1 Kings 11

King James Version

Full text for 1 Kings Chapter 11

1¶ But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, [and] Hittites;

2Of the nations [concerning] which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: [for] surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

3And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

4For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, [that] his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as [was] the heart of David his father.

5For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

6And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as [did] David his father.

7Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that [is] before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

8And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

9¶ And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

10And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.

11Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.

12Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: [but] I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

13Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; [but] will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.

14¶ And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he [was] of the king's seed in Edom.

15For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom;

16(For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)

17That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad [being] yet a little child.

18And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.

19And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.

20And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh.

21And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.

22Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.

23And God stirred him up [another] adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:

24And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them [of Zobah]: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.

25And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad [did]: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.

26¶ And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name [was] Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up [his] hand against the king.

27And this [was] the cause that he lifted up [his] hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, [and] repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.

28And the man Jeroboam [was] a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.

29And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two [were] alone in the field:

30And Ahijah caught the new garment that [was] on him, and rent it [in] twelve pieces:

31And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

32(But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)

33Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do [that which is] right in mine eyes, and [to keep] my statutes and my judgments, as [did] David his father.

34Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:

35But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, [even] ten tribes.

36And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.

37And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.

38And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do [that is] right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.

39And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.

40Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

41¶ And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, [are] they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?

42And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel [was] forty years.

43And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King Solomon, in his old age, turned from the Lord by loving many foreign women who led him to worship their gods. Consequently, the Lord declared He would tear the kingdom from Solomon's son, leaving only one tribe for David's sake. The Lord then raised up adversaries against Solomon, and the prophet Ahijah prophesied that Jeroboam would receive ten tribes of Israel.

Medium Summary

King Solomon, influenced by his numerous foreign wives, including those from forbidden nations, turned his heart away from the Lord God of Israel in his later years. He built high places and sacrificed to pagan deities such as Ashtoreth, Milcom, Chemosh, and Molech, thereby doing evil in the Lord's sight. This apostasy angered the Lord, who had appeared to Solomon twice and commanded him not to follow other gods. As a result, God declared that the kingdom would be torn from Solomon's son's hand, leaving only one tribe for the sake of David and Jerusalem. The Lord stirred up adversaries like Hadad the Edomite and Rezon of Zobah to trouble Solomon. Furthermore, the prophet Ahijah symbolically prophesied to Jeroboam, a servant of Solomon, that he would receive ten tribes of Israel, leading Solomon to seek Jeroboam's life, who then fled to Egypt. Solomon reigned for forty years and was succeeded by his son Rehoboam.

Long Summary

In his old age, King Solomon's heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel due to his love for many foreign women, including the daughter of Pharaoh and women from nations explicitly forbidden by the Lord, such as the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites. These seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines led him into idolatry, causing him to worship deities like Ashtoreth, Milcom, Chemosh, and Molech. Solomon even built high places for these gods, committing evil in the sight of the Lord and not fully following Him as his father David had. The Lord's anger was kindled against Solomon because his heart had strayed, despite two prior divine appearances and specific commands against worshipping other gods. Consequently, the Lord declared that He would surely rend the kingdom from Solomon, though for David's sake, this division would occur during the reign of Solomon's son, leaving only one tribe to the Davidic line. To execute this judgment, the Lord stirred up adversaries against Solomon. The first was Hadad the Edomite, a royal descendant who had fled David's conquest and returned from Egypt to trouble Israel. The second adversary was Rezon of Zobah, who gathered men and reigned in Damascus, becoming a constant enemy. Most significantly, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met Jeroboam, a diligent servant of Solomon, and symbolically tore his new garment into twelve pieces, giving ten to Jeroboam. This act prophesied that God would give ten tribes of Israel to Jeroboam due to Solomon's idolatry, while one tribe would remain with Solomon's son for David's sake and for Jerusalem. The prophecy also promised Jeroboam a lasting dynasty if he walked in God's ways. Upon hearing of this, Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam, who fled to Egypt until Solomon's death. Solomon reigned for forty years in Jerusalem and was buried in the city of David, with his son Rehoboam succeeding him.

Core Concepts

  • Solomon's ApostasySolomon's heart turned from the Lord in his old age, influenced by his numerous foreign wives who led him to worship pagan deities like Ashtoreth, Milcom, Chemosh, and Molech.
  • Divine JudgmentThe Lord's anger was kindled against Solomon for his idolatry, leading to a divine declaration that the kingdom would be torn from his son's hand, leaving only one tribe for David's sake.
  • God-Raised AdversariesAs a direct consequence of Solomon's disobedience, the Lord stirred up enemies against him, notably Hadad the Edomite and Rezon of Zobah, who became ongoing threats to Israel.
  • Prophecy of Kingdom DivisionThe prophet Ahijah symbolically rent his garment, giving ten pieces to Jeroboam, prophesying that ten tribes of Israel would be given to Jeroboam, while one would remain with Solomon's son.
  • Preservation of Davidic LineDespite the impending division, God affirmed that one tribe would remain with Solomon's son, ensuring the continuation of the Davidic line and a "light" in Jerusalem for David's sake.
  • Jeroboam's Rise and FlightJeroboam, a capable servant of Solomon, was divinely chosen to rule over ten tribes, a prophecy that led Solomon to seek his life, causing Jeroboam to flee to Egypt until Solomon's death.