗波安就在各处高岗上，各青翠的松树下筑坛，立柱像和木偶，国内还有相公窑子，允许贵族们蓄娈童。在罗波安的孙子亚撒作犹大王期间，曾致力整顿，废除了偶像崇拜和娈童，但他为了打败以色列王巴沙，花重金聘请住在大马色的亚兰王哈达的后代便哈达攻入以色列国，占领了以云、但、亚伯伯玛迦、基尼烈全境、拿弗他利全境。罗波安王第五年，埃及人攻入了耶路撒冷，将耶和华殿和王宫里的宝物，尽都掳去，又夺去了所罗门制造的金盾牌。埃及退兵后，罗波安只好制造铜盾牌代替金盾牌，还不敢长期摆在殿里，只有在节日期间才拿出来，平时则藏在宫门卫队库中。 自罗波安和耶罗波安以后，两国的几代国王大多荒淫无道，王位更换频繁；外族人趁南北对立，相互攻击，两败俱伤之机，大举进犯，攻城掠地。显赫一时的大国渐渐衰败下去。（王上12一16） 众寡悬殊的较量 且说军机大臣暗利发动宫廷政变，把刚刚继承父王巴沙作以色列国君的以拉及其全家杀死，篡位当了国王，建立了以色列的第三个王朝。暗利倒是一个比较有能力的人，他在位时，剿平了国内的割据力量，使以色列没有被外邦人占领的地方统一起来；更重要的是，暗利另立新都，选中了能够俯瞰迦南所有通商道路的一块高地。天晴之日，由此可以看得见地中海边的骆驼商队。此外，居高临下地势险峻，进可攻退可守，简直是第二个耶路撒冷。暗利用两个他连得银子从犹大王撒玛手中购置了撒玛利亚山，在山上建造新兴的撒玛利亚城。暗利在外交上也很成功，与强邻亚述国和埃及关系不错。暗利为了搞好同西顿王耶巴力的关系，让他儿子亚哈娶了西顿王的公主耶洗别为妻。 暗利死后，亚哈即位，当政22年。亚哈王在王后西顿公主耶洗别的影响下背叛了耶和华，把信奉巴力神变成了国教。耶洗别是胖尼基神亚舍拉的狂热信徒，她在撒玛利亚为巴力建造了神殿，强迫百姓信奉巴力，不听命令的就残酷迫害。许多先知只好逃到深山老林里避难，一般百姓则勉强事奉巴力，以保全性命。这种情况下，最著名的先知以利亚对国王亚哈说："我指着永生的耶和华起誓，这几年我若不祷告，天就不会降露下雨。" 讲完这话，以利亚为了保护自己，也为了不与国王合作，就只身逃到约但可东边的大山里，在基立溪旁居住。耶和华派乌鸦每天早上给他叼去饼，晚上给他叼去肉，以利亚就喝基立溪的水，吃乌鸦送来的食物维持生命。后来，旱灾越来越严重，基立溪水也干了，以利亚无法再隐居住下去，只得回到尘世中来。他来到撒勒法城外，在城门口，见到一个寡妇在拾柴禾，以利亚就走过去跟她打招呼："大嫂。" "您好，尊敬的客人。有什么事需要我帮忙吗？" "求您用器皿取点水来给我喝。" 那寡妇带他回到家里，转身去取水，以利亚叫住她："大嫂，也求你拿点饼来给我吃。" 那寡妇面育难色："不怕您笑话，也不是我太抠门。我指着永生的耶和华起誓，我没有饼，坛内只有一把面，瓶里只有一点油；我刚才在那里拾柴，要回家要为我和我儿子做饼；我们吃了这点东西下顿饭就断炊了。" 以利亚对她说："不要怕，你去做饼吧，你做完饼，坛子里的面不会减少，瓶子里的油也不会短缺。这都是耶和华赐给你的。" 果然，以后的日子里，寡妇家里的面和油总是不减少，够母子俩吃饱，还可以供养以利亚。以利亚就在她家里住了很多日子。 后来那寡妇的儿子病了，病得很重，以致全身没有气息。寡烟怀疑是不是因为以利亚住在她家，使她违背了耶和华的律法，她儿子才生重病，她对以利亚抱怨说："神人哪，我与你有何瓜葛？你竟到我这里来，使我犯罪，现在上帝要把我的儿子收去了。" 以利亚就从寡妇怀中将孩子接过来，抱到他住的阁楼上，放在自己的床上。他三次伏在孩子身上，求告耶和华："耶和华我的神啊，求你使这孩子灵魂回到他的身体里来。" 耶和华应允了他的话，使灵魂重新回到孩子体内，慢慢活过来了。以利亚将孩子从楼上抱下来，进屋子交给孩子母亲，说："看哪，你的儿子活了。" 那寡妇激动他说："现在我完全相信你是神人了，你说的话都是耶和华要说的。" 过了许久，到了第三年，耶和华要以利亚出山，去见国王亚哈。那时，亚哈和他的家宰俄巴底正分头带着牲畜寻找有水有草的地方。俄巴底是耶和华的信徒，耶洗别杀耶和华先知的时候，俄巴底掩护了100多名先知，并拿食物供养他们。俄巴底在路上恰好与以利亚相遇，并认出了他。俄巴底俯伏于地，说："你是我主以利亚不是？" "正是在下。你是亚哈的家宰俄巴底吧？" "Exactly." "你去告诉你主人，说以利亚在这里。" "仆人有什么罪，你竟要将我交在亚哈手里，使他杀我呢？我家主人正打发人在全国各地和各个邻国抓你，现在我去报告他你在这里。他要是到这里来抓不到你，我就只有死路一条。" "我指着万军之那和华起誓，我今日必使亚哈见到我。" 俄巴底这才去报告亚哈，带他来见以利亚。亚哈见了以利亚就说："使以色列遭灾的就是你吗？" "不，不是我，而是你和你父家。因为你们离弃耶和华的诫命，去追随巴力、亚舍拉。我今天人让你们看看，谁的神更伟大。 你派人去召集以色列众人和事奉巴力的那450个先知，并耶洗别所供养事奉亚舍拉的那400个先知，使他们都上迦密山去见我。 " 以色列百姓听说以利亚要与巴力诸先知斗法，很多人都聚集到迦密山去了。以利亚站在众人面前发表演讲："父老乡亲们，你们这样首鼠两端，一会儿信奉耶和华，一会儿又事奉巴力，要到什么时候才完呢？" 人群中哑然无声。 "如果那和华是神，你们就要顺从耶和华；如果已力是神，当然，你们可以去事奉巴力。今天我要让大家看看，谁才是真正的神。是耶和华先知的站出来，不要怕。" 除了以利亚之外，没有一个人敢出来。 "没有人。只剩下我一个。是巴力先知的站出来--，嗯，还真不少，有多少？" "我们全来了，有450个。"巴力先知中有人回答。 "亚舍拉的先知呢，--没有来，一个也没有来。现在我们开始较量，我们都用一只牛犊作燔祭，不准点火，看谁的燔祭，能自动燃烧，就表明谁的神真正存在，因为他收走了凡间的贡品。" 巴力神的先知先表演，他们把一只牛杀了，砍成块，放在祭坛的柴上。然后开始念经，唱歌，跳舞，以致于用刀在身上砍，用针在身上扎。这样从早晨折腾到中午，邱坛上仍然是冰凉的一片，牛肉归牛肉，柴归柴。以利亚看着他们一个个疯疯颠颠的样子，忍不住笑出声来："加油啊，巴力的先知们，你们的神现在没准儿在沉思，在散步，在睡觉，没有听见你们的祷告。你们只有再使点劲才可以把他叫醒。" 那450个先知更起劲的狂呼乱叫，刀和针在身上刺满了伤口，血流在地上，也没有什么在天之灵理会他们。直到黄昏的时候，以利亚等得不耐烦了，就对围观的群众说："你们到我这边来。" 人们围拢在以利亚周围。以利亚用12块石头，代表以色列的12个支派，支起一个简单的祭坛，他在祭坛周围挖了一条深沟，在坛上摆上柴，把牛肉切成块放在柴上。做好了这一切，他吩咐身边的群众："你们用这4个桶盛水，往坛上浇。" 4个人分别提了4桶水来浇在坛上。 "每人再来1桶。" 于是有8桶水浇湿祭坛。 "再来。" 这样就共有三四一十二桶水浇在祭坛上面，水漫下坛，注满了坛下的沟。以利亚这才跪在坛前开始祈祷："耶和华以色列的神啊，您给这些愚顽的人显灵吧。" 顷刻问，耶和华降下天火，烧尽了燔祭、木柴，甚至石头、尘土都烧化了，还烧干了沟里的水。在场在百姓看到这个情景，就说："耶和华是神！" "耶和华才是真正的神啊！" 以利亚乘机号召："抓住这些巴力的先知，不要放走一个。"百姓一齐上前，围住那些巴力先知，把他们绑起来，带到基顺河边，统统杀光。 以利亚这才对一直在旁观看的国王亚哈说："现在你回去吃喝庆祝吧，因为今天晚上耶和华就要赐雨给以色列。" 当天晚上，以利亚回到迦密山顶，屈身在地，将脸伏在两膝之中，对刚刚才归随他的仆人说："你上去，向海观看。" 仆人上去观看，说："我没看到什么。" 过了一会儿，以利亚又说："再去看看。" "还是没有什么。" 这样一连7次，到第7次，仆人说："我看见有一小片云从海里飘来，还没有人的手掌大。" "你上去告诉亚哈，叫他套上马车回城去，免得被雨阻挡。" 霎时间，天空中乌云密布，大雨倾盆而下。（王上17一18） 拿伯的葡萄园 亚兰王便哈达一世聚集他的全军，率领32个同盟的国王，驾着战车，一路攻入以色列境内，甚至包围了首都撒玛利亚。便哈达差遣使者进城见亚哈，对他说："我王便哈达如此说：你的金银都要归我，你妻子儿子中最美的也要归我。，"亚哈为了保全性命和王位，委曲求全地回答说："我主我王啊，就依您的话，我与我所有的都归您。" 但是便哈达得寸进尺，第二天他又派使者进城对亚哈王说："我王如此说：光妻子儿女、金银还不行，我明天还要派人到你的家里和你仆人的家里，将你眼中一切喜爱的都拿去。，，以色列长者们听说便哈达反复无常，就去见他们的国王亚哈，说："不要听从他，也不要应允他。 " 亚哈就对便哈达的使者说："你们回去告诉我主我王说，他头一次向仆人要求的，仆人都依从；但这次要求的，我不能依从。" 使者回去报告时，便哈达和各参战国国王正在帐幕里喝酒，听见这话，就下令："集合队伍攻城！" 谁知，便哈达领导的联军队形还未摆开阵形，国王们的酒席也还未解散，亚哈王就率领精选的232名敢死队员和3000名精锐之师以迅雷不及掩耳之势杀出城外，冲散敌营，大砍大杀，一口气把数十倍于自己的敌军打退。 逃回大马色的便哈达还不死心，第二年又招兵买马再来攻打以色列，战争才打到第七天，亚兰就损兵折将共10万，其余的人逃入亚弗城，城墙倒塌，压死27000人。他们只好腰束麻布，头套绳索，出城去见亚哈王，说："我们投降，只求大王保留仆人的性命。" 亚哈说："只要你与我立约，我就放你回去。" 便哈达当然愿意。他与亚哈立约后，亚哈就放了他。亚哈放走了仇敌，有的先知诅咒他说："耶和华如此说，因你将我定要灭绝的人放去，你的命必代替他的命，你的民也必代替他的民。" 打了胜仗的亚哈王听了这话，就闷闷不乐地回到撒玛利亚，进了他的王宫。 这事以后，因国中太平，亚哈王便想扩建王宫。耶斯列人拿伯在耶斯列有一个葡萄园，靠近亚哈的王宫。亚哈王把拿伯召来，对他说："你的葡萄园靠近王宫，你将你的葡萄园给我作花园。我会给你更好的葡萄园，如果你要银子的话，我也会给你好价钱。" 拿伯回答说："我主我王，这是我祖传的一份产业，您给什么，我也不能换呐！" 亚哈王遭到拒绝，就闷闷不乐地回到寝宫，躺在床上，脸向内，也不吃饭。由于拿伯的死性子，他要修建一座美丽的御花园的愿望竟化为泡影。这时，阴险狡猾的王后那洗别对他说："国王，您是以色列一国之主，岂可因这点小事发愁。您尽管放心，高高兴兴地吃饭，我必让那耶斯列人把葡萄园乖乖地交出来。" 随后，她写一封密信给自己的心腹，说："您们当宣誓绝食，宴拿伯作民间的领袖，另外找两个无赖，给他些钱，让他们做见证说：拿伯造反，诽谤亵读了神和国王。随后就把他拉出去用石头打死。" 没有几天，拿伯就被陷害致死，他的葡萄园也就成了国王的花园。 王后的卑鄙行径在全国激起无声的愤怒，但谁也不敢公开伸张正义，只有先知以利亚接到耶和华的神谕，去见亚哈，指着他说："耶和华这样说：你谋财害命，夺了拿伯的葡萄园，狗在何处舔拿伯的血，也必在何处舔你的血。神还说：恶狗必在耶斯列城外把那洗别吃掉。"亚哈听见这话，就撕裂衣服，禁食，身穿麻布衣裳，走路也放慢脚步。耶和华看到亚哈真心仟悔，降旨给以利亚说："亚哈在我面前这样自卑，你看见了吗？他在我面前真心仟悔，他还在世的时候，我不降祸于他，但我要降祸给他的儿子。"（王上20一21） 亚哈王之死 亚哈王大败便哈达王以后，两国之间3年没有战争，但亚兰国背信弃义，撕毁和约，军队仍然占领着以色列城市拉未，到第三年，犹大王约沙法到以色列访问，谈起拉抹城，亚哈就说："拉抹是以色列的领土，亚兰人至今占着，不归还给我们。"他接着问约沙法，"您愿意同我去攻取拉未吗？" 约沙法说："我们本是一家，不分彼此。我的人民和您的人民一样；我的马匹与您的马匹相同。" "不过，"约沙法审慎他说，"这事还须求问耶和华。" 亚哈召来国内巴力先知400人，问道："我去攻打拉抹，情况怎样？" 众先知都异口同声他说："可以打这一仗，我主我王必胜。" 这时，约沙法想起一个叫米该雅的耶和华的先知，说："不是还有一个叫米该雅的耶和华先知住在这里吗？人们都说他金口玉牙，料事如神，我们可以叫他来问问。" 亚哈王说："嗅，我知道那人