The glory of the kingdom of Israel was in its height and perfection in Solomon; it was long in coming to it, but it soon declined, and began to sink and wither in the very next reign, as we find in this chapter, where we have the kingdom divided, and thereby weakened and made little in comparison…

Solomon had 1000 wives and concubines, yet we read but of one son he had to bear up his name, and he a fool. It is said , They shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase. Sin is a bad way of building up a family.

We have here the rending of the kingdom of the ten tribes from the house of David, to effect which, I. The people were hold and resolute in their revolt.

We have here the beginning of the reign of Jeroboam. He built Shechem first and then Penuel—beautified and fortified them, and probably had a palace in each of them for himself , the former in Ephraim, the latter in Gad, on the other side Jordan.