1 Kings 14:26

And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

And he took away {H3947} the treasures {H214} of the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, and the treasures {H214} of the king's {H4428} house {H1004}; he even took away {H3947} all: and he took away {H3947} all the shields {H4043} of gold {H2091} which Solomon {H8010} had made {H6213}.

He took the treasures in the house of ADONAI and the treasures in the royal palace - he took everything, including all the gold shields Shlomo had made.

He seized the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields that Solomon had made.

and he took away the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king’s house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

Commentary

1 Kings 14:26 records a significant moment in the history of the divided kingdom of Israel, specifically concerning the southern kingdom of Judah under King Rehoboam. This verse details the plundering of Jerusalem by Pharaoh Shishak of Egypt, who seized both the sacred treasures of the Temple and the valuable possessions of the royal palace, including the renowned gold shields crafted by King Solomon.

Context of 1 Kings 14:26

This verse immediately follows the account of Judah's decline into idolatry and moral corruption during the reign of King Rehoboam, son of Solomon. After the kingdom split, Rehoboam's Judah, despite retaining the Temple and the Davidic lineage, largely abandoned the Lord's commandments (1 Kings 14:22-24). The invasion by Pharaoh Shishak of Egypt (also recounted in 2 Chronicles 12:9) is presented as a direct consequence of this national apostasy. The "treasures of the house of the LORD" refer to the rich furnishings and dedications within Solomon's magnificent Temple, while the "king's house" signifies the royal treasury and palace wealth. The mention of "all the shields of gold which Solomon had made" specifically highlights the loss of items symbolizing Judah's former glory and security, detailed in 1 Kings 10:16-17.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Consequences of Disobedience: The most prominent theme is the severe repercussions of turning away from God. The loss of national wealth and security serves as a tangible judgment for Judah's widespread idolatry and sin, fulfilling warnings found in the Law (Deuteronomy 28:15ff).
  • Loss of Divine Protection: The plundering signifies a withdrawal of God's protective hand over Jerusalem and its treasures, which had once been secured by divine favor during Solomon's faithful reign.
  • Transience of Earthly Glory: The swift disappearance of Solomon's opulent gold shields and the Temple's riches underscores the fleeting nature of material wealth and human-made glory when God's blessing is removed.
  • Historical Fulfillment: This event marks a significant downturn for the Davidic kingdom, illustrating the cyclical pattern of sin, judgment, repentance, and restoration seen throughout Israel's history.

Linguistic Insights

The repeated use of "took away" (Hebrew: וַיִּקַּח, vayyiqqaḥ) emphasizes the thoroughness and finality of Shishak's plunder. The phrase "he even took away all" underscores the comprehensiveness of the theft, indicating that very little of value was left behind. This isn't just a partial raid but a complete despoilment of the nation's accumulated wealth and symbols of power.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 Kings 14:26 serves as a powerful reminder that spiritual health is paramount. When individuals or nations drift from God's commands, they open themselves up to vulnerabilities and consequences, even the loss of what they hold dear. It encourages self-examination regarding one's priorities and the dangers of idolatry, whether worshipping physical idols or modern substitutes like wealth, power, or comfort. The verse also highlights that true security and lasting treasure are found not in material possessions, but in a right relationship with God, whose blessings are not subject to earthly invaders.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 15:18 (5 votes)

    Then Asa took all the silver and the gold [that were] left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

  • 2 Chronicles 9:15 (4 votes)

    And king Solomon made two hundred targets [of] beaten gold: six hundred [shekels] of beaten gold went to one target.

  • 2 Chronicles 9:16 (4 votes)

    And three hundred shields [made he of] beaten gold: three hundred [shekels] of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:18 (2 votes)

    Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:19 (2 votes)

    And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise [man] or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This [is] also vanity.

  • 1 Kings 10:16 (2 votes)

    And king Solomon made two hundred targets [of] beaten gold: six hundred [shekels] of gold went to one target.

  • 1 Kings 10:17 (2 votes)

    And [he made] three hundred shields [of] beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.