1 Kings 11: Solomon's wives turn his heart, and Ahijah tears his cloak for Jeroboam
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What happens?
King Solomon loves many foreign women, and the text gives him seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. When he is old, his wives turn his heart after other gods, and he builds high places for Chemosh and Molech. Yahweh is angry and tells Solomon that he will tear the kingdom from him and give it to his servant, but not in Solomon's days and not all of it. Yahweh raises up adversaries against Solomon: Hadad the Edomite and Rezon, who reigns in Damascus. Jeroboam, Solomon's servant, also rebels: the prophet Ahijah tears his new cloak into twelve pieces and tells Jeroboam to take ten, saying that Yahweh will give him ten tribes. Solomon tries to kill Jeroboam, who flees to Egypt. Solomon dies after reigning forty years, and his son Rehoboam reigns in his place.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. God's own words are in 4 of the 43 verses: in verse 2 the narrator gives what Yahweh had said to the children of Israel, and in verses 11 to 13 Yahweh speaks to Solomon. Verses 9 and 10, that Yahweh was angry and had commanded Solomon, are the narrator's words. Hadad and Pharaoh speak in verses 21 and 22. The prophet Ahijah speaks to Jeroboam in verses 31 to 39. He gives Yahweh's message ("Yahweh, the God of Israel, says"), so those words are the prophet's, and they are not in gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites,
In plain English: King Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian and Hittite women.
Good to know: Solomon's marriage to Pharaoh's daughter is told in , and tells of the city Pharaoh gave her as a wedding gift. "Foreign" is nokri, which the dictionary gives as "strange, in a variety of degrees and applications (foreign, non-relative ...)". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "strange women, as well as the daughter of Pharao", and its list also names Syrians and Amorites.
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2of the nations concerning which Yahweh said to the children of Israel, “You shall not go among them, neither shall they come among you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon joined to these in love.God speaks
In plain English: They were from the nations that Yahweh had spoken about to the children of Israel: "You shall not go among them, and they shall not come among you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods." Solomon held on to them (this Bible: joined to these) in love.
Good to know: Here the narrator gives Yahweh's own words to Israel, so they are in gold. The same warning is in the law: "You shall not make marriages with them ... For that would turn away your sons from following me" ( and ; see also ).
The Hebrew word: "Joined" is davaq, which the dictionary gives as "to ... cling or adhere". It is the word in , where a man "will join with his wife".
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3He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. His wives turned his heart away.
In plain English: He had seven hundred wives who were princesses (or: noblewomen), and three hundred concubines. His wives turned his heart away.
Good to know: These are the text's own numbers. "Princesses" is sarah, which the dictionary gives as "a mistress, i.e. female noble". The law for a king says: "He shall not multiply wives to himself, that his heart not turn away" ().
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4When Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as the heart of David his father was.
In plain English: When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods. His heart was not whole (this Bible: perfect) with Yahweh his God, as the heart of David his father had been.
The Hebrew word: "Perfect" is shalem, which the dictionary gives as "complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly": a heart that is whole. In 1 Kings this Bible says "perfect" in 4 of the 5 verses that use it. Solomon himself had told the people, "Let your heart therefore be perfect with Yahweh our God" ().
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5For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
In plain English: Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom, the detestable idol (this Bible: abomination) of the Ammonites.
The Hebrew words: The dictionary gives Ashtoreth as "the Phoenician goddess of love (and increase)", and Milcom as "the national idol of the Ammonites". names "the Ashtaroth" (see the note there). "Abomination" is shiqquts, which the dictionary gives as "disgusting, i.e. filthy; especially idolatrous or ... an idol". This Bible says "abomination" or a longer form in 23 of the 26 verses that use it.
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6Solomon did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and didn’t go fully after Yahweh, as David his father did.
In plain English: Solomon did what was evil in Yahweh's eyes. He did not follow Yahweh fully (literally: he did not fill after Yahweh), as David his father had done.
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7Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the mountain that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon.
In plain English: Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the detestable idol (this Bible: abomination) of Moab, on the mountain in front of (literally: on the face of) Jerusalem, and one for Molech, the detestable idol of the children of Ammon.
Good to know: The dictionary gives Chemosh as "the god of the Moabites" and Molech as "Molek (i.e. king), the chief deity of the Ammonites" (see the note on ). Verse 5 names the god of the Ammonites Milcom, and this verse names Molech. tells how these high places, "which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth ... for Chemosh ... and for Milcom", were later defiled.
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8So he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.
In plain English: He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense (literally: made smoke) and sacrificed to their gods.
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9Yahweh was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Yahweh, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,
In plain English: Yahweh was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from Yahweh, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,
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10and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he didn’t keep that which Yahweh commanded.
In plain English: and had commanded him about this very thing, that he must not go after other gods. But he did not keep what Yahweh had commanded.
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11Therefore Yahweh said to Solomon, “Because this is done by you, and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant.God speaks
In plain English: So Yahweh said to Solomon, "Because this is what you have done (literally: because this has been with you), and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.
The Hebrew word: "Tear" is qara, which the dictionary gives as "to rend". The same word comes again when Ahijah tears his new cloak in . The text does not name the servant here; calls Jeroboam "a servant of Solomon".
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12Nevertheless, I will not do it in your days, for David your father’s sake; but I will tear it out of your son’s hand.God speaks
In plain English: But I will not do it in your days, for the sake of David your father. I will tear it out of your son's hand.
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13However, I will not tear away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to your son, for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.”God speaks
In plain English: Even so, I will not tear away the whole kingdom. I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant, and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen."
Good to know: The text does not name the one tribe here. In only the tribe of Judah follows David's house, and in Rehoboam gathers "all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin".
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14Yahweh raised up an adversary to Solomon: Hadad the Edomite. He was one of the king’s offspring in Edom.
In plain English: Yahweh raised up an adversary against Solomon: Hadad the Edomite. He was of the king's family (literally: of the seed of the king) in Edom.
The Hebrew word: "Adversary" is satan, explained in the note on . It is in 4 verses of 1 Kings: here, verses 23 and 25, and , where Solomon had said, "There is no enemy" (the same word). In 1 Kings this Bible never says "Satan" for it.
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15For when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the army had gone up to bury the slain, and had struck every male in Edom
In plain English: For when David was in Edom, and Joab the commander of the army had gone up to bury the dead (literally: the slain), he had struck down every male in Edom
Good to know: tells that David put garrisons throughout Edom, and "all the Edomites became servants to David". It does not tell of Joab's six months there.
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16(for Joab and all Israel remained there six months, until he had cut off every male in Edom),
In plain English: (Joab and all Israel stayed there six months, until he had cut off every male in Edom).
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17Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him, to go into Egypt, when Hadad was still a little child.
In plain English: Hadad fled, he and some Edomites who were servants of his father, to go to Egypt. Hadad was still a young boy.
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18They arose out of Midian and came to Paran; and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, and appointed him food, and gave him land.
In plain English: They set out from Midian and came to Paran. They took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt. Pharaoh gave Hadad a house, set aside (literally: said) food for him, and gave him land.
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19Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him as wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.
In plain English: Hadad found great favor with Pharaoh (literally: in Pharaoh's eyes), so Pharaoh gave him as a wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen (literally: the lady).
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20The sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house; and Genubath was in Pharaoh’s house among the sons of Pharaoh.
In plain English: Tahpenes' sister bore him his son Genubath, and Tahpenes weaned him in Pharaoh's house. Genubath lived in Pharaoh's house among Pharaoh's sons.
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21When Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Let me depart, that I may go to my own country.”
In plain English: When Hadad heard in Egypt that David had died (literally: slept with his fathers) and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, "Let me go, so that I may go to my own country."
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22Then Pharaoh said to him, “But what have you lacked with me, that behold, you seek to go to your own country?” He answered, “Nothing, however only let me depart.”
In plain English: Pharaoh said to him, "But what have you lacked with me, that now you want to go to your own country?" He answered, "Nothing. Only let me go."
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23God raised up an adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord, Hadadezer king of Zobah.
In plain English: God raised up an adversary against him (Solomon): Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his master Hadadezer, king of Zobah.
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24He gathered men to himself, and became captain over a troop, when David killed them of Zobah. They went to Damascus and lived there, and reigned in Damascus.
In plain English: He gathered men around him and became the leader of a raiding band, when David killed the men of Zobah (literally: killed them). They went to Damascus, lived there, and reigned in Damascus.
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25He was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, in addition to the mischief of Hadad. He abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.
In plain English: He was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, besides the harm that Hadad did. He hated (or: loathed) Israel, and he reigned over Syria (literally: Aram).
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26Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, also lifted up his hand against the king.
In plain English: Jeroboam the son of Nebat also rebelled against the king (literally: lifted up his hand against the king). He was an Ephraimite (or: an Ephrathite) from Zeredah and a servant of Solomon. His mother's name was Zeruah, a widow.
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27This was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breach of his father David’s city.
In plain English: This is why he rebelled against the king (literally: lifted up his hand): Solomon built the Millo (or: the rampart) and closed up the gap (this Bible: breach) in the city of his father David.
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28The man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon saw that the young man was industrious, and he put him in charge of all the labor of the house of Joseph.
In plain English: The man Jeroboam was a strong, brave man (this Bible: a mighty man of valor). When Solomon saw that the young man was a hard worker, he put him in charge of all the labor (literally: the load) of the house of Joseph.
The Hebrew word: "Labor" here is sevel, which the dictionary gives as "a load". It is a different word from the forced labor (mas) that Adoniram was over in , and that Adoram was over in .
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29At that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the way. Now Ahijah had clad himself with a new garment; and the two of them were alone in the field.
In plain English: At that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite (a man of Shiloh) met him on the road. He (this Bible: Ahijah) was wearing a new cloak, and the two of them were alone in the open country (this Bible: the field).
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30Ahijah took the new garment that was on him, and tore it in twelve pieces.
In plain English: Ahijah took hold of the new cloak that was on him and tore it into twelve pieces.
Good to know: The text does not say why twelve pieces; verse 31 gives ten to Jeroboam. In verse 29 the Hebrew says only "he" was wearing the new cloak, and this Bible reads it as Ahijah. A torn robe and a torn kingdom also go together earlier: when Saul took hold of Samuel's robe and it tore, Samuel said, "Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today" ( and ).
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31He said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces; for Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you
In plain English: He said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces for yourself. For Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, 'Look, I am about to tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I will give ten tribes to you
Good to know: These are Ahijah's words. He gives Yahweh's message ("Yahweh, the God of Israel, says"), so his words are not in gold, here or in verses 32 to 39, even where the message speaks as "I".
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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),
In plain English: (but he will have one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel),
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33because they have forsaken me, and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon. They have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in my eyes, and to keep my statutes and my ordinances, as David his father did.
In plain English: because they have left (this Bible: forsaken) me and have bowed down to Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon. They have not walked in my ways, to do what is right in my eyes and to keep my statutes and my rules (this Bible: ordinances), as David his father did.
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34“‘However, 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, who kept my commandments and my statutes,
In plain English: 'But I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand. I will make him ruler (this Bible: prince) all the days of his life, for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes.
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35but I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand and will give it to you, even ten tribes.
In plain English: But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and give it to you: ten tribes.
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36I will give one tribe to his son, that David my servant may have a lamp always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for myself to put my name there.
In plain English: I will give one tribe to his son, so that David my servant may always have a lamp (the old Greek translation has: an establishment; see the note) before me in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen for myself, to put my name there.
The Hebrew word: "Lamp" is nir, which the dictionary gives as "a lamp (i.e. the burner) or light (literally or figuratively)". David's men called David "the lamp of Israel" in , and the lamp for David comes again in and .
What changes: Read as "lamp", David's line keeps a light burning before Yahweh in Jerusalem. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) reads it another way: "that my servant David may have an establishment continually before me in Jerusalem". Brenton also has "the two remaining tribes" in this verse, where the Hebrew has one tribe.
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37I will take you, and you shall reign according to all that your soul desires, and shall be king over Israel.
In plain English: I will take you, and you will reign over all that you desire (literally: all that your soul desires), and you will be king over Israel.
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38It shall be, if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do that which is right in my eyes, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, that I will be with you, and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.
In plain English: If you listen to all that I command you, walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes, keeping my statutes and my commandments as David my servant did, then I will be with you. I will build you a lasting (this Bible: sure) house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.
The Hebrew word: "Sure" is aman, which the dictionary gives as "to build up or support ... to render (or be) firm or faithful ... to be permanent". The same word is in Yahweh's promise to David: "Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever" ().
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39I will afflict the offspring of David for this, but not forever.’”
In plain English: Because of this I will humble (this Bible: afflict) the descendants (literally: the seed) of David, but not forever (literally: not all the days).'"
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40Therefore Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.
In plain English: So Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam got up and fled to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and he stayed in Egypt until Solomon died.
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41Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, aren’t they written in the book of the acts of Solomon?
In plain English: The rest of the acts of Solomon, all that he did and his wisdom: are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?
Good to know: The text names a book, "the book of the acts of Solomon", where more is written. It gives the same kind of pointer for Jeroboam in and for Rehoboam in .
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42The time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.
In plain English: Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years.
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43Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in his father David’s city; and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.
In plain English: Solomon died (literally: slept with his fathers) and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam reigned in his place.
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