1 Kings 11:6

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And Solomon {H8010} did {H6213} evil {H7451} in the sight {H5869} of the LORD {H3068}, and went not fully {H4390} after {H310} the LORD {H3068}, as did David {H1732} his father {H1}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Thus Shlomo did what was evil in ADONAI's view and did not fully follow ADONAI, as David his father had done.

Berean Standard Bible

So Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD; unlike his father David, he did not follow the LORD completely.

American Standard Version

And Solomon did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and went not fully after Jehovah, as did David his father.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Kings 11:6 marks a poignant and tragic indictment of King Solomon, who, despite his unparalleled wisdom and the profound privilege of building the Lord's Temple, ultimately failed to maintain undivided loyalty to God. This verse encapsulates his spiritual decline, highlighting his deliberate departure from the covenantal faithfulness that characterized his father, David, and setting the stage for the severe divine judgment that would soon befall his kingdom. It serves as a stark warning about the insidious nature of spiritual compromise and the dire consequences of a divided heart.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows a detailed account of Solomon's extensive foreign marriages and his subsequent idolatry. [1 Kings 11:1-3](/1_kings/11-1 "1 Kings 11:1-3 - Solomon's Foreign Wives") explicitly states that Solomon loved many foreign women from nations about whom the Lord had warned the Israelites, "You shall not intermarry with them, neither shall they intermarry with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods." Despite this clear prohibition and his own profound wisdom, Solomon took 700 wives and 300 concubines, whose hearts indeed "turned away his heart" ([1 Kings 11:3](/1_kings/11-3 "1 Kings 11:3 - Solomon's Heart Turned Away")). The preceding verse, [1 Kings 11:5](/1_kings/11-5 "1 Kings 11:5 - Solomon's Idolatry"), specifies that he followed Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites, even building high places for these and other gods on the hills around Jerusalem. Thus, [1 Kings 11:6](/1_kings/11-6 "1 Kings 11:6 - Solomon's Disobedience") serves as the divine verdict and summary statement of Solomon's unfaithfulness, directly preceding God's declaration of judgment upon his kingdom in [1 Kings 11:9-13](/1_kings/11-9 "1 Kings 11:9-13 - God's Judgment on Solomon").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Solomon's reign (c. 970-931 BC) was a period of unprecedented peace, wealth, and international prestige for Israel. His foreign marriages were likely driven by political alliances, a common practice among ancient Near Eastern monarchs to secure peace treaties and trade routes. However, for Israel, such alliances were fraught with spiritual danger, as they often entailed the adoption of foreign deities and religious practices. The "sight of the LORD" (Hebrew: `b'eyney YHWH`) is a crucial theological phrase, emphasizing that God, as the ultimate sovereign and judge, observes and evaluates human actions. For a king, especially one chosen by God and responsible for upholding the covenant, deviation from divine law was not merely a personal failing but a national apostasy, reflecting a profound betrayal of the unique relationship between Yahweh and Israel. The construction of high places for foreign gods, even outside Jerusalem, was a direct violation of the Deuteronomic law that mandated centralized worship at the Temple.
* **Key Themes:** The overarching theme in [1 Kings 11](/1_kings/11 "1 Kings 11 - Solomon's Apostasy and Decline") is the **consequences of disobedience and spiritual compromise**. Solomon's fall illustrates that even the wisest and most blessed individuals are susceptible to temptation and apostasy if they do not guard their hearts. His failure to "go fully after the LORD" underscores the biblical emphasis on **wholehearted devotion** as the foundation of the covenant relationship, a theme deeply rooted in the [Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)](/deuteronomy/6-5 "Deuteronomy 6:5 - Love the Lord Your God with All Your Heart"). The stark **contrast with David** is also a significant theme, highlighting the difference between a king who, despite his sins, consistently returned to the Lord in repentance, and one who drifted into sustained idolatry. This narrative foreshadows the subsequent division of the kingdom and the long history of Israel's unfaithfulness, demonstrating that divine blessing is conditional upon covenant fidelity.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Evil (Hebrew, _ra'_):** This word signifies not merely a mistake or an error, but something morally wrong, displeasing to God, and often destructive. In the context of biblical narrative, `ra'` often denotes actions that violate God's covenant and bring about negative consequences. Solomon's actions were not accidental but a deliberate turning away from God's commands, resulting in a state of moral corruption in God's eyes.
* **Fully (Hebrew, _shalem'_):** The phrase "went not fully after the LORD" translates from the Hebrew root שָׁלֵם (`shalem`), meaning "to be complete," "whole," "sound," or "at peace." When applied to devotion to God, it implies a lack of undivided, sincere, and absolute commitment. Solomon's heart was not `shalem` towards the Lord, indicating a significant spiritual deficit. While he may have continued some religious observances, his devotion was compromised by his allegiance to foreign deities, demonstrating a divided loyalty rather than the single-minded devotion demanded by the covenant.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD":** This is a direct divine judgment on Solomon's conduct. "In the sight of the LORD" emphasizes God's omniscient observation and righteous evaluation of human actions. It signifies that Solomon's actions were not merely politically or socially problematic, but fundamentally offensive to God's holiness and covenant demands. This phrase carries immense weight, marking a decisive shift from God's favor to His displeasure.
* **"and went not fully after the LORD":** This clause explains the nature of Solomon's evil. It's not necessarily a complete abandonment of Yahweh, but a failure of wholehearted devotion. His heart was divided, pursuing other gods alongside the Lord. This partial obedience is deemed disobedience, as it compromises the exclusive nature of the covenant relationship, which demands singular allegiance.
* **"as [did] David his father":** This comparison is crucial and damning. David, despite his severe moral failings (e.g., Bathsheba, Uriah), is consistently portrayed as a man whose heart was ultimately devoted to the Lord, always returning in repentance and seeking God's will. Solomon, in contrast, failed to emulate his father's foundational commitment to Yahweh, leading to a spiritual decline that David never experienced in such a sustained and idolatrous manner. This highlights the importance of spiritual legacy and the unique covenant God made with David.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs **Contrast** by juxtaposing Solomon's unfaithfulness with the steadfast, albeit imperfect, devotion of "David his father." This contrast underscores the severity of Solomon's sin, as he failed to live up to the spiritual standard set by his predecessor, despite being blessed with even greater wisdom and wealth. There is also profound **Irony** in this verse: the wisest king, who built the magnificent Temple for the one true God, is ultimately condemned for his foolish idolatry and divided heart. This serves as a powerful cautionary tale. Furthermore, the declaration that Solomon "did evil in the sight of the LORD" functions as a **Climax** in the narrative of his decline, marking the point of no return and directly preceding God's pronouncement of judgment and the subsequent **Foreshadowing** of the kingdom's division.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Kings 11:6 powerfully illustrates the biblical principle that true faith demands wholehearted devotion, not partial allegiance. Solomon's failure to "go fully after the LORD" reveals the insidious danger of syncretism and the corrosive effect of compromise on one's relationship with God. It underscores that divine blessings and wisdom do not inoculate against spiritual decline if one's heart is not guarded vigilantly. This verse serves as a sober reminder that God's covenant demands exclusive loyalty, and any deviation, even if seemingly for political gain or personal pleasure, constitutes a profound betrayal that inevitably leads to judgment and the forfeiture of promised blessings.

* [Deuteronomy 6:5](/deuteronomy/6-5 "Deuteronomy 6:5 - The Greatest Commandment")
* [Joshua 24:14](/joshua/24-14 "Joshua 24:14 - Choose Whom You Will Serve")
* [Matthew 6:24](/matthew/6-24 "Matthew 6:24 - No One Can Serve Two Masters")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Solomon's tragic fall, encapsulated in 1 Kings 11:6, offers a timeless and sobering lesson for all believers. It reminds us that spiritual success is not measured by external accomplishments, wisdom, or even past blessings, but by the consistent, wholehearted devotion of our hearts to God alone. We are constantly tempted to allow worldly influences, desires, or relationships to subtly erode our singular focus on Christ. This verse calls us to vigilant self-examination, prompting us to identify any areas where our hearts might be divided, where we are pursuing God only partially, or where we are allowing competing loyalties to compromise our devotion. True obedience is not merely avoiding overt sin, but actively pursuing God with every fiber of our being, recognizing that a divided heart is, in God's eyes, a heart that has turned away.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be "not fully after the LORD," allowing compromise or divided loyalties to creep in?**
* **How does Solomon's story challenge my understanding of wisdom and success, and what does it teach me about true spiritual faithfulness?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a more "wholehearted" devotion to God in my daily life, guarding against subtle forms of idolatry?**

### FAQ
**Why was Solomon's sin considered so grievous, especially when compared to David's sins?**

Answer: While David committed grievous sins like adultery and murder, the biblical narrative consistently emphasizes his deep repentance and his fundamental "wholeheartedness" (1 Kings 11:4, referring to David) and pursuit of God's heart (Acts 13:22). Solomon's sin, as described in [1 Kings 11](/1_kings/11 "1 Kings 11 - Solomon's Apostasy"), was primarily idolatry and a sustained, deliberate turning away from the Lord, building altars for foreign gods, and allowing his wives to lead him into worshipping other deities. This was a direct violation of the first commandment and the core of the covenant, representing a fundamental spiritual compromise and a divided heart that persisted. David's sins were moral failures from which he repented; Solomon's was a theological and covenantal apostasy that led to sustained idolatry, which was more fundamentally destructive to the unique relationship between God and Israel.

**What does "went not fully after the LORD" mean in practical terms for believers today?**

Answer: This phrase implies a lack of complete, undivided, and sincere devotion. For believers today, it means that our faith should not be compartmentalized or diluted by competing allegiances. It's a call to avoid "functional idolatry"—where things like career, money, relationships, comfort, or even good causes become ultimate concerns that subtly displace God from the center of our lives. It challenges us to examine if our obedience is partial, our worship lukewarm, or our trust in God wavering because we are also relying on other sources of security or fulfillment. To "go fully after the LORD" means pursuing Him with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, as commanded in [Deuteronomy 6:5](/deuteronomy/6-5 "Deuteronomy 6:5 - The Greatest Commandment") and reaffirmed by Jesus in [Matthew 22:37](/matthew/22-37 "Matthew 22:37 - The Greatest Commandment").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Solomon's tragic failure to "go fully after the LORD" stands in stark contrast to the perfect, unwavering devotion of Jesus Christ. While Solomon, the son of David, failed to maintain the covenant and led Israel into idolatry, Jesus, the greater Son of David, perfectly fulfilled the Law and lived a life of absolute obedience and wholehearted devotion to the Father. Solomon's divided heart led to the division of his kingdom, but Christ's perfect fidelity brings about the unification of all who believe into His eternal kingdom ([Ephesians 1:10](/ephesians/1-10 "Ephesians 1:10 - Uniting All Things in Christ")). Where Solomon succumbed to the allure of foreign gods through worldly alliances, Jesus resisted every temptation to compromise His loyalty to God, even to the point of death on the cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")). He is the true and faithful King, whose heart was never divided, and who perfectly embodied the "wholehearted" love and obedience that Solomon lacked. Through Christ, believers are not merely warned against Solomon's error, but are empowered by the Holy Spirit to pursue God with a renewed and undivided heart, finding in Him the perfect righteousness and unwavering faithfulness that we ourselves cannot achieve ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Numbers 14:24

But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

Joshua 14:8

Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

Joshua 14:14

Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.