Melachim Alef 9:9

9 And they shall answer, Because they forsook Hashem Eloheichem who brought forth their avot out of Eretz Mitzrayim, and have taken hold upon elohim acherim, and have worshiped them, and served them; therefore hath Hashem brought upon them all this ra’ah.

Melachim Alef 9:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 9:9

And they shall answer
Who were left in the land when others were carried captive, as were some by Nebuchadnezzar, and who were capable of making the following answer:

because they forsook the Lord;
the worship of the Lord their God, as the Targum:

who brought forth their fathers out of the land Egypt;
which is observed as an aggravation of their sin:

and have taken hold upon other gods:
the gods of the people, as the Targum; of the Gentiles, who knew not the true God:

and have worshipped them, and served them:
even idols of gold and silver, wood and stone; an instance of judicial blindness they were left unto, who had been favoured with a revelation from God:

therefore hath the Lord brought upon them all this evil;
their idolatry was the cause of it, than which nothing is more provoking to God.

Melachim Alef 9:9 In-Context

7 Then will I cut off Yisroel out of the adamah which I have given them; and this Beis [HaMikdash], which I have set apart as kodesh for Shemi, will I cast out of My sight; and Yisroel shall be a mashal (proverb) and a sheninah (taunt, byword) among kol ha’ammim;

8 And at this Beis, which is elyon, every one that passeth by it shall be appalled, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath Hashem done thus unto HaAretz Hazot, and to this Beis?

9 And they shall answer, Because they forsook Hashem Eloheichem who brought forth their avot out of Eretz Mitzrayim, and have taken hold upon elohim acherim, and have worshiped them, and served them; therefore hath Hashem brought upon them all this ra’ah.

10 And it came to pass at the end of esrim shanim, when Sh’lomo had built the two batim, the Beis Hashem, and the Bais HaMelech,

11 (Now Chiram Melech Tzor had furnished Sh’lomo with cedar trees and cypress trees, and with zahav, according to all his desire), that then HaMelech Sh’lomo gave Chiram esrim ir (twenty towns) in Eretz HaGalil.