CHAPTER X. 441 the government ? A. The building of some expensive palaces for Pharaoh's daughter, who was his queen, and the raising heady taxes for that and other buildings ; 1 Kings xi. 24. and xi. 27. and xii. 4. Note, Jeroboam doth not appear to charge Solomon with promoting idolatry, or with breaking the laws of God in divine worship; for he himself did so afterward when he was king of Israel, which was a high provocation in the eyes of God both in Solomon and Jeroboam. 16. Q. And how far did God encourage Jeroboam in this opposition to Solomon ? A. Ahijah the prophet being sent of God, caught hold of Jeroboam's garment when he met him in the field, and rent intò twelve pieces, and gave ten of them to Jeroboam ; 1 Kings xi. 29-39. 17. Q. What was the meaning of this ? A. The prophet told him, that God had given him ten of the tribes of Israel, and had left the posterity of Solómon two tribes, that is Judah and Benjamin, which were afterward united into one under the name of Jews; 1 Kings xi. 31. and xii. 20, 21. and 2 Chron. xi. 12. 18. Q. Was this fulfilled in Solomon's days? A. No; for it pleased God to withhold these calamities from the house of Solomon till the days of his son ; Verse 23. 19. Q. Did Solomon ever repent of his sins that provoked the anger of God against bim ? A. It is g:nerally supposed that the book of Ecclesiastes is a sort of proof that Solomon re- pented, because he there describes the vanity of every labour and every enjoyment under the sun, and sums up all in the fear of God, and keeping his commandments, as the whole duty, and chief interest of man ; Lc. i. and ii. and xii. 13, 14. 20. Q. How long did king Solomon reign ? A. Forty years ; and though he had such a shameful number of wives and concubines, yet he left but one son behind him, whose name was Rehoboam, to succeed hid; in the kingdom of Israel ; 1 Kings xi. 3, 43. 21. Q. What was the character of Rehoboam ? A. Though Solomon had written so many excellent lessons of morality and piety for his son in the hook of Proverbs, and given hire so many warnings, yet he followed evil courses ; and Solomon him- self seems to intimate it in the book of Ecclesiastes ; Chap. ii. 19. " Who knoweth whether his son will be a wise man or a fool ?" 22. "Q. What further occasion did Rehoboam give for the revolt of the tribes of Israel from him ? A. Upon the death of his father, and his accession to the throne, he despised the coon sel of old men, and hearkened to the advice of rash young men, he threatened the nation of Israel to make their yoke heavier than hisfather had.clone ; that is to lay heavier taxes upon them 1 Kings xii. 8 -15, VOL. Y. F S
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