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1 Kings Chapter 11

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Viewing the Standard King James Version (Pure Cambridge). Click to switch to 1611 King James Version of 1 Kings Chapter 11


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.

 


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Matthew Henry's 1 Kings Chapter 11 Bible commentary...



Solomon's wives and concubines, His idolatry. (1-8) God's anger. (9-13) Solomon's adversaries. (14-25) Jeroboam's promotion. (26-40) The death of Solomon. (41-43)1-8 There is not a more melancholy and astonishing instance of human depravity in the sacred Scriptures, than that here recorded. Solomon became a public worshipper of abominable idols! Probably he by degrees gave way to pride and luxury, and thus lost his relish for true wisdom. Nothing forms in itself a security against the deceitfulness and depravity of the human heart. Nor will old age cure the heart of any evil propensity. If our sinful passions are not crucified and mortified by the grace of God, they never will die of themselves, but will last even when opportunities to gratify them are taken away. Let him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall. We see how weak we are of ourselves, without the grace of God; let us therefore live in constant dependence on that grace. Let us watch and be sober: ours is a dangerous warfare, and in an enemy's country, while our worst foes are the traitors in our own hearts.

9-13 The Lord told Solomon, it is likely by a prophet, what he must expect for his apostacy. Though we have reason to hope that he repented, and found mercy, yet the Holy Ghost did not expressly record it, but left it doubtful, as a warning to others not to sin. The guilt may be taken away, but not the reproach; that will remain. Thus it must remain uncertain to us till the day of judgment, whether or not Solomon was left to suffer the everlasting displeasure of an offended God.

14-25 While Solomon kept close to God and to his duty, there was no enemy to give him uneasiness; but here we have an account of two. If against us, he can make us fear even the least, and the very grasshopper shall be a burden. Though they were moved by principles of ambition or revenge, God used them to correct Solomon.

26-40 In telling the reason why God rent the kingdom from the house of Solomon, Ahijah warned Jeroboam to take heed of sinning away his preferment. Yet the house of David must be supported; out of it the Messiah would arise. Solomon sought to kill his successor. Had not he taught others, that whatever devices are in men's hearts, the counsel of the Lord shall stand? Yet he himself thinks to defeat that counsel. Jeroboam withdrew into Egypt, and was content to live in exile and obscurity for awhile, being sure of a kingdom at last. Shall not we be content, who have a better kingdom in reserve?

41-43 Solomon's reign was as long as his father's, but his life was not so. Sin shortened his days. If the world, with all its advantages, could satisfy the soul, and afford real joy, Solomon would have found it so. But he was disappointed in all, and to warn us, has left this record of all earthly enjoyments, "Vanity and vexation of spirit." The New Testament declares that one greater than Solomon is come to reign over us, and to possess the throne of his father David. May we not see something of Christ's excellency faintly represented to us in this figure?

 


Recent Comments for 1 Kings Chapter 11...

 


Sparkle's 1 Kings Chapter 11 comment on 3/11/2013, 6:35am...

It is a sad thing when you read comments and see people blaming women for man's downfall. The downfall of Solomon had to do with disobedience. When men of God go after women, God was not as angry as when they went after the women that God specifically told them not to do. Man has a lust for things, including women that they are forbidden to go after. It happens even today. A man is married and should be to the one he made the oath with but he continues to disobey God and go after other women, prostitutes etc. Wife being a woman is not his downfall but the other women that he goes after. Once more it is man and lust for what he should not have.

 


Rosemary's 1 Kings Chapter 11 comment on 2/25/2013, 7:08pm...

The natural consequence that comes to those who depart from the way of the Lord is that they are left to their own strength. While in the heat of our success we might assume that our own strength is sufficient; those who rely upon the arm of the flesh soon discover how weak and unreliable it truly is. For example, Solomon at first, obeyed the Lord and honored His law. Because of this, he prospered and was blessed not only with wisdom but with wealth and honor. If he continued in righteousness, the Lord promised to “establish the throne of [his] kingdom upon Israel forever”. But even after heavenly visitations, even after receiving blessings above all men, Solomon turned away from the Lord. So was his brain and after all the wisdom he had, went from right to wrong.

 


Andy's 1 Kings Chapter 11 comment about verse 5 on 8/24/2012, 9:59pm...

the word Ashtoreth translated from Hebrew to Greek & again into English is our word & hoiday ''easter''. Do a history study on this foreign goddess & you'll find out why the Passover & the Resurection of our Lord got mixed up w/ bunnies & baskets.

 


Brenda murray's 1 Kings Chapter 11 comment on 8/24/2012, 2:34pm...

Regardless to how close you walk with God, you still have the potential to fall from grace. We see this clearly in David's life and his son Solomon. The solution is to repent when you mess up.

 


Sanobia holmes's 1 Kings Chapter 11 comment on 7/17/2012, 10:06am...

@ Ralph M: I can see what your saying but i think it was Solomon's love of "strange" women. Women who were outside the of Judah and women who were not even from Israel.

 


Declareit's 1 Kings Chapter 11 comment about verse 39 on 6/02/2012, 2:00pm...

The seed of David (JESUS the Christ) aflicted for our sins (Isaih 53). The Christ suffered unto death but not forever, because He rose up from the dead on the 3rd day. I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not forever. The New American Standard Version cannot be correct because it translate seed to descendants. It is not seeds but it is seed.

 


RALPH M. WATERS's 1 Kings Chapter 11 comment on 3/29/2012, 7:50am...

FOR STARTERS: NOT TO BE HARSH BUT TRUTHFUL, ONCE AGAIN, WOMEN IS THE DOWNFALL OF MANKIND. IT WAS ONCE AGAIN THE WOMEN WHO ALLURES MAN INTO TEMPTATION; AND THE WEAKNESS OF MAN TO FOLLOW. SEVERAL TIMES GOD SHOWS COMPASSION OVER DAVID; DAVID COMMITTED MURDER AND ADULTERY; YET GOD STATES DAVID FOLLOWED HIS COMMANDMENTS. DAVID WAS CHOSEN, NOT SAYING HE COULD DO NO WRONGE, BUT "CHOSEN", GOD, BEING ALL KNOWING, KNOWS, OUR SHORTCOMINGS, "HE", KNOWS OUR WEAKNESS. THEREFORE, WE MUST NOT GIVE UP HAVING FAITH IN A MERCIFUL GOD, OVER OUR SHORTCOMINGS AND CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR THE MARK IN CHRIST JESUS. THERE IS ONLY ONE JUDGE, AND ITS NOT OURSELVES. WE MUST NOT GIVE IN TO SATAN AND SAY" I DO THIS, AND I DO THAT" GOD KNOWS ALL YOU DO. HE FORGAVE DAVID, AND HE WILL FORGIVE YOU.

 


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