1 Kings 11 Study Notes

11:23-25 Rezon, in moving from an outlaw warrior to a legitimate king, paralleled the career of King David. With Rezon’s rule, Damascus became Israel’s main enemy in Aram. Again, this situation developed while Solomon ruled.

11:26-28 Jeroboam is introduced as a rebel in an introductory summary of his career under Solomon.

11:29-32 God intervened in governmental affairs through the prophecy of Ahijah. The fact that ten tribes and one tribe does not account for all twelve tribes of Israel should not be taken as problematic. Levi may or may not be counted in such groupings, or Ahijah may have meant that one tribe would remain in addition to Judah (see note at 12:20).

11:33-36 God rejected Solomon because he encouraged false worship (vv. 5-8). He would be judged, but out of loyalty to David God would not completely reject Solomon’s dynasty.

11:37-39 The only major idea of the Davidic covenant that was neither offered nor implied to Jeroboam was the relationship defined by the words, “I will be his father, and he will be my son” (2Sm 7:14).

11:40 Solomon’s attempt to kill Jeroboam reduced him to the same tyranny as Saul when Saul tried to kill David. By sheltering Jeroboam, King Shishak of Egypt again meddled in Solomon’s affairs. The corrosion in Solomon’s rule was clear.

11:41-43 The Book of . . . Events was probably the official, factual record of the king. This succession statement, like all future succession statements, ignored the traditional leaders of the tribes. This formal close to Solomon’s rule was the writer’s signal that he was finished with Solomon’s era. Now the story moves to Solomon’s successor.