IV. But all was not bright in the reign of Sol'o-mon. We must notice also =His Sins=, for they wrought great results of evil in the after years. 1. That which led to all his other sins was his _foreign marriages_ (1 Kings 11. 1-4). These were the natural and inevitable results of his foreign relations, and were probably effected for political reasons as well as to add to the splendor of his court. 2. His _toleration of idolatry_, perhaps actual participation in it (1 Kings 11. 5-8). We cannot overestimate the harm of Sol'o-mon's influence in this direction. At once it allied him with the lower and evil elements in the nation, and lost to him the sympathy of all the earnest souls.[13] 3. Another of Sol'o-mon's sins, not named in Scripture, but referred to in many legends of the East, may have been a _devotion to magical arts_. He appears in Oriental traditions as the great master of forces in the invisible world, engaging in practices forbidden by the law of Mo'ses (Lev. 19. 31; Deut. 18. 10, 11). Blackboard Outline I. =Sol. Emp.= Pal. Ed. Mo. Amm. Syr. Zob. Ham. E.-G. G. T. T. II. =For. Rel.= Ty. Eg. Ar. F. E. W. III. =Buil.= 1. Tem. 2. Pal. 1.) H. F. L. 2.) P. 3.) T. H. 4.) K. P. 5.) Q. P. IV. =Sins.= 1. For. mar. 2. Tol. idol. 3. Mag. Review Questions What is the reign of Sol'o-mon called? How far is that a correct title? What lands were included in Sol'o-mon's empire? What cities were on its boundaries? With what countries did Sol'o-mon have treaties and foreign relations? How was Sol'o-mon connected with the court of E'gypt? What were some of Sol'o-mon's buildings? Name the various parts of his palace. What were the sins of Sol'o-mon? PART TWO V. =General Aspects of Is'ra-el in the Reign of Sol'o-mon.= 1. =It was a period of peace.= For sixty years there were no wars This gave opportunity for development, for wealth, and for culture. 2. =It was a period of strong government.= The age of individual and tribal energy was ended, and now all the life of the nation was gathered around the throne. All the tribes were held under one strong hand; tribal lines were ignored in the government of the empire; every department was organized. 3. =It was a period of wide empire.= It was Is'ra-el's opportunity for power in the East; for the old Chal-de'an empire had broken up, the new As-syr'i-an empire had not arisen, and E'gypt was passing through a change of rulers and was weak. For one generation Is'ra-el held the supremacy in the Oriental world.