The_Dark_Lord
New Lister
Uhuru's Vanity of Vanities
Solomon is known for many things, and one of them is having a harem of up to 1000 women. This has always made me wonder how "he did it"(like did he have a timetable or something) and recently as I was researching the internet on how the ancient kings who had such harems (some with over 10,000 concubines eg. Forbidden City in China in the Ming Dynasties) got me into thinking....
In the book of Ecclesiastes, the writer who presumably is king Solomon, after observing his actions and all that is under the sun, laments of his labours. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Vanity is described as "something that is vain, empty, or valueless" in short useless. Most of these failures that king Solomon made are highlighted in a whole chapter (1kings: 11:1-42).
Given the current situation in Kenya, though totally coincidental, one might not be mistaken, to try drawing parallels on the useless actions (failures or the so called "vanities") of the two leaders.
1. Both leaders were sons of rulers (needs no further commentary)
2. The two leaders undid the gains of their predecessors (more on this in the points to follow)
3. Raised taxes to construct useless projects and sustain their luxury: - Solomon no doubt constructed a very magnificent temple but on top of that do not forget he had a large household in an effort of affronting himself as a king of the likes of Pharaoh and Assyrian kings who were his contemporaries. Given the small economy of a small agrarian kingdom like Israel of that time, to achieve this, he was forced to overtax his people in money and forced labour (actually the two tribes he associated himself with paid no tax) to build many harems and palaces for his wives and to satiate his ego.
Likewise, Uhuru has engaged in numerous mega projects the so-called white elephants of SGR and Expressways to put himself in the likes of advanced countries whose economies we cannot hope to compete with.
4. Sank their nations in debt which they could not repay: - Solomon got himself heavily indebted for the cedar and skilled labourers / "expatriates" he brought from tyre to build the palaces. For the temple, he was lucky the king of Lebanon had given his father cedar and sent labour for free as did the king of Tyre.
In Kenya, the government has raked in colossal loan amounts for the numerous projects now approaching the 9 trillion Ksh.
5. Sold part of their country to foreign nations so as to repay the debts: - Now, once Solomon was unable to pay, he was forced to bundle 20 cities which his father had conquered and give them to tyre (1kings 9:11).
The SGR is rumoured to have been built with a pledge on the port of Mombasa as collateral, which is part of the sovereign territory of Kenya. With it not generating enough revenue, it may as well as be gone to China or in the least the debts may be having adverse effects on Kenya’s sovereignty even if not necessarily in her territory.
6. Numerous adversaries: - Solomons rise to power was not all peaceful, rather ironically given our context another of his brother, Adonijah, declared himself king supported David's most able commander, Joab son of Zeruiah (I love this commander) in 1kings 1:5-9. Later the guy is killed, but enough of that. In his rule, Solomon had a capable leader charged with all the labour in the tribe of Joseph. Jeroboam as he was called was chosen by God to lead Israel and this did not go well with Solomon. After trying to kill his would-be successor and failing, Jeroboam was able to flee into exile in Egypt and waited for Solomon's death.
For Uhuru, in 2017, his "brother" was able to swear himself in as "the people's president". Moreover, his deputy seems to be capable enough to corner him in his own backyard and appears to enjoy huge support in the country. Though currently exiled from government, should Ruto succeed him, it would be a striking parallel to say the least.
7. Had numerous wives who led them astray: - Solomon had 300 concubines and 700 wives whom the Biblical writer castigates as having led him astray from God who had given him authority and into idolatry.
For Uhuru you could argue that his "political wives" have led him astray from the path the people who gave him authority by trying to have him repeal the current constitution even though I am sure there was also much motivation also for his part. For sexual partners you may never know, but who knows, maybe...
8. Future rulers: - Due to his failures, Solomonic dynasty rule was removed and only remained in 2 tribes of the nation of Israel. In Kenya, his may only be limited to the two villages of Thogoto and Icaweri.
Which brings me back : unconstitutional constitutional amendments, pet projects, luxury projects, “legacy projects”, political betrayals, scheming;
To be fair, Solomon got it right this time, in “(Ecclesiastes 1:2) … All is vanity.”
sincerely,
THE_DARK_LORD.
Solomon is known for many things, and one of them is having a harem of up to 1000 women. This has always made me wonder how "he did it"(like did he have a timetable or something) and recently as I was researching the internet on how the ancient kings who had such harems (some with over 10,000 concubines eg. Forbidden City in China in the Ming Dynasties) got me into thinking....
In the book of Ecclesiastes, the writer who presumably is king Solomon, after observing his actions and all that is under the sun, laments of his labours. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Vanity is described as "something that is vain, empty, or valueless" in short useless. Most of these failures that king Solomon made are highlighted in a whole chapter (1kings: 11:1-42).
Given the current situation in Kenya, though totally coincidental, one might not be mistaken, to try drawing parallels on the useless actions (failures or the so called "vanities") of the two leaders.
1. Both leaders were sons of rulers (needs no further commentary)
2. The two leaders undid the gains of their predecessors (more on this in the points to follow)
3. Raised taxes to construct useless projects and sustain their luxury: - Solomon no doubt constructed a very magnificent temple but on top of that do not forget he had a large household in an effort of affronting himself as a king of the likes of Pharaoh and Assyrian kings who were his contemporaries. Given the small economy of a small agrarian kingdom like Israel of that time, to achieve this, he was forced to overtax his people in money and forced labour (actually the two tribes he associated himself with paid no tax) to build many harems and palaces for his wives and to satiate his ego.
Likewise, Uhuru has engaged in numerous mega projects the so-called white elephants of SGR and Expressways to put himself in the likes of advanced countries whose economies we cannot hope to compete with.
4. Sank their nations in debt which they could not repay: - Solomon got himself heavily indebted for the cedar and skilled labourers / "expatriates" he brought from tyre to build the palaces. For the temple, he was lucky the king of Lebanon had given his father cedar and sent labour for free as did the king of Tyre.
In Kenya, the government has raked in colossal loan amounts for the numerous projects now approaching the 9 trillion Ksh.
5. Sold part of their country to foreign nations so as to repay the debts: - Now, once Solomon was unable to pay, he was forced to bundle 20 cities which his father had conquered and give them to tyre (1kings 9:11).
The SGR is rumoured to have been built with a pledge on the port of Mombasa as collateral, which is part of the sovereign territory of Kenya. With it not generating enough revenue, it may as well as be gone to China or in the least the debts may be having adverse effects on Kenya’s sovereignty even if not necessarily in her territory.
6. Numerous adversaries: - Solomons rise to power was not all peaceful, rather ironically given our context another of his brother, Adonijah, declared himself king supported David's most able commander, Joab son of Zeruiah (I love this commander) in 1kings 1:5-9. Later the guy is killed, but enough of that. In his rule, Solomon had a capable leader charged with all the labour in the tribe of Joseph. Jeroboam as he was called was chosen by God to lead Israel and this did not go well with Solomon. After trying to kill his would-be successor and failing, Jeroboam was able to flee into exile in Egypt and waited for Solomon's death.
For Uhuru, in 2017, his "brother" was able to swear himself in as "the people's president". Moreover, his deputy seems to be capable enough to corner him in his own backyard and appears to enjoy huge support in the country. Though currently exiled from government, should Ruto succeed him, it would be a striking parallel to say the least.
7. Had numerous wives who led them astray: - Solomon had 300 concubines and 700 wives whom the Biblical writer castigates as having led him astray from God who had given him authority and into idolatry.
For Uhuru you could argue that his "political wives" have led him astray from the path the people who gave him authority by trying to have him repeal the current constitution even though I am sure there was also much motivation also for his part. For sexual partners you may never know, but who knows, maybe...
8. Future rulers: - Due to his failures, Solomonic dynasty rule was removed and only remained in 2 tribes of the nation of Israel. In Kenya, his may only be limited to the two villages of Thogoto and Icaweri.
Which brings me back : unconstitutional constitutional amendments, pet projects, luxury projects, “legacy projects”, political betrayals, scheming;
To be fair, Solomon got it right this time, in “(Ecclesiastes 1:2) … All is vanity.”
sincerely,
THE_DARK_LORD.
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