1 Kings 9:9

And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil.

And they shall answer {H559}, Because they forsook {H5800} the LORD {H3068} their God {H430}, who brought forth {H3318} their fathers {H1} out of the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714}, and have taken hold {H2388} upon other {H312} gods {H430}, and have worshipped {H7812} them, and served {H5647} them: therefore hath the LORD {H3068} brought {H935} upon them all this evil {H7451}.

But the answer will be, 'It's because they abandoned ADONAI their God, who brought their ancestors out of the land of Egypt, and took hold of other gods, worshipping and serving them; this is why ADONAI brought all these calamities on them.'"

And others will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—because of this, the LORD has brought all this disaster upon them.’”

and they shall answer, Because they forsook Jehovah their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath Jehovah brought all this evil upon them.

Commentary

1 Kings 9:9 is part of God’s solemn warning to King Solomon following the dedication of the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. This verse explains the future consequences of Israel's potential disobedience, clarifying why the nation might face desolation and judgment.

Historical and Cultural Context

This divine message to Solomon (recorded in 1 Kings 9:1-9) serves as a critical conditional promise and warning. God had just established His presence in the Temple, fulfilling His promise to David. However, God also laid out the terms for Israel's continued prosperity in the land. The questions posed by passersby about the desolation of the land and Temple (as described in the preceding verses, 1 Kings 9:7-8) anticipate a future reality that indeed came to pass with the Babylonian exile. The answer provided in verse 9 reveals the ultimate cause: Israel's spiritual apostasy and abandonment of the covenant.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Covenant Loyalty and Disobedience: The verse powerfully emphasizes the direct link between Israel's faithfulness to God and their national well-being. Forsaking the LORD, their deliverer from the land of Egypt, is presented as the foundational sin.
  • The Gravity of Idolatry: "Taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them" highlights the comprehensive nature of Israel's idolatry. It wasn't merely acknowledging other deities but fully embracing them, involving worship and servitude, which directly violated the first two commandments (Exodus 20:3-5). This act of spiritual adultery provoked God's wrath.
  • Divine Justice and Consequences: The phrase "therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil" underscores God's righteous judgment. It's not arbitrary punishment but a direct, inevitable consequence of breaking the covenant and choosing false gods. God's character demands justice when His people turn away from Him.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "forsake" ('azav - עָזַב) implies an intentional abandonment or desertion, a deliberate turning away from a relationship. It's a strong term indicating a breach of trust and covenant. Similarly, "taken hold upon" ('achaz - אָחַז) suggests a firm grasp or embrace, indicating a deliberate and active commitment to these false deities, rather than a passive slip.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a timeless reminder of the consequences of spiritual drifting and idolatry, even for those who claim to know God.

  • Beware of Modern Idols: While we may not bow to physical statues, anything that takes priority over God in our lives—money, career, possessions, relationships, power, or even self—can become an idol. This verse calls us to examine our hearts and priorities.
  • Remember God's Deliverance: Just as God brought Israel out of Egypt, He has delivered believers from the bondage of sin through Christ. Remembering His past faithfulness should strengthen our resolve to remain loyal to Him.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: While God's grace is abundant, His word consistently teaches that continued, unrepentant disobedience leads to negative consequences, both individually and corporately. It's a call to repentance and renewed devotion.

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

  • Jeremiah 2:19

    Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that [it is] an evil [thing] and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear [is] not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

  • Jeremiah 5:19

    And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these [things] unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land [that is] not yours.

  • 2 Chronicles 7:22

    And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.

  • Deuteronomy 29:25

    Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt:

  • Deuteronomy 29:28

    And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as [it is] this day.

  • Jeremiah 2:10

    For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.

  • Jeremiah 2:13

    For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
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