1 Kings 11:38
ESV
And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.
NIV
If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you.
NASB
Then it shall be, that if you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight by keeping My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build you an enduring house as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.
CSB
"‘After that, if you obey all I command you, walk in my ways, and do what is right in my sight in order to keep my statutes and my commands as my servant David did, I will be with you. I will build you a lasting dynasty just as I built for David, and I will give you Israel.
NLT
If you listen to what I tell you and follow my ways and do whatever I consider to be right, and if you obey my decrees and commands, as my servant David did, then I will always be with you. I will establish an enduring dynasty for you as I did for David, and I will give Israel to you.
KJV
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.
NKJV
Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.
What does 1 Kings 11:38 mean?
Throughout Scripture, God makes various covenants with people. Some, like the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1–3), are called "unconditional:" the beneficiary doesn't have to do anything to receive God's blessing. Others, like the Mosaic Covenant (Deuteronomy 28), are called "conditional" because God will only continue to bless the receiver if they fulfill God's requirements.The Davidic Covenant is unconditional. God chose to ensure that David's son would build the temple and that his descendants would rule Israel as king forever (2 Samuel 7:8–17). Beyond that detail, however, the promise is conditional. David's descendant Jesus will be king; God will fulfill His promise. The extent to which the descendants between Solomon and Jesus rule depends on how faithful they are to God's Law. God explained this to Solomon (1 Kings 9:4–9). So, when Solomon commits idolatry, God promises to take most of the nation away from Solomon's son.
God decides to give the northern tribes to Jeroboam in a conditional covenant, much like the one He made with Solomon. If Jeroboam follows God over the next few years, God will give him the ten northern tribes. If Jeroboam and his sons continue to follow God, God will maintain Jeroboam's descendants' legacy over the northern kingdom of Israel. God goes on to say, "And I will afflict the offspring of David because of this, but not forever" (1 Kings 11:39).
Despite this astonishing promise, Jeroboam utterly fails to meet God's conditions (1 Kings 13:33–34). Jeroboam fears that loyalty to God will be his downfall. If the people go to Jerusalem to worship, they may want to reunite under David's grandson. So, he makes them replacement gods (1 Kings 12:25–33; Exodus 34:3–4). And, instead of a "sure house," God gives him a legacy of two (1 Kings 15:25–31).
