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1 Kings 11:32

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(But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)

(But he shall have one {H259} tribe {H7626} for my servant {H5650} David's {H1732} sake, and for Jerusalem's {H3389} sake, the city {H5892} which I have chosen {H977} out of all the tribes {H7626} of Israel {H3478}:)

But he will keep one tribe for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Yerushalayim, the city I have chosen from all the tribes of Isra'el.

But one tribe will remain for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.

(but he shall have one tribe, for my servant David’s sake and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel);

Commentary

1 Kings 11:32 is part of God's pronouncement of judgment against King Solomon for his widespread idolatry, yet it simultaneously reveals God's enduring faithfulness to His covenant promises.

Context

Following Solomon's deviation from God's commands by marrying foreign wives and worshipping their gods (1 Kings 11:4), the Lord declares that He will tear the kingdom away from Solomon's son (1 Kings 11:11). However, this verse reveals a significant tempering of that judgment. Despite Solomon's grave failures, God promises that one tribe will remain under the Davidic dynasty. This refers primarily to the tribe of Judah, which would form the Southern Kingdom, with Jerusalem as its capital, while the other ten tribes would form the Northern Kingdom under Jeroboam.

Key Themes

  • God's Unwavering Faithfulness: The primary theme is God's steadfast commitment to His covenant with David. Even in the face of Solomon's profound disobedience, God upholds His word concerning David's lineage and the eternal nature of his throne. This demonstrates that God's promises are not contingent on human perfection but on His own character.
  • Divine Mercy in Judgment: While judgment is pronounced for Solomon's sins, God's mercy is evident in the preservation of a remnant. The division of the kingdom is a consequence of sin, but the retention of one tribe ensures the continuity of the Davidic line, through whom the Messiah would eventually come.
  • Significance of David and Jerusalem: The verse explicitly states the reasons for this preservation: "for my servant David's sake" and "for Jerusalem's sake." David was God's chosen king, and Jerusalem was the city God had chosen as the place for His temple and the center of Israelite worship (2 Chronicles 6:6). This highlights the enduring importance of both the Davidic covenant and the holy city in God's redemptive plan.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "for my servant David's sake" underscores David's unique standing before God, even after his own failures. It speaks to God's deep commitment to the covenant He made with David, emphasizing that His faithfulness is rooted in His character and sovereign choice, not solely in human merit. The term "chosen" regarding Jerusalem highlights God's sovereign election of specific people and places for His divine purposes.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound comfort and insight for believers today. It reminds us that while our disobedience has consequences, God's promises and purposes are ultimately secure. His faithfulness transcends our failures. It encourages us to trust in God's character, knowing that He remains true to His word even when we falter. The preservation of the Davidic line, despite the kingdom's division, points forward to the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise in Jesus Christ, the true King from David's lineage, whose kingdom will have no end.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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 11:13 (3 votes)

    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.

  • 1 Kings 12:20 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

  • 1 Kings 12:21 (2 votes)

    And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

  • 1 Kings 14:21 (2 votes)

    ¶ And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam [was] forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name [was] Naamah an Ammonitess.