Exhortation, September 5

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:41 pm By Peter Leithart

With the Presidential election only two months away, we are entering into an intense political season. As we enter into this final stretch, we should take a moment to consider some guidelines for our political activity. Fortunately, we are in the middle of studying a book called the book of ?Kings,?Ewhich, among many other things, is largely concerned with Israel?s political history. From today?s text in particular, I want to pull a couple of basic reminders about Christian political activity.... Read more

Eucharistic Meditation, September 5

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:39 pm By Peter Leithart

1 Kings 4:21-24 As we saw in today?s sermon, the center of Solomon?s kingdom was the feast, the feast of joy. Solomon organized the kingdom, divided the kingdom into districts, selected men to manage and administer these regions. He had a cabinet, and there is no doubt that his kingdom was a model of efficiency, an efficiency that, by the Queen of Sheba?s testimony, was like a beautifully choreographed dance. All this was true. But the center of Solomon?s kingdom,... Read more

Numbering Solomon’s Wisdom, 1 Kings 4:29-34

Last updated on: September 4, 2004 at 2:12 pm By Peter Leithart

The hymn in praise of Solomon’s wisdom at the end of 1 Kings 4 makes a number of points. First, Solomon?s wisdom is rooted in his ?heart?E(v. 29), which has the discernment that the Lord had promised him. Second, Solomon?s wisdom matches the breadth of his kingdom. He had asked for wisdom because he thought himself incapable of ruling the ?vast people?Eover which Yahweh had made him king. Now, he is said to have a vastness of heart that matches... Read more

Numbering Solomon’s Wisdom, 1 Kings 4:29-34

Last updated on: September 7, 2017 at 12:09 am By Peter Leithart

Temple and Land

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:56 pm By Peter Leithart

At a number of points, the names of the deputies or the place names listed in 1 Ki 4:7-19 are linked with terms that are used in the temple narratives in 1 Kings 6-8. Elonbeth-hanan, or Elon Beth-hanan, uses a form of EYL, one form of which means ?gatepost?E(1 Ki 6:31). Arubboth, the name of the location of ?Ben-hesed?Emeans ?chimney?Eor ?window?E(v. 10). Baana ben-Hushai is in ?Bealoth?E(v. 16). It is possible that the place name is ?Aloth,?Eand the ?b-?Eis an... Read more

Barth on Sacraments

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 10:47 pm By Peter Leithart

I started this article some time ago, and will never be able to finish it off. It may be of some use in its present form, however. Justification and sacramental theology were the chief doctrinal issues in the division between Roman Catholicism and the Reformers at the time of the Reformation, and divisions remain within the church concerning these doctrines. Within sacramental theology, no issue has been so divisive as the doctrine of the real presence of Christ in the... Read more

Abrahamic Prostitute

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm By Peter Leithart

The real mother in 1 Kings 3 displays a sort of Abrahamic quality: She is willing to give up her son, her only son, the son she loves, in hopes of saving him. And she gets back more than she hoped: She not only saves his life, but heads home holding her baby, just as Abraham received Isaac back from the dead. Solomon plays the role of both Abraham (holding the sword) and the intervening angel (who stops the sacrifice).... Read more

Israel in James 3:12?

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:45 pm By Peter Leithart

James condemns those who use tongues for blessing and cursing ?Eblessing God, and cursing men made in the image of God. Among the images he uses to express this is the image of the tree and fruit. Fig trees cannot product olives, nor vines produce figs (3:12). In many passages, the vine and fig tree are associated with Israel, especially Israel during her Solomonic splendor (1 Ki 4; Mic 4:4; Zech 3:10); when the prophets talk about the withering of... Read more

Formless and Empty

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:42 pm By Peter Leithart

Based on 1 Kings 3:1-3, Solomon is often criticized by commentators for a) worshiping at high places and b) failing to get the temple, palace, and city wall completed in a timely fashion. I have defended Solomon’s worship at the high places on a couple of grounds: High places are legitimate places of worship when the central sanctuary is not functioning; Gibeon, the specific high place where Solomon worshiped, was the location of the Mosaic tabernacle (2 Chr 1:3); and... Read more

Translation, 1 Kings 4-5

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 11:51 pm By Peter Leithart

Another wooden, overly literal translation. And it was the King Shlomoh [was] king over all Yisrael Now these the captains which [were] to him: Azaryahu, son of Zadoq the priest Eliychoref and Achiyah, sons of Shiysha, scribes. Yehoshaphat son of Achiylud the chronicler (“keeper of memories”) And Benayahu the son of Yehoyada over the hosts. And Zadoq And Abiathar, priests. And Azaryahu, son of Nathan, over the foremen (“the stationed ones”). And Zabud son of Nathan the priest friend of... Read more