Solomon loves many foreign women—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, Hittites—seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines who turn his heart after their gods when he is old. He builds high places for Chemosh, Molech, and the gods of his wives on the mount east of Jerusalem. The LORD is angry and declares He will tear the kingdom away, but for David's sake not in Solomon's lifetime; one tribe will remain for David and Jerusalem. The LORD raises adversaries: Hadad the Edomite who escaped Joab's slaughter as a child and was raised in Egypt, and Rezon who becomes Syria's king in Damascus. Ahijah the prophet meets Jeroboam, tears his new garment into twelve pieces, and gives him ten, prophesying the kingdom will be divided because of Solomon's idolatry, though one tribe remains for David's sake. Solomon seeks to kill Jeroboam, who flees to Egypt until Solomon's death after forty years' reign.
Read 1 Kings Chapter 11 Summary
Characters in This Chapter
David's son, wisest and wealthiest king, builder of the temple, but later fell into idolatry
Prophet who confronted Baal worship and demonstrated God's power on Mount Carmel
Wicked king of Israel who promoted Baal worship through his wife Jezebel
Ahab's Phoenician wife who promoted Baal worship and persecuted God's prophets
Solomon's son whose harsh policies caused the kingdom to divide
Ruler of Egypt during the Exodus
King of Israel
Commander of David's Army
The One Who Buried Jesus
Places in This Chapter
Moab was a region east of the Dead Sea, inhabited by the descendants of Lot's son Moab. Ruth was a Moabite who famously left her homeland to follow Naomi to Bethlehem. Israel often had conflict with Moab, though King David entrusted his parents to the king of Moab for protection.
Edom was the mountainous region south of the Dead Sea, inhabited by the descendants of Esau (also called Edom). The Edomites were relatives of Israel but often hostile. The prophet Obadiah pronounced judgment against Edom for their treatment of Judah during Jerusalem's fall.
Egypt plays a significant role throughout the Bible, from the time of Abraham to the flight of the Holy Family. Joseph was sold into slavery there and rose to become second to Pharaoh, saving his family during famine. The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years before God delivered them through Moses in the Exodus. Jesus' family fled to Egypt to escape King Herod, fulfilling the prophecy "Out of Egypt I called my son."
Midian was a region in northwestern Arabia, east of the Gulf of Aqaba. Moses fled here after killing an Egyptian and spent 40 years as a shepherd, marrying Zipporah. God appeared to him in the burning bush here, calling him to deliver Israel from Egypt.
Damascus is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and plays a significant role in biblical history. It was on the road to Damascus that Saul of Tarsus had his dramatic encounter with the risen Christ and was converted, becoming the apostle Paul. The prophet Elijah was told to anoint Hazael as king of Syria in Damascus. The city is mentioned throughout both the Old and New Testaments.
Position in Book
Solomon becomes king, receives wisdom, builds the temple, but later turns to idolatry.