1 Kings 2:1-4

New International Version

David’s Charge to Solomon^(A)

2 When the time drew near for David to die,^(B) he gave a charge to Solomon his son.

²“I am about to go the way of all the earth,”^(C) he said. “So be strong,^(D) act like a man, ³and observe^(E) what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper^(F) in all you do and wherever you go ⁴and that the Lord may keep his promise^(G) to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully^(H) before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

Read full chapter

1 Kings 11:1-8

New International Version

Solomon’s Wives

11 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women^(A) besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites,^(B) Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. ²They 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. ³He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines,^(D) and his wives led him astray.^(E) ⁴As 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. ⁵He followed Ashtoreth^(H) the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek^(I) the detestable god of the Ammonites. ⁶So Solomon did evil^(J) in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.

⁷On 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. ⁸He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.

Read full chapter