1 Kings 11:14-22

Solomon and Hadad

14 So the LORD raised up an opponent for Solomon: Hadad the Edomite from the royal line of Edom.
15 When David was fighting against Edom, Joab the general had gone up to bury the Israelite dead, and he had killed every male in Edom.
16 Joab and all the Israelites stayed there six months, until he had finished off every male in Edom.
17 While still a youth, Hadad escaped to Egypt along with his father's Edomite officials.
18 They set out from Midian and went to Paran. They took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt and to Pharaoh its king. Pharaoh assigned him a home, food, and land.
19 Pharaoh was so delighted with Hadad that he gave him one of his wife's sisters for marriage, a sister of Queen Tahpenes.
20 This sister of Tahpenes bore Hadad a son, Genubath. Tahpenes weaned him in Pharaoh's house. So it was that Genubath was raised in Pharaoh's house, among Pharaoh's children.
21 While in Egypt, Hadad heard that David had lain down with his ancestors and that Joab the general was also dead. Hadad said to Pharaoh, "Let me go to my homeland."
22 Pharaoh said to him, "What do you lack here with me that would make you want to go back to your homeland?" Hadad said, "Nothing, but please let me go!"

1 Kings 11:14-22 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.

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