Praise the Lord Jesus Christ, please study this chapter and then answer all 51 questions at the end of this chapter.

1 Kings Chapter 11

Verses 1-8: “Solomon’s power, prestige and wealth became his undoing. The taking of foreign “wives,” whether in the making of alliances or in order to increase his harem, was not only a violation of the law of Moses (Exodus 34:12-17), but extremely dangerous spiritually (see note on Judges 3:6-7).

Solomon was about 60 years old by this time. Among kings in the ancient Near East, taking “foreign” wives often produced political alliances; for Israel, it led to the worship of other gods (Exodus 34:12-17), a double disobedience.

“Loved many strange women”: Many of Solomon’s marriages were for the purpose of ratifying treaties with other nations, a common practice in the ancient Near East. The practice of multiplying royal wives (prohibited in Deut. 17:17), because the practice would turn the king’s heart away from the Lord, proved to be accurate in the experience of Solomon. His love for his wives (verses 1-2), led him to abandon his loyalty to the Lord and worship other gods (verse 3-6). No sadder picture can be imagined than the ugly apostasy of his later years (overs 50), which can be traced back to his sins with foreign wives. Polygamy was tolerated among the ancient Hebrews, though most in the east had only one wife. A number of wives were seen as a sign of wealth and importance. The king desired to have a larger harem that any of his subjects, and Solomon resorted to this form of state magnificence. But it was a sin directly violating God’s law, and the very result which that law was designed to prevent happened.

1 Kings 11:1 “But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, [and] Hittites;”

“Moabites” Descendants of Lot (Gen. 19:37), who lived in the land east of the Dead Sea between the Arnon River to the north and the Zered Brook to the south.

“Ammonites”: Descendants of Lot (Gen. 19:38), who were located in the area of the Transjordan beginning about 25 miles east of the Jordan River.

“Edomites”: Descendants of Esau (Gen. 36:1), who located in the area south of Moab, to the southeast of the Dead Sea.

“Zidonians” (see note on 5:6).

“Hittites” (see note on 10:29).

The word “strange” indicates they were forbidden to the Hebrews. One of the dangers of great wealth and power is that we have a tendency to think too highly of ourselves. Solomon was no exception. He felt he could do no wrong. He obviously had forgotten the warnings of God about not keeping His commandments. Wealth, such as Solomon had accumulated, was associated with worldliness. God had never wanted Israel depending on horses and chariots to win their battles either. God was their strength. Perhaps many of these marriages were marriages of state to avoid war with the girl’s family. That still is no excuse for these many marriages. Marrying women who worshipped false gods, would be Solomon’s downfall.

1 Kings 11:2 “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.”

That is, they should not intermarry with one another. This is to be understood of the last mentioned, the Hittites, who were one of the seven nations this law respected (Deut. 7:1).

“For surely they will turn away your heart after their gods”: Which is the reason given for the making the above law, and was sadly verified in Solomon.

“Solomon clave unto these in love”: He not only took them, but kept them, and expressed a strong affection for them.

Solomon had done exactly what God told him not to do. He had married women who would turn his head away from the One True God to false gods.

1 Kings 11:3 “And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.”

In all 1000, a prodigious number; though these might not be all for use, but for state after the manner of the eastern monarchs. These were a far greater number than are alluded to (in SOS 6:8), unless the virgins without number there, were such of these as were not defiled by him. But the number here seems plainly referred to (in Ecclesiastes 7:28).

“And his wives turned away his heart”: Both from his duty to his God, and from attendance to his business as a king, especially the former, as follows.

Lust of the flesh causes Solomon to fall into deep sin. It really does not matter whether the number of wives and concubines is an accurate number or not. He did have numerous wives and concubines. Solomon, like most men, should have been more selective in his wives. He should have chosen women who worshipped the One True God.

1 Kings 11:4 “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.”

“Of David” (verse 6). David is consistently presented in Kings as the standard by which other kings were to act and be judged (3:14; 9:4; 14:8; 15:3; 2 Kings 8:19; 22:2). This was not because David had not sinned (2 Sam. 11-12), but rather because he repented appropriately from his sin (Psalm 32, 51), and because sin did not continue as the pattern of his life.

David sinned, but never turned his heart away from God. This is not the same with Solomon. He not only sinned, but his heart was turned away from God. He followed his wives into the worship of false gods.

1 Kings 11:5 “For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.”

“Ashtoreth,” A deliberate distortion of the Canaanite “ashtart,” re-vocalized based on the Hebrew word for “shame”. She was the goddess of love and fertility, especially worshiped at Tyre and Sidon.

“Milcom”: Another name for Molech (verse 7), the national god of the Ammonites. His name seems to mean “the one who rules”. The worship of Molech was associated with the sacrifice of children in the fire (Lev. 18:21; 20:2-5; Jer. 32:35).

(See the note on Judges 2:11-15).

This is idolatry. Solomon has broken relationship with his God. When he built altars to these false gods for his wives to worship, he was agreeing that this was alright to do. Solomon did not stop worshipping the LORD. He just allowed his wives to worship their false gods with his approval. Ashteroth had to do with sensuous worship. Milcom included human sacrifice in its worship.

1 Kings 11:6 “And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as [did] David his father.”

“Evil in the sight of the Lord”: The evil of Solomon was his tolerance of and personal practice of idolatry. These same words were used throughout (the book of Kings), to describe the rulers who promoted and practiced idolatry (15:26, 34; 16:19, 25, 30; 22:52; 2 Kings 3:2; 8:18, 27; 13:2, 11; 14:24; 15:9, 18, 24, 28; 17:2; 21;2, 20; 23:32, 37; 24:9, 19). Solomon became an open idolater, worshiping images of wood and stone in the sight of the temple which, in his early years, he had erected to the one true God.

The word “fully”, in the verse above, lets us know that Solomon never stopped worshipping the LORD. His tolerance of the worship of false gods by his wives was not right however, and his associations made him guilty of idolatry.

1 Kings 11:7 “Then did Solomon build a 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.”

“Chemosh”: The god of the Moabites, to whom the sacrifice of children as a burnt offering was customary (2 Kings. 3:27).

“The hill … before Jerusalem”: Probably the Mount of Olives. This is the area called Tophet (in Jer. 7:30-34), and the mount of corruption (in 2 Kings 23:13).

For “Molech” (see the note on 2 Kings 23:10).

Solomon was being tolerant of the worship of his wives of false gods. He was the leader of the country and should not have permitted it. His success had come from the One True God.

1 Kings 11:8 “And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.”

That is, built high places for their idols, or suffered them to be built. For when he had done it for one, he could not refuse it to another, without greatly disobliging them; even for many of them.

“Which burnt incense, and sacrificed unto their gods”: The gods of the countries from where they came, and in the worship of which they had been brought up. This shows that the best and wisest of men, when left to themselves, may do the worst and most foolish of all things; as nothing can be more so than the worship of such wretched deities.

There were places all over Jerusalem where they were erecting places of worship of these false gods.

Verses 9-12: Even God’s blessing and wisdom cannot compensate for a divided heart. Solomon spoke with the God of Israel” in person “twice” (3:5; 9:2), and was singled out for special blessing. Yet he left a son who was more foolish that he was (Chapter 12), and Solomon died knowing that the great kingdom God had given him from his father would soon be torn asunder. God had warned Solomon, so he had no excuses.

1 Kings 11:9 “And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,”

Or from the fear of him, as the Targum, which must in a great measure be cast off, or he could not have given in to idolatry in any shape as he did. For it was for that the Lord was displeased, the reason nothing is more provoking to him, as may be often observed.

“Which had appeared unto him twice”: Once at Gibeon, and again after his prayer at the dedication of the temple (1 Kings 3:5), which is mentioned here as an aggravation of his sin, that he should fall into it, when the Lord had condescended to appear to him so graciously.

(See the note on 6:11-13).

1 Kings 11:10 “And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.”

Which is another aggravation of his sin that it was against an express command of God, and was particularly given him, and he was warned to observe it, and threatened with evil should he break it.

But he kept not that which the Lord commanded” (see 1 Kings 9:5).

He had broken the first of the Ten Commandments. Our God is a jealous God. He had been given everything his heart could desire, and yet, he was not faithful to the One who gave it to him. God had favored Solomon more than any man who had ever lived. He had even appeared to him twice. God had told him ahead of time of the consequences of going after false gods. He knew that there were blessings if he remained faithful, and curses if he did not. He had sinned in full knowledge.

Verses 11-13: “Solomon” was doubly blameworthy. God had personally appeared to him twice (verse 9), to give him great wisdom and wealth (3:12-13), and to instruct him explicitly in matters relative to the Davidic covenant (9:2-9). Despite Solomon’s lack of fidelity, God would remain faithful. For the retaining of “one tribe” (see the note on verse 32).

1 Kings 11:11 “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.”

“Not kept my covenant”: Solomon failed to obey the commandments to honor God (Exodus 20:3-6), which were part of the Mosaic Covenant. Obedience to that Covenant was necessary for receiving the blessing of the Davidic covenant (see 2:3-4).

“Rend the kingdom from thee”: The Lord’s tearing of the kingdom for Solomon was announced in Alijah’s symbolic action of tearing his garment (in verses 29-39). The tearing of the robe, picturing the loss of the kingdom, recalls the interaction between Samuel and Saul (1 Sam. 15:27-28), when the Lord took the kingdom away from Saul because of his disobedience. The great gifts to Solomon followed by his great abuse warranted such a judgment.

1 Kings 11:12 “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.”

“In thy days I will not do it”: The Lord’s great love for David caused Him to temper His judgment with mercy by not disrupting the kingdom in Solomon’s lifetime (verse 34). This showed that Solomon’s disobedience did not annul the Davidic Covenant; the Lord’s commitment to fulfill His Word to David remained firm (2 Sam. 7:12-16).

God’s great love and blessings for Solomon have turned to wrath. It is almost certain that the LORD did not speak directly to Solomon this time, because He was so angry with him. He probably spoke through a prophet. Solomon had been blessed greatly, but he also had worked hard to get the kingdom where it was. It would be quite a comedown to hear that one of his servants would inherit the kingdom. Solomon would have the rest of his life to think about what he had done, and what would happen to the kingdom. The LORD would let him remain king while he was alive, because of the love the LORD had for David. He would live in dread of the day, when the kingdom would not be in his family however.

1 Kings 11:13 “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.”

“One tribe”: The one tribe that remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty was Judah (12:20).

“For Jerusalem’s sake”: The Lord had chosen Jerusalem as the place where His name would dwell forever (9:3). Therefore, Jerusalem and the temple would remain so that the divine promise might stand.

This one tribe of course, is Judah. God keeps reminding Solomon that this is not done because of Solomon. It is because God loved David. God also wanted Jerusalem to remain as the holy city. God had put his presence in the temple and in this city. It is much later, when the presence of the LORD leaves Jerusalem just before it burns.

Verses 14-18: King “Hadad” became a thorn in Solomon’s side for the rest of his reign. Hadad lived to take revenge on Israel for David’s slaughter of the Edomites (2 Sam. 8:13-14).

“Hadad the Edomite”: Even though Hadad belonged to the royal family that ruled Edom, he escaped death at the hands of David’s army when he was a child, and he fled to Egypt (2 Sam. 8:13-14; 1 Chron. 18:12-13).

(In verses 14-22), “Hadad” had escaped the slaughter of the “Edomite” army in David’s day (2 Sam. 8:13-14; 1 Chron. 18:12-13), and had made his way to “Egypt. Pharaoh” had received him well, perhaps so that after Solomon died, he would have a strong ally for himself and a hated enemy of “Israel” in “Edom” on Israel’s strategic eastern border.

1 Kings 11:14 “And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he [was] of the king’s seed in Edom.”

The verses that follow set the scene for the division of the kingdom and the difficulties that would occur after Solomon’s death (verses 11-12).

Notice, this is from God. He chastises Solomon by sending enemies to cause problems. Hadad was an Edomite. He was a prince of the royal house. He married the sister-in-law of Pharaoh. He harassed Solomon.

1 Kings 11:15 “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;”

Fighting with the Edomites, and subduing them, and putting garrisons in the land (2 Samuel 8:14).

“And Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain”: The Israelites that fell in battle, or whom the Edomites afterwards, through stratagem and surprise, fell upon in their garrisons and destroyed, and which caused Joab to go thither to bury them, and take vengeance on the Edomites for it. Or these were the Edomites slain by David and Joab; and it has been always reckoned a piece of humanity to bury the dead of an enemy, and is to the honor of the conqueror (see Ezek. 39:12). Or to suffer the enemy to bury them themselves. It is said, that Hercules was the first that brought up this practice and that before they were left on the field, to be devoured by dogs. So they were in the times of the Trojan war, as appears by the writings of Homer; but burying them, in later times, was used by the Romans and Greeks. And Josephus delivers it as a law of Moses to bury enemies, and not suffer any dead to lie without partaking of the earth, nor to pass by or overlook any unburied. But from whence he took it, or grounds it upon, is not very evident; this is the first mention of it; though the Targum is, “to strip the slain”.

“After he had smitten every male in Edom”: As he thought, intending to root out the name of them; being enraged at their falling upon the garrisons, if that was the case.

1 Kings 11:16 “(For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)”

With the whole army.

“Until he had cut off every male in Edom”: As he supposed; for it was not fact, since after this they increased again, and became a powerful people, and had a king over them, and revolted from Judah (2 Kings 8:20).

1 Kings 11:17 “That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad [being] yet a little child.”

While Joab was burying the slain.

“He and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him”: Who either was a king and these some of his officers and courtiers; or however was of the royal family, and had an equipage, and these some of them.

“To go into Egypt”: That was their view at first setting out, where they might hope for help, at least shelter.

“Hadad being yet a little child”: Whom his father’s servants hid, while Joab was making the slaughter he did, and took the opportunity of fleeing with him while he was burying the dead.

From other Scriptures in Chronicles and Psalms, it is uncertain actually who was in charge of David’s army who killed the Edomites. We read (in Psalms), that Joab killed 12,000, and we read (in first Chronicles), that Abishai killed 18,000. Perhaps they both led troops into this battle, and each of them killed a large number. We do know it took Joab 6 months before he was satisfied they were all dead. Hadad might not have been killed even if he had remained, because he was a child.

1 Kings 11:18 ‘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 a house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.”

“Midian”: The land directly east of Edom, to which Hadad first fled on his way to Egypt.

“Paran”: A wilderness southeast of Kadesh in the central area of the Sinai Peninsula (Num. 12:16; 13:3).

1 Kings 11:19 “And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.”

Perhaps due to his comely personage, princely qualities and good behavior as he grew up.

“So that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen”: It seems the kings of Egypt used to marry their favorites to great personages (see Gen. 41:45).

This is an explanation of how Hadad was spared, when Joab killed all of the men of Edom. He had fled to Egypt for safety as a child, and grew up there. The Pharaoh liked him very much and actually gave him land to get a new start. He became brother-in-law to the Pharaoh. Pharaoh’s wife, Tahpenes, was sister of the wife of Hadad.

1 Kings 11:20 “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.”

Which signifies “stealth”, and the name might be given in memory of himself being carried away by stealth from his own land.

“Whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house”: Who was so fond of the child, that she took it, and weaned it for her in the king’s palace.

“And Genubath was in Pharaoh’s household among the sons of Pharaoh”: Brought up among them, as if he was one of them.

Hadad was like a son to the Pharaoh. He and his wife lived with the Pharaoh when their son was born, and stayed there about three years until the baby was weaned.

1 Kings 11:21 “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.”

“Let me depart”: Like Moses (Exodus 2:10), Hadad’s son grew up in Pharaoh’s household. As did Moses (Exodus 5:1), Hadad requested that Pharaoh allow him to leave Egypt. Hearing of the deaths of David and Joab, he renounced his easy position and possessions in Egypt to return to Edom in order to regain his throne. His activities gave great trouble to Israel (verse 25).

Hadad wanted to go back and take his land back. The dreaded Joab was dead and so was David. The danger would not be as great now. Notice Hadad must get permission from the Pharaoh to go.

1 Kings 11:22 “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.”

Either of furnishings suitable to his birth and marriage; or of provisions for his household, or of honor and respect, or of any favor from him.

“That, behold, thou seekest to go into thine own country?” As if not well used where he was, or would be better provided for there.

“And he answered, Nothing”: He wanted nothing at all, as he had all he could wish for.

“Howbeit, let me go in any wise”: He had such an extreme desire to go, that he begged it might not be denied him on any account. Whether he acquainted Pharaoh with his view in this request is not said, but it is probable he did, and it is certain Pharaoh gave him leave to go (see 1 Kings 11:25).

Pharaoh obviously did not want him to go, but would give him permission if he insisted. He first tried to talk him out of it by reminding Hadad how good he had been to him. Hadad agreed that he had wanted for nothing, but he still wanted to go.

Verses 23-25: A second “adversary,” an Aramaean named “Rezon,” had survived David’s crushing defeat of the Aramaeans of “Zobah” and “Damascus.” He had managed to avoid “Solomon’s” later thrusts against Zobah” (2 Chron. 8:3-4), and still later had managed to make himself king of Damascus.

After David conquered Zobar (2 Sam. 8:3-8), Rezon and his men took Damascus and established the strong dynasty of Syrian kings that severely troubled Israel in the ninth century B.C. (15:18; 20:1).

1 Kings 11:23 “And God stirred him up [another] adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:”

One from the north, as the other was from the south.

“Rezon, the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah”: When David fought with him; and this man seeing the battle go against his master, and that he was like to be worsted, deserted him and fled (see 2 Sam. 8:3).

In the last lesson, we saw Hadad as an adversary. Now, we see Rezon. When David defeated Hadadezer, Rezon fled with some of the men and began again in Damascus. It was from here that he became an adversary to Solomon.

1 Kings 11:24 “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.”

Perhaps some of the scattered forces of his master.

“And became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah”. Some that escaped enlisted under this man, and lived by plunder the remainder of David’s reign, and so in the reign of Solomon unto his old age, when his heart was turned away from God to idols, by his wives.

“And they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus”: Rezon and his men went thither, not in David’s time, for he put a garrison there (2 Sam. 8:6), but towards the close of Solomon’s days, and when Hadad set up in Edom. Which gave him the hint to do the same at Damascus, of which he became king, and was the founder of that kingdom. After him there was a long line of kings there.

David had defeated Damascus, just before Rezon took over and set himself up as king.

1 Kings 11:25 “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.”

Not all the days of his life (see 1 Kings 5:4), but all his days, from his first going into idolatry, to the end of his life.

“Beside the mischief that Hadad did”: And which, whatever it was, was not done till this time. For either, when he got leave from Pharaoh to go into his country, he lay hid there, waiting an opportunity to seize upon it. Or by means of Pharaoh he got himself to be king of it, through the permission of Solomon, paying a tribute to him. But when Solomon was grown old, he revolted and refused to pay it, and rebelled against him, and gave him much trouble.

“And he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria”: Not Hadad, but Rezon. He had an aversion to them, was a thorn in their side. And gave them much trouble, as well as had them in contempt, and bid them defiance, having made himself not only master of Damascus, but of all Syria.

Both Hadad and Rezon hated Israel, and particularly Solomon. Rezon ruled over Syria at the time he harassed Solomon.

Verses 26-40: “Jeroboam”, one of Solomon’s servants, led a revolt against Solomon’s administration until his banishment to Egypt. Jeroboam’s actions, which were consequences of Solomon’s divided heart, led to the division of “the kingdom” of Israel (11:11-13; 12:2-19).

Ahijah” the prophet demonstrated this division by tearing his own “new garment” in 12 “pieces”, giving 10 to Jeroboam and leaving Solomon with “one tribe”, Judah (11:32). Judah and Benjamin were often regarded as one and referred to as Judah.

1 Kings 11:26 “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.”

Solomon’s third adversary was “Jeroboam, the son of Nebat,” an Ephrathite with distinct leadership qualities (verses 27-28).

In contrast to Hadad and Rezon, who were external adversaries of Solomon, God raised up Jeroboam from a town in Ephraim as an internal adversary. Jeroboam was from Ephraim, the leading tribe of Israel’s northern 10 tribes. He was a young man of talent and energy who, having been appointed by Solomon as leader over the building works around Jerusalem, rose to public notice.

This is the beginning of the fulfillment of the servant taking over the kingdom. Ephraim was always in opposition to Judah. We see that he was indeed, the servant of Solomon. The name “Jeroboam” means “whose people are many”.

1 Kings 11:27 “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.”

For “Millo (see the note on 2 Sam. 5:9). For the corvee (or forced labor; see the note on 5:13-14).

This was one of the cities that Solomon built, during the 20 years of building he did. It appears; he built a wall around the city to ward off invaders. Jeroboam was opposed to the building of the wall.

1 Kings 11:28 “And the man Jeroboam [was] a mighty man of valor: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.”

He was a man of great strength of body and great mental and emotional strength of mind.

“And Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious”: In what he was set about in the above buildings and repairs.

“He made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph”: the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, to be a prince or a deputy governor of them. Or rather to collect the king’s tax from them, or the revenues of that part of the country (see Prov. 22:29).

“Charge” (forced labor; see note on 5:13).

It appears Solomon was unaware that Jeroboam was opposed to him, and made him ruler over the house of Joseph. He was industrious and a good fighter and Solomon thought he was loyal.

Verses 29-31: “Although “the prophet Ahijah” predicted the division of the “kingdom” (verses 35, 37), and Jeroboam’s kingship over the northern “ten” tribes, he would later pronounce judgment against the house of Jeroboam (14:2-16).

1 Kings 11:29 “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:”

“Ahijah the Shilonite”: Ahijah was a prophet of the Lord who lived in Shiloh, a town in Ephraim about 20 miles north of Jerusalem (see note on 1 Sam. 1:3).

Verses 30-32: Here is a monumental prophecy that because of Solomon’s sins the kingdom would be divided and Jeroboam would rule in the northern area (verses 35-37).

1 Kings 11:30 “And Ahijah caught the new garment that [was] on him, and rent it [in] twelve pieces:”

This looks as if it was Jeroboam’s garment, having got a new one to appear before the king in; though the sense may be this, that the prophet took hold of his own garment that was upon himself.

“And rent it in twelve pieces”: As symbolical of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jeroboam had on his new garment, denoting his elevated office that Solomon had given him. It appears that the prophet, Nathan, is dead at this time and Ahijah becomes active as a prophet. We know that the twelve pieces of the garment symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel. “It” being torn apart symbolizes the separation of the tribes into fragments.

1 Kings 11:31 “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:”

Of the twelve, an emblem of the ten tribes he was to have.

“For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon”: That is, out of his family.

“And will give ten tribes unto thee”: To rule over.

The ten tribes are all, except Judah and Benjamin. The ten pieces that he takes shows that the ten tribes will be in the hands of Jeroboam. Solomon had offended God, and God will take the kingdom from him.

1 Kings 11:32 “(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:)”

“One tribe”: (verses 13, 36), probably means Judah plus one other. That second tribe has been variously understood as either Benjamin or Simeon (see the note on 12:20).

The one tribe he is speaking of is Judah, where the city of Jerusalem is and the tribe that Jesus will be from. Benjamin and Judah both control Jerusalem, so that is why they both make up the tribe of Judah. The only reason that God had spared Judah, is because of His love for David. He also wanted to spare Jerusalem, the holy city.

1 Kings 11:33 “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.”

My worship (as the Targum), both Solomon and the children of Israel following this example; which is not to be wondered at, considering how prone they always were to idolatry.

“And have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon”: Of which are their deities (see 1 Kings 11:5, 11:7).

“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”: The several laws of God relating to religious worship especially, which David was a strict observer of; and therefore Solomon, having such a pattern before him, was the more blameworthy.

(See notes on 11:5, 7).

One of the reasons the prophet mentions this again, is to remind Jeroboam that they had better not fall into this same evil sin. God still loves David and reminds them that David never stopped loving God.

1 Kings 11:34 “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:”

Not any part of it (1 Kings 11:12).

“But I will make him prince all the days of his life”: That is, he shall continue to hold the government of all the tribes so long as he lives.

“For David my servant’s sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes” (see 1 Kings 11:12)). Or was well pleased with, as the Targum. For keeping the commands of God from right principles, and with right views, is well pleasing to him.

Solomon would remain prince as long as he lived, because God was showing favor to David. As we said before, David sinned but he never stopped wanting to be obedient to God in his heart.

1 Kings 11:35 “But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it unto thee, [even] ten tribes.”

All but the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

“And will give it unto thee, even ten tribes”: Signified by ten pieces of the rent garment he had given him (1 Kings 11:31).

1 Kings 11:36 “And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.”

“Have a light always before me”: A lighted lamp represented the life of an individual (Job 18:6; Psalm 132:17). God promised that from the tribe of Judah, David would continue to have descendants ruling in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 21:17; 1 Kings 15:4; 2 Kings 8:19).

Davidic kings were to shine as a “lamp” among the nations. Similarly (Revelation Chapter 1), speaks of the lampstands representing the church and her shining witness to the world (Matt. 5:14-16).

The light spoken of was more like a coal at this point. The Light of all the world will come through the tribe of Judah in just a few years. Jesus is the Light of the world. God never breaks his covenant.

1 Kings 11:37 “And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.”

From the low estate in which he was, to being king.

“And thou shall reign according to all that thy soul desireth”: He being ambitious of the kingdom, and having already formed in his mind some designs upon it.

“And shall be king over Israel”: The ten tribes.

At the time this verse is speaking of, there were no more twelve tribes of Israel. There were ten tribes of Israel and two of Judah. Jeroboam had desired to be king of Israel. Now, he will have his wish.

Verses 38-39: Although Jeroboam is given a great opportunity to have a strong kingdom and good success if he would but serve the Lord. Nevertheless, he was informed beforehand that his kingdom, which he would found, would not last forever. God would remain true to the Davidic covenant. Although the “house” of David must be punished when it is disobedient, it will ultimately reign (Gen. 49:10), through that One to whom the kingdom belongs.

1 Kings 11:38 “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.”

“If thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee”: The Lord gave to Jeroboam the same promise that He had made to David, an enduring royal dynasty over Israel, the 10 northern tribes, if he obeyed God’s law. The Lord imposed on Jeroboam the same conditions for his kingship that He had imposed on David (2:3-4; 3:14).

Jeroboam had a chance to be great and be over the ten tribes of Israel. God had offered him the same thing He offered Solomon. God wants him to keep his commandments. God offered him the opportunity to be a king with a sure house.

1 Kings 11:39 “And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.”

“But not for ever”: This statement implied that the kingdom’s division was not to be permanent and that David’s house would ultimately rule all the tribes of Israel again (Ezek. 37:15-28).

The chastisement that the LORD sends on Solomon will not be forever. In Jesus Christ, the everlasting kingdom will be set up.

1 Kings 11:40 “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.”

“Sought … to kill Jeroboam”: Though the prophecy was private (verse 29), the king heard about it and Jeroboam became a marked man, guilty in Solomon’s eyes of rebellion and worthy of the death penalty.

“Shishak”: Shishak was the founder of the 22^nd dynasty in Egypt. He reigned 945-924 B.C. He invaded Judah during the reign of Rehoboam (14:25-26).

“Jeroboam” probably attempted to hasten the implementation of the prophecy, thus incurring Solomon’s wrath.

“Shishak”: was Pharaoh Sheshonq I (945-924 B.C.), of Egypt’s Twenty second Dynasty (see the note on 14:25-26).

It would be impossible for Solomon not to find out about this. Solomon would try to kill Jeroboam so that he would not take over as king of Israel. Solomon is still very powerful at this time. Jeroboam runs to Egypt for safety. Shishak gives refuge to Jeroboam. Jeroboam remains in Egypt until Solomon dies.

1 Kings 11:41 “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?”

Either written by himself, as Kimchi suggests, though not in being; or by some chronologer or historiographer employed by him in writing the most memorable things that happened in his reign. Or by several prophets (as in 2 Chronicles 9:29), out of which the inspired writer of this book took what he was directed to by the Lord to be transmitted to future ages.

2 Chron. 9:29 “Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, [are] they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?”

These books are unknown for the Christian. We will not assume things we are not sure of.

1 Kings 11:42 “And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel [was] forty years.”

“Forty years”: 971-931 B.C.

The number “40” symbolizes a time of testing. I will not make any assumptions, but it is interesting to me that Saul reigned 40 years, David reigned 40 years, and Solomon reigned 40 years. The 40 year reign of Solomon was one of the most spectacular of all history. Riches, fame, and worldly wisdom do not put you in right standing with God. All He ever wanted was for His people to love Him, and keep His commandments.

1 Kings 11:43 “And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.”

Died as they did.

“And was buried in the city of David his father”: Not in Bethlehem, but Zion (1 Kings 2:10).

“And Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead”: Of whom more in the following chapter. Though nothing is said of Solomon’s repentance, there is no doubt but he was a good man, repented of his sins, and was saved”: As may be concluded from the commendations of him after his death (2 Chron. 11:17). From the promise of God that he made, that his mercy should not depart from him, though he chastised him (2 Sam. 7:14), and from his being an inspired writer, who were all holy men (2 Peter 1:20). Especially from his writing the book of Ecclesiastes after his fall that contains a full acknowledgment of all his evils, a recantation of them, and repentance for them.

We are not told exactly how old Solomon was, when he died. I do not believe he lived to be very old however. We do not hear of him dying in his old age. He was buried in a tomb of honor with his father David in Jerusalem. Rehoboam ruled over Judah and Benjamin which was called Judah.

1 Kings 11: Questions