SOLOMON and ISRAEL

 

1 Kings 11:6

King James Version

6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, 

and went not fully after the Lord, 

as did David his father.

How one great king's sin divided Israel.

Solomon was a wise king.

But he, too, fell from GOD's grace.

1 Kings 11:1-5

King James Version

11 But king Solomon loved many strange women, 

together with the daughter of Pharaoh, 

women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, 

Zidonians, and Hittites:

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: 

Solomon clave unto these in love.

3 And he had seven hundred wives, 

princesses, and three hundred concubines: 

and his wives turned away his heart.

4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, 

that his wives turned away his heart 

after other gods: 

and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, 

as was the heart of David his father.

5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth 

the goddess of the Zidonians, 

and after Milcom 

the abomination of the Ammonites.

The consequences of his sin?

1 Kings 11:11

King James Version

11 Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, 

Forasmuch as this is done of thee, 

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*.

1 Kings 11:12

King James Version

12 Notwithstanding in thy days 

I will not do it for David thy father's sake: 

but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

1 Kings 11:13

King James Version

13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; 

but will give one tribe to thy son 

for David my servant's sake, 

and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.

Jeroboam was that servant*.

1 Kings 11:26

King James Version

26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, 

an Ephrathite of Zereda, 

Solomon's servant, 

whose mother's name was Zeruah, 

a widow woman, 

even he lifted up his hand against the king.

Prophet Ahijah told Jeroboam he was to have 10 tribes.

1 Kings 11:31

King James Version

31 And he said to Jeroboam, 

Take thee ten pieces: 

for thus saith the Lord, 

the God of Israel, 

Behold, 

I will rend the kingdom 

out of the hand of Solomon, 

and will give ten tribes to thee:

1 Kings 11:34-36

King James Version

34 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom 

out of his hand: 

but I will make him prince all the days of his life 

for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, 

because he kept my commandments 

and my statutes:

35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, 

and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.

36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, 

that David my servant may have a light alway 

before me in Jerusalem, 

the city which I have chosen me 

to put my name there.

One tribe was left to king Solomon's son, Rehoboam, in honor of his father, king David.

1 Kings 11:32

King James Version

32 (But he shall have one tribe 

for my servant David's sake, 

and for Jerusalem's sake, 

the city which I have chosen 

out of all the tribes of Israel:)

1 Kings 11:39

King James Version

39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, 

but not for ever.

For that, Solomon wanted Jeroboam killed.

1 Kings 11:40

King James Version

40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. 

And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, 

unto Shishak king of Egypt, 

and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

The house of David was left with just one tribe, in punishment for Solomon's sin of idolatry.

1 Kings 12:20

King James Version

20 And it came to pass, 

when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, 

that they sent and called him unto the congregation, 

and made him king over all Israel: 

there was none that followed the house of David, 

but the tribe of Judah only.

But another tribe joined Judah -- the tribe of Benjamin.

1 Kings 12:21

King James Version

21 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, 

he assembled all the house of Judah, 

with the tribe of Benjamin, 

an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, 

which were warriors, 

to fight against the house of Israel, 

to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam 

the son of Solomon.

Much as Rehoboam wanted the 10 tribes back, GOD's will be done:

1 Kings 12:22-24

King James Version

22 But the word of God came 

unto Shemaiah the man of God, 

saying,

23 Speak unto Rehoboam, 

the son of Solomon, king of Judah, 

and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, 

and to the remnant of the people, 

saying,

24 Thus saith the Lord, 

Ye shall not go up, 

nor fight against your brethren 

the children of Israel: 

return every man to his house; 

for this thing is from me. 

They hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord, 

and returned to depart, 

according to the word of the Lord.

Jeroboam became king of Israel -- consisting of 10 tribes.

Rehoboam became king of Judah -- consisting of 2 tribes.

This is second in the series of "JUDAH and BENJAMIN" articles.

The next post tells us the important persons who sprung from both tribes.

Related material:

SOLOMON's sin

The CONSEQUENCES of SOLOMON's sin

What CAUSED division

Image: Free Bible Images