Solomon meets God a third time
1 In addition to Pharaoh's daughter, King Solomon loved many foreign women, including Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites.
2
These came from the nations that the LORD had commanded the Israelites about: "Don't intermarry with them. They will definitely turn your heart toward their gods." Solomon clung to these women in love.
3
He had seven hundred royal wives and three hundred secondary wives. They turned his heart.
4
As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods. He wasn't committed to the LORD his God with all his heart as was his father David.
5
Solomon followed Astarte the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom the detestable god of the Ammonites.
6
Solomon did what was evil in the LORD's eyes and wasn't completely devoted to the LORD like his father David.
7
On the hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a shrine to Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and to Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites.
8
He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.
9
The LORD grew angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from being with the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.
10
The LORD had commanded Solomon about this very thing, that he shouldn't follow other gods. But Solomon didn't do what the LORD commanded.
11
The LORD said to Solomon, "Because you have done all this instead of keeping my covenant and my laws that I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom from you and give it to your servant.
12
Even so, on account of your father David, I won't do it during your lifetime. I will tear the kingdom out of your son's hands.
13
Moreover, I won't tear away the entire kingdom. I will give one tribe to your son on account of my servant David and on account of Jerusalem, which I have chosen."