所羅門背棄上帝

11 除了埃及公主以外,所羅門王還寵愛許多外邦女子,有摩押人、亞捫人、以東人、西頓人和赫人。 耶和華曾告訴以色列人不可跟這些外族人通婚,免得受引誘去隨從他們的神明,所羅門卻迷戀這些女子。 他有七百個妻子,都是外國的公主,還有三百個妃嬪。這些女子使他的心背棄耶和華。 所羅門年老的時候,他的嬪妃誘惑他的心去追隨別的神明。他沒有像他父親大衛那樣忠心順服他的上帝耶和華。 所羅門拜西頓人的女神亞斯她錄和亞捫人的可憎神明米勒公。 他做了耶和華視為惡的事,沒有像他父親大衛那樣忠心順服耶和華。 在耶路撒冷東面的山上,所羅門为摩押人可憎的神明基抹和亞捫人可憎的神明摩洛修建邱壇。 他又為所有的外邦妃嬪修建邱壇,供她們向自己的神明燒香獻祭。

9-10 所羅門背棄了曾兩次向他顯現的以色列的上帝耶和華,違背耶和華的命令去隨從別的神明。所以,耶和華向他發怒, 11 說:「你既然違背我的命令,不遵守我的約和律例,我必奪走你的國,將它賜給你的一個臣僕。 12 然而,因你父大衛的緣故,我不會在你有生之年這樣做,我要從你兒子手中把國奪走。 13 但我不會全部奪走,為了我僕人大衛和我揀選的耶路撒冷,我會留下一個支派給你兒子。」

所羅門的敵人

14 耶和華使以東王的後裔哈達興起,與所羅門為敵。 15 從前大衛征討以東,元帥約押前去埋葬陣亡的人,將以東的男子都殺了。 16 他率領以色列人在那裡住了六個月,直到殺光了以東的男子。 17 那時,哈達年紀還小,他和他父親的幾個以東臣僕一起逃往埃及。 18 他們從米甸逃到巴蘭,在那裡招聚了一些人,然後又逃到埃及去見埃及王法老。法老賜他糧食、房屋和田地。 19 法老非常喜歡哈達,將王后答比妮的妹妹許配給他。 20 他們生了一個兒子,取名基努拔,由王后在宮中撫養,跟王子們在一起。 21 後來,哈達知道大衛已與祖先同眠,約押元帥也死了,就求法老准他回國。 22 法老問他:「你為什麼要回國呢?你在我這裡還缺什麼嗎?」哈達答道:「什麼都不缺,但還是求王准我回國。」 23 上帝又使以利亞大的兒子利遜興起,與所羅門為敵。這人從他主人瑣巴王哈大底謝身邊逃走後, 24 招聚了一群匪徒,自己做頭目。大衛征服瑣巴人後,他又前往大馬士革,在那裡做王。 25 所羅門活著的時候,哈達和利遜不斷為患。利遜統治亞蘭,他憎恨以色列人。

耶羅波安叛變

26 所羅門的一個臣僕耶羅波安也叛變了。他是以法蓮支派洗利達人尼八的兒子,母親洗魯阿是個寡婦。 27 以下是他反叛所羅門的緣由:

當年所羅門建造米羅堡,修補大衛城的城牆時, 28 發現年輕的耶羅波安勤奮能幹,就提拔他監管約瑟家族的一切工程。

29 有一次,耶羅波安出了耶路撒冷,在路上遇見身披新衣的示羅人亞希雅先知。當時野外只有他們二人。 30 亞希雅將身上的新衣撕作十二片, 31 對耶羅波安說:「你可以拿十片。以色列的上帝耶和華說,『我必奪走所羅門的國,把十個支派賜給你。 32 然而,為了我僕人大衛和我在以色列眾支派中揀選的耶路撒冷城,我會留下一個支派給所羅門。 33 所羅門背棄了我,去祭拜西頓人的女神亞斯她錄、摩押的神明基抹、亞捫人的神明米勒公。他沒有遵行我的道,沒有做我視為正的事,也不像他父親大衛那樣遵守我的律例和典章。 34 然而,我不會奪走他整個國,我會讓所羅門終生為王,因為我所揀選的僕人大衛遵守我的誡命和律法。 35 我必從他兒子手中把國奪走,將十個支派賜給你, 36 只給他兒子留下一個支派,好使我僕人大衛有後裔留在我選為居所的耶路撒冷城。 37 我要讓你做王,使你如願地統治以色列。 38 若你像我僕人大衛一樣聽從我的一切吩咐,遵行我的道,做我視為正的事,遵守我的律例誡命,我就與你同在,鞏固你的王朝,像鞏固大衛的王朝一樣,使你統治以色列。 39 因所羅門的所作所為,我必讓大衛的後裔遭難,但不會永遠如此。』」

40 所羅門想殺耶羅波安,他就逃到埃及投奔埃及王示撒,在那裡一直住到所羅門過世。

41 所羅門的其他事蹟、作為和智慧都記在所羅門記上了。 42 所羅門在耶路撒冷統治以色列四十年, 43 他與祖先同眠後葬在他父親大衛的城裡。他兒子羅波安繼位。

11 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.

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

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.

For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did 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.

And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.

11 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.

12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

13 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.

14 And the Lord stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.

15 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;

16 (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)

17 That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child.

18 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.

19 And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.

20 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.

21 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.

22 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.

23 And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:

24 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.

25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.

26 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.

27 And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.

28 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.

29 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:

30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:

31 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:

32 (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:)

33 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.

34 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:

35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.

36 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.

37 And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.

38 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.

39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.

40 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.

41 And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?

42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.

43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

11 But Sh’lomo Hamelech loved nashim nokhriyyot rabbot (many foreign women), besides Bat Pharaoh: Moaviyyot, Ammoniyyot, Adomiyyot, Tzedeniyyot, Chittiyyot,

Of the Goyim concerning which Hashem said unto the Bnei Yisroel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you; for surely they will turn away your levav after their elohim; Sh’lomo made his deveykus unto these in love.

And he had nashim sarot sheva me’ot (seven hundred royal wives), and three hundred pilagshim; and his nashim inclined libo (his heart).

For it came to pass, when Sh’lomo was old, that his nashim inclined libo (his heart) after elohim acherim and levavo (his heart) was not shalem (undivided, fully devoted, complete) with Hashem Elohav, as was the levav Dovid Aviv.

For Sh’lomo went after Ashtoret elohei Tzidonim, and after Milcom shikkutz (the abomination of) Ammonim.

And Sh’lomo did the rah in the sight of Hashem, and went not fully after Hashem, as did Dovid Aviv.

Then did Sh’lomo build a high place for Kemosh, the shikkutz (abomination of) Moav, on the har (hill, i.e., Mount of Olives) that is facing Yerushalayim, and for Molech, the shikkutz (abomination of) the Bnei Ammon.

And likewise did he for all his nashim nokhriyyot, which burned ketoret and offered zevakhim unto their elohim.

And Hashem was angry with Sh’lomo, because levavo was turned from Hashem Elohei Yisroel, Who had appeared unto him twice,

10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after elohim acherim; but he was not shomer over that which Hashem commanded.

11 Wherefore Hashem said unto Sh’lomo, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not been shomer over My Brit (Covenant, Sinai Covenant) and My chukkot, which I have commanded thee, I will surely tear away the Mamlachah from thee, and will give it to thy eved (servant, that is, Yarov’am ben Nevat, see v. 26).

12 Notwithstanding in thy yamim I will not do it lema’an (for the sake of) Dovid Avicha; but I will tear it out of the yad binecha (power of thy son).

13 Howbeit I will not tear away kol hamamlachah; but will give shevet echad (one tribe) to binecha le’ma’an Dovid Avdi and lema’an Yerushalayim which I have chosen.

14 And Hashem raised up satan (adversary) unto Sh’lomo, Hadad HaAdomi; he was from the zera HaMelech in Edom.

15 For it came to pass, when Dovid was in Edom, and Yoav Sar HaTzava was gone up to bury the slain, after he had struck down every zakhar in Edom;

16 (For six months did Yoav remain there with kol Yisroel, until he had cut off every zakhar in Edom);

17 That Hadad fled, he and anashim Adomiyyim (certain men of Edom) of his father’s avadim with him, to go into Mitzrayim; Hadad being yet a na’ar katan (small child).

18 And they arose out of Midyan, and came to Paran; and they took anashim with them out of Paran, and they came to Mitzrayim, unto Pharaoh Melech Mitzrayim; who gave him a bais, and assigned him lechem, and gave him eretz.

19 And Hadad found chen me’od in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him for an isha the achot of his own isha, the achot Tachpeneis the gevirah (royal lady, queen).

20 And the achot of Tachpeneis bore him Genuvat bno, whom Tachpeneis weaned in Bais Pharaoh; and Genuvat was in Bais Pharaoh among the Bnei Pharaoh.

21 And when Hadad heard in Mitzrayim that Dovid slept with Avotav, and that Yoav Sar HaTzava was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own eretz.

22 Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, hinei, thou seekest to go to thine own eretz? And he answered, Nothing; howbeit let me go anyway.

23 And Elohim raised up against him [Sh’lomo] another satan, Rezon ben Elyada, which fled from adonav Hadadezer Melech Tzovah;

24 And he gathered anashim unto him, and became sar gedood (leader of a band of marauders), when Dovid slaughtered them of Tzovah; they went to Damascus, dwelt therein, and reigned he there as king.

25 And he was a satan to Yisroel all the days of Sh’lomo, in addition to ra’ah that Hadad did; and he despised Yisroel, and he ruled in Aram.

26 Also the eved Sh’lomo Yarov‘am ben Nevat, an Ephrati of the Tzreda (Zeredah), whose shem immo was Tzeruah, an almanah, even he lifted up his yad against HaMelech.

27 And this is the account of his lifting up his yad against HaMelech; Sh’lomo built the Millo, and closed up the peretz of Ir Dovid Aviv.

28 And the ish Yarov‘am was a gibbor chayil; and Sh’lomo seeing the na’ar that he was industrious, he put him over all the sevel (load, burden, enforced labor) of Bais Yosef.

29 And it came to pass at that time when Yarov‘am went out of Yerushalayim, that HaNavi Achiyah the Shiloni found him on the derech; and he had clothed himself with a salmah chadasha (new garment, cloak); and they two were alone in the sadeh;

30 And Achiyah took hold of the salmah chadasha that was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces;

31 And he said to Yarov‘am, Take for thee ten pieces; for thus saith Hashem Elohei Yisroel, Hineni, I will tear the mamlachah out of the yad Sh’lomo, and will give to thee asarah hashevatim.

32 (But he shall have hashevet haechad l’ma’an Dovid Avdi, and l’ma’an Yerushalayim, the Ir which I have chosen out of kol shivtei Yisroel;)

33 Because that they have forsaken Me, and have worshiped Ashtoret elohei Tzidonim, Kemosh elohei Moav, and Milcom elohei Bnei Ammon, and have not walked in My ways, to do that which is yashar in Mine eyes, and My chukkot and My mishpatim, as did Dovid Aviv.

34 Howbeit I will not take the whole mamlachah out of his yad; but I will make him nasi all the days of his life l’ma’an Dovid Avdi, whom I chose, because he was shomer over My mitzvot and My chukkot;

35 But I will take the mamlachah out of yad beno, and will give it unto thee, even aseret hashevatim (ten tribes).

36 And unto bno will I give shevet echad (one tribe), l’ma’an Dovid Avdi may have a ner (lamp) always before Me in Yerushalayim, the Ir which I have chosen for Me to put My Shem there.

37 And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy nefesh desireth, and shalt be Melech over Yisroel.

38 And it shall be, if thou wilt pay heed unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in My ways, and do that is yashar in My sight, to be shomer over My chukkot and My mitzvot, as Dovid Avdi did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a bais ne’eman (enduring dynasty) as I built for Dovid, and will give Yisroel unto thee.

39 And I will for this afflict the zera Dovid [See Isaiah 53:10], but not forever.

40 Sh’lomo sought therefore to kill Yarov‘am. And Yarov‘am arose, and fled into Mitzrayim, unto Shishak Melech Mitzrayim, and was in Mitzrayim until the Mot Sh’lomo.

41 And the rest of the acts of Sh’lomo, and all that he did, and his chochmah, are they not written in the Sefer Divrei Sh’lomo?

42 And the time that Sh’lomo reigned in Yerushalayim over kol Yisroel was arba’im shanah.

43 And Sh’lomo slept with Avotav, and was buried in the Ir Dovid Aviv: and Rechav‘am bno reigned in his place.

Solomon’s Wives

11 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women(A) besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites,(B) Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry(C) with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines,(D) and his wives led him astray.(E) As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods,(F) and his heart was not fully devoted(G) to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth(H) the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek(I) the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil(J) in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.

On a hill east(K) of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh(L) the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek(M) the detestable god of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.

The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared(N) to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods,(O) Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command.(P) 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees,(Q) which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear(R) the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David(S) your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe(T) for the sake(U) of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”(V)

Solomon’s Adversaries

14 Then the Lord raised up against Solomon an adversary,(W) Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom. 15 Earlier when David was fighting with Edom, Joab the commander of the army, who had gone up to bury the dead, had struck down all the men in Edom.(X) 16 Joab and all the Israelites stayed there for six months, until they had destroyed all the men in Edom. 17 But Hadad, still only a boy, fled to Egypt with some Edomite officials who had served his father. 18 They set out from Midian and went to Paran.(Y) Then taking people from Paran with them, they went to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave Hadad a house and land and provided him with food.

19 Pharaoh was so pleased with Hadad that he gave him a sister of his own wife, Queen Tahpenes, in marriage. 20 The sister of Tahpenes bore him a son named Genubath, whom Tahpenes brought up in the royal palace. There Genubath lived with Pharaoh’s own children.

21 While he was in Egypt, Hadad heard that David rested with his ancestors and that Joab the commander of the army was also dead. Then Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Let me go, that I may return to my own country.”

22 “What have you lacked here that you want to go back to your own country?” Pharaoh asked.

“Nothing,” Hadad replied, “but do let me go!”

23 And God raised up against Solomon another adversary,(Z) Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer(AA) king of Zobah. 24 When David destroyed Zobah’s army, Rezon gathered a band of men around him and became their leader; they went to Damascus,(AB) where they settled and took control. 25 Rezon was Israel’s adversary as long as Solomon lived, adding to the trouble caused by Hadad. So Rezon ruled in Aram(AC) and was hostile toward Israel.

Jeroboam Rebels Against Solomon

26 Also, Jeroboam son of Nebat rebelled(AD) against the king. He was one of Solomon’s officials, an Ephraimite from Zeredah, and his mother was a widow named Zeruah.

27 Here is the account of how he rebelled against the king: Solomon had built the terraces[a](AE) and had filled in the gap in the wall of the city of David his father. 28 Now Jeroboam was a man of standing,(AF) and when Solomon saw how well(AG) the young man did his work, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the tribes of Joseph.

29 About that time Jeroboam was going out of Jerusalem, and Ahijah(AH) the prophet of Shiloh met him on the way, wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone out in the country, 30 and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore(AI) it into twelve pieces. 31 Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘See, I am going to tear(AJ) the kingdom out of Solomon’s hand and give you ten tribes. 32 But for the sake(AK) of my servant David and the city of Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, he will have one tribe. 33 I will do this because they have[b] forsaken me and worshiped(AL) Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Molek the god of the Ammonites, and have not walked(AM) in obedience to me, nor done what is right in my eyes, nor kept my decrees(AN) and laws as David, Solomon’s father, did.

34 “‘But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon’s hand; I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose and who obeyed my commands and decrees. 35 I will take the kingdom from his son’s hands and give you ten tribes. 36 I will give one tribe(AO) to his son so that David my servant may always have a lamp(AP) before me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put my Name. 37 However, as for you, I will take you, and you will rule(AQ) over all that your heart desires;(AR) you will be king over Israel. 38 If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right(AS) in my eyes by obeying my decrees(AT) and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty(AU) as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you. 39 I will humble David’s descendants because of this, but not forever.’”

40 Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam fled(AV) to Egypt, to Shishak(AW) the king, and stayed there until Solomon’s death.

Solomon’s Death(AX)

41 As for the other events of Solomon’s reign—all he did and the wisdom he displayed—are they not written in the book of the annals of Solomon? 42 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 43 Then he rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam(AY) his son succeeded him as king.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 11:27 Or the Millo
  2. 1 Kings 11:33 Hebrew; Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac because he has