Glory under a Cloud: It was Solomon’s rule over the surrounding kingdoms, combined with his status in the world in general (4:21–34), that put him in a position to be able to plan, build, and dedicate the temple (5:1–8:66). First Kings 9:10–10:29 brings us back to consider the glory of this empire. It is glory that must now be seen with respect to 8:22–53 and 9:1–9. It is therefore glory under a cloud, destined to fade away.

This of itself would affect our view of what we read in 9:10–10:29, even if we were to find here only repetition of the material of chapters 4–5. It is not, however, merely the new context in which Solomon’s glory is described that lends the account in 9:10–10:29 its air of impending doom. It is also the way the account itself is written. Themes from chapters 4–5 are pi…