Solomon’s Apostasy: While stopping short of questioning his basic commitment, and certainly allowing that he was blessed by God in a tremendous way, our authors have hinted throughout 1 Kings 1–10 that all is not well with Solomon’s heart (e.g., 3:1–3; 4:26, 28; 5:14; 6:38–7:1). The prayer of 8:22–53 and God’s response in 9:1–9 have, however, made clear both the importance of keeping the law and the consequences of disobedience; read in this context, 9:10–10:29 have sounded ominously like the climbing of the mountain just before the fall. That fall is now reported as the authors, returning to the marriage/worship theme of 3:1–3, come out in open critique of Solomon and describe the inevitable consequences of all that has gone before. His sins have found him out, and they have led him to ap…