Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Kings 11

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Introduction

1  Solomon's wives and concubines.
4  In his old age they draw him to idolatry.
9  God threatens him.
14  Solomon's adversaries were Hadad, who was entertained in Egypt;
23  Rezon, who reigned in Damascus;
26  and Jeroboam, to whom Ahijah prophesied.
41  Solomon's acts, reign, and death. Rehoboam succeeds him.
Verse 1

But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
A. M. 3020-3029. B.C. 984-975. loved
8, Genesis 6:2-5, Deuteronomy 17:17, Nehemiah 13:23-27, Proverbs 2:16, 5:8-20, 6:24, 7:5, Proverbs 22:14, 23:33
together with
or, beside.
3:1, Leviticus 18:18
Verse 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.
Ye shall not go in
Exodus 23:32,33, 34:16, Deuteronomy 7:3,4, Joshua 23:12,13, Ezra 9:12, 10:2-17, Malachi 2:11
surely
16:31-33, Numbers 25:1-3, Judges 3:6,7, 2 Chronicles 21:6, 2 Corinthians 6:14-16
Solomon
Genesis 2:24, 34:3, Judges 16:4-21, 2 Chronicles 19:2, Psalms 139:21, Romans 1:32, 12:9, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Revelation 2:4
Verse 3

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
seven hundred
Judges 8:30,31, 9:5, 2 Samuel 3:2-5, 5:13-16, 2 Chronicles 11:21, Ecclesiastes 7:28
Verse 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.
when Solomon
42, 6:1, 9:10, 14:21
his wives
2, Deuteronomy 7:4, 17:17, Nehemiah 13:26,27
his heart
6,38, 6:12,13, 8:61, 9:4, 15:3,14, 2 Kings 20:3, 1 Chronicles 28:9, 29:19, 2 Chronicles 17:3, 25:2, 31:20,21, 34:2
Verse 5

For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
Ashtoreth
33, Judges 2:13, 10:6, 1 Samuel 7:3,4, 12:10, 2 Kings 23:13, Jeremiah 2:10-13
Milcom
7, Leviticus 18:21, 20:2-5
Molech
Zephaniah 1:5
Malcham
Verse 6

And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.
went not fully after
Heb. fulfilled not after.
Numbers 14:24, Joshua 14:8,14; *Heb:
Verse 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.
build an high
Leviticus 26:30, Numbers 33:52, 2 Kings 21:2,3, 23:13,14, Psalms 78:58, Ezekiel 20:28,29
Chemosh
Numbers 21:29, Judges 11:24, Jeremiah 48:13
abomination
Deuteronomy 13:14, 17:3,4, 27:15, Isaiah 44:19, Ezekiel 18:12, Daniel 11:31, 12:11, Revelation 17:4,5
the hill
This was the mount of Olives, which lay east of Jerusalem; and that the Hebrews would consider before it, while the west would be behind it; for the very term used to denote the east, kedem, means before, while acharon, behind, sometimes signifies the west.
Genesis 33:2, 2 Samuel 15:30, 2 Kings 23:13, Zechariah 14:4, Matthew 26:30, Acts 1:9,12
Verse 8

And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
all his strange wives
1, Ezekiel 16:22-29, Hosea 4:11,12, 1 Corinthians 10:11,12,20-22
Verse 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,
angry
Exodus 4:14, Numbers 12:9, Deuteronomy 3:26, 9:8,20, 2 Samuel 6:7, 11:27, 1 Chronicles 21:7, Psalms 78:58-60, 90:7,8
his heart
2,3, Deuteronomy 7:4, Proverbs 4:23, Isaiah 29:13,14, Hosea 4:11, 2 Timothy 4:10
which had appeared
3:5, 9:2
Verse 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.
commanded
6:12,13, 9:4-7, 2 Chronicles 7:17-22
Verse 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.
is done of thee
Heb. is with thee. thou hast not.
Isaiah 29:13,14
I will surely
31, 12:15,16,20, Numbers 14:23,35, 1 Samuel 2:30-32, 13:13,14, 15:26-28, 2 Samuel 12:9-12
Verse 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.
in thy days
21:29, 2 Kings 20:17,19, 22:19,20
for David
1 Samuel 9:4,5, Genesis 12:2, 19:29
I will rend it out
Exodus 20:5
Verse 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.
Howbeit
39, 2 Samuel 7:15,16, 1 Chronicles 17:13,14, Psalms 89:33-37
one tribe
35,36, 12:20
for David
11,12,32, Deuteronomy 9:5, 2 Kings 13:23, 19:34, Psalms 89:49, 132:1,17, Isaiah 9:7, Jeremiah 33:17-26, Luke 1:32,33
for Jerusalem's
Deuteronomy 12:5,11, 2 Kings 21:4, 23:27, Psalms 132:13,14, Isaiah 14:32, 62:1,7, Jeremiah 33:15,16
Verse 14

And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.
the Lord
12:15, 1 Samuel 26:19, 2 Samuel 24:1, 1 Chronicles 5:26, Isaiah 10:5,26, 13:17
an adversary
2 Samuel 7:14, Psalms 89:30-34
Verse 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;
when David
2 Samuel 8:14, 1 Chronicles 18:12,13, Psalms 60:1; *title; Psalms 108:10
after he had
Genesis 25:23, 27:40, Numbers 24:18,19, Deuteronomy 20:13, Malachi 1:2,3
every male
Numbers 31:17
Verse 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.
Hadad
Exodus 2:1-10, 2 Samuel 4:4, 2 Kings 11:2, Matthew 2:13,14
a little child
Näâr katon, rather, "a little boy:" one who was apprehensive of his danger, and could, with his father's servants, make his escape.
Verse 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.
Midian
Probably not the Midian east of the Red Sea, to which Moses fled, (Ex 2:15, etc.) but the Midian east of the Dead Sea, and south of Moab. These Midianites, whose daughters seduced the Israelites to commit idolatry (Nu 22:4, 7; 25:15; 31:2, etc.) were descendants of Midian, son of Abraham, (Ge 25:2.) Their capital city was called Midian, and its remains were to be seen in the time of Eusebius and Jerome: it was situated on the Arnon, south of the city Ar, or Areopolis.
Genesis 25:2,4, Numbers 22:4, 25:6,14,18
Paran
Probably the city of Paran, or the district around it, situated in the south of Idumea, and according to Eusebius, three days' journey east from Elah or Elath, at the head of the eastern branch, or Elamitic gulf of the Red Sea.
Genesis 14:6, 21:21, Numbers 10:12, Deuteronomy 1:1, 33:2, Habakkuk 3:3
Verse 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.
found
Genesis 39:4,21, Acts 7:10,21
that he gave
Genesis 41:45
Tahpenes
Jeremiah 43:7-9
Verse 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.
weaned
Genesis 21:7, 1 Samuel 1:24
Verse 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.
Hadad
2:10,34, Exodus 4:19, Matthew 2:20
Let me depart
Heb. Send me away.
Genesis 45:24, Joshua 2:21, 1 Samuel 9:26, 2 Samuel 3:21
Verse 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.
But
Jeremiah 2:31, Luke 22:35
Nothing
Heb. Not. let me go.
2 Samuel 18:22,23, Psalms 37:8, Mark 14:31
Verse 23

And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:
God
14, 2 Samuel 16:11, Ezra 1:1, Isaiah 13:17, 37:26, 45:5, Ezekiel 38:16
Hadadezer
2 Samuel 8:3, 10:8,15-18, 1 Chronicles 18:3-9, 19:6,16-19
Hadarezer
Psalms 60:1; *title
Verse 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.
to Damascus
19:15, 20:34, Genesis 14:15, Acts 9:2
in Damascus
Damascus, called also Damesk, but generally El Sham, by the Arabs, is situated in a delightful plain, well watered by the Barrada, at the eastern foot of Antilibanus, being surrounded by the hills in the form of a triumphal arch, 136 miles N. of Jerusalem, 195 S. of Antioch, and 276 S. S. W. of Diarbekir. It is a city of the highest antiquity, being at least as ancient as the time of Abraham: it has been often captured, and several times demolished, but has always risen to splendour and dignity. The modern town is described by Maundrell as of a long, straight figure, it ends pointing nearly N. E. and S. W. It is very slender in the middle, but swells bigger at each end, especially at that to the N. E. According to Niebuhr, the walls are something less than a league and half in circumference; and the population is estimated at from 100,000 to 150,000
Verse 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.
all the days
5:4, 2 Chronicles 15:2
abhorred
Genesis 34:30, Deuteronomy 23:7, 2 Samuel 16:21, Psalms 106:40, Zechariah 11:8
Verse 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.
Jeroboam
11,28, 12:2,20-24, 13:1-10, 14:16, 15:30, 16:3, 21:22
an Ephrathite
Genesis 35:16, Ruth 1:2, 1 Samuel 1:1, 17:12, 1 Chronicles 2:19
Solomon's servant
9:22, 2 Chronicles 13:6
Verse 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.
lifted up
2 Samuel 20:21, Proverbs 30:32, Isaiah 26:11
Solomon
9:15,24
repaired
Heb. closed.
Amos 9:11
the breaches
Nehemiah 4:7, Psalms 60:2, Isaiah 22:9, Ezekiel 13:5
the city
2 Samuel 5:7
Verse 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.
was industrious
Heb. did work.
Proverbs 22:29
he made
5:16
charge
Heb. burden.
Deuteronomy 1:12, Isaiah 14:25, Matthew 11:30
the house
Joshua 18:5, Judges 1:22,23, 2 Samuel 19:20, Amos 5:6, Zechariah 10:6
Verse 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:
Ahijah
12:15, 14:2, 2 Chronicles 9:29
Shilonite
Joshua 18:1
and they two
Genesis 4:8, 2 Samuel 14:6
Verse 30

And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:
rent it
1 Samuel 15:27,28, 24:4,5
Verse 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:
thus saith
11,12
Verse 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:)
he shall
12:20
for Jerusalem's sake
Verse 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.
they have forsaken
9, 3:14, 6:12,13, 9:5-7, 1 Chronicles 28:9, 2 Chronicles 15:2, Jeremiah 2:13, Hosea 4:17
Ashtoreth
Verse 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:
Howbeit
12,13,31, Job 11:6, Psalms 103:10, Habakkuk 3:2
for David
Isaiah 55:3
Verse 35

But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.
I will take
Exodus 20:5,6
will give
12:15-17,20, 2 Chronicles 10:15-17
Verse 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.
David
15:4, 2 Samuel 7:16,29, 21:17, 2 Kings 8:19, 2 Chronicles 21:7, Psalms 132:17, Jeremiah 33:17-21, Amos 9:11,12, Luke 1:69,70,78,79, Acts 15:16,17
light
Heb. lamp, or candle. the city. See on ver.
13, 9:3, Galatians 4:25,26, Hebrews 12:22, Revelation 21:10
Verse 37

And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.
according
26, Deuteronomy 14:26, 2 Samuel 3:21
Verse 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.
if thou wilt
3:14, 6:12, 9:4,5, Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 15:5, Zechariah 3:7
that I will
Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:5
build the
14:7-14, 2 Samuel 7:11,16,26-29, 1 Chronicles 17:10,24-27
Verse 39

And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.
afflict
12:16, 14:8,25,26, Psalms 89:38-45,49-51
not for ever
36, Psalms 89:30-34, Isaiah 7:14, 9:7, 11:1-10, Jeremiah 23:5,6, Lamentations 3:31,32, Luke 1:32,33, 2:4,11
Verse 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.
Solomon sought
2 Chronicles 16:10, Proverbs 21:30, Isaiah 14:24-27, 46:10, Lamentations 3:37
Shishak
This is the first time we meet with the proper name of an Egyptian king in Scripture, Pharaoh being the general appellation for all the sovereigns of that country. Some are of opinion that Shishak is the same with the celebrated Sesostris of the Greek historians; but it is probable that this king lived long before Solomon's time. Usher thinks him to be Sesonchis, and places the beginning of his reign, A.M. 3026, B.C. 978.
14:25,26, 2 Chronicles 12:2-9
Verse 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?
rest
2 Chronicles 9:29-31
acts
or, words, or things.
Verse 42

And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.
time
Heb. days. forty years. Josephus says fourscore years; which is sufficiently absurd. Calmet supposes him to have been 18 years old when he came to the throne, and 58 when he died.
2:11
Verse 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.
A. M. 3029. B.C. 975. slept
1:21, 14:20, 15:8,24, 16:6, Deuteronomy 31:16, 2 Kings 16:20, 20:21, 21:18
buried
2:10, 14:31, 2 Kings 21:18,26, 2 Chronicles 21:20, 26:23, 28:27, Jeremiah 22:19
Rehoboam
1 Chronicles 3:10, 2 Chronicles 9:31, 13:7, Matthew 1:5
Roboam

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