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.

Solomon Turns from God

11 Now king Solomon [defiantly] loved [a]many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the very nations of whom the Lord said to the Israelites, “You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you, for the result will be that they will turn away your hearts to follow their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these in love.(A) He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred [b]concubines, and his wives turned his heart away [from God]. For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not completely devoted to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the [fertility] goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the horror (detestable idol) of the Ammonites.(B) Solomon did evil [things] in the sight of the Lord, and did not follow the Lord fully, as his father David had done. Then Solomon built a [c]high place for [worshiping] Chemosh the horror (detestable idol) of Moab, on the hill which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the horror (detestable idol) of the sons of Ammon. And he did the same for all of his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.

So the Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not follow other gods; but he did not observe (remember, obey) what the Lord had commanded. 11 Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. 12 However, I will not do it in your [d]lifetime, for the sake of your father David, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son (Rehoboam). 13 However, I will not tear away all the kingdom; I will give one tribe (Judah) to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.”

God Raises Adversaries

14 Then the Lord stirred up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was of royal descent in Edom. 15 For it came about, when David was in Edom, and Joab the commander of the army had gone up to bury those killed [in battle] and had struck down every male in Edom 16 (for Joab and all [the army of] Israel stayed there six months, until he had killed every male in Edom), 17 that Hadad escaped to Egypt, he and some Edomites from his father’s servants with him, while Hadad was [still] a little boy. 18 They set out from Midian [south of Edom] and came to Paran, and took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave [young] Hadad a house and ordered food and provisions for him and gave him land. 19 Hadad found great favor with Pharaoh, so that he gave Hadad in marriage the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. 20 The sister of Tahpenes gave birth to Genubath, Hadad’s son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house; and Genubath was in Pharaoh’s household among the sons of Pharaoh. 21 But when Hadad heard in Egypt that David [e]had died and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Let me leave, so that I may go to my own country.” 22 Then Pharaoh said to him, “But what have you lacked with me that now you ask to go to your own country?” He replied, “Nothing; nevertheless you must let me go.”

23 God also stirred up another adversary for Solomon, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah. 24 Rezon gathered men to himself and became leader of a marauding band, after David killed those in Zobah. They went to Damascus and stayed there and they reigned in Damascus.(C) 25 So Rezon was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, along with the evil that Hadad inflicted. Rezon hated Israel and reigned over Aram (Syria).

26 Jeroboam, Solomon’s servant, the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zeredah whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, also rebelled against the king. 27 Now this is the reason why he rebelled against the king: Solomon built the Millo (fortification) and he repaired and closed the breach of the city of his father David. 28 The man Jeroboam was a brave warrior and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of all the forced labor of the house of Joseph. 29 It came about at that time, when Jeroboam left Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road. Now Ahijah had covered himself with a new cloak; and the two of them were alone in the field. 30 Then Ahijah took hold of the new cloak which he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces. 31 He said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself; for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am going to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes— 32 but he [and his descendants] shall have [f]one tribe (Benjamin was annexed to Judah), for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel— 33 because [g]they have abandoned Me and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the sons of Ammon; and they have not walked in My ways and followed My commandments, doing what is right in My sight and keeping My statutes and My ordinances as did his father David. 34 However, I will not take the entire kingdom out of his hand; but I will make him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of My servant David, 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 give it to you: ten tribes. 36 Yet to his son I will give [h]one tribe, so that My servant David may have a [i]lamp always before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put My Name and Presence. 37 I will take you [Jeroboam], and you shall reign over whatever your soul desires; and you shall be king over Israel (the ten northern tribes). 38 Then it shall be, that if you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, keeping and observing My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build you an enduring house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you. 39 And in this way I will afflict the descendants of David for this (their sin), but not forever.’” 40 So Solomon attempted to kill Jeroboam; but Jeroboam set out and escaped to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and stayed in Egypt until Solomon died.

The Death of Solomon

41 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 The time Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. 43 And Solomon slept [in death] with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 11:1 It was a common practice among pagan rulers in the Near East to ratify treaties with other kingdoms by marriage to foreign wives. In Deut 17:17 the kings of Israel were strictly forbidden from participating in such alliances. Solomon’s defiance of God’s command led him into sin and the loss of his kingdom.
  2. 1 Kings 11:3 See note Gen 22:24.
  3. 1 Kings 11:7 I.e. an altar on the top of a hill, which was customary for pagan worship. The only proper place for worship was the temple.
  4. 1 Kings 11:12 Lit days.
  5. 1 Kings 11:21 Lit slept with his fathers and so throughout.
  6. 1 Kings 11:32 It is evident from v 30 and later from 12:21 that two tribes are in view here: Judah and Benjamin. The Greek OT (the LXX) actually reads “two” here and in v 36, indicating that its translators rejected the Hebrew reading in both verses as an error. Other explanations are possible, however. Some have suggested that the tribe of Benjamin was often regarded as one with Judah. Another possibility is that Benjamin is not counted or mentioned because of the despicable sin committed by certain men of Gibeah (Judg 19:21 ff; Gibeah was a city in Benjamin), and the refusal by the tribe of Benjamin to turn the offenders over to justice (Judg 20:13). In fact, the tribe almost faced extinction as a result of their refusal and the war that followed between Israel and Benjamin (Judg 20:14-21:24).
  7. 1 Kings 11:33 I.e. the people of Israel under the leadership of Solomon.
  8. 1 Kings 11:36 See note v 32.
  9. 1 Kings 11:36 I.e. a descendant on the throne.

Apostasía y dificultades de Salomón

11 Pero el rey Salomón, además de la hija de Faraón, amó a muchas mujeres extranjeras(A), moabitas, amonitas, edomitas, sidonias e hititas, de las naciones acerca de las cuales el Señor había dicho a los israelitas: «No se unirán a ellas, ni ellas se unirán a ustedes, porque ciertamente desviarán su corazón tras sus dioses(B)». Pero Salomón se apegó a ellas con amor. Y tuvo 700 mujeres que eran princesas y 300 concubinas(C), y sus mujeres desviaron su corazón. Porque cuando Salomón ya era viejo, sus mujeres desviaron su corazón tras otros dioses, y su corazón no estuvo dedicado por completo al Señor su Dios, como había estado el corazón de David su padre(D). Porque Salomón siguió a Astoret, diosa de los sidonios, y a Milcom, ídolo abominable de los amonitas(E). Salomón hizo lo malo a los ojos del Señor, y no siguió plenamente al Señor, como lo había seguido su padre David. Entonces Salomón edificó un lugar alto a Quemos, ídolo abominable de Moab, en el monte que está frente a Jerusalén, y a Moloc(F), ídolo abominable de los amonitas(G). Así hizo también para todas sus mujeres extranjeras, las cuales quemaban incienso y ofrecían sacrificios a sus dioses.

Entonces el Señor se enojó(H) con Salomón porque su corazón se había apartado del Señor, Dios de Israel(I), que se le había aparecido dos veces(J), 10 y le había ordenado en cuanto a esto que no siguiera a otros dioses, pero él no guardó lo que el Señor le había ordenado(K). 11 Y el Señor dijo a Salomón: «Porque has hecho esto, y no has guardado Mi pacto y Mis estatutos que te he ordenado(L), ciertamente arrancaré el reino de ti, y lo daré a tu siervo. 12 Sin embargo, no lo haré en tus días, por amor a tu padre David, sino que lo arrancaré de la mano de tu hijo. 13 Tampoco arrancaré todo el reino(M), sino que daré una tribu a tu hijo por amor a Mi siervo David y por amor a Jerusalén la cual he escogido(N)».

14 Entonces el Señor levantó un adversario a Salomón, Hadad el edomita; este era de linaje real en Edom. 15 Sucedió que cuando David estaba en Edom(O), Joab, el jefe del ejército, subió a enterrar a los muertos y mató a todos los varones(P) de Edom 16 (pues Joab y todo Israel permanecieron allí seis meses hasta que dieron muerte a todos los varones en Edom), 17 pero Hadad huyó a Egipto, él y algunos edomitas de los siervos de su padre con él, siendo Hadad aún un muchacho. 18 Salieron de Madián y fueron a Parán(Q). Tomaron consigo hombres de Parán y fueron a Egipto, a Faraón, rey de Egipto, quien le dio a Hadad una casa, le asignó alimentos y le dio tierra. 19 Hadad halló gran favor ante los ojos de Faraón, y este le dio por mujer a la hermana de su esposa, la hermana de la reina Tahpenes. 20 La hermana de Tahpenes dio a luz a su hijo Genubat, a quien Tahpenes destetó en casa de Faraón; y Genubat permaneció en casa de Faraón entre los hijos de Faraón. 21 Pero cuando Hadad oyó en Egipto que David había dormido con sus padres(R), y que Joab, jefe del ejército, había muerto, Hadad dijo a Faraón: «Despídame para que vaya a mi tierra». 22 Entonces Faraón le dijo: «¿Qué te ha faltado junto a mí, que ahora procuras irte a tu tierra?». Y él respondió: «Nada; sin embargo, debe dejarme ir».

23 Dios también le levantó otro adversario a Salomón(S), a Rezón, hijo de Eliada, el cual había huido de su señor Hadad Ezer, rey de Soba(T); 24 y había reunido consigo hombres y se había hecho jefe de una banda de merodeadores, después que David mató a los de Soba(U); y fueron a Damasco y permanecieron allí, y reinaron en Damasco. 25 Rezón fue adversario de Israel durante todos los días de Salomón, además de la maldad hecha por Hadad; y aborreció a Israel y reinó sobre Aram.

26 Entonces Jeroboam, hijo de Nabat, un efrateo de Sereda, cuya madre, una mujer viuda, se llamaba Zerúa, era siervo de Salomón(V) y se rebeló contra el rey(W). 27 Y esta fue la causa por la cual se rebeló contra el rey: Salomón había edificado el Milo[a](X) y cerrado la brecha de la ciudad de su padre David. 28 Este Jeroboam era guerrero valiente, y cuando Salomón vio que el joven era industrioso, lo puso al frente de todo el trabajo forzado de la casa de José(Y).

29 Y en aquel tiempo, cuando Jeroboam salía de Jerusalén, el profeta Ahías el silonita(Z) lo encontró en el camino. Ahías[b] se había puesto un manto nuevo y los dos estaban solos en el campo. 30 Entonces Ahías tomó el manto nuevo que llevaba sobre sí, lo rasgó(AA) en doce pedazos, 31 y le dijo a Jeroboam: «Toma para ti diez pedazos; porque así dice el Señor, Dios de Israel: “Voy a arrancar el reino de la mano de Salomón y a ti te daré diez tribus(AB) 32 (pero él tendrá una tribu, por amor a Mi siervo David y por amor a Jerusalén(AC), la ciudad que he escogido de entre todas las tribus de Israel(AD)), 33 porque me han abandonado, y han adorado a Astoret, diosa de los sidonios, a Quemos, dios de los moabitas(AE), y a Milcom, dios de los amonitas(AF), y no han andado en Mis caminos, para hacer lo recto delante de Mis ojos y guardar Mis estatutos y Mis ordenanzas, como lo hizo su padre David.

34 ”Sin embargo, no quitaré todo el reino de su mano, sino que lo haré príncipe todos los días de su vida, por amor a Mi siervo David a quien escogí, el cual guardó Mis mandamientos y Mis estatutos; 35 pero quitaré el reino de mano de su hijo y te lo daré a ti, es decir, las diez tribus(AG). 36 Y a su hijo le daré una tribu, para que Mi siervo David tenga siempre una lámpara[c](AH) delante de Mí en Jerusalén(AI), la ciudad que Yo he escogido para poner allí Mi nombre. 37 Y a ti te tomaré, y reinarás sobre todo lo que desees, y serás rey sobre Israel. 38 Y sucederá, que si escuchas todo lo que te ordeno y andas en Mis caminos, y haces lo recto delante de Mis ojos, guardando Mis estatutos y Mis mandamientos, como lo hizo David Mi siervo, entonces estaré contigo(AJ) y te edificaré una casa perdurable como la que edifiqué a David, y Yo te entregaré Israel(AK), 39 y afligiré la descendencia de David por esto, pero no para siempre”». 40 Salomón procuró dar muerte a Jeroboam, pero Jeroboam se levantó y huyó a Egipto, a Sisac, rey de Egipto(AL), y estuvo allí hasta la muerte de Salomón.

Muerte de Salomón

41 Los demás hechos de Salomón, todo lo que hizo y su sabiduría, ¿no están escritos en el libro de los hechos de Salomón(AM)? 42 El tiempo que Salomón reinó en Jerusalén sobre todo Israel fue de cuarenta años(AN). 43 Y durmió Salomón con sus padres, y fue sepultado en la ciudad de su padre David; y su hijo Roboam reinó en su lugar(AO).

Footnotes

  1. 1 Reyes 11:27 I.e. la fortaleza.
  2. 1 Reyes 11:29 Lit. El.
  3. 1 Reyes 11:36 I.e. un descendiente en el trono.