Paul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Kings 11:1 - 11:13

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Kings 11:1 - 11:13


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Solomon's Love of Women and Idolatry

v. 1. But King Solomon loved many strange women, foreigners, non-Israelites, together with, that is, beside, the daughter of Pharaoh, who was his first wife, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, the tribes east, northeast, and south of the Dead Sea, Zidonians, and Hittites, tribes to the northwest and north of Palestine;

v. 2. 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,
Exo_34:16; Deu_7:3-4; Deu_17:17. Solomon clave unto these in love, he maintained friendly relations with these nations for the purpose of increasing his harem, thereby becoming the leader among the Oriental monarchs also in this respect.

v. 3. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses,
members of noble families, who added splendor to his court, and three hundred concubines, such an immense harem being considered an evidence of unlimited wealth among Oriental princes. And his wives turned away his heart, they influenced him in such a manner as to weaken his allegiance to the true God.

v. 4. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old,
when he lost his youthful energy of spirit and heart, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods, causing him to become indifferent toward the strict and exclusive worship of Jehovah in Israel and more indulgent with regard to the heathen worship still maintained by the foreigners; and his heart was not perfect with the Lord, his God, it no longer belonged to the Lord in undivided loyalty, as was the heart of David, his father.

v. 5. for Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians,
he did not hinder the cult of this idol, and after Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites, an idol whose worship was connected with revolting rites, whereas the cult of Ashtoreth was probably connected with indecencies.

v. 6. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David, his father;
he did not maintain the full and complete allegiance to the Lord which was expected of him; although he did not himself renounce Jehovah worship, he permitted the public worship of the heathen divinities.

v. 7. Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab,
their god of war and of fire, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon, probably another name for Milcom.

v. 8. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burned incense and sacrificed unto their gods,
having Solomon's full permission to continue to follow their idolatrous customs.

v. 9. And the Lord was angry with Solomon,
His displeasure broke out very strongly against him, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 1Ki_3:5; 1Ki_9:2,

v. 10. and had commanded him concerning this thing that he should not go after other gods,
1Ki_6:12; 1Ki_9:6. But he kept not that which the Lord commanded.

v. 11. Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee,
because this was come into his mind, because he was engaged in this matter which was so displeasing to the Lord, 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, to one of his subjects, his inferior.

v. 12. Notwithstanding in thy days,
during Solomon's lifetime, I will not do it for David, thy father's, sake, but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

v. 13. Howbeit, I will not rend away all the kingdom,
he intended still to show his merciful goodness, but will give one tribe to thy son for David, My servant's, sake and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen, on account of the promise 2Sa_7:12; for the selection of Jerusalem as a place of worship was independent of any man's actions. Solomon here serves as a warning example to all believers. Many a person who has learned to know the Lord has become a backslider and has turned again to the world and its pleasures. Let every one who standeth take heed lest he fall!