6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.
6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.
6 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done.
6 Solomon openly defied God; he did not follow in his father David's footsteps.
6 Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David.
6 In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the Lord 's sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely, as his father, David, had done.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 11:6
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.