1 Kings 11

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.

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.

3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and 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.

5 Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and 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.

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.

8 He did the same 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.

10 Although He had warned Solomon explicitly not to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command.

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.

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.

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.”

14 Then the LORD raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of 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.

16 Joab and all Israel had stayed there six months, until he had killed 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

23 And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, 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.

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.

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,

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.

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.

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.

30 And Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into 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.

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.

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.

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.

35 But I will take ten tribes of the kingdom from the hand of his son and give them to you.

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.

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.

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.

39 Because of this, I will humble David’s descendants—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.

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?

42 Thus 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.

1 ¶ But king Solomon loved many 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, Ye 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 turned away his heart.

4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, [that] his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as [was] the heart of David his father.

5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as [did] David his father.

7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that [is] before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

9 ¶ And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.

11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.

12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: [but] I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; [but] will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.

14 ¶ And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he [was] of the king's seed in Edom.

15 For 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;

16 (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)

17 That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad [being] yet a little child.

18 And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: 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.

19 And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.

20 And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh.

21 And when Hadad heard 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, 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: howbeit let me go in any wise.

23 And God stirred him up [another] adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:

24 And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them [of Zobah]: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.

25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad [did]: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.

26 ¶ And Jeroboam 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.

27 And this [was] the cause that he lifted up [his] hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, [and] repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.

28 And the man Jeroboam [was] a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.

29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two [were] alone in the field:

30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that [was] on him, and rent it [in] twelve pieces:

31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

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 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, 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.

34 Howbeit 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, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:

35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, [even] ten tribes.

36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.

37 And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.

38 And it shall be, if 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 will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.

39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.

40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

41 ¶ And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, [are] they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?

42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel [was] forty years.

43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

1 But king Solomon loved many foreign wives, Pharaoh's daughter, and Moabites, and Ammonites, and Edomites, and Zidonites, and Hittites,

2 Of such nations as the LORD had said unto the children of Israel, Go not unto them, neither let them come unto you: they will surely incline your hearts after their gods. To these Solomon clave with love.

3 And he had seven hundred wives to wife, and three hundred concubines: and his wives inclined his heart.

4 And when he was old, his wives inclined his heart after strange gods, so that his heart was not entire with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

5 So Solomon walked after Ashtoreth the god of Zidon, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

6 And Solomon did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed not the LORD wholly, as David his father did.

7 Then Solomon built a high place for Kamos the abomination of Moab in the mount that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites.

8 So did Solomon to all his foreign wives, which burned incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

9 And the LORD was wroth with Solomon, because his heart was displeased with the LORD God of Israel, which twice appeared unto him.

10 And had commanded him that he should not walk after other gods, and yet had not kept that which the LORD commanded him.

11 Therefore said the LORD unto Solomon, Because these things have been done unto thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my commandments which I commanded thee, I will also rend the kingdom from thee, and give it unto thy servant.

12 But in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake; but from the hand of thy son will I pluck it.

13 But I will not cut off the whole kingdom. One tribe will I go unto thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, which I have chosen.

14 And the LORD raised up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite, of royal seed, which was in Edom.

15 For when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host went up to bury the slain, he smote all the men of Edom.

16 For Joab abode there six months, and all Israel, until he had cut off all that was manly in Edom.

17 And Hadad fled, and with him certain men of Edom, of his father's servants, to come into Egypt. And Hadad was a young lad.

18 And they departed from Midian, and came to Paran; and they took men with them out of Paran, and came into Egypt unto Pharaoh king of Egypt: and he gave him an house, and food, and settled him in the land.

19 And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, that he gave him also his wife's sister Tachpenes the queen to wife.

20 And the sister of Tachpenes bare him Genubath his son: and Tachpenes brought him up in Pharaoh's house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh's house among the sons of Pharaoh.

21 And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, he said unto Pharaoh, Let me go into my own land.

22 And Pharaoh said unto him, What lackest thou with me, that thou wilt go into thy land? And he said, Nothing: but let me go.

23 Also God raised up for him an adversary, Reson the son of Eliada, who had fled from his master Hadadezer king of Zobah.

24 And he gathered men against him, and became captain of the soldiers, when David slew them: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt there, and reigned in Damascus.

25 And he was Israel's adversary all the days of Solomon. This is the harm that Hadad suffered: therefore he had a loathing against Israel, and reigned over Syria.

26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zareda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zerugah a widow, lifted up his hand against the king.

27 And this is the cause why he lifted up his hand against the king: When Solomon built Millo, he shut up a breach in the city of David his father.

28 And Jeroboam was a man of valour. And when Solomon saw that the lad was upright, he set him over all the burden of the house of Joseph.

29 And it came to pass in those days, that Jeroboam went out from Jerusalem, and Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh met him in the way, having a new coat upon him: and they were alone in the field.

30 And Ahijah took hold of the new coat which he had on, and rent it into twelve pieces.

31 And he said unto Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I will pluck the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give thee ten tribes.

32 He shall have a tribe for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel,

33 Because they have forsaken me, and worshipped Ashtoreth the god of the Zidonians, and Kamos the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, my commandments and my statutes, as David his father did.

35 Out of the hand of his son will I take the kingdom; and I will give thee ten tribes.

36 And give his son a tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp before me every way in the city of Jerusalem, which I have chosen to put my name there.

37 Now therefore I will take thee, and thou shalt reign over all that thine heart desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.

38 If thou wilt therefore obey all that I command thee, and walk in my ways, and do that which is right in mine eyes, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as my servant David did; then will I be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built David, and will give thee Israel.

39 And will humble the seed of David for this cause, but not for ever.

40 And Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt unto Sishak king of Egypt: and he tarried in Egypt until Solomon died.

41 And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of Chronicles by Solomon?

42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.

43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

54 Neither will I take the whole kingdom out of his hand; but I will make him ruler all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I have chosen, who hath kept my commandments and my statutes.