(9) Brought . . . out of the land of Egypt.--This is appealed to here in exactly a converse sense to the mention of it in Solomon's prayer. There it was made the ground for pleading with the Lord for His continued favour (see 1Kings 8:51-53); here for His claim of the undivided allegiance of the people, for it marked His new "covenant" with the people, now become a nation (see Jeremiah 31:32), and therefore involved (as in all covenants) reciprocal claims. Afterwards the deliverance from Babylon was to take its place, both as a proof of God's love and a motive for the loyal obedience of the people (Jeremiah 16:14-15; Jeremiah 23:7-8).

Verse 9. - And they shall answer, Because they forsook the Lord their God who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt [Based on Deuteronomy 29:25. Solomon in his prayer referred repeatedly to this great deliverance, vers. 16, 21, 51, 53], and have taken hold upon other gods and have worshipped them and served them; therefore hath the Lord brought upon them all this evil.

CHAPTER 9:10-28. SOLOMON'S BUILDINGS AND UNDERTAKINGS. - So far the historian has spoken exclusively of the two greatest works of Solomon's reign, the Temple and the Palace, and principally of the former. Even the message just related was, as we have seen, the response to the prayer offered when the temple was consecrated. But he now proceeds to mention other proofs of Solomon's greatness, and of the prosperity of his reign - doubtless because the glory of Israel then reached its climax, and the author would be tempted to linger over these details because of the dark contrast which his own time supplied - and this leads him to speak of the means by which all these enterprises were accomplished. The particulars here given are but fragmentary, and are grouped together in a somewhat irregular manner. It would seem as if both this account and that of the chronicler had been compiled from much more copious histories, each writer having cited those particulars which appeared to him to be the most interesting and important. But the design of the historian in either case is evident, viz.,

(1) to recount the principal undertakings of this illustrious king, and

(2) to indicate the resources which enabled him to accomplish such ambitious and extensive designs. These latter were

(1) the alliance with Hiram, which secured him the necessary materials (vers. 11-14);

(2) the forced labour of the subject races (vers. 20-23); and

(3) the voyages of his fleet (vers. 26-28).

9:1-9 God warned Solomon, now he had newly built and dedicated the temple, that he and his people might not be high-minded, but fear. After all the services we can perform, we stand upon the same terms with the Lord as before. Nothing can purchase for us liberty to sin, nor would the true believer desire such a licence. He would rather be chastened of the Lord, than be allowed to go on with ease and prosperity in sin.And they shall answer,.... Who were left in the land when others were carried captive, as were some by Nebuchadnezzar, and who were capable of making the following answer:

because they forsook the Lord; the worship of the Lord their God, as the Targum:

who brought forth their fathers out of the land Egypt; which is observed as an aggravation of their sin:

and have taken hold upon other gods: the gods of the people, as the Targum; of the Gentiles, who knew not the true God:

and have worshipped them, and served them: even idols of gold and silver, wood and stone; an instance of judicial blindness they were left unto, who had been favoured with a revelation from God:

therefore hath the Lord brought upon them all this evil; their idolatry was the cause of it, than which nothing is more provoking to God.