1 Kings 11

Solomon Turns from the Lord

1 But a King Solomon loved b many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites - 2 from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, c "You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, d that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his e heart was not 1 loyal to the LORD his God, f as was the heart of his father David. 5 For Solomon went after g Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after h Milcom 2 the abomination of the i Ammonites. 6 Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David. 7 j Then Solomon built a 3 high place for k Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on l the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. 8 And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.

The Lord Raises Adversaries

9 So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, m who had appeared to him twice, 10 and n had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the LORD had commanded. 11 Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, "Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, o I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your p servant. 12 "Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 q "However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give r one tribe to your son s for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem t which I have chosen."

14 Now the LORD u raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was a descendant of the king in Edom. 15 v For it happened, when David was in Edom, and Joab the commander of the army had gone up to bury the slain, w after he had killed every male in Edom 16 (because for six months Joab remained there with all Israel, until he had cut down every male in Edom), 17 that Hadad fled to go to Egypt, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him. Hadad was still a little child. 18 Then they arose from Midian and came to Paran; and they took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, apportioned food for him, and gave him land. 19 And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him as wife the sister of his own wife, that is, the sister of Queen Tahpenes. 20 Then the sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house. And Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh. 21 x So when Hadad heard in Egypt that David 4 rested with his fathers, and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, 5 "Let me depart, that I may go to my own country." 22 Then Pharaoh said to him, "But what have you lacked with me, that suddenly you seek to go to your own country?" So he answered, "Nothing, but do let me go anyway."

23 And God raised up another adversary against him, Rezon the son of Eliadah, who had fled from his lord, y Hadadezer king of Zobah. 24 So he gathered men to him and became captain over a band of raiders, z when David killed those of Zobah. And they went to Damascus and dwelt there, and reigned in Damascus. 25 He was an adversary of Israel all the days of Solomon (besides the trouble that Hadad caused); and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.

26 Then Solomon's servant, a Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite from Zereda, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow, b also c rebelled against the king. 27 And this is what caused him to rebel against the king: d Solomon had built the Millo and 6 repaired the damages to the City of David his father. 28 The man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon, seeing that the young man was e industrious, made him the officer over all the labor force of the house of Joseph. 29 Now it happened at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet f Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the way; and he had clothed himself with a new garment, and the two were alone in the field. 30 Then Ahijah took hold of the new garment that was on him, and g tore it into twelve pieces. 31 And he said to Jeroboam, "Take for yourself ten pieces, for h thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you 32 '(but he shall have one tribe for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), 33 i 'because 7 they have forsaken Me, and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the people of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways to do what is right in My eyes and keep My statutes and My judgments, as did his father David. 34 'However I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, because I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of My servant David, whom I chose because he kept My commandments and My statutes. 35 'But j I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and give it to you - ten tribes. 36 'And to his son I will give one tribe, that k My servant David may always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for Myself, to put My name there. 37 'So I will take you, and you shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel. 38 'Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then l I will be with you and m build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you. 39 'And I will afflict the descendants of David because of this, but not forever.' " 40 Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to n Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

41 Now o the rest of the acts of Solomon, all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? 42 p And the period that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. 43 q Then Solomon 8 rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his r place.

  1. Cross References
    Nehemiah 13:26
    Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin.
  2. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 17:17
    Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.
    1 Kings 3:1
    Now Solomon made a treaty with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and married Pharaoh's daughter; then he brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall all around Jerusalem.
  3. Cross References
    Exodus 34:16
    And you take of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and make your sons play the harlot with their gods.
    Deuteronomy 7:3
    Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son.
    Deuteronomy 7:4
    For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.
  4. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 17:17
    Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.
    Nehemiah 13:26
    Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin.
  5. Cross References
    1 Kings 8:61
    "Let your heart therefore be loyal to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day."
  6. Cross References
    1 Kings 9:4
    Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments.
  7. Cross References
    Judges 2:13
    They forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.
    1 Kings 11:33
    Because they have forsaken Me, and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the people of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways to do what is right in My eyes and keep My statutes and My judgments, as did his father David.
  8. Cross References
    Leviticus 20:2 - 5
    Again, you shall say to the children of Israel: 'Whoever of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, who gives any of his descendants to Molech, he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones.
  9. Cross References
    2 Kings 23:13
    Then the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, which were on the south of the Mount of Corruption, which Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the people of Ammon.
  10. Cross References
    Numbers 33:52
    Then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places.
  11. Cross References
    Numbers 21:29
    Woe to you, Moab! You have perished, O people of Chemosh! He has given his sons as fugitives, And his daughters into captivity, To Sihon king of the Amorites.
    Judges 11:24
    Will you not possess whatever Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever the LORD our God takes possession of before us, we will possess.
  12. Cross References
    2 Kings 23:13
    Then the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, which were on the south of the Mount of Corruption, which Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the people of Ammon.
  13. Cross References
    1 Kings 3:5
    At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask! What shall I give you?
    1 Kings 9:2
    That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon.
  14. Cross References
    1 Kings 6:12
    Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, which I spoke to your father David.
    1 Kings 9:6
    But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them.
    1 Kings 9:7
    Then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
  15. Cross References
    1 Kings 11:31
    And he said to Jeroboam, "Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you
    1 Kings 12:15
    So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from the LORD, that He might fulfill His word, which the LORD had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
    1 Kings 12:16
    Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying: "What share have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Now, see to your own house, O David!" So Israel departed to their tents.
  16. Cross References
    1 Kings 11:31
    And he said to Jeroboam, "Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you
    1 Kings 11:37
    So I will take you, and you shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel.
  17. Cross References
    2 Samuel 7:15
    But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
    1 Chronicles 17:13
    I will be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.
    Psalms 89:33
    Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, Nor allow My faithfulness to fail.
  18. Cross References
    1 Kings 12:20
    Now it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, they sent for him and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. There was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
  19. Cross References
    2 Samuel 7:15
    But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
    2 Samuel 7:16
    "And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever." '"
  20. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 12:11
    Then there will be the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the LORD.
    1 Kings 9:3
    And the LORD said to him: "I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
    1 Kings 14:21
    And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king. He reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess.
  21. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 5:26
    So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, that is, TiglathPile'ser king of Assyria. He carried the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into captivity. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan to this day.
  22. Cross References
    2 Samuel 8:14
    He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.
    1 Chronicles 18:12
    Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
    1 Chronicles 18:13
    He also put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.
  23. Cross References
    Numbers 24:18
    And Edom shall be a possession; Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession, While Israel does valiantly.
    Numbers 24:19
    Out of Jacob One shall have dominion, And destroy the remains of the city.
    Deuteronomy 20:13
    And when the LORD your God delivers it into your hands, you shall strike every male in it with the edge of the sword.
  24. Cross References
    1 Kings 2:10
    So David rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David.
    1 Kings 2:34
    So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and struck and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.
  25. Cross References
    2 Samuel 8:3
    David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates.
    2 Samuel 10:16
    Then Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River, and they came to Helam. And Shobach the commander of Hadadezer's army went before them.
  26. Cross References
    2 Samuel 8:3
    David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates.
    2 Samuel 10:8
    Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the gate. And the Syrians of Zoba, Beth Rehob, Ish-Tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
    2 Samuel 10:18
    Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand horsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.
  27. Cross References
    1 Kings 12:2
    So it happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (he was still in Egypt, for he had fled from the presence of King Solomon and had been dwelling in Egypt).
  28. Cross References
    1 Kings 11:11
    Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, "Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.
    2 Chronicles 13:6
    Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord.
  29. Cross References
    2 Samuel 20:21
    "That is not so. But a man from the mountains of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city." So the woman said to Joab, "Watch, his head will be thrown to you over the wall."
  30. Cross References
    1 Kings 9:15
    And this is the reason for the labor force which King Solomon raised: to build the house of the LORD, his own house, the Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
    1 Kings 9:24
    But Pharaoh's daughter came up from the City of David to her house which Solomon had built for her. Then he built the Millo.
  31. Cross References
    Proverbs 22:29
    Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
  32. Cross References
    1 Kings 12:15
    So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from the LORD, that He might fulfill His word, which the LORD had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
    1 Kings 14:2
    And Jeroboam said to his wife, "Please arise, and disguise yourself, that they may not recognize you as the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Indeed, Ahijah the prophet is there, who told me that I would be king over this people.
    2 Chronicles 9:29
    Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?
  33. Cross References
    1 Samuel 15:27
    And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore.
    1 Samuel 15:28
    So Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.
    1 Samuel 24:5
    Now it happened afterward that David's heart troubled him because he had cut Saul's robe.
  34. Cross References
    1 Kings 11:11
    Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, "Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.
    1 Kings 11:13
    "However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen."
  35. Cross References
    1 Samuel 7:3
    Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.
    1 Kings 11:5 - 8
    For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
  36. Cross References
    1 Kings 12:16
    Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying: "What share have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Now, see to your own house, O David!" So Israel departed to their tents.
    1 Kings 12:17
    But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.
  37. Cross References
    1 Kings 15:4
    Nevertheless for David's sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, by setting up his son after him and by establishing Jerusalem.
    2 Kings 8:19
    Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah, for the sake of His servant David, as He promised him to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.
  38. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 31:8
    "And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."
    Joshua 1:5
    No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
  39. Cross References
    2 Samuel 7:11
    Since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house.
    2 Samuel 7:27
    For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house.' Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.
  40. Cross References
    1 Kings 11:17
    That Hadad fled to go to Egypt, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him. Hadad was still a little child.
    1 Kings 14:25
    It happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem.
    2 Chronicles 12:2 - 9
    And it happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD.
  41. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 9:29
    Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?
  42. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 9:30
    Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
  43. Cross References
    1 Kings 2:10
    So David rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David.
    2 Chronicles 9:31
    Then Solomon rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.
  44. Cross References
    1 Kings 14:21
    And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king. He reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess.
    2 Chronicles 10:1
    And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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