King Solomon, in his old age, turned from the Lord by loving many foreign women who led him to worship their gods. Consequently, the Lord declared He would tear the kingdom from Solomon's son, leaving only one tribe for David's sake. The Lord then raised up adversaries against Solomon, and the prophet Ahijah prophesied that Jeroboam would receive ten tribes of Israel.
¶ But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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;
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
¶ 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.
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.
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:
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
Study Notes for 1 Kings 11
Verse 1
Solomon's political strategy involved cementing alliances through marriage, but this directly violated the Mosaic law (Deut 17:17; 7:3-4). His love for foreign women led to his spiritual downfall.
Verse 2
The explicit warning against intermarriage was rooted in the fear that foreign wives would introduce new gods and turn the Israelites’ hearts away from Yahweh, a fear tragically realized in Solomon.
Verse 3
The massive number of wives and concubines (1,000 total) demonstrates Solomon's excessive accumulation of power and wealth, fulfilling the specific warning given to future kings (Deut 17:17).
Verse 4
The text contrasts Solomon’s obedience with the unwavering devotion of David, emphasizing that Solomon’s heart was 'not perfect' (or fully committed) to the LORD, especially in his old age.
Verse 5
Ashtoreth (Astarte) was the principal fertility goddess of the Canaanites and Phoenicians. Milcom (often identified with Molech) was the national god of the Ammonites, associated with child sacrifice.
Verse 7
Solomon built shrines for these foreign deities on the Mount of Olives, the 'hill that is before Jerusalem,' a profound desecration that brought pagan ritual directly into the holy city’s view.
Verse 9
The severity of God’s anger stems from the fact that Solomon had received two personal divine appearances and specific warnings (1 Kgs 3:5; 9:2). His sin was willful disobedience against direct revelation.
Verse 11
The term 'rend the kingdom' signifies the violent splitting of the unified monarchy. The judgment is framed as a consequence of Solomon breaking the covenant and neglecting God’s statutes.
Verse 12
God delays the full execution of judgment until the next generation, demonstrating covenant fidelity to David and upholding the promise of a continuous dynasty (2 Sam 7).
Verse 13
The 'one tribe' (Judah, which included Benjamin) is spared to ensure the Davidic line remains intact and to preserve Jerusalem as the chosen place for God’s name.
Verse 14
God actively 'stirred up' adversaries, illustrating that even political and military opposition is under divine control and serves as punishment for covenant breaking. Hadad was a surviving heir of the Edomite royal family.
Verse 15
This provides the historical context: Hadad escaped the genocidal campaign waged by Joab, David’s general, ensuring that Edom never fully forgot or forgave Israel’s conquest.
Verse 19
Pharaoh’s generosity shows that Hadad was fully integrated into the Egyptian court, positioning him as a viable rival king supported by a major foreign power.
Verse 23
Rezon, a former officer under Hadadezer of Zobah, established himself in Damascus. He represents the rise of Aramean power, which would become a persistent thorn in Israel’s side.
Verse 25
Rezon’s successful establishment of a hostile kingdom in Syria (Damascus) confirms the weakening of Solomon's empire and the beginning of the end of the Pax Solomonica.
Verse 26
Jeroboam, from the prominent tribe of Ephraim, was initially an administrator under Solomon. He is introduced here as the internal threat who 'lifted up his hand' in rebellion.
Verse 27
Jeroboam’s rise came during Solomon’s massive public works projects, specifically the fortification of Jerusalem (Millo). His competence in overseeing the 'house of Joseph' (Ephraim and Manasseh) gave him political visibility.
Verse 29
Ahijah the prophet legitimizes Jeroboam’s rebellion, confirming that the political division is not random but a direct divine mandate fulfilling the judgment announced to Solomon.
Verse 30
The prophet's tearing of the new garment is a symbolic sign-act, visually representing the violent tearing and fragmentation of the unified nation into twelve parts.
Verse 36
The 'light alway before me in Jerusalem' is a theological term symbolizing the enduring commitment to the Davidic dynasty, ensuring the Messianic line remains active through the surviving tribe.
Verse 38
God offers Jeroboam a conditional covenant: if he obeys, he will receive a 'sure house' (an enduring dynasty), demonstrating that God's favor is based on obedience, not lineage alone.
Verse 40
Solomon attempts to murder Jeroboam to thwart the prophecy. Jeroboam’s flight to Shishak, the powerful Pharaoh of the 22nd Dynasty, sets him up for a triumphant return following Solomon’s death.
Verse 41
This formulaic verse directs the reader to the 'book of the acts of Solomon,' indicating that the biblical account is selective and based on court records or chronicles.
Verse 42
Forty years is a conventional number in biblical history, often symbolizing a full, complete reign or generation. This marks the end of the united kingdom era.
Verse 43
The succession of Rehoboam immediately sets the stage for the fulfillment of Ahijah’s prophecy and the permanent division of Israel in the subsequent chapter.
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