1 Kings 11:29-40

29 It came about at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that ¹the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had clothed himself with a new cloak; and both of them were alone in the field.

30 Then ²Ahijah took hold of the new cloak which was on him and tore it into twelve * pieces.

31 He said to Jeroboam, "Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Behold, ³I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes

32 (⁴but he will have one tribe, for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, ⁵the city which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel ),

33 because * they have forsaken Me, and ⁶have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, ⁷Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the sons of Ammon; and they have not walked in My ways, doing what is right in My sight and observing My statutes and My ordinances, as his father David did.

34 'Nevertheless I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of My servant David whom I chose, who observed My commandments and My statutes;

35 but ⁸I will take the kingdom from his son's hand and give it to you, even ten tribes.

36 'But ⁹to his son I will give one tribe, ¹⁰that My servant David may have a lamp always * before Me in Jerusalem, ¹¹the city where * I have chosen for Myself to put My name.

37 'I will take you, and you shall reign over whatever * you desire, and you shall be king over Israel.

38 'Then it will be, that if you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight by observing My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then ¹²I will be with you and ¹³build you an enduring house as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.

39 'Thus I will afflict the descendants of David for this, but not always *.' "

40 Solomon sought therefore to put Jeroboam to death; but Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt to ¹⁴Shishak king of Egypt, and he was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

1 Kings 11:29-40 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. 1 Kings 12:15; 1 Kings 14:2; 2 Chronicles 9:29
• 2. 1 Samuel 15:27, 28
• 3. 1 Kings 11:11, 12
• 4. 1 Kings 11:13; 1 Kings 12:21
• 5. 1 Kings 11:13; 1 Kings 14:21
• 6. 1 Samuel 7:3; 1 Kings 11:5-8
• 7. Numbers 21:29; Jeremiah 48:7, 13
• 8. 1 Kings 11:12; 1 Kings 12:16, 17
• 9. 1 Kings 11:13
• 10. 1 Kings 15:4; 2 Kings 8:19; Psalms 132:17
• 11. 1 Kings 11:13
• 12. Deuteronomy 31:8; Joshua 1:5
• 13. 2 Samuel 7:11, 27
• 14. 1 Kings 14:25; 2 Chronicles 12:2-9

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "he"
• [b]. Or "prince"
• [c]. Lit "your soul desires"
• [d]. Lit "seed"