1 Kings 11:7-17

7 Then Solomon built a high place for ¹Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east * of Jerusalem, and for ²Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon.

8 Thus also he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.

9 Now ³the LORD was angry with Solomon ⁴because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, ⁵who had appeared to him twice,

10 and ⁶had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not observe what the LORD had commanded.

11 So the LORD said to Solomon, "Because * you have done * this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, ⁷I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant.

12 "Nevertheless I will not do it in your days for the sake of your father David, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son.

13 "However, ⁸I will not tear away all the kingdom, but ⁹I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and ¹⁰for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen."

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, ¹¹when David was in Edom, and Joab the commander of the army had gone up to bury the slain, and had ¹²struck 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.

1 Kings 11:7-17 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. Numbers 21:29; Judges 11:24; 2 Kings 23:13
• 2. Leviticus 20:2-5; 2 Kings 23:10; Acts 7:43
• 3. Psalms 90:7
• 4. 1 Kings 11:2, 4
• 5. 1 Kings 3:5; 1 Kings 9:2
• 6. 1 Kings 6:12; 1 Kings 9:6, 7
• 7. 1 Samuel 2:30; 1 Kings 11:29-31; 1 Kings 12:15, 16, 20; 2 Kings 17:15, 21
• 8. 2 Samuel 7:15; 1 Chronicles 17:13; Psalms 89:33
• 9. 1 Kings 11:32, 36; 1 Kings 12:20
• 10. 1 Kings 8:29
• 11. 2 Samuel 8:14; 1 Chronicles 18:12, 13
• 12. Deuteronomy 20:13

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "before"
• [b] Lit "this is with you"
• [c] Lit "king's seed"
• [d] Lit "to go into"