提要
不僅所有的諸王都想聽所羅門的智慧，而且有一位女王也是如此。這位有名的示巴女王，可能由阿拉伯半島，隨著旅行商隊長途跋涉來到耶路撒冷。她所看到所聽見的一切，都使她感到十分詫異，遠超她所能想像的。歷代志中蘊含了這個故事，為了表明所羅門的智慧和財富皆來自上帝的賜福（王上10的註釋，有更多的細節可參）。
為進一步表達所羅門的榮華，受靈感的寫作者特別詳細敘述了所羅門的財富，說到金盾、巨大的象牙王座、黃金的飲水器皿，和他所得到的許多馬匹、車輛。在所羅門統治期間，上帝應許亞伯拉罕關於他國土疆界的話語，全應驗了(9:26；創15:18）。無疑地，寫歷代志者放入這些訊息，以此鼓勵當時代被擄回歸的子民，要順從上帝，以誠信事奉祂；那麼，祂就會再一次賜福以色列。
列王紀上有許多細節，歷代志都省略了。例如：我們讀不到所羅門的許多外籍妻子在耶路撒冷四周廣置偶像廟，以致墮落（王上11:1~7）。我們也讀不到耶羅波安的詳情細節（在王上11:26~40可找到），從那裡我們知道他已被上帝所派治理北方各族，並因為所羅門想要殺他，他逃到埃及去了（10:2）。撰者沒有記下這些訊息，因為他只交代上帝對猶大國歷史計劃中的有關部分。至於北王國（以色列）的歷史，除了和猶大國（南邊的王國）有所關聯者外，一律不提。所羅門的失敗，也隻字未提，原因是，這只關於個人的事，並沒有因而改變上帝對祂子民的計畫。
在第十章，王國在所羅門的兒子羅波安統治時分成二國，是出於上帝的旨意，就更明顯了（10:15）。所羅門的諸罪造成了這一分裂。（王上12章的註釋，有一些增補的資料）。在上帝的主宰下，祂把比較忠信的猶大國，與變節的北方諸族分開了。
所羅門死了以後羅波安到了北方各族的中心──示劍（離耶路撒冷北邊五十公里），接受他們聯盟的要求，當時耶羅波安，這位受歡迎的民間領袖出來迎接他。羅波安不採納過去所羅門手下年長謀士的智慧建言。反之，他愚蠢地聽了同儕的蠢計，要他不僅鄙視人民的減稅要求，反要使他們背負比他父親時代更重的負荷。如果所羅門用鞭子責打他們，他要用蠍子鞭責打他們（10:11、14）。
這是以色列歷史的一個轉捩點，並從此分裂。此一結果，完全是由於上帝選民的不信和犯罪帶來的。結果，他們的罪造成流亡──正是所羅門在他禱告中所提的情形（6:36~39）；但是上帝既應允傾聽他們的禱告，就必會領回那些悔改並求告祂名的人。上帝是信實的，甚至差祂的獨生子來解救他們，但他們卻拒絕了祂；只有一些殘存的餘民保持信仰。凡信耶穌的，不管他是那一國人，「祂就賜他們權柄，作上帝的兒女。」（約1:11~13）
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Overview
Not only did all the kings seek to hear Solomon's wisdom, but a certain queen did also. This famous queen of Sheba probably came from the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula (modern-day Yemen) and traveled by caravan to Jerusalem. She was amazed by all she saw and heard; it was more than she expected. The chronicler includes this story to illustrate the wisdom and wealth of Solomon as a result of God's blessing (the commentary on 1 Kings 10 gives more details).
To further express Solomon's splendour, the inspired writer described Solomon's wealth with specific details, telling of the gold shields, the great ivory throne, the gold drinking vessels, and the many horses and chariots he had acquired. During Solomon's reign, God's promise to Abraham concerning the boundaries of the land was fulfilled (9:26; Genesis 15:18). No doubt the chronicler included this information to encourage the returned exiles of his day to obey God and serve Him faithfully, that He might bless Israel once again.
Much detail found in 1 Kings is omitted by the chronicler. For example, we do not read of Solomon's many foreign wives who contributed to his downfall by having him build idolatrous shrines around Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:1-7). Nor do we read the details about Jeroboam (found in 1 Kings 11:26-40), where we learn he had been anointed of God to rule the northern tribes; and because Solomon attempted to kill him, he fled to Egypt (10:2). The writer does not include this information because he is giving history as it relates to the plan of God for Judah. The history of the northern kingdom (Israel) is not mentioned unless it is in connection with Judah (the southern kingdom). The failures of Solomon are not mentioned, just as the failures of his father David were not mentioned, since they were more personal and did not change God's plan for His people.
In chapter ten, it is made clear that the division of the kingdom under Solomon's son Rehoboam was the plan of God (10:15). The sins of Solomon contributed to this split. We are given here the background of how it came about (the commentary on 1 Kings 12 gives some additional information). God sovereignly separated the more faithful tribe of Judah from the apostate northern tribes.
When Rehoboam had gone to Shechem, a centre for the northern tribes (about fifty kilometers north of Jerusalem), to receive their pledge of allegiance after Solomon had died, he was met by Jeroboam, the popular leader. Rehoboam did not heed the wise counsel of the elders who had served under Solomon as advisors. Rather, he foolishly listened to his peers, who advised him not only to despise the people's request for less taxes but make their burden even heavier than had his father. If Solomon used whips to cause the submission of his subjects, Rehoboam said he would use scourges, which are whips inlaid with pieces of sharp metal (10:11, 14).
This was a turning point in the history of Israel, which was henceforth divided, and this all resulted from unbelief and sin among God's chosen people. Eventually, their sin led to the Exile — the very condition Solomon had mentioned in his prayer (6:36-39); but God promised to hear their sincere prayers and bring back those who called on Him and repented. The Lord was faithful, even to the point of sending His own Son Jesus to be their deliverer, but they rejected Him, and only a remnant remained faithful. Those who believe in Jesus, no matter what their nationality, "to them He [gives] the right to become children of God" (John 1:11-13).
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