The First Book of the Kings, commonly called the Third Book of the Kings
1 Kings 11
Chapter XI · Vol. II, pp. 738–741
1 Solomon's wives and concubines. 4 In his old age they draw him to idolatry. 9 God threateneth him. 14 Solomon's adversaries were Hadad, who was entertained in Egypt, 23 Rezon, who reigned in Damascus, 26 and Jeroboam, to whom Ahijah had prophesied. 41 Solomon's acts, reign, and death: Rehoboam succeedeth him.
1 But king Solomon loved amany strange women, (together with the daughter of Pharaoh,) women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, bYe shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods. Solomon clave unto these in love.
3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives cturned away his heart.
c Ec.7.26. Ex.34.15,16. De.7.4. ch.16.31. Ne.13.26.
4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old,d that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and ehis heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
d About fifty years, ch.6.1; 9.10; 14.21.
e ver.6,9,11; ch.8.61; 15.3, with 3.14; 9.4.
5 For Solomon went after fAshtaroth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after gMilcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
f Ju.2.13; 10.6. 1 Sa.7.14; 12.10. 2 Ki.23.13. Je.2.10-12.
g Molech, ver.7,33. Le.18.21; 20.2-4. 2 Ki.23.10. Am.5.26.
6 And Solomon hdid evil in the sight of the LORD, and went inot fully after the LORD, as did David his father.
7 Then did Solomon build an khigh place for lChemosh the abomination of Moab, in mthe hill that is before Jerusalem, and for nMolech the abomination of the children of Ammon.9
l Ju.11.24. Nu.21.29. Je.48.13.
m 2 Sa.15.30. Mat.26.30. 2 Ki.23.13. Zec.14.4. Ac.1.12.
n ver.5.
9 The hill before (i.e. eastward of) Jerusalem is the Mount of Olives. It has three tops. The central one is the highest, and seems to have been an ancient sanctuary. It is probable Solomon dedicated each summit to a heathen deity, in accordance with the wish of his favourite wives; and for this reason Olivet is called in 2 Ki. 23. 13, the Mount of Corruption. The licentious and cruel rites with which these deities were worshipped gave this name of infamy to the mount.—P.
8 And likewise did he for oall his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.1
o Eze.16.24,25. Ho.12.11. 1 Co.10.11,12.
1 There is not a more melancholy or astonishing instance of depravity than that here recorded. He who was named 'beloved of the Lord,' who had been favoured with such special tokens of God's favour, who had received such answers to prayer, who had been honoured to build the temple, who was renowned through the earth for wisdom and piety, who was a penman of sacred Scripture, who gave such excellent counsel to others, who was so illustrious a type of Christ, even he became a public worshipper of abominable idols.—Scott.
9 And the LORD was pangry with Solomon, because qhis heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, rwhich had appeared unto him twice,
p Ex.4.14. 2 Sa.6.7. 1 Ch.21.7. De.32.21,22; 4.25; 10.19; 31.16,17.
q 2 Ti.4.10. Pr.4.23. Is.29.13,14.
r ch.3.5; 9.2,6; 6.11,12.
10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, sthat he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.
s ch.3.14; 9.4-9. Ex.20.3,4,23; 34.11-17. Le.19.4. De.4.15-28; 6.14,15; 7.26; 8.19; xiii.; 17.2-7.
11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hastt not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, uI will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.
t 2 Sa.12.9. 1 Sa.2.30-32; 12.13,14; 15.26-28. ch.12.15,20.
u ver.12,31,35.
12 Notwithstanding xin thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but yI will rend it out of the hand of thy son.
x ch.21.29. 2 Ki.20.19. La.3.32. Ps.103.10. Hab.3.2. ver.34.
y ch.12.1,15,16,19,20. 2 Ch.10.15,16,19. ver.35.
13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give zone tribe2 to thy son, fora David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.
z ch.12.17,20. 2 Ch.10.17. ver.32,36.
2 One tribe, Benjamin, in addition to his own tribe of Judah: the one he had by inheritance, the other he received by gift.—C.
a Ex.32.13. De.9.5. 2 Ki.13.23. 2 Sa.7.12-16. ver.12,32,36.
14 And the LORD bstirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom,3
A.M. 3027. B.C. 977.
b ch.12.15. 1 Sa.26.19. 2 Sa.24.1; 7.14. 1 Ch.5.26. Is.10.5,6. Ps.89.30-32.
3 B.C. 1037.
15 Forc it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom,
c 2 Sa.8.14. 1 Ch.18.12,13. Nu.24.19. De.20.13. Ps.60. title; 108.10.
16 (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom,)4
4 Edom is here taken in some restricted sense; most probably for the capital and its adjoining district. Nothing is more common than to find a kingdom, a province, a county, and their respective capitals called by one name.—C.
17 That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a dlittle child:5
d Ge.44.20. ch.3.7.
5 A little boy, aware of his danger, and capable of retaining the recollections of paternal dignity and national inflictions.—C.
18 And they arose out of eMidian,6 and came to fParan: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.
e Ge.25.2,6. Ex.2.15,16. Nu.22.4; 25.1; 31.2. Ju.vi.-viii.
6 Not Midian near Horeb, where Moses was when the Lord appeared to him, Ex. 2. 15, but that Midian on the south of Moab, where the Israelites were seduced and punished, Nu. 22. 4, 7. Their capital remained in the time of Eusebius, and was situated on the Arnon.—C.
19 And Hadad found ggreat favour in the sight of hPharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the iqueen.
20 And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes kweaned in Pharaoh's house:7 and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh.
7 From Ge. 21. 8 it appears that among the Hebrews the weaning of a child was accompanied with solemn feasting—a custom which seems to have prevailed in Egypt, and as a public ceremony, somewhat equivalent to the European celebration of a birthday, has been here deemed worthy of historic notice, as marking the interest that Pharaoh took in cherishing one of Solomon's enemies. This Pharaoh was Solomon's father-in-law, but such is the want of 'natural affection' in the world, that it has been said, and too truly, that kingdoms are seldom married.—C.
21 And when Hadad lheard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart,8 that I may go to mine own country.
22 Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing:9 howbeit let me go in any wise.
9 Heb. Not.
23 And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his mlord Hadadezer king of Zobah:
m 2 Sa.8.2. Ps.60. title. 1 Sa.14.47.
24 And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, nwhen David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.1
n 2 Sa.8.3; 10.18. 1 Ch.18.3; 19.6,16-19.
1 It is probable that this statement simply means that Rezon became a successful general, and obtained such influence at court as to be virtual ruler. According to Josephus Hadad was at this period king of Damascus, and Rezon a powerful chief of bandits, who was permitted to settle in the kingdom, and to attack and plunder at will all the enemies of the state.—P.
25 And he was an adversary to Israel oall the days of Solomon, besides the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.
26 And pJeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, (whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman,) even he lifted up his hand against the king.
p 2 Ch.x.xi.xiii. ver.11,28-40; ch.9.22; xii.-xv. 2 Sa.20.21.
27 And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon qbuilt Millo,2 and repaired3 the breaches of the city of David his father.
A.M. 3027. B.C. 977.
q ch.9.15.
2 It is difficult to decide what Millo was, but the best information may be obtained by consulting 2 Sa.5.9. 1 Ki.9.15,24. 2 Ki.12.20. 1 Ch.11.8. 2 Ch.32.3. Some have supposed it to have been a valley which Solomon filled up; however, it evidently was a building, and one of the chief defences of Jerusalem, 2 Ch. 32. 3. From comparing Ju. 9. 6 with the above quotations, it appears not improbable that Millo was a name for a building comprehending a fortress and senate-house, or kind of forum for public assemblies.—C.
3 Heb. closed.
28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon rseeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the scharge of the house of Joseph.4
s Heb. burden, Ex.5.15. ch.12.4.
4 The part of the building allotted of Ephraim and Manasseh, the expense and labour of which, together with the probable character of Millo, as a citadel, not for defending, but overawing the city, may have laid the foundation of Jeroboam's rebellion.—C.
29 And it came to pass at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet tAhijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:
t ch.12.15; 14.2. Jos.18.1.
30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and urent it in twelve pieces.5
u ch.14.30; 15.27; 16.10-15. 2 Ki.10.30; 15.13. 1 Sa.15.27,28; 13.14; 24.5,20.
5 These were symbolical of the twelve tribes. The whole emblematic action seems to imply that the garment belonged to the prophet, and not to Jeroboam. He had purposely provided himself with a new garment, and he 'gave' ten parts of it to Jeroboam.—I.
31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, xI will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:
x ver.11-13,32,34-36; ch.12.1,16,19,20. 2 Ch.10.15,16,19.
32 (But yhe 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:)
y ver.13; ch.12.17,20.
33 Becausez that they have forsaken me,6 and have worshipped Ashtaroth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon,7 and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.
z ch.3.14; 9.6,7; 15.5; 22.43; 2.3, with 2 Ki.21.22; 20.3. ver.1-11.
6 Boothroyd, following some MSS. and versions, reads 'he hath;' Dathe, 'he and his people have.'—I.
7 Apostasies are here assigned as the reasons of divisions and calamities, a rule which Providence pursues in all the history of churches and kingdoms.—C.
34 Howbeit aI 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, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:
35 But bI will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.8
b ver.12,13; ch.12.15-20. 2 Ch.10.15-19.
8 Neither the design of God, nor the declaration of the prophet, excused Jeroboam's rebellion. David was faithful to Saul long after he had been anointed in his room. Jeroboam, moreover, instead of seeking to secure the promise by obedience, endeavoured to establish his throne by disobedience, and hence forfeited the kingdom both for himself and his posterity.—I.
36 And unto his son will I give one tribe,9 that David my servant may have a clight alway before me in Jerusalem, dthe city which I have chosen me to put my name there.
9 See note on ver. 13.—C.
c Heb. lamp or candle, 2 Sa.21.17. 2 Ki.8.19. 2 Ch.21.7. Ps.132.17. ch.15.4. Je.33.20-26.
d 1 Ch.17.24. ch.8.16,44.
37 And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign eaccording to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.
e ver.26.
38 And it shall be, fif 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 gwill be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.
A.M. 3027. B.C. 977.
f Ex.19.5. De.4.1; 15.5. ch.3.14; 9.4,5.
g De.31.8. Jos.1.5. ch.9.5. 1 Sa.2.30,35. 2 Sa.7.16,27-29. Je.33.20-26.
39 And I will for this hafflict the seed of David, but inot for ever.
h ch.xii. xv. 2 Ki.xiv. xvi.; 7.21. Ps.89.30-32,38-46.
i Lu.1.32,33; 2.4,11. Is.7.14; 9.6,7.
40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam:1 and Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto kShishak2 king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.
1 Wise Solomon, rendered foolish by idolatry, here attempts the very same crime that Saul had attempted against David.—C.
k ch.14.25. Who hated Solomon. Perhaps for some injury done to his sister, ver.1; ch.3.1.
2 Newton identifies him with the famous Sesostris; but Hales identifies him with Cephrenes son of Cheops, father-in-law of Solomon. Champollion considers him the Sesonchosis of Manetho whose name (Sheshouk) appears in an inscription on a pillar on the ruins of Carnac.—C.
41 And lthe rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book3 of the acts of Solomon?4
l 2 Ch.9.29,30. ver.4; ch.14.19,29; 15.7,23,31; 16.5,14,20,27; 22.39,45. 2 Ki.1.18; 8.23; 10.34; 12.19; 13.8,12; 14.15,18,28; 15.6,11,15,21,26,31,36; 21.17,25.
3 There is no reason for supposing this a separate history now lost, it is much more likely to describe the additional notices embodied in the Chronicles, and kept in a separate roll or book.—C.
4 See introductory note to this book.—P.
42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.
Notes
[Ver. 3. His wives turned away his heart. Hitherto we have viewed Solomon as the sun in his splendour, now we must view him sadly clouded and eclipsed. Blessed with unexampled and uninterrupted prosperity he forgets the God who gave it, breaks his law in principle, comp. Ex. 34. 16; De. 7. 3, with ver. 1, and in the letter, comp. De. 17. 17 with ver. 3, and forfeits all his character for wisdom by the lowest act of human folly—building temples for idols, and patronizing, if not joining in, their abominable worship, ver. 7, 8.—Note, His falling away is certain, ver. 4; God's displeasure revealed, ver. 9; of his repentance nothing is said—a silence that speaks volumes of warning to backsliders who have 'forgotten their first love.' One ray of hope arises from the reservation in the word 'fully,' ver. 6; and the favourable reference to his name by our blessed Redeemer, Mat. 12. 42. C.]
Reflections.—Lord, what is man! Is this Solomon—the beloved of the Lord—the miracle of wisdom—the man of prayer—the builder of the temple! How art thou fallen from heaven, O son of the morning! How ensnaring is the inordinate love of women! Every indulgence given to lewd desires only renders them more insatiable: and they who give way to one wilful sin never know when or where they shall stop. Indulgence of fleshly lusts makes the heart brutish and stupifies the conscience: and even sumptuous fare too fearfully pampers our lusts. No present attainment of gifts or grace, without continued watchfulness, will secure us against the most shameful falls. How sad, how stumbling, when the old age of once famous saints becomes a long and continued scene of profligacy! Alas! how Solomon's inordinate love of horses issues in an inordinate love of base women; and this in a multiplication of abominable idols! How the aged saint is ensnared by youthful lusts! How the wisest sage is made an arrant fool by silly women! How the man who so often warned others against levity and whoredom, turns out a monster of vileness! How the man once so familiar with his God is plunged into the vilest depths of fellowship with Satan and his most abominable agents! Let me then always suspect my corruptions and depend on the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Let me never covet great prosperity which hath so great snares attending it. Nay, if I have made a great profession of religion, let me take heed lest Satan render me a remarkable reproach to it. Never let me expect that base ingratitude and wilful disobedience will pass unpunished. But God never deals with his people in such severity as they deserve. For Jesus' sake he defers his anger, and in wrath remembers mercy. But, alas! how sin turns peace into war! From the most abject and low condition God can raise up the most terrible instruments of his wrath: and when he intends to chastise he never wants a rod, but makes men's sinful ambition the means of his just but awful rebukes. Diligence paves the way to advancement, and advancement inflames ambition. But hopeless is the case when God gives men kings in his anger: and it is impossible to keep down the scourge which the Lord stirs up. God generally renders sinners inexcusable by the fair warnings which he gives them of their danger. But it is shameful and very depressing when his people die under divine frowns. To what a tremendous length and degree God may carry the just chastisement of his dearest saints!