1 Kings 11

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 11 of 22

1 And King Solomon loved many foreign women, even the daughter of Pharaoh, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, Hittites;

2 of the nations which Jehovah said to the sons of Israel, You shall not go in to them, and they shall not go in to you; they shall turn aside your heart after their gods; Solomon clung to these in love.

3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.

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Chapter Summary

Solomon's wives and concubines. In his old age they draw him to idolatry. Solomon's adversaries were Hadad, Rezon, in Damascus, Jeroboam, to whom Ahijah prophesied.

Key Hebrew Words

קָרַע tear away, rend H7167 · TWOT 2074
מַמְלָכָה kingdom H4467 · TWOT 1199f
שָׂטָן adversary H7854 · TWOT 2252a
בְּרִית covenant H1285 · TWOT 282a
נׇכְרִי foreign (wives) H5237 · TWOT 1368c
בָּמָה high place (for idols) H1116 · TWOT 253

People & Context

Solomon

Aging king of Israel whose foreign wives turn his heart to idols; Jehovah pledges to tear the kingdom away

Jeroboam

Son of Nebat, Solomon's officer over the house of Joseph; told by Ahijah he will rule ten tribes

Ahijah

Shilonite prophet who tears a new garment in twelve pieces, giving Jeroboam ten as a sign

Hadad

Edomite of royal seed who fled to Egypt as a child and rose as an adversary to Solomon

Rezon

Son of Eliada who fled Hadadezer, seized Damascus, and reigned as an adversary over Syria

David

Solomon's father, the faithful standard against whom Solomon's divided heart is measured

Timeline

Solomon Marries Many Foreign Women

Contrary to God's command, Solomon loves and clings to 700 foreign wives (princesses) and 300 concubines from surrounding nations.

1 Kings 11:1-3
Solomon Falls into Idolatry

In his old age, Solomon's wives turn his heart to serve other gods, such as Ashtoreth, Milcom, Chemosh, and Molech, and he builds high places for them.

1 Kings 11:4-8
Jehovah Declares the Kingdom Will Be Torn

Angry at Solomon's idolatry, Jehovah tells him that the kingdom will be torn from his son and given to his servant, leaving only one tribe for the sake of David and Jerusalem.

1 Kings 11:9-13

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