1 Kings 11:35
ESV
But I will take the kingdom out of his son 's hand and will give it to you, ten tribes.
NIV
I will take the kingdom from his son’s hands and give you ten tribes.
NASB
but I will take the kingdom from his son’s hand and give it to you; that is, ten tribes.
CSB
I will take ten tribes of the kingdom from his son and give them to you.
NLT
But I will take the kingdom away from his son and give ten of the tribes to you.
KJV
But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.
NKJV
But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand and give it to you—ten tribes.
What does 1 Kings 11:35 mean?
The prophet Ahijah is explaining how God will respond to Solomon's idolatry. God will take the northern tribes from Solomon's son and give them to Jeroboam, a labor supervisor (1 Kings 11:28–33). And yet, God promised David that his line would continue to be king (2 Samuel 7:12–16). To keep that promise, God will give Solomon's son one tribe.The tribal count can seem inaccurate, at first. Twelve tribes hold territory; the tribe of Levi only has cities. One tribe, Manasseh, holds two territories. So, how can one man hold ten tribes and another man hold one?
"The ten tribes" are a symbolic name for the kingdom of Israel that Saul's son Ish-bosheth ruled before David became king of the entire nation (2 Samuel 2:8–9). Although it's called "the ten tribes," Jeroboam will only hold nine: Dan, Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, Gad, and Reuben.
"One tribe" is a symbolic name for the kingdom of Judah that David first ruled (2 Samuel 2:4). Simeon's territory was within Judah's. By this time, the people have intermarried to the point that there is no distinction. By God's grace, Rehoboam will retain Benjamin and Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:36). When Rehoboam makes up his own religion, the Levites will flee to Judah (1 Kings 11:33–36).
