1 Kings 6:13
ESV
And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel."
NIV
And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel."
NASB
And I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and will not abandon My people Israel.'
CSB
I will dwell among the Israelites and not abandon my people Israel."
NLT
I will live among the Israelites and will never abandon my people Israel.'
KJV
And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.
NKJV
And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.”
What does 1 Kings 6:13 mean?
The fate of the nation is dependent on Solomon's choices. Not only is he the king, but he also builds the great temple of God. There, God's people will mourn their sins and celebrate His mercies. God is pleased with the temple. That doesn't mean Solomon's work will be done. As the king, God must hold Solomon accountable, as a father does a son. If Solomon "commits iniquity," God will use other men to punish him (2 Samuel 7:14). If Solomon remains faithful, his line will continue to lead Israel for another generation (2 Samuel 7:15–16).Solomon's obedience also directly influences the nation. God's blessings for obedience and judgment for rebellion in Deuteronomy 28 were for all of Israel. But the people follow where the king leads. If Solomon leads the people into idolatry, God will remove His presence.
This is exactly what happens. After he builds the temple of YHWH, Solomon will rebuild the high places of Chemosh, Molech, Ashtoreth, and Milcom. These are the gods of the Canaanites whom God ordered destroyed. First, God punishes Solomon's line directly by giving half the kingdom to a rival (1 Kings 12). Then, God watches as the people follow their kings into idolatry.
In the northern kingdom of Israel, this process starts early. The new king, Jeroboam, makes two calves for the people to worship so they won't go to the temple and retain their ties with their kinsmen (1 Kings 12:25–33). A few generations later, Ahab introduces Baal worship (1 Kings 16:31). Israel never recovers. They will continue worshiping false gods until Assyria destroys them (2 Kings 17:1–6).
The southern kingdom of Judah's future isn't quite so bleak. Some kings, like Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah, will lead the people into worshiping God alone. But too many kings follow Solomon into idolatry. Eventually, God allows Babylon to take Judah into exile (2 Kings 25).
God's warning to Solomon and the way it comes to life in Israel's history should convict any leader. Leadership isn't restricted to a single area. True leadership is as much about the character of the person as it is about the path forward.
