11:1–12:33 Review · Divided heart, divided nation:It cannot be an accident that right after a lengthy description of Solomon’s stockpile of gold and horses, we are moved directly into the stage of the narrative commonly referred to as the king’s fall. In fact, “fall” might not be the most accurate term: in light of the warning signs throughout, we may have anticipated that the Solomonic enterprise would come crashing down before too long. Judgment is delayed—surely because of God’s forbearance—but the entire nation is implicated in Solomon’s apostasy.

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