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1 Kings Chapter
Eleven
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 11
This
chapter relates the false steps Solomon took, notwithstanding all his wisdom,
in marrying strange wives, and worshipping other gods, 1 Kings 11:1 upon
which the Lord threatens him to rend the kingdom in his son's time, 1 Kings 11:9 and he
raised up adversaries against him, Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam, 1 Kings 11:14 of
which last an account is given, and of his being assured by Ahijah the prophet
of his having ten of the tribes of Israel given to him; which Solomon having
notice of sought to slay him, 1 Kings 11:27 and
the chapter is concluded with an account of Solomon's death and burial, 1 Kings 11:41.
1 Kings 11:1 But
King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh:
women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites—
YLT
1And king Solomon hath loved
many strange women, and the daughter of Pharaoh, females of Moab, Ammon, Edom,
Zidon, [and] of the Hittites,
But King Solomon loved many strange women,.... His love
was a lustful and not a lawful one, and of women who were not only of foreign
countries, but not his lawful wives, and these many:
together with the daughter of Pharaoh; besides her,
or as he loved her, and perhaps more; his sin was not that he loved her who was
his lawful wife, but others with her; it is very probable she was a
proselytess, and had no hand in turning him to idolatry, since we read not of
any high place built for an Egyptian idol:
women of the Moabites, Anmonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and
Hittites; all of the neighbouring nations. Some think he did this with
political views, to get intelligence of the state of those countries, or to
abate and extinguish their enmity; but it rather seems to be the fruit of lust
or pride.
1 Kings 11:2 2 from the nations of whom
the Lord
had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor
they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.”
Solomon clung to these in love.
YLT 2of the nations of which
Jehovah said unto the sons of Israel, `Ye do not go in to them, and they do not
go in to you; surely they turn aside your heart after their gods;' to them hath
Solomon cleaved for love.
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,.... That is,
they should not intermarry with one another; this is to be understood of the
last mentioned, the Hittites, who were one of the seven nations this law
respected, Deuteronomy 7:1.
for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods; which is the
reason given for the making the above law, and was sadly verified in Solomon:
Solomon clave unto these in love; he not only took them,
but kept them, and expressed a strong affection for them.
1 Kings 11:3 3 And he had seven hundred
wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his
heart.
YLT
3And he hath women,
princesses, seven hundred, and concubines three hundred; and his wives turn
aside his heart.
And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred
concubines,.... In all 1000, a prodigious number; though these might not be
all for use, but for state after the manner of the eastern monarchs; these were
a far greater number than are alluded to in Song of Solomon 6:8,
unless the virgins without number there, were such of these as were not defiled
by him; but the number here seems plainly referred to in Ecclesiastes 7:28,
and his wives turned away his heart; both from his duty to
his God, and from attendance to his business as a king, especially the former,
as follows.
1 Kings 11:4 4 For it was so, when
Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his
heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was
the heart of his father David.
YLT
4And it cometh to pass, at
the time of the old age of Solomon, his wives have turned aside his heart after
other gods, and his heart hath not been perfect with Jehovah his God, like the
heart of David his father.
And it came to pass, when Solomon was old,.... Toward
the latter end of his reign, when he might be near sixty years of age; for
Rehoboam his son and successor was forty one when he began to reign, 1 Kings 14:21 which
is observed either as an aggravation of the sin of Solomon, that in his old
age, when by long experience he might have been thought to be still wiser, and
less lustful: and yet
that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; or as
pointing at the advantage his wives took of his age:
and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the
heart of David his father; who, though guilty of many sins, never
inclined to idolatry; his heart was always right in that point, and sincere in
his worship, see Psalm 18:20.
1 Kings 11:5 5 For Solomon went after
Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the
Ammonites.
YLT
5And Solomon goeth after
Ashtoreth god[dess] of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the
Ammonites;
And Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians,.... Enticed
by the Zidonian women, or woman, he had, 1 Kings 11:1.
According to the Phoenician historiesF9Apud Tatian. contr. Graecos,
p. 171. , Solomon married a daughter of Hiram, king of Tyre and Zidon; so
Clemens of Alexandria saysF11Stromat. l. 1. p. 325. , that Hiram
gave his daughter to Solomon; Ashtoreth is Astarte, the same with the Venus of
the Greeks, so SuidasF12In voce Ασταρτη.
; and LucianF13De Dea Syria. expressly says, the Sidonians had a
temple, said by them to belong to Astarte, which he takes to be the moon; and
both Venus and Juno signify the same planet; See Gill on Judges 2:13.
and after Milcom the abomination of the Amnonites; the same with
Molech, 1 Kings 11:7. See
Gill on Leviticus 18:21.
See Gill on Amos 1:13. After
this he was drawn by his Ammonitish wife, or wives, 1 Kings 11:1,
though the Jewish writers think he did not worship these idols, but suffered
his wives to do it, and connived at it, which was his sin; so Ben Gersom and
Abarbinel.
1 Kings 11:6 6 Solomon did evil in the
sight of the Lord,
and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father
David.
YLT
6and Solomon doth the evil
thing in the eyes of Jehovah, and hath not been fully after Jehovah, like David
his father.
And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord,.... As
idolatry is, nothing more provoking to him:
and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father; for though he
did not relinquish the worship of the true God, and the service of the temple,
yet inasmuch as he worshipped other gods besides, or connived at the worship of
them, he did not wholly, and constantly, and solely serve the Lord, as his
father did.
1 Kings 11:7 7 Then Solomon built a high
place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of
Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon.
YLT
7Then doth Solomon build a
high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, in the hill that [is] on the
front of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the sons of Ammon;
Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination
of Mesh,.... Of this idol see Gill on Jeremiah 48:7, an
high place for which he ordered to be built, or at least suffered it to be
built, at the instigation of his Moabitish woman or women, 1 Kings 11:1, this
was built in the hill that is before Jerusalem; on the mount of Olives, as
Jarchi, called from hence afterwards the mount of corruption, 2 Kings 23:15 and
for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon, 1 Kings 11:5.
1 Kings 11:8 8 And he did likewise for
all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.
YLT
8and so he hath done for all
his strange women, who are perfuming and sacrificing to their gods.
And likewise did he for all his strange wives,.... That is,
built high places for their idols, or suffered them to be built; for when he
had done it for one, he could not refuse it to another, without greatly
disobliging them; even for as many of them,
which burnt incense, and sacrificed unto their gods; the gods of
the countries from whence they came, and in the worship of which they had been
brought up: this shows that the best and wisest of men, when left to
themselves, may do the worst and most foolish of all things; as nothing can be
more so than the worship of such wretched deities.
1 Kings 11:9 9 So the Lord became angry
with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel,
who had appeared to him twice,
YLT
9And Jehovah sheweth Himself
angry with Solomon, for his heart hath turned aside from Jehovah, God of
Israel, who had appeared unto him twice,
And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned
from the Lord God of Israel,.... Or from the fear of him, as the Targum,
which must in a great measure be cast off, or he could not have given in to
idolatry in any shape as he did; for it was for that the Lord was displeased,
the which nothing is more provoking to him, as may be often observed:
which had appeared unto him twice; once at Gibeon, and
again after his prayer at the dedication of the temple, 1 Kings 3:5, which
is mentioned here as an aggravation of his sin, that he should fall into it,
when the Lord had condescended to appear to him so graciously.
1 Kings 11:10 10 and had commanded him
concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not
keep what the Lord
had commanded.
YLT
10and given a charge unto him
concerning this thing, not to go after other gods; and he hath not kept that
which Jehovah commanded,
And had commanded him concerning this thing that he should not go
after other gods,.... Which is another aggravation of his sin that it was against
an express command of God, and was particularly given him, and he was warned to
observe it, and threatened with evil should he break it:
but he kept not that which the Lord commanded: see 1 Kings 9:5.
1 Kings 11:11 11 Therefore 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 surely tear the kingdom away from you and
give it to your servant.
YLT
11and Jehovah saith to
Solomon, `Because that this hath been with thee, and thou hast not kept My
covenant and My statutes that I charged upon thee, I surely rend the kingdom
from thee, and have given it to thy servant.
Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon,.... Not in a
vision, as before, but by a prophet; the Jews sayF14Seder Olam
Rabba, c. 20. p. 53. Kimchi in loc. , Ahijah the Shilonite, which is probable,
see 1 Kings 11:29.
forasmuch as this is done of thee, that thou hast not kept my
covenant and my statutes which I have commanded thee; but broke
them by his idolatry:
I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and I will give it to
thy servant; meaning Jeroboam, who was not only a subject, but in office
under him, 1 Kings 11:26.
1 Kings 11:12 12 Nevertheless I will not do
it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the
hand of your son.
YLT
12`Only, in thy days I do it
not, for the sake of David thy father; out of the hand of thy son I rend it;
Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy
father's sake,.... Not for the merits of David, but the promises made to him, 2 Samuel 7:12,
but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son; and immediate
successor, Rehoboam.
1 Kings 11:13 13 However I will not tear
away the whole kingdom; 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.”
YLT
13only all the kingdom I do
not rend away; one tribe I give to thy son, for the sake of David My servant,
and for the sake of Jerusalem, that I have chosen.'
Howbeit, I will not rend away all the kingdom,.... The whole
kingdom of Israel:
but will give one tribe to thy son; but it seems he had both
Benjamin and Judah, and only ten tribes were rent from him; the reason of this
mode of expression may be, either because he gave him one of the tribes of
Israel, besides that of Judah, which was his own tribe; or only the tribe of
Judah is meant, the whole tribe of Benjamin not being his, since Bethel, and
some other places in that tribe, were in the possession of Jeroboam; or rather
both these are called but one, because their inheritances lay together, and
were mixed with one another; and particularly both had a share in the city of
Jerusalem, and the kingdom always after the division went by the name of Judah
only: and this tribe was given
for David my servant's sake; because of the promise
to him, that there should not want one of his seed to sit on his throne, 1 Kings 9:5.
and for Jerusalem's sake, whom I have chosen; to have the
house of his sanctuary and worship in, and therefore thought fit to have one
rule there, that, would have a regard to his service in it.
1 Kings 11:14 14 Now the Lord raised up an
adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was a descendant of the
king in Edom.
YLT
14And Jehovah raiseth up an
adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; of the seed of the king [is] he in
Edom;
And the Lord stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the
Edomite,.... Though he did not take his kingdom from him for his sin, he
chastised him with the rod of men, as he said he would; suffering one, and then
another, to rise up and disturb his peace in his old age, see 2 Samuel 7:14.
he was of the king's seed in Edom; of the blood royal.
1 Kings 11:15 15 For it happened, when
David was in Edom, and Joab the commander of the army had gone up to bury the
slain, after he had killed every male in Edom
YLT
15and it cometh to pass, in
David's being with Edom, in the going up of Joab head of the host to bury the
slain, that he smiteth every male in Edom –
For it came to pass, when David was in Edom,.... Fighting
with the Edomites, and subduing them, and putting garrisons in the land, 2 Samuel 8:14.
and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain: the
Israelites that fell in battle, or whom the Edomites afterwards, through
stratagem and surprise, fell upon in their garrisons and destroyed, and which
caused Joab to go thither to bury them, and take vengeance on the Edomites for
it; or these were the Edomites slain by David and Joab; and it has been always
reckoned a piece of humanity to bury the dead of an enemy, and is to the honour
of the conqueror, see Ezekiel 39:12 or to
suffer the enemy to bury them themselves: it is saidF15Aelian. Var.
Hist. l. 12. c. 27. , that Hercules was the first that brought up this
practice, and that before they were left on the field, to be devoured by dogs;
so they were in the times of the Trojan war, as appears by the writings of
Homer; but burying them, in later times, was used by the RomansF16Liv.
Hist. l. 39. c. 21. Vid. Kirchman. Append. ad. lib. de Funer. Roman. c. 3, 4,
& 5. and Greeks; and JosephusF17Antiqu. l. 4. c. 8. sect. 24.
contr. Apion. l. 2. c. 29. delivers it as a law of Moses to bury enemies, and
not suffer any dead to lie without partaking of the earth, nor to pass by or
overlook any unburied; but from whence he took it, or grounds it upon, is not
very evident; this is the first mention of it; though the Targum is,
"to
strip the slain:'
after he had smitten every male in Edom; as he
thought, intending to root out the name of them; being enraged at their falling
upon the garrisons, if that was the case.
1 Kings 11:16 16 (because for six months
Joab remained there with all Israel, until he had cut down every male in Edom),
YLT
16for six months did Joab
abide there, and all Israel, till the cutting off of every male in Edom –
For six months did Joab remain with all Israel,.... With the
whole army:
until he had cut off every male in Edom; as he
supposed; for it was not fact, since after this they increased again, and
became a powerful people, and had a king over them, and revolted from Judah, 2 Kings 8:20.
1 Kings 11:17 17 that Hadad fled to go to
Egypt, he and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him. Hadad was
still a little child.
YLT
17and Hadad fleeth, he and
certain Edomites, of the servants of his father, with him, to go in to Egypt,
and Hadad [is] a little youth,
That Hadad fled,.... While Joab was burying the slain:
he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him; who either
was a king, and these some of his officers and courtiers; or however was of the
royal family, and had an equipage, and these some of them:
to go into Egypt; that was their view at first setting out,
where they might hope for help, at least shelter:
Hadad being yet a little child; whom his father's
servants hid, while Joab was making the slaughter he did, and took the
opportunity of fleeing with him while he was burying the dead.
1 Kings 11:18 18 Then they arose from
Midian and came to Paran; and they took men with them from Paran and came to
Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, apportioned food for
him, and gave him land.
YLT
18and they rise out of
Midian, and come into Paran, and take men with them out of Paran, and come in
to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he giveth to him a house, and bread
hath commanded for him, and land hath given to him.
And they arose out of Midian,.... A country which lay
in their way to Egypt, and where it seems they made some stay, and then
departed:
and came to Paran; near to which was a wilderness of the same
name, in which the Israelites wandered when they came out of Egypt, and which
lay between Edom and Egypt:
and they took men with them out of Paran; either as
guides and guards through the wilderness, or to make the better appearance
before Pharaoh, and that they might meet with the better reception:
and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; and told
their case, and informed him who Hadad was: who, pitying an unfortunate young
prince,
gave him an house; for him and his servants to dwell in:
and appointed him victuals; a daily provision for
him and his men:
and gave him land; for his servants to cultivate, and from
thence to raise a revenue for his support; the Jewish writers say he gave him
cities to rule over; but as he was but a little child when he came, it cannot
be thought that was done, at least directly.
1 Kings 11:19 19 And Hadad found great
favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him as wife the sister of his
own wife, that is, the sister of Queen Tahpenes.
YLT
19And Hadad findeth grace in
the eyes of Pharaoh exceedingly, and he giveth to him a wife, the sister of his
own wife, sister of Tahpenes the mistress;
And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh,.... Perhaps
for his comely personage, princely qualities, and good behaviour, as he grew
up:
so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister
of Tahpenes the queen; it seems the kings of Egypt used to marry their favourites to
great personages; see Genesis 41:45.
1 Kings 11:20 20 Then the sister of
Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house.
And Genubath was in Pharaoh’s household among the sons of Pharaoh.
YLT
20and the sister of Tahpenes
beareth to him Genubath his son, and Tahpenes weaneth him within the house of
Pharaoh, and Genubath is in the house of Pharaoh in the midst of the sons of
Pharaoh.
And the sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son,.... Which
signifies "stealth", and the name might be given in memory of himself
being carried away by stealth from his own land:
whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house: who was so
fond of the child, that she took it, and weaned it for her in the king's
palace:
and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh; brought up
among them, as if he was one of them.
1 Kings 11:21 21 So when Hadad heard in
Egypt that David rested with his fathers, and that Joab the commander of the
army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Let me depart, that I may go to my own
country.”
YLT
21And Hadad hath heard in
Egypt that David hath lain with his fathers, and that Joab head of the host is
dead, and Hadad saith unto Pharaoh, `Send me away, and I go unto my land.'
And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers,.... Was dead
and buried, as the death of princes is soon known in other countries, and
especially a king of such fame as David:
and that Joab the captain of the host was dead: whose name
might be terrible to Hadad, because of the slaughter of men he had made in his
country:
Hadad said unto Pharaoh, let me depart, that I may go to mine own
country; with a view and an hope to recover it, now David and Joab were
dead.
1 Kings 11:22 22 Then Pharaoh said to him,
“But what have you lacked with me, that suddenly you seek to go to your own
country?” So he answered, “Nothing, but do let me go anyway.”
YLT
22And Pharaoh saith to him,
`But, what art thou lacking with me, that lo, thou art seeking to go unto thine
own land?' and he saith, `Nay, but thou dost certainly send me away.'
Then Pharaoh said unto him, but what hast thou lacked with me,.... Either of
an equipage suitable to his birth and marriage, or of provisions for his
household, or of honour and respect, or of any favour from him:
that, behold, thou seekest to go into thine own country? as if not
well used where he was, or would be better provided for there:
and he answered, nothing; he wanted nothing at
all, had all he could wish for:
howbeit, let me go in any wise: he had such an extreme
desire to go, that he begged it might not be denied him on any account; whether
he acquainted Pharaoh with his view in this request is not said, but it is
probable he did, and it is certain Pharaoh gave him leave to go, see 1 Kings 11:25.
1 Kings 11:23 23 And God raised up another
adversary against him, Rezon the son of Eliadah, who had fled from his lord,
Hadadezer king of Zobah.
YLT
23And God raiseth to him an
adversary, Rezon son of Eliadah, who hath fled from Hadadezer king of Zobah,
his lord,
And God stirred him up another adversary,.... One from
the north, as the other was from the south:
Rezon, the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king
of Zobah: when David fought with him; and this man seeing the battle go
against his master, and that he was like to be worsted, deserted him and fled,
see 2 Samuel 8:3.
1 Kings 11:24 24 So he gathered men to him
and became captain over a band of raiders, when David killed those of
Zobah. And they went to Damascus and dwelt there, and reigned in Damascus.
YLT
24and gathereth unto himself
men, and is head of a troop in David's slaying them, and they go to Damascus,
and dwell in it, and reign in Damascus;
And he gathered men unto him,.... Perhaps some of the
scattered forces of his master:
and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah; some that
escaped enlisted under this man, and lived by plunder the remainder of David's
reign, and so in the reign of Solomon unto his old age, when his heart was
turned away from God to idols, by his wives:
and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in
Damascus; Rezon and his men went thither, not in David's time, for he put
a garrison there, 2 Samuel 8:6 but
towards the close of Solomon's days, and when Hadad set up in Edom, which gave
him the hint to do the same at Damascus, of which he became king, and was the founder
of that kingdom; after him there was a long race of kings there.
1 Kings 11:25 25 He was an adversary of
Israel all the days of Solomon (besides the trouble that Hadad caused);
and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.
YLT
25and he is an adversary to
Israel all the days of Solomon, (besides the evil that Hadad [did]), and he
cutteth off in Israel, and reigneth over Aram.
And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon,.... Not all
the days of his life, see 1 Kings 5:4, but
all his days, from his first going into idolatry, to the end of his life:
beside the mischief that Hadad did; and which, whatever it
was, was not done till this time; for either, when he got leave from Pharaoh to
go into his country, he lay hid there, waiting an opportunity to seize upon it;
or by means of Pharaoh he got himself to be king of it, through the permission
of Solomon, paying a tribute to him; but when Solomon was grown old, he
revolted and refused to pay it, and rebelled against him, and gave him much
trouble:
and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria; not Hadad,
but Rezon; he had an aversion to them, was a thorn in their side, and gave them
much trouble, as well as had them in contempt, and bid them defiance, having
made himself not only master of Damascus, but of all Syria.
1 Kings 11:26 26 Then Solomon’s servant,
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite from Zereda, whose mother’s name was
Zeruah, a widow, also rebelled against the king.
YLT
26And Jeroboam son of Nebat,
an Ephrathite of Zereda -- the name of whose mother [is] Zeruah, a widow woman
-- servant to Solomon, he also lifteth up a hand against the king;
And Jeroboam the son of Nebat,.... According to some
Jewish writersF18Shalshalet Hakabala, p. 11. , this was Sheba the
son of Bichri; but, as Kimchi observes, he was of the tribe of Benjamin, this
of Ephraim; and besides, his head was cut off, and thrown over the wall to
Joab, 2 Samuel 20:1,
an Ephrathite of Zereda; some where in the tribe
of Ephraim, but nowhere else mentioned. There was a famous Jewish doctor,
before the times of Christ, of this place, as it seems, who was called Jose ben
Joezer, a man of ZeredaF19Pirke Abot, c. 1. sect. 4. :
Solomon's servant; not only his subject, but one that had been
advanced by him to an office, and served under him, 1 Kings 11:28,
whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman; who very
probably was supported by this her son, an industrious and ingenious man:
even he lifted up his hand against the king; either
against Solomon, by reproaching and reproving him for some things he did; or
rather against Rehoboam his son, which was very ungrateful.
1 Kings 11:27 27 And this is what
caused him to rebel against the king: Solomon had built the Millo and repaired
the damages to the City of David his father.
YLT
27and this [is] the thing
[for] which he lifted up a hand against the king: Solomon built Millo -- he
shut up the breach of the city of David his father,
And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king,.... The
occasion of it, his being advanced to some posts under Solomon, which elated
him, and what passed between him and the prophet Ahijah, after related:
Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of
David his father: in the oversight of which, it is supposed by the Jews, he
employed this man, who reproached him for doing these works; building an house
in Millo for Pharaoh's daughter, and stopping up the passage to the city of
David, and the people's access thither upon occasion.
1 Kings 11:28 28 The man Jeroboam was
a mighty man of valor; and Solomon, seeing that the young man was industrious,
made him the officer over all the labor force of the house of Joseph.
YLT
28and the man Jeroboam [is]
mighty in valour, and Solomon seeth the young man that he is doing business,
and appointeth him over all the burden of the house of Joseph.
And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour,.... A man of
great strength of body, and fortitude of mind:
and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious; in what he
was set about in the above buildings and repairs:
he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph; the tribes of
Ephraim and Manasseh, to be a prince or a deputy governor of them; or rather to
collect the king's tax from them, or the revenues of that part of the country,
see Proverbs 22:29.
1 Kings 11:29 29 Now it happened at that
time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the
Shilonite met him on the way; and he had clothed himself with a new garment,
and the two were alone in the field.
YLT
29And it cometh to pass, at
that time, that Jeroboam hath gone out from Jerusalem, and Ahijah the
Shilonite, the prophet, findeth him in the way, and he is covering himself with
a new garment; and both of them [are] by themselves in a field,
And it came to pass at that time, when Jeroboam went out of
Jerusalem,.... Either to enter upon his new office: or having been with
Solomon to pay in the revenues, and to make up his accounts with him was going
back to the country to do the duty of his office:
that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; not
accidentally, but purposely was in the way to meet him, and converse with him;
this prophet was of the city of Shiloh, and where was now his abode, see 1 Kings 14:2.
and he had clad himself with a new garment; not Jeroboam,
but the prophet, and that by the direction of the Lord, for the following
purpose:
and they two were alone in the field: it is
possible Jeroboam might have some servants with him; but Ahijah desiring some
private conversation with him, he sent them onwards, or bid them stay at some
distance; who yet might be capable of observing what was done, though not of
hearing what was said; or otherwise how should Solomon come to the knowledge of
it? 1 Kings 11:40.
1 Kings 11:30 30 Then Ahijah took hold of
the new garment that was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces.
YLT
30and Ahijah layeth hold on
the new garment that [is] on him, and rendeth it -- twelve pieces,
And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him,.... This
looks as if it was Jeroboam's garment, having got a new one to appear before
the king in; though the sense may be this, that the prophet took hold of his
own garment that was upon himself:
and rent it in twelve pieces; as symbolical of the
twelve tribes of Israel.
1 Kings 11:31 31 And he said to Jeroboam,
“Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of
Israel: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will
give ten tribes to you
YLT
31and saith to Jeroboam,
`Take to thee ten pieces, for thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, lo, I am
rending the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and have given to thee the ten
tribes,
And he said to Jeroboam, take thee ten pieces,.... Of the
twelve, an emblem of the ten tribes he was to have:
for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, behold, I will rend the
kingdom out of the hand of Solomon; that is, out of his
family:
and will give ten tribes unto thee; to rule over.
1 Kings 11:32 32 (but he shall have one
tribe for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city
which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel),
YLT
32and the one tribe he hath for
My servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have fixed
on, out of all the tribes of Israel.
But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake,.... See Gill
on 1 Kings 11:13.
1 Kings 11:33 33 because they have[a] forsaken
Me, and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of
the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the people of Ammon, and have not walked in
My ways to do what is right in My eyes and keep My statutes and
My judgments, as did his father David.
YLT
33`Because they have forsaken
Me, and bow themselves to Ashtoreth, god[dess] of the Zidonians, to Chemosh god
of Moab, and to Milcom god of the sons of Ammon, and have not walked in My
ways, to do that which [is] right in Mine eyes, and My statutes and My
judgments, like David his father.
Because that they have forsaken me,.... My worship, as the
Targum; both Solomon and the children of Israel following his example; which is
not to be wondered at, considering how prone they always were to idolatry:
and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians,
Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon; of which
deities; see Gill on 1 Kings 11:5, 1 Kings 11:7.
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; the several
laws of God relating to religious worship especially, which David was a strict
observer of; and therefore Solomon, having such a pattern before him, was the
more blameworthy.
1 Kings 11:34 34 However I will not take
the whole kingdom out of his hand, because I have made him ruler all the days
of his life for the sake of My servant David, whom I chose because he kept My
commandments and My statutes.
YLT
34`And I do not take the
whole of the kingdom out of his hand, for prince I make him all days of his
life, for the sake of David My servant whom I chose, who kept My commands and
My statutes;
Howbeit, I will not take the kingdom out of his hand,.... Not any
part of it, 1 Kings 11:12,
but I will make him prince all the days of his life; that is, he
shall continue to hold the government of all the tribes so long as he lives:
for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my
commandments and my statutes; see 1 Kings 11:12, or
was well pleased with, as the Targum; for keeping the commands of God from
right principles, and with right views, is well pleasing to him.
1 Kings 11:35 35 But I will take the
kingdom out of his son’s hand and give it to you—ten tribes.
YLT
35and I have taken the
kingdom out of the hand of his son, and given it to thee -- the ten tribes;
But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand,.... All but
the tribes of Judah and Benjamin:
and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes: signified by
ten pieces of the rent garment he had given him, 1 Kings 11:31.
1 Kings 11:36 36 And to his son I will give
one tribe, that My servant David may always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem,
the city which I have chosen for Myself, to put My name there.
YLT
36and to his son I give one
tribe, for there being a lamp to David My servant all the days before Me in
Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen to Myself to put My name there.
And unto his son will I give one tribe,.... Judah and
Benjamin reckoned as one; See Gill on 1 Kings 11:13, that
David my servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city which
I have chosen me to put my name there; or a kingdom, as the Targum; or an illustrious
prince, a successor, shining in royal majesty and glory, to guide and direct,
cheer and comfort, the people of Israel; be an honour to David's family, and a
means of continuing the pure worship of God in the temple at Jerusalem; see 2 Samuel 21:17.
1 Kings 11:37 37 So I will take you, and
you shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel.
YLT
37`And thee I take, and thou
hast reigned over all that thy soul desireth, and thou hast been king over
Israel;
And I will take thee,.... From the low estate
in which he was, to be king:
and thou shall reign according to all that thy soul desireth; he being
ambitious of the kingdom, and having already formed in his mind some designs
upon it:
and shall be king over Israel; the ten tribes.
1 Kings 11:38 38 Then it shall be, if you
heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My
sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I
will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and
will give Israel to you.
YLT
38and it hath been, if thou
dost hear all that I command thee, and hast walked in My ways, and done that
which is right in Mine eyes, to keep My statutes and My commands, as did David
My servant, that I have been with thee, and have built for thee a stedfast
house, as I built for David, and have given to thee Israel,
And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee,.... And be
obedient thereunto:
and wilt walk in my ways; directed to in the law
of Moses:
and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes, and my
commandments; those particularly respecting divine worship:
as David my servant did; who very diligently and
constantly attended to the ordinances of religion:
that I will be with thee; to guide and direct,
protect and defend, prosper and succeed:
and build thee a sure house, as I built for David; continue the
succession of the kingdom in his posterity:
and will give Israel unto thee; to rule over them.
1 Kings 11:39 39 And I will afflict the
descendants of David because of this, but not forever.’”
YLT
39and I humble the seed of
David for this; only, not all the days.'
And I will for this afflict the seed of David,.... For the
idolatry Solomon had been guilty of, and connived at:
but not for ever; for when the ten tribes were carried
captive, the kingdom of Judah flourished under Hezekiah, Josiah, &c. and
though the tribe of Judah was carried captive, yet it returned after seventy
years captivity, and had rulers over it of the seed of David; and especially to
the Messiah has God given the throne of his father David, of whose kingdom
there will he no end, Luke 1:32, and
Jarchi's note on the text is,
"for
in the days of the Messiah the kingdom shall return to it,'
the
seed of David; and Abarbinel says, of a truth, at the coming of our Messiah,
this prophecy will be fulfilled; but the true Messiah is come already, in whom
it is fulfilled; see Kimchi and Abendana, who refer to Ezekiel 37:19.
1 Kings 11:40 40 Solomon therefore sought
to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to Shishak king of
Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.
YLT
40And Solomon seeketh to put
Jeroboam to death, and Jeroboam riseth and fleeth to Egypt, unto Shishak king
of Egypt, and he is in Egypt till the death of Solomon.
Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam,.... Which is
another instance of his folly, to seek to detest the counsel of God, when he
himself was assured by the Lord the kingdom should be rent, and given to his
servant, 1 Kings 11:11 and
especially if he was informed of what passed between Ahijah and Jeroboam, as it
should seem by this he was; either through Ahijah's making no secret of it, or
through Jeroboam not being able to keep his own counsel, or through the report
of the servants what they saw done, 1 Kings 11:29,
which Solomon would easily understand:
and Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt; the common
sanctuary of persons in distress in those days:
unto Shishak king of Egypt; either the father in law
or the brother in law of Solomon, or one of another family, on whom the kingdom
devolved; and who might not have any good respect for Solomon, and therefore
Jeroboam thought himself safe with him: this is the only king of Egypt, in
Scripture, that is called by his own name, and not Pharaoh; he is generally
supposed to be the same with the Sesostris of HerodotusF20Euterpe,
sive, l. 2. c. 102. , and the Vexoris or Vexosis of JustinF21E
Trogo, l. 1. c. 1. ; and the rather he may be meant, since, according to HerodotusF23Ut
supra, (Euterpe, sive, l. 2.) c. 110. , he was the only king of Egypt that
ruled over the Ethiopians: and Strabo saysF24Geograph. l. 16. p.
529. he was the first that subdued Ethiopia and the country of the Troglodytes;
also Diodorus Siculus affirmsF25Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 50. , that he
fought with the Ethiopians dwelling to the south, and obliged them to pay
tribute; out of which countries Shishak brought many with him in his expedition
against Jerusalem, 2 Chronicles 12:2.
and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon; not daring to
return till that time, and then he did.
1 Kings 11:41 41 Now the rest of the acts
of Solomon, all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the
book of the acts of Solomon?
YLT
41And the rest of the matters
of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written on the
book of the matters of Solomon?
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? Either written
by himself, as Kimchi suggests, though not in being; or by some chronologer or
historiographer employed by him in writing the most memorable things that
happened in his reign; or by several prophets, as in 2 Chronicles 9:29
out of which the inspired writer of this book took what he was directed to by
the Lord to be transmitted to future ages.
1 Kings 11:42 42 And the period that
Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.
YLT
42And the days that Solomon
hath reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel [are] forty years,
And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem, over all Israel,
was forty years. The same says EupolemusF26Apud Euseb. Praepar.
Evangel. l. 9. c. 34. , an Heathen writer, who makes him to live but fifty two
years; which is the common tradition of the Jews, who suppose he was but twelve
years of age when he began to reign; which is to be confuted from the age of
his son Rehoboam, see 1 Kings 14:21.
JosephusF1Antiqu. l. 8. c. 7. sect. 8. , on the other hand, makes
him to live to too great an age, who says that he reigned eighty years, and
lived to ninety four.
1 Kings 11:43 43 Then Solomon rested with
his fathers, and was buried in the City of David his father. And Rehoboam his
son reigned in his place.
YLT
43and Solomon lieth with his
fathers, and is buried in the city of David his father, and reign doth Rehoboam
his son in his stead.
And Solomon slept with his fathers,.... Died as they did:
and was buried in the city of David his father; not in
Bethlehem, but Zion, 1 Kings 2:10.
and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead; of whom more
in the following chapter. Though nothing is said of Solomon's repentance, there
is no doubt but he was a good man, repented of his sins, and was saved; as may
be concluded from the commendations of him after his death, 2 Chronicles 11:17
from the promise of God that he made, that his mercy should not depart from
him, though he chastised him, 2 Samuel 7:14 from
his being an inspired writer, who were all holy men, 2 Peter 1:20, and
especially from his writing the book of Ecclesiastes after his fall, which contains
a full acknowledgment of all his evils, a recantation of them, and repentance
for them. AbulpharagiusF2Hist. Dynast. Dyn. 3. p. 55. , an Arabic
writer, rashly asserts that he died without repentance.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)