1 Kings · Majority Standard Bible
1 Kings 11 Majority Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women.
1 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites,
2 These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.
2 of 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.
3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away.
3 He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. His wives turned his heart away.
4 For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been.
4 When 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.
5 Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6 So Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD; unlike his father David, he did not follow the LORD completely.
6 Solomon did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and didn’t go fully after Yahweh, as David his father did.
7 At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites.
7 Then 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.
8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.
8 So he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.
9 Now the LORD grew angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.
9 Yahweh was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Yahweh, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,
10 Although He had warned Solomon explicitly not to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command.
10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he didn’t keep that which Yahweh commanded.
11 Then the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.
11 Therefore 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.
12 Nevertheless, for the sake of your father David, I will not do it during your lifetime; I will tear it out of the hand of your son.
12 Nevertheless, 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.
13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom away from him. I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
13 However, 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.”
14 Then the LORD raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom.
14 Yahweh raised up an adversary to Solomon: Hadad the Edomite. He was one of the king’s offspring in Edom.
15 Earlier, when David was in Edom, Joab the commander of the army had gone to bury the dead and had struck down every male in Edom.
15 For 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
16 Joab and all Israel had stayed there six months, until he had killed every male in Edom.
16 (for Joab and all Israel remained there six months, until he had cut off every male in Edom),
17 But Hadad, still just a young boy, had fled to Egypt, along with some Edomites who were servants of his father.
17 Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him, to go into Egypt, when Hadad was still a little child.
18 Hadad and his men set out from Midian and went to Paran. They took men from Paran with them and went to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave Hadad a house and land and provided him with food.
18 They 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.
19 There Hadad found such great favor in the sight of Pharaoh that he gave to him in marriage the sister of Queen Tahpenes, his own wife.
19 Hadad 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.
20 And the sister of Tahpenes bore Hadad a son named Genubath. Tahpenes herself weaned him in Pharaoh’s palace, and Genubath lived there among the sons of Pharaoh.
20 The 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.
21 When Hadad heard in Egypt that David had rested with his fathers and that Joab, the commander of the army, was dead, he said to Pharaoh, “Let me go, that I may return to my own country.”
21 When 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.”
22 But Pharaoh asked him, “What have you lacked here with me that you suddenly want to go back to your own country?” “Nothing,” Hadad replied, “but please let me go.”
22 Then 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.”
23 And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah,
23 God raised up an adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord, Hadadezer king of Zobah.
24 and had gathered men to himself. When David killed the Zobaites, Rezon captained a band of raiders and went to Damascus, where they settled and gained control.
24 He 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.
25 Rezon was Israel’s enemy throughout the days of Solomon, adding to the trouble caused by Hadad. So Rezon ruled over Aram with hostility toward Israel.
25 He was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, in addition to the mischief of Hadad. He abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.
26 Now Jeroboam son of Nebat was an Ephraimite from Zeredah whose mother was a widow named Zeruah. Jeroboam was a servant of Solomon, but he rebelled against the king,
26 Jeroboam 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.
27 and this is the account of his rebellion against the king. Solomon had built the supporting terraces and repaired the gap in the wall of the city of his father David.
27 This 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.
28 Now Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. So when Solomon noticed that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.
28 The 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.
29 During that time, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met Jeroboam on the road as he was going out of Jerusalem. Now Ahijah had wrapped himself in a new cloak, and the two of them were alone in the open field.
29 At 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.
30 And Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into twelve pieces,
30 Ahijah took the new garment that was on him, and tore it in twelve pieces.
31 and said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I will give you ten tribes.
31 He 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
32 But one tribe will remain 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.
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),
33 For they have forsaken Me to worship Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites. They have not walked in My ways, nor done what is right in My eyes, nor kept My statutes and judgments, as Solomon’s father David did.
33 because 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.
34 Nevertheless, I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon’s hand, because I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David My servant, whom I chose because he kept My commandments and statutes.
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,
35 But I will take ten tribes of the kingdom from the hand of his son and give them to you.
35 but I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand and will give it to you, even ten tribes.
36 I will give one tribe to his son, so that My servant David will always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put My Name.
36 I 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.
37 But as for you, I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your heart desires, and you will be king over Israel.
37 I will take you, and you shall reign according to all that your soul desires, and shall be king over Israel.
38 If you listen to all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight in order to keep My statutes and commandments as My servant David did, then I will be with you. I will build you a lasting dynasty just as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.
38 It 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.
39 Because of this, I will humble David’s descendants—but not forever.’”
39 I will afflict the offspring of David for this, but not forever.’”
40 Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, where he remained until the death of Solomon.
40 Therefore 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.
41 As for the rest of the acts of Solomon—all that he did, as well as his wisdom—are they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon?
41 Now 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?
42 Thus the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.
42 The time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.
43 And Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. And his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.
43 Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in his father David’s city; and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Ahijah
Prophet whose word to Jeroboam is fulfilled when Rehoboam rejects the people's plea; his prophecy is also a source for Solomon's acts.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 11:29; 1 Kings 12:15; 1 Kings 14:4
Eliada
Named as the father of Rezon, who ruled over Aram.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 11:23
Genubath
The son born to Hadad and Tahpenes' sister, weaned by Tahpenes in Pharaoh's palace and raised among Pharaoh's sons.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 11:20
Hadad the Edomite
A young boy of Edom's royal line who fled to Egypt when Joab struck down Edom's males, married the sister of Queen Tahpenes, and was raised up by the LORD as an adversary of…
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 11:14; 1 Kings 11:17; 1 Kings 11:19
Jeroboam
An Ephraimite from Zeredah, son of Nebat, whom Solomon put over the labor force of the house of Joseph and whom Ahijah told he would rule ten tribes; he became king of Israel,…
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 11:26; 1 Kings 11:28; 1 Kings 12:20
Nebat
Named as the father of Jeroboam, first king of the northern kingdom; the sins of 'Jeroboam son of Nebat' become the standard for later kings of Israel.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 11:26; 1 Kings 12:2; 1 Kings 16:3
Rezon
Son of Eliada who fled from his master Hadadezer king of Zobah, gathered a band of raiders, took control of Damascus, and ruled over Aram as Israel's enemy throughout Solomon's…
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 11:23; 1 Kings 11:24; 1 Kings 11:25
Shishak
King of Egypt who sheltered Jeroboam from Solomon and in Rehoboam's fifth year attacked Jerusalem and took the temple and palace treasures, including Solomon's gold shields.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 11:40; 1 Kings 14:25; 2 Chronicles 12:2
Solomon
David's son who built the temple and became famous for God-given wisdom.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 1-11; 1 Chron. 3:5; Matt. 1:6-7
Tahpenes
Pharaoh's wife, whose sister Pharaoh gave to Hadad in marriage and who herself weaned Hadad's son Genubath in Pharaoh's palace.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 11:19; 1 Kings 11:20
Zeruah
A widow named as the mother of Jeroboam son of Nebat.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 11:26
Cross references (42)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Deuteronomy 17:17; Proverbs 6:24; Nehemiah 13:23–27; 1 Kings 11:8; Proverbs 2:16
- 2 Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy 7:3–4; Joshua 23:12–13; 2 Corinthians 6:14–16; 1 Corinthians 15:33
- 3 2 Samuel 5:13–16; Ecclesiastes 7:28; Judges 9:5; 2 Chronicles 11:21; 2 Samuel 3:2–5
- 4 1 Kings 9:4; 1 Kings 8:61; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Kings 11:6; 2 Chronicles 17:3
- 5 Judges 2:13; 1 Kings 11:7; 2 Kings 23:13; 1 Kings 11:33; Judges 10:6
- 6 Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:14; Joshua 14:8
- 7 Numbers 21:29; Judges 11:24; Acts 7:43; Leviticus 26:30; Psalm 78:58
- 8 1 Kings 11:1; Ezekiel 16:22–29; Hosea 4:11–12; 1 Corinthians 10:11–12; 1 Corinthians 10:20–22
- 9 1 Kings 9:2; 1 Kings 3:5; Numbers 12:9; 2 Samuel 6:7; Exodus 4:14
- 10 1 Kings 6:12–13; 1 Kings 9:4–7; 2 Chronicles 7:17–22
- 11 1 Kings 12:15–16; 1 Kings 11:31; 2 Kings 17:21; Isaiah 29:13–14; 1 Kings 12:20
- 12 Genesis 12:2; Genesis 19:29; 2 Kings 22:19–20; 2 Kings 20:17; 2 Kings 20:19
- 13 1 Kings 12:20; Deuteronomy 12:11; 1 Kings 11:32; Deuteronomy 12:5; Psalm 132:13–14
- 14 2 Samuel 7:14; Isaiah 10:26; Isaiah 13:17; Psalm 89:30–34; 1 Kings 12:15
- 15 2 Samuel 8:14; 1 Chronicles 18:12–13; Deuteronomy 20:13; Numbers 24:18–19; Psalm 108:10
- 17 Matthew 2:13–14; 2 Kings 11:2; 2 Samuel 4:4; Exodus 2:1–10
- 18 Numbers 10:12; Deuteronomy 33:2; Deuteronomy 1:1; Genesis 25:4; Numbers 22:4
- 19 Genesis 39:21; Acts 7:10; Genesis 39:4; Jeremiah 43:7–9; Acts 7:21
- 20 1 Samuel 1:24; Genesis 21:7
- 21 1 Kings 2:10; 1 Samuel 9:26; Joshua 2:21; 2 Samuel 3:21; 1 Kings 2:34
- 22 Luke 22:35; Psalm 37:8; 2 Samuel 18:22–23; Mark 14:31; Jeremiah 2:31
- 23 2 Samuel 8:3; 1 Kings 11:14; 1 Chronicles 18:3–9; 1 Chronicles 19:16–19; Isaiah 45:5
- 24 2 Samuel 10:18; 2 Samuel 10:8; 1 Kings 19:15; 1 Kings 20:34; Acts 9:2
- 25 Zechariah 11:8; 2 Samuel 16:21; Deuteronomy 23:7; 2 Chronicles 15:2; Psalm 106:40
- 26 2 Chronicles 13:6; 1 Kings 12:2; 1 Samuel 1:1; 2 Samuel 20:21; 1 Kings 11:11
- 27 1 Kings 9:24; 1 Kings 9:15; 2 Samuel 5:7; 2 Samuel 20:21; Amos 9:11
- 28 Proverbs 22:29; 2 Samuel 19:20; 1 Kings 5:16; Isaiah 14:25; Judges 1:22–23
- 29 2 Chronicles 9:29; 1 Kings 14:2; 1 Kings 12:15; Genesis 4:8; Joshua 18:1
- 30 1 Samuel 15:27–28; 1 Samuel 24:4–5
- 31 1 Kings 11:11–12
- 32 1 Kings 11:13; 1 Kings 12:20–21; 1 Kings 14:21
- 33 1 Kings 11:5–7; 1 Kings 11:9; Hosea 4:17; Jeremiah 2:13; 1 Kings 6:12–13
- 34 Habakkuk 3:2; Job 11:6; 1 Kings 11:31; Psalm 103:10; 1 Kings 11:12–13
- 35 Exodus 20:5–6; 1 Kings 12:20; 2 Chronicles 10:15–17; 1 Kings 11:12; 1 Kings 12:15–17
- 36 1 Kings 11:13; 2 Kings 8:19; 1 Kings 15:4; Psalm 132:17; 2 Chronicles 21:7
- 37 2 Samuel 3:21; 1 Kings 11:26; Deuteronomy 14:26
- 38 2 Samuel 7:11; Joshua 1:5; Deuteronomy 31:8; 1 Kings 14:7–14; Deuteronomy 15:5
- 39 Isaiah 9:7; Luke 2:11; Isaiah 11:1–10; Luke 1:32–33; 1 Kings 14:25–26
- 40 2 Chronicles 12:2–9; Proverbs 21:30; Isaiah 46:10; Lamentations 3:37; 1 Kings 14:25–26
- 41 2 Chronicles 9:29–31
- 42 1 Kings 2:11
- 43 2 Kings 21:18; 1 Kings 2:10; Matthew 1:7; Matthew 1:5; 2 Chronicles 28:27
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… him Scripture is not silent, but accuses him of being a lover of strange women; for in the beginning of his reign he was inflamed with a desire for wisdom, but after he had attained it through spiritual love, he lost it through carnal lust.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)