1 Kings 14:26 Study Bible: and he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

◄ 1 Kings 14:26 ►

He seized the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields that Solomon had made.

Study Bible

He seized the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the royal palace.
This phrase refers to the actions of King Shishak of Egypt, who invaded Jerusalem during the reign of Rehoboam, Solomon's son. The "house of the LORD" is the temple Solomon built, a central place of worship for Israel, symbolizing God's presence among His people. The "royal palace" refers to the king's residence, which was also constructed by Solomon. The seizing of treasures indicates a significant loss of wealth and divine favor, as these treasures were not only material wealth but also held religious significance. This event fulfills the prophecy given to Solomon that if Israel turned away from God, they would face consequences (1 Kings 9:6-9). The loss of these treasures symbolizes the spiritual decline of the nation under Rehoboam's leadership.

He took everything,
The phrase "He took everything" emphasizes the totality of the plunder. This was not a partial loss but a complete stripping of the wealth that had been accumulated during Solomon's prosperous reign. It highlights the vulnerability of Judah when they turned away from God's commandments. This act of taking everything can be seen as a divine judgment, as the wealth that was meant to honor God was now in the hands of a foreign power. This serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the fleeting nature of earthly riches.

including all the gold shields that Solomon had made.
The gold shields were part of Solomon's extensive building projects and symbolized the kingdom's wealth and strength. They were used in ceremonial processions and displayed in the House of the Forest of Lebanon (1 Kings 10:16-17). The loss of these shields represents not only a material loss but also a loss of national pride and security. The shields, made of gold, were a testament to Solomon's wisdom and God's blessing during his reign. Their capture by Shishak signifies the end of an era of prosperity and the beginning of a period of decline. This event foreshadows the eventual downfall of both the northern and southern kingdoms due to their continued disobedience to God.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Shishak, King of Egypt
The Pharaoh who invaded Jerusalem during the reign of Rehoboam, taking away the treasures of the temple and the royal palace.

2. Rehoboam
The son of Solomon and king of Judah, whose reign saw the division of the united kingdom and the subsequent invasion by Shishak.

3. Jerusalem
The capital city of Judah, where the temple and the royal palace were located, and which was plundered by Shishak.

4. The House of the LORD
Refers to the temple in Jerusalem, a central place of worship for the Israelites, built by Solomon.

5. The Royal Palace
The residence of the king, which housed significant wealth and treasures.

Teaching Points

The Consequences of Disobedience
Rehoboam's failure to follow God's commandments led to the loss of divine protection and the plundering of Jerusalem. This serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God.

The Fleeting Nature of Earthly Wealth
The treasures of the temple and palace, once symbols of Israel's prosperity, were easily taken away. This teaches us to prioritize spiritual wealth over material possessions.

Leadership and Responsibility
Rehoboam's poor leadership resulted in national calamity. Leaders are called to seek God's wisdom and guidance to avoid leading others into disaster.

God's Sovereignty in Judgment
The invasion by Shishak was not merely a political event but a fulfillment of God's warnings. It underscores God's control over nations and His use of events to accomplish His purposes.

Repentance and Restoration
Although not detailed in this verse, the broader account encourages turning back to God in times of trouble, as He is merciful and willing to restore those who repent.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the account of Shishak's invasion in 1 Kings 14:26 illustrate the consequences of turning away from God? Can you identify similar patterns in other biblical accounts?

2. In what ways does the loss of the gold shields symbolize the spiritual decline of Israel under Rehoboam's leadership? How can we guard against spiritual decline in our own lives?

3. Compare the plundering of Jerusalem by Shishak with the Israelites' plundering of Egypt in Exodus. What lessons can we learn about God's justice and the reversal of fortunes?

4. Reflect on the importance of godly leadership as seen in the contrast between Solomon's and Rehoboam's reigns. How can we apply these lessons in our roles of influence today?

5. Considering the fleeting nature of earthly wealth, how can we better invest in spiritual treasures that are eternal? What scriptures support this perspective?

Connections to Other Scriptures

2 Chronicles 12:9
This passage provides a parallel account of Shishak's invasion, offering additional details about the event.

1 Kings 10:16-17
Describes the original creation of the gold shields by Solomon, highlighting the wealth and splendor of his reign.

Exodus 12:35-36
The Israelites plundering the Egyptians during the Exodus contrasts with the plundering of Jerusalem by Shishak, showing a reversal of fortunes.

Deuteronomy 28:49-52
This passage outlines the curses for disobedience, including foreign invasion and loss of wealth, which is exemplified in Rehoboam's reign.

Sermons

Unfaithfulness and its Rebuke	J. Urquhart	1 Kings 14:21-31
The Entailments of Sin	J.A. Macdonald	1 Kings 14:25-31

People

Abijah, Abijam, Ahijah, David, Israelites, Jeroboam, Naamah, Nadab, Rehoboam, Shishak, Sodomites, Solomon, Tirzah

Places

Bethel, Egypt, Euphrates River, Jerusalem, Shiloh, Tirzah

Topics

Body-covers, Gold, Including, King's, Palace, Royal, Shields, Solomon, Stored, Taketh, Taking, Temple, Treasures, Wealth, Yea

Dictionary of Bible Themes

1 Kings 14:26

7245 Judah, kingdom of

Library

Synopsis. --The Gradual Narrowing of the Miraculous Element in the Bible by Recent Discovery and Discussion. --The Alarm Thereby Excited in the Church. --The Fallacy Which
It is barely forty years since that beloved and fearless Christian scholar, Dean Stanley, spoke thus of the miracles recorded of the prophet Elisha: "His works stand alone in the Bible in their likeness to the acts of mediaeval saints. There alone in the Sacred History the gulf between Biblical and Ecclesiastical miracles almost disappears."[5] It required some courage to say as much as this then, while the storm of persecution was raging against Bishop Colenso for his critical work on the Pentateuch. …
James Morris Whiton—Miracles and Supernatural Religion

Jeroboam
BY REV. ALFRED ROWLAND, D.D., LL.B. "Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin."--1 KINGS xiv. 16. Jeroboam's character is worthy of serious study, not only because it influenced the destiny of God's ancient people, but because it suggests lessons of the utmost value to His people still. He may be fairly regarded as a type of those who are successful men of the world. He was not an example of piety, for he had none--nor of lofty principle, for he was an opportunist who made expediency …
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

Whether Contention is a Mortal Sin?
Objection 1: It would seem that contention is not a mortal sin. For there is no mortal sin in spiritual men: and yet contention is to be found in them, according to Lk. 22:24: "And there was also a strife amongst" the disciples of Jesus, "which of them should . . . be the greatest." Therefore contention is not a mortal sin. Objection 2: Further, no well disposed man should be pleased that his neighbor commit a mortal sin. But the Apostle says (Phil. 1:17): "Some out of contention preach Christ," …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Divination by Drawing Lots is Unlawful?
Objection 1: It would seem that divination by drawing lots is not unlawful, because a gloss of Augustine on Ps. 30:16, "My lots are in Thy hands," says: "It is not wrong to cast lots, for it is a means of ascertaining the divine will when a man is in doubt." Objection 2: There is, seemingly, nothing unlawful in the observances which the Scriptures relate as being practiced by holy men. Now both in the Old and in the New Testament we find holy men practicing the casting of lots. For it is related …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Whole Heart
LET me give the principal passages in which the words "the whole heart," "all the heart," are used. A careful study of them will show how wholehearted love and service is what God has always asked, because He can, in the very nature of things, ask nothing less. The prayerful and believing acceptance of the words will waken the assurance that such wholehearted love and service is exactly the blessing the New Covenant was meant to make possible. That assurance will prepare us for turning to the Omnipotence …
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:12). In our last chapter we considered at some length the much debated and difficult question of the human will. We have shown that the will of the natural man is neither Sovereign nor free but, instead, a servant and slave. We have argued that a right conception of the sinner's will-its servitude-is essential to a just estimate of his depravity and ruin. The utter corruption and degradation of human nature is something which …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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