1 Kings 11 - Printer Friendly

What does 1 Kings 11 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

God made a covenant with David. He promised that peace would characterize Israel, no longer disturbed by violent men (2 Samuel 7:10–11). If David's son sinned, God would discipline him, but He wouldn't take the kingdom away (2 Samuel 7:13–15). In 1 Kings 11, God acts on this last warning. Solomon began his reign a devout follower of the Lord (1 Kings 3:3). He fulfilled God's plan and built the temple. Solomon's first wife was a princess of Egypt (1 Kings 3:1). He built her a home outside the City of David so a pagan would not dwell where the ark of the covenant had stood (2 Chronicles 8:11).

Solomon's piety and caution don't last. He ignores important advice from the Lord (Deuteronomy 17:17), leading him into sin so flagrant that it destroys the integrity of the nation for centuries. Solomon takes hundreds of wives. These are mostly from nations God had forbidden intermarriage due to their evil religions (Deuteronomy 7:3–4; Exodus 34:15–16). In addition, Solomon has some three hundred concubines. While ancient kings often married purely to form political alliances, Solomon's relationships with pagan women are not cold matters of state. These women develop emotional bonds with the king. Over time, as they draw him away from obedience to God, Solomon "clings to them" instead of the Lord. (1 Kings 11:1–3).

As he ages, Solomon's resistance to pagan worship fades. Eventually, he goes beyond tolerance of pagan worship and begins to participate in it. He even builds pagan worship sites referred to as "high places." Altars to Ashtoreth, Milcom, Chemosh, and Molech litter the hill to the east of the temple of Yahweh (1 Kings 11:4–8).

God promised David that if his son "commits iniquity," God would "discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men" (2 Samuel 7:14). This will include clashes with various enemies. Scripture does not specify how Solomon received news of these judgments. It may have come through a prophet or some other means. Another consequence for Solomon, the most powerful king in the region, is splitting his kingdom. After Solomon dies, his son will lose ten tribes to Solomon's servant. God would take it all if not for His love for David (1 Kings 11:9–13).

Before Solomon dies, he faces three major adversaries. The first is Hadad, an Edomite (Genesis 36:9). The young prince had miraculously escaped the sword when Abishai destroyed thousands of Edomites (1 Chronicles 18:12). Hadad's servants took him to Egypt. There, he grew up and married the queen's sister, making him related to Solomon's wife. After David and Joab died, Hadad begged Pharaoh's permission to return. We're not told what he does against Solomon (1 Kings 11:14–22).

The second adversary is Rezon. Rezon had fled when David fought Hadadezer (2 Samuel 8:3–8). He built a band of marauders and became king of Damascus. Again, we aren't told what Rezon does or exactly when he started his campaigns. We do know that God uses him to discipline Solomon (1 Kings 11:23–25).

God uses Solomon's greatest enemy to begin the work of dismantling His nation. Jeroboam is from the powerful tribe of Ephraim. He supervises Solomon's forced labor from Ephraim and Manasseh. The prophet Ahijah stops Jeroboam one day and rips his own new cloak into twelve pieces. He tells Jeroboam to take ten pieces. Ahijah explains that after Solomon dies, God will take ten tribes from Solomon's son and give them to Jeroboam. Jeroboam is God's tool of judgment because of Solomon's spiritual adultery with the false gods of his pagan wives. If Jeroboam remains faithful to God, God will give him a legacy. But the purpose is to judge Solomon's sin until the nation is ready to be whole again. Solomon realizes that Jeroboam is the beneficiary of God's prophecy (1 Kings 11:11) and tries to kill his new rival. Jeroboam flees to Egypt until Solomon dies (1 Kings 11:26–40).

Solomon dies after reigning for forty years. The Book of the Acts of Solomon was probably a royal record with more specific details. This has not survived into the modern world. Second Chronicles 9:29–31 also mentions the writings of Nathan, Ahijah, and Iddo. Since the Chronicles were written to encourage the returning Babylonian exiles, it doesn't mention Solomon's idolatry or God's judgment. Solomon's son Rehoboam succeeds him as king (1 Kings 11:41–43; 2 Chronicles 9:29–31).

Rehoboam will barely complete his inauguration before Jeroboam returns. Rehoboam will follow bad advice which sparks a coup. Jeroboam seems to rally the laborers he once supervised. Nine tribes follow Jeroboam in a nearly bloodless coup. The only casualty is the taskmaster over the forced labor. Jeroboam's people stone him, but God prevents more bloodshed (1 Kings 12:1–24).

Jeroboam does not follow God's command. He realizes that if the people of the northern kingdom worship in Jerusalem, they'll remain soft-hearted toward their brothers in the south. Jeroboam gives them two replacement idols (1 Kings 12:25–33). Solomon had built the temple for God to hear the prayers of anyone who would seek Him (1 Kings 8:22–61). His and Jeroboam's foolish idolatry take that right from half the nation. From that point on, while the southern kingdom of Judah alternates between worshiping God and bowing down to pagan idols, the northern kingdom of Israel will never meaningfully return to worship of Yahweh (Exodus 3:15) again.

First Kings 11:1–8 describes the tragic theme of the end of Solomon's reign over Israel. Early in his rule, Solomon carefully followed God. He built the temple as a place where God could set His presence among His people. In return, God heaped riches and honor upon him (1 Kings 10). As he ages, Solomon is more influenced by the pagans among his seven hundred wives. They gradually pull him into worship of their false deities (Deuteronomy 17:17).God disciplines Solomon by sending enemies, including one who will split the kingdom (1 Kings 11:9–40). Israel has not held Solomon's borders since.

First Kings 11:9–13 is God's warning to Solomon about coming judgment. Solomon had built the temple (1 Kings 6). Now, he's built altars for his wives' foreign gods (1 Kings 11:7). For that betrayal, God warns that He will take most of the kingdom from Solomon's son. After Solomon dies, his son Rehoboam will make foolish choices which almost spark a civil war. Jeroboam, once the manager of labor in Ephraim and Manasseh, will rally the beleaguered workers and take the northern tribes (1 Kings 12).

First Kings 11:14–22 begins to record God's judgment on Solomon. God had promised David that his son would reign in peace (2 Samuel 7:11). Solomon's idolatry deserves judgment, but God fulfills His promise and sends only smaller groups and individuals to antagonize him. First, Hadad of Edom. Next will be Rezon, a former servant of David's old foe Hadadezer (1 Kings 11:23–25). Finally, Solomon will learn that Jeroboam is going to take the northern tribes from Solomon's son (1 Kings 11:26–40). During Solomon's reign, these men do minimal damage. Once he dies, Jeroboam becomes king of the north (1 Kings 12:16–24).

First Kings 11:23–25 introduces Solomon's second adversary. Solomon followed his wives into idolatry, so God vows to rip ten tribes from Solomon's son (1 Kings 11:3–13). Until then, God raises Hadad the Edomite (1 Kings 11:14–22) and Rezon, king of Damascus, to cause trouble. It's unclear what they do, other than damage the calm God intended Solomon to enjoy (2 Samuel 7:11).

First Kings 11:26–40 introduces Solomon's third enemy. Solomon has been worshiping his wives' idols (1 Kings 11:1–8). In response, God has sent Hadad the Edomite and Rezon from Syria to harass him (1 Kings 11:9–25). Jeroboam, from Ephraim, will have the longest-lasting impact. Although he won't do much while Solomon lives, he will take half the nation from Solomon's son Rehoboam and split the nation (1 Kings 12:16–24).

First Kings 11:41–43 is the epilogue of Solomon's reign (2 Chronicles 9:29–31). He has fulfilled his purpose. He followed his father, David, as king and built the temple. He asked for and received superhuman wisdom and accumulated vast amounts of riches. He also betrayed God and followed his many wives into idolatry. Solomon enjoys the blessings his father earned but leaves little to his son. Even what he does leave, his son doesn't deserve it (1 Kings 12:6–11; 14:21–24).

Chapter Summary:

King Solomon (1 Kings 1—2) forfeits his legacy. He allows foreign wives to draw him towards false gods. He worships them and builds their altars. Angry, God sends two men to harass him. God also warns that He'll raise up Jeroboam, one of Solomon's servants, to take the northern tribes from Solomon's son. Jeroboam flees to Egypt, but when Solomon dies, Jeroboam returns and splits the nation (1 Kings 12:16–24).

Chapter Context:

In 1 Kings 11, God continues his faithfulness toward Solomon by punishing him. God had promised David He would discipline David's son if he committed iniquity (2 Samuel 7:14). David warned Solomon (1 Kings 2:1–4). In his later years, Solomon worships his wives' gods, betraying Yahweh (Exodus 3:15) and his father. God warns Solomon that when he dies, his servant will tear the kingdom from his son. Shortly after Rehoboam takes the crown, Jeroboam takes ten tribes. Then Jeroboam follows Solomon's example, leading the people into a practice of idolatry from which the northern kingdom of Israel will never recover (1 Kings 12).

This was originally the first half of a combined text. First Kings records the end of David's reign and the rule of Solomon. After this, the kingdom is split in two. The northern nation of Israel no longer submits to the king of the southern nation, called Judah. The prophet Elijah first appears in this book. The kings mostly fail to honor the Lord. They participate in idolatry and other sins. This will eventually result in their conquest and exile, as depicted throughout the books of Chronicles.

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