What role did Hadad and Rezon play in God's judgment against Solomon? Setting the Stage: Why Judgment Came • 1 Kings 11:1–10 records Solomon’s drift into idolatry through foreign wives. • 1 Kings 11:11–13: “So the LORD said to Solomon, ‘Since you have done this… I will surely tear the kingdom away from you.’ ” • The tearing would unfold gradually; Hadad and Rezon were part of that process. Hadad the Edomite: A Thorn from the South • 1 Kings 11:14: “Then the LORD raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite.” • Background (vv. 15–22) – Joab had slaughtered Edomite males; young Hadad escaped to Egypt. – Pharaoh favored him, giving him refuge and marriage into the royal family. • Role in judgment – Returned to Edom once Solomon’s reign felt vulnerable. – Stirred local resistance, weakening Israel’s southern security. – Fulfilled God’s purpose: an external irritant reminding Solomon of covenant breach (compare Deuteronomy 28:25). Rezon son of Eliada: Trouble from the North • 1 Kings 11:23: “God raised up Rezon son of Eliada… an adversary against Solomon.” • Background (vv. 23–24) – Former servant of Hadadezer of Zobah. – Gathered bandits, seized Damascus, became king over Aram (Syria). • Verse 25 focus: “Rezon was Israel’s enemy throughout the days of Solomon, adding to the trouble caused by Hadad.” • Role in judgment – Controlled key trade routes (Damascus—international caravans), draining Solomon’s revenue. – Kept military pressure on Israel’s northern border, limiting expansion. – Expressed “hatred for Israel” (v. 25), mirroring God’s displeasure with Solomon’s idolatry (Exodus 20:3). God’s Sovereign Hand in Raising Adversaries • Twice the text states “the LORD raised up” (vv. 14, 23)—divine initiative. • Echoes earlier patterns: – Judges 2:14 “He sold them into the hands of their enemies” when Israel forsook Him. – 2 Samuel 12:11 “I will raise up evil against you” after David’s sin. • Hadad and Rezon were not random rebels; they were instruments executing covenant consequences (Leviticus 26:17). Key Takeaways • Sin forfeits peace: Solomon’s idolatry cracked the protective hedge around Israel (Proverbs 14:34). • God disciplines through circumstances and people—even pagan rulers (Isaiah 10:5–6). • Partial judgment now, fuller judgment later: the kingdom would split under Rehoboam (1 Kings 12), but the seeds were planted in Solomon’s day through Hadad and Rezon. |
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