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SOLOMON’S SON WAS REHOBOAM

Boyce Mouton · 4 pages · 1,543 words

SOLOMON’S SON WAS REHOBOAM (1 Chron. 3:10)

While it cannot be proven conclusively, it is my personal opinion that Solomon had only one son. This son, Rehoboam is first mentioned in 1 Chron. 3:10. Two daughters are mentioned in 1 Kings 4:11 and 1 Ki 4:15. One daughter was named Taphath, and the other was Basemath. Besides these three children, the Bible tells us of no other children born to King Solomon.

In the passage before us we find that six sons were born to David during the 7 years and 6 months he ruled in Hebron. Then other children are listed that were born to him during the 33 years he reigned in Jerusalem (1 Chron. 3:1 - 9).

The next verse tells us that Solomon’s son was Rehomoam!

Hebrew men were proud of their sons:

Gideon has 70 sons (Judges 8:30).

Ahab had 70 sons (2 Ki. 10:6).

Rehoboam himself had 18 wives, 60 concubines, 28 sons, and 60 daughters (2 Chron. 11:21). #

Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Ki. 11:3), but only one son is mentioned in the Bible.

God made a promise to David that one of his descendants would always be upon his throne (2 Sam. 7:12 - 15). This is called the “Sure mercies of David” in Is. 55:3 KJV). For this promise of God to be true, Solomon had to have at least one son to sit upon the throne. He did!

Solomon’s son was Rehoboam!

The word “sons” is found over 1,100 times in the Bible. Here are a few of the men whom the Bible tells us had sons: Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methusalah, Lamech, etc. etc. etc. In the verses in 1 Chronicles leading up to 1 Chron. 3:10 the word “sons” is used over 60 times. The plural use, however, is never used with reference to Solomon. We are only told that:

Solomon’s son was Rehoboam!

It was a common practice to give statistics about the children of kings.

King Saul had 5 sons and 2 daughters (1 Sam. 14:49).

King David had 19 sons and 1 daughter that are named in the Bible. He also had at least 7 wives and many concubines. We do not know total number of his children.

King Solomon had 700 wives, 300 concubines, but only 1 son and 2 daughters are mentioned in the Bible.

Rehoboam had 18 wives, 60 concubines, 28 sons, and 60 daughters (2 Chron. 11:21).

Abijah, the son of Rehoboam had 14 wives, 22 sons, and 16 daughters (2 Chron. 13:21). #

Even the children of common men are sometimes mentioned in the Bible. Ulam, for example had 150 sons and grandsons (1 Chron. 8:40).

If Solomon had more than one son it seems that the Bible would have mentioned it.

REHOBOAM

As we have already stated, Rehoboam was the son of Solomon who succeeded him as king. #

Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah, an Ammonite (2 Chron. 12:13).

He was 41 years old when he began to reign (2 Chron. 12:13). Note that there was no controversy about who would succeed Solomon as there was after the death of King David. #

Rehoboam was conceived the year before Solomon became king. We know this because Solomon reigned 40 years (1 Ki. 11:42) and Rehoboam was 41 when he became king (1 Ki. 14:21).

The name Rehoboam means “he enlarges the people”.

David was old and near death when Solomon got married, had a son. It appears that he named his son Rehoboam in anticipation of a large family.

Apparently Solomon’s dreams of a large family never came true.

Studying about Solomon may help us to be true to God even when our dreams do not come true.

SOLOMON’S MANY WIVES

Powerful rulers have harems for a variety of reasons. Perhaps many wives project an image of wealth and power. Sometimes foreign wives are married for political and economic reasons. Then there is the obvious fact that many women help to satiate sexual desires. #

In the case of Solomon, however, it is possible that his many wives resulted in part from his inability to have a son.

If he named Rehoboam in anticipation of a large family, he may have blamed his failure to have children on his wife. This may be one reason why he got another wife, then another, then another, etc.

The suggestion that Solomon did have many children but offered them as sacrifices to pagan gods is not credible to me. If this were true, it is difficult to explain why the Bible does not mention it.

We are told that Ahaz sacrificed his son in the fire (2 Ki 16:2, 3).

In the days of Hoshea they sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire (2 Ki 17:17). #

Manasseh sacrificed his sons in the fire (2 Chron. 33:6).

But there is no Biblical record that Solomon did.

If Solomon sacrificed one son or daughter in the fire surely the inspired historians

would have told us so.

The idea that he sacrificed hundreds of children in the fire without the Bible

mentioning it defies reason.

PSALM 127

In 1 Ki. 4:32 we are told that Solomon wrote 1,005 songs. Only three have been preserved in the Bible, Ps. 72, and Ps. 127, and the book Song of Solomon.

Here is the 127th Psalm for your consideration:

“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.” (Psalm 127:1-5 KJV)

Think about it!

Abraham didn’t have children until God intervened (Gen. 15:1 - 6).
Abimelech couldn’t have children until God intervened (Gen. 20:17).
Isaac didn’t have a son until the Lord intervened (Gen. 25:21).

Moses revealed that God had the power to prevent barrenness in men women and cattle (Deut.7:14).

Manoah had no children until God intervened (Jud. 13;2, 3).
Hannah was barren until God intervened (1 Sam. 1:17).
The Shunammite woman was barren until God intervened (1 Ki. 4:14 - 17).
Etc.

IT APPARENTLY FINALLY DAWNED ON SOLOMON THAT UNLESS GOD PUTS LIFE IN THE WOMB ALL OF HIS EFFORTS WERE IN VAIN!

Getting up early doesn’t help.
Staying up late doesn’t help.
Those who completely surrender to the will of God, however, sleep well.
Children are a heritage of the Lord.
They are like arrows in the hand of a mighty hunter, like the children of his youth.
Happy is the man with a full quiver.
He will not be ashamed and will appear with honor at the gate.

IT IS A SAD COMMENTARY ON THE FATHERHOOD OF SOLOMON THAT HIS SON REHOBOAM DID EVIL BECAUSE HE HAD NOT SET HIS HEART ON SEEKING THE LORD (1 CHRON. 12:14).

CONCLUSION

The original sin took place in heaven when Lucifer rebelled against God. Lucifer decided to do his own will, not the will of God (Is. 14:12 - 15). Please do not allow the devil to cause you to think this way!

The perfect life of Jesus is epitomized by His prayer in Gethsemane - “Not my will but Thine be done” (Lk. 22:42). In this regard Jesus left us an example that we should follow in His steps. We should also pray “Not my will but Thine be done”!

Solomon lost sight of his obligation to God. Centuries before Solomon was born Moses forbade the future king of Israel to do 3 things: (1) - multiply horses (2) multiply wives (3) multiply to himself silver and gold (Deut. 17:15 - 17). Unfortunately, Solomon did all three.

Solomon was right, however, when it finally dawned upon him that “Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it:”

Remember! The clay does not have power over the potter, it’s the other way around. Therefore, whatever we do, we must do in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks unto God and the Father through Him (Col. 3:17).

That’s why we should always make our plans based upon what the Lord wants us to do (Ja. 4:15).

Finally, if God grants you the privilege of having children, remember that they are like arrows in the hand of a mighty hunter. Please point them in the right direction!

This article was written by Boyce Mouton. No rights are reserved! You are free to use it in whole or in part for the glory of Christ, and the advancement of His Kingdom.