1 Kings 11:1-13 ▼

1 King Solomon, however (peace), loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh (great house)—women of Moab (from father: what father?), Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women.

2 These women were from the nations about which the LORD {YHWH} had told the Israelites (God prevails), “You⁺ must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your⁺ hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon (peace) clung to these women in love.

3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away.

4 For when Solomon (peace) grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God {YHWH Elohaw}, as his father David had been (beloved).

5 Solomon (peace) followed Ashtoreth (star) the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom (Molech) the abomination of the Ammonites.

6 So Solomon (peace) did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH}; unlike his father David (beloved), he did not follow the LORD completely.

7 At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem (city of peace), Solomon (peace) built a high place for Chemosh (subduer) the abomination of Moab (of his father) and for Molech (king) the abomination of the Ammonites (tribal).

8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.

9 Now the LORD {YHWH} grew angry with Solomon (peace), because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God {Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), who had appeared to him twice.

10 Although He had warned Solomon explicitly not to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s {YHWH} command.

11 Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Solomon (peace), “Because you have done this and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.

12 Nevertheless, for the sake of your father David (beloved), 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 away from him. I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David (beloved) and for the sake of Jerusalem (city of peace), which I have chosen.”