1 Kings 11:29-40

29 And at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet 1Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had dressed himself in a new garment, and the two of them were alone in the open country.
30 Then Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, 2and tore it into twelve pieces.
31 And he said to Jeroboam, "Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Behold, 3I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and will give you ten tribes
32 (but 4he shall have one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, 5the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel),
33 because they have[a] forsaken me 6and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did.
34 Nevertheless, I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of David my servant whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes.
35 7But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and will give it to you, ten tribes.
36 Yet to his son 8I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have 9a lamp before me in Jerusalem, 10the city where I have chosen to put my name.
37 And I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your soul desires, and you shall be king over Israel.
38 And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, 11I will be with you and 12will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.
39 And I will afflict the offspring of David because of this, but not forever.'"
40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, to 13Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

1 Kings 11:29-40 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 11

This chapter relates the false steps Solomon took, notwithstanding all his wisdom, in marrying strange wives, and worshipping other gods, 1Ki 11:1-8 upon which the Lord threatens him to rend the kingdom in his son's time, 1Ki 11:9-13 and he raised up adversaries against him, Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam, 1Ki 11:14-26 of which last an account is given, and of his being assured by Ahijah the prophet of his having ten of the tribes of Israel given to him; which Solomon having notice of sought to slay him, 1Ki 11:27-40 and the chapter is concluded with an account of Solomon's death and burial, 1Ki 11:41-43.

Cross References 13

  • 1. 1 Kings 12:15; 1 Kings 14:2; 1 Kings 15:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29
  • 2. [1 Samuel 15:27]
  • 3. ver. 11-13
  • 4. ver. 13; 1 Kings 12:21
  • 5. 1 Kings 14:21; See Deuteronomy 12:5
  • 6. ver. 5, 7
  • 7. ver. 12; 1 Kings 12:16, 17
  • 8. [See ver. 32 above]
  • 9. 1 Kings 15:4; 2 Samuel 21:17; 2 Kings 8:19; 2 Chronicles 21:7
  • 10. [See ver. 32 above]
  • 11. Joshua 1:5
  • 12. 1 Samuel 2:35; 2 Samuel 7:11, 27
  • 13. 1 Kings 14:25; 2 Chr. 12:2, 5, 7, 9

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate he has; twice in this verse
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.