1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; |
2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. |
3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. |
4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. |
5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. |
6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. |
7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. |
8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. |
9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, |
10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. |
11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. |
12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. |
13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen. |
14 And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom. |
15 For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom; |
16 (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:) |
17 That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child. |
18 And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land. |
19 And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. |
20 And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh. |
21 And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country. |
22 Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise. |
23 And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah: |
24 And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus. |
25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria. |
26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king. |
27 And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father. |
28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. |
29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: |
30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: |
31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: |
32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) |
33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. |
34 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: |
35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes. |
36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. |
37 And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel. |
38 And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee. |
39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever. |
40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon. |
41 And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? |
42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. |
43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead. |
11 Solomon's many wives turn his heart from God, Ki1 11:1-8.
God reproves and threatens him, Ki1 11:9-13.
Stirs up Hadad and Rezon against him, Ki1 11:14-25.
An account of Jeroboam, Ki1 11:26-40.
Solomon's death and burial, Ki1 11:41-43.
11:3 Seven hundred wives, etc - God had particularly forbidden the kings to multiply either horses or wives, Deu 17:16-17, we sawchap.Ki1 10:29, how he broke the former law, multiplying horses: andhere we see, how he broke the latter, multiplying wives. David set theexample. One ill act of a good man may do more mischief than twenty of awicked man. Besides, they were strange women, of the nations which Godhad expressly forbidden them to marry with. And to compleat the mischief,he clave unto these in love; was extravagantly fond of them, Solomonhad much knowledge. But to what purpose, when he knew not how to governhis appetites?
11:4 Was old - As having now reigned nigh thirty years. When it might have been expected that experience would have made him wiser: then Godpermitted him to fall so shamefully, that he might be to all succeedinggenerations an example of the folly, and weakness of the wisest and thebest men, when left to themselves. Turned his heart - Not that theychanged his mind about the true God, and idols, which is not credible; butthey obtained from him a publick indulgence for their worship, and possiblypersuaded him to join with them in the outward act of idol - worship; or, atleast, in their feasts upon their sacrifices, which was a participation oftheir idolatry.
11:5 Milcom - Called also Moloch.
11:6 Did evil - That is, did not worship God wholly, but joined idols with him.
11:7 An high place - That is, an altar upon the high place, as the manner of the Heathens was. The hill - In the mount of olives, whichwas nigh unto Jerusalem, Ki1 15:30, and from this act was calledthe mount of corruption, Ki2 23:13. As it were, to confront thetemple.
11:8 And sacrificed, etc - See what need those have to stand upon their guard, who have been eminent for religion. The devil will set upon themmost violently: and if they miscarry, the reproach is the greater. It isthe evening that commends the day. Let us therefore fear, lest having runwell, we come short.
11:12 Fathers sake - For my promise made to him, Ki1 7:12-15.
11:13 One tribe - Benjamin was not entirely his, but part of it adhered to Jeroboam, as Bethel, Ki1 12:29,and Hephron, Ch2 13:19, both which were towns ofBenjamin.
11:15 In Edom - By his army, to war against it. To bury - The Israelites who were slain in the battle, Ki1 8:13-14, whom hehonourably interred in some certain place, to which he is said to go upfor that end. And this gave Hadad the opportunity of making his escape,whilst Joab and his men were employed in that solemnity.Had smitten - Or, and he smote, as it is in the Hebrew: which ishere noted as the cause of Hadad's flight; he understood what Joabhad done in part, and intended farther to do, even to kill all the malesand therefore fled for his life.
11:18 Midian - He fled at first with an intent to go into Egypt, but took Midian, a neighbouring country, in his way, andstaid there a while, possibly 'till he had by some of his servants triedPharaoh's mind, and prepared the way for his reception.Paran - Another country in the road from Edom to Egypt, where hehired men to attend him, that making his entrance there something like aprince, he might find more favour from that king and people. Land - Tosupport himself and his followers out of the profits of it.
11:19 Found favour - God so disposing his heart, that Hadad might be a scourge to Solomon for his impieties.
11:21 Joab - Whom he feared as much as David himself.Own country - Whither accordingly he came; and was there, even from thebeginning of Solomon's reign. And it is probable, by the near relationwhich was between his wife and Solomon's; and, by Pharaoh'sintercession, he obtained his kingdom with condition of subjection andtribute to be paid by him to Solomon; which condition he kept 'tillSolomon fell from God, and then began to be troublesome, and dangerousto his house and kingdom.
11:23 Who fled - When David had defeated him. Zobah - A part of Syria, between Damascus and Euphrates.
11:24 A band - Of soldiers, who fled upon that defeat, Ki1 10:18, and others who readily joined them, and livedby robbery; as many Arabians did. Damascus - And took it,whilst Solomon was wallowing in luxury.
11:25 All adversity - He was a secret enemy, all that time; and when Solomon had forsaken God, he shewed himself openly. Beside - Thisinfelicity was added to the former; whilst Hadad molested him in thesouth, Rezon threatened him in the north. But what hurt could Hadador Rezon have done, to so powerful a king as Solomon, if he had notby sin made himself mean and weak? If God be on our side, we need not fearthe greatest adversary. But if he be against us, he can make us fear theleast: yea, the grasshopper shall be a burden. Syria - Over all thatpart of Syria, enlarging his empire the more, and thereby laying afoundation for much misery to Solomon's kingdom.
11:28 Charge - The taxes and tributes.
11:29 Went - Probably to execute his charge. Were alone - Having gone aside for private conference; for otherwise it is most likely that hehad servants attending him, who, though they hear not the words, yet mightsee the action, and the rending of Jeroboam's coat; and thus it came toSolomon's ears, who being so wise, could easily understand the thing bywhat he heard of the action, especially when a prophet did it.
11:39 For this - For this cause, which I mentioned ver. Ki1 11:33.Not for ever - There shall a time come when the seed of David shallnot be molested by the kingdom of Israel, but that kingdom shall bedestroyed, and the kings of the house of David shall be uppermost, asit was in the days of Asa, Hezekiah and Judah. And at last theMessiah shall come, who shall unite together the broken sticks ofJudah and Joseph, and rule over all the Jews and Gentilestoo.
11:40 Solomon - To whose ears this had come. Shishak - Solomon's brother - in - law, who yet might be jealous of him, or alienated from him,because he had taken so many other wives to his sister, might cast a greedyeye upon the great riches which Solomon had amassed together, and uponwhich, presently after Solomon's death, he laid violent hands,Ch2 12:9.
11:41 The book - In the publick records, where the lives and actions of kings were registered from time to time, so this was only a political,not a sacred book.
11:42 Forty years - His reign was as long as his father's, but not his life; sin shortened his days.
11:43 Slept - This expression is promiscuously used concerning good and bad; and signifies only, that they died as their fathers did.But did he repent before he died? This seems to be put out of disputeby the book of Ecclesiastes; written after his fall; as is evident,not only from the unanimous testimony of the Hebrew writers, butalso, from the whole strain of that book, which was written long afterhe had finished all his works, and after he had liberally drunk of allsorts of sensual pleasures, and sadly experienced the bitter effects ofhis love of women, Ecc 7:17, etc which makes it more than probable,that as David writ Psa 51:1-19. So Solomon wrote this book as a publick testimony and profession of hisrepentance.