1 Kings 11:33

33 I am doing this because they have abandoned me and worshipped the Sidonian goddess Astarte, the Moabite god Chemosh, and the Ammonite god Milcom. They haven't walked in my ways by doing what is right in my eyes—keeping my laws and judgments—as Solomon's father David did.

1 Kings 11:33 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 11:33

Because that they have forsaken me
My worship, as the Targum; both Solomon and the children of Israel following his example; which is not to be wondered at, considering how prone they always were to idolatry:

and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the
god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon;
of which deities, (See Gill on 1 Kings 11:5) (See Gill on 1 Kings 11:7).

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;
the several laws of God relating to religious worship especially, which David was a strict observer of; and therefore Solomon, having such a pattern before him, was the more blameworthy.

1 Kings 11:33 In-Context

31 He said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces, because Israel's God, the LORD, has said, ‘Look, I am about to tear the kingdom from Solomon's hand. I will give you ten tribes.
32 But I will leave him one tribe on account of my servant David and on account of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel.
33 I am doing this because they have abandoned me and worshipped the Sidonian goddess Astarte, the Moabite god Chemosh, and the Ammonite god Milcom. They haven't walked in my ways by doing what is right in my eyes—keeping my laws and judgments—as Solomon's father David did.
34 But I won't take the whole kingdom from his hand. I will keep him as ruler throughout his lifetime on account of my servant David, who did keep my commands and my laws.
35 I will take the kingdom from the hand of Solomon's son, and I will give you ten tribes.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. LXX, Syr, Vulg he has abandoned me
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