7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab , on the mountain which is east e of Jerusalem , and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon . 8 Thus also he did for all his foreign wives , who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods .
9 Now the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the Lord , the God of Israel , who had appeared to him twice , 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing , that he should not go after other gods ; but he did not observe what the Lord had commanded . 11 So the Lord said to Solomon , "Because e you have done e this , and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes , which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant . 12 "Nevertheless I will not do it in your days for the sake of your father David , but I will tear it out of the hand of your son . 13 "However , I will not tear away all the kingdom , but I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen ."
14 Then the Lord raised up an adversary to Solomon , Hadad the Edomite ; he was of the royal line in Edom . 15 For it came about, when David was in Edom , and Joab the commander of the army had gone up to bury the slain , and had struck down every male in Edom 16 (for Joab and all Israel stayed there six months , until he had cut off every male in Edom ), 17 that Hadad fled to Egypt , he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, while Hadad was a young boy . 18 They arose from Midian and came to Paran ; and they took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt , to Pharaoh king of Egypt , who gave him a house and assigned him food and gave him land . 19 Now Hadad found great favor before Pharaoh , so that he gave him in marriage the sister of his own wife , the sister of Tahpenes the queen . 20 The sister of Tahpenes bore his son Genubath , whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house ; and Genubath was in Pharaoh's house among the sons of Pharaoh . 21 But when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers and that Joab the commander of the army was dead , Hadad said to Pharaoh , "Send me away , that I may go to my own country ." 22 Then Pharaoh said to him, "But what have you lacked with me, that behold , you are seeking to go to your own country ?" And he answered , "Nothing ; nevertheless you must surely let me go ." 23 God also raised up another adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada , who had fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah . 24 He gathered men to himself and became leader of a marauding band , after David slew them of Zobah; and they went to Damascus and stayed there, and reigned in Damascus . 25 So he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon , along with the evil that Hadad did; and he abhorred Israel and reigned over Aram .
26 Then Jeroboam the son of Nebat , an Ephraimite of Zeredah , Solomon's servant , whose mother's name was Zeruah , a widow , also rebelled e against the king . 27 Now this was the reason why he rebelled e against the king : Solomon built the Millo , and closed up the breach of the city of his father David . 28 Now the man Jeroboam was a valiant warrior , and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious , he appointed him over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph . 29 It came about at that time , when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem , that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road . Now Ahijah had clothed himself with a new cloak ; and both of them were alone in the field . 30 Then Ahijah took hold of the new cloak which was on him and tore it into twelve e pieces . 31 He said to Jeroboam , "Take for yourself ten pieces ; for thus says the Lord , the God of Israel , 'Behold , I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes 32 ( but he will have one tribe , for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem , the city which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel ), 33 because e they have forsaken Me, and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians , Chemosh the god of Moab , and Milcom the god of the sons of Ammon ; and they have not walked in My ways , doing what is right in My sight and observing My statutes and My ordinances , as his father David did.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 11:7-33
Commentary on 1 Kings 11:1-8
(Read 1 Kings 11:1-8)
There is not a more melancholy and astonishing instance of human depravity in the sacred Scriptures, than that here recorded. Solomon became a public worshipper of abominable idols! Probably he by degrees gave way to pride and luxury, and thus lost his relish for true wisdom. Nothing forms in itself a security against the deceitfulness and depravity of the human heart. Nor will old age cure the heart of any evil propensity. If our sinful passions are not crucified and mortified by the grace of God, they never will die of themselves, but will last even when opportunities to gratify them are taken away. Let him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall. We see how weak we are of ourselves, without the grace of God; let us therefore live in constant dependence on that grace. Let us watch and be sober: ours is a dangerous warfare, and in an enemy's country, while our worst foes are the traitors in our own hearts.
Commentary on 1 Kings 11:9-13
(Read 1 Kings 11:9-13)
The Lord told Solomon, it is likely by a prophet, what he must expect for his apostacy. Though we have reason to hope that he repented, and found mercy, yet the Holy Ghost did not expressly record it, but left it doubtful, as a warning to others not to sin. The guilt may be taken away, but not the reproach; that will remain. Thus it must remain uncertain to us till the day of judgment, whether or not Solomon was left to suffer the everlasting displeasure of an offended God.
Commentary on 1 Kings 11:14-25
(Read 1 Kings 11:14-25)
While Solomon kept close to God and to his duty, there was no enemy to give him uneasiness; but here we have an account of two. If against us, he can make us fear even the least, and the very grasshopper shall be a burden. Though they were moved by principles of ambition or revenge, God used them to correct Solomon.
Commentary on 1 Kings 11:26-40
(Read 1 Kings 11:26-40)
In telling the reason why God rent the kingdom from the house of Solomon, Ahijah warned Jeroboam to take heed of sinning away his preferment. Yet the house of David must be supported; out of it the Messiah would arise. Solomon sought to kill his successor. Had not he taught others, that whatever devices are in men's hearts, the counsel of the Lord shall stand? Yet he himself thinks to defeat that counsel. Jeroboam withdrew into Egypt, and was content to live in exile and obscurity for awhile, being sure of a kingdom at last. Shall not we be content, who have a better kingdom in reserve?