1 Kings 11:14-24

God Raises Adversaries

14 Then the LORD raised up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was of the royal line in Edom.

15 For it came about, ¹when David was in Edom, and Joab the commander of the army had gone up to bury the slain, and had ²struck down every male in Edom

16 (for Joab and all Israel stayed there six months, until he had cut off every male in Edom ),

17 that Hadad fled to Egypt, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, while Hadad was a young boy.

18 They arose from Midian and came to ³Paran; and they took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house and assigned him food and gave him land.

19 Now Hadad found great favor before Pharaoh, so that he gave him in marriage the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.

20 The sister of Tahpenes bore his son Genubath, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house; and Genubath was in Pharaoh's house among the sons of Pharaoh.

21 But ⁴when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, "Send me away, that I may go to my own country."

22 Then Pharaoh said to him, "But what have you lacked with me, that behold, you are seeking to go to your own country?" And he answered, "Nothing; nevertheless you must surely let me go."

23 ⁵God also raised up another adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord ⁶Hadadezer king of Zobah.

24 He gathered men to himself and became leader of a marauding band, ⁷after David slew them of Zobah; and they went to Damascus and stayed there, and reigned in Damascus.

1 Kings 11:14-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 11

This chapter relates the false steps Solomon took, notwithstanding all his wisdom, in marrying strange wives, and worshipping other gods, 1Ki 11:1-8 upon which the Lord threatens him to rend the kingdom in his son's time, 1Ki 11:9-13 and he raised up adversaries against him, Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam, 1Ki 11:14-26 of which last an account is given, and of his being assured by Ahijah the prophet of his having ten of the tribes of Israel given to him; which Solomon having notice of sought to slay him, 1Ki 11:27-40 and the chapter is concluded with an account of Solomon's death and burial, 1Ki 11:41-43.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 8:14; 1 Chronicles 18:12, 13
• 2. Deuteronomy 20:13
• 3. Numbers 10:12; Deuteronomy 1:1
• 4. 1 Kings 2:10
• 5. 1 Kings 11:14
• 6. 2 Samuel 8:3; 2 Samuel 10:16
• 7. 2 Samuel 10:8, 18

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "king's seed"
• [b]. Lit "to go into"
• [c]. Lit "in the sight of"
• [d]. Lit "send me away"
• [e]. Lit "in it"