1 Kings 11

But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

1King Solomon loved many women from other lands. One was the daughter of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Others came from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and the Hittite people.

2Of 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.

2The LORD had told Israel not to marry people from those lands. He said, "They will turn your heart to their gods." But Solomon held on to these women and loved them.

3And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

3Solomon had seven hundred wives from royal families. He also had three hundred women called concubines. They were wives with a lower place. His wives turned his heart away.

4For 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.

4When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart to other gods. He was not fully faithful to the LORD his God. His father David had been fully faithful.

5For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

5Solomon followed Ashtoreth, the goddess of the people of Sidon. He also followed Milcom, the god of the Ammonites. The LORD hated that god.

6And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.

6So Solomon did what was evil in the LORD's eyes. He did not follow the LORD all the way, as his father David did.

7Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

7Solomon built a worship place on the hill east of Jerusalem. It was for Chemosh, the god of Moab, whom the LORD hated. He built one for Molech, the god of Ammon, too.

8And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

8He did the same for all his wives from other lands. They burned sweet-smelling incense and gave gifts to their own gods.

9And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

9The LORD was angry with Solomon. Solomon's heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel. The LORD had shown himself to Solomon two times.

10And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.

10The LORD had told him clearly not to follow other gods. But Solomon did not obey what the LORD said.

11Wherefore 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.

11So the LORD said to Solomon, "You have done this. You have not kept my agreement or my rules. So I will tear the kingdom away from you. I will give it to one of your servants."

12Notwithstanding 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.

12"But I will not do it while you are alive. I will wait, because I loved your father David. I will tear it away from your son instead."

13Howbeit 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.

13"I will not take the whole kingdom away. I will give your son one tribe, one family group of Israel. I do this for David my servant, and for Jerusalem, the city I chose."

14And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom.

14Then the LORD brought an enemy against Solomon. He was Hadad from Edom. He came from the royal family of Edom.

15For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom;

15Long before this, David had fought in Edom. Joab, the leader of David's army, went to bury the dead. He had killed every male in Edom.

16(For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)

16Joab and all Israel stayed there six months. He stayed until every male in Edom was killed.

17That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child.

17But Hadad ran away to Egypt. Some of his father's servants from Edom went with him. Hadad was only a little boy then.

18And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.

18They set out from Midian and came to Paran. They took some men from Paran with them. Then they went to Egypt, to Pharaoh the king. He gave Hadad a house, food, and land.

19And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.

19Pharaoh liked Hadad very much. He let Hadad marry the sister of Queen Tahpenes, Pharaoh's own wife.

20And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh’s household among the sons of Pharaoh.

20Tahpenes' sister had a son named Genubath. Tahpenes raised him in Pharaoh's palace. Genubath lived there with Pharaoh's own sons.

21And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.

21In Egypt, Hadad heard that David had died. He heard that Joab, the army leader, had died too. So Hadad said to Pharaoh, "Let me go home to my own country."

22Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.

22Pharaoh asked, "What have you needed here with me? Why do you want to go home?" Hadad said, "Nothing. But please let me go anyway."

23And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:

23God brought another enemy against Solomon too. He was Rezon son of Eliada. He had run away from his master, Hadadezer the king of Zobah.

24And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.

24Rezon gathered men and led a fighting band. This happened when David beat the men of Zobah. Rezon's men went to Damascus, lived there, and ruled it.

25And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.

25Rezon fought Israel the whole time Solomon was king. Hadad caused trouble as well. Rezon hated Israel and ruled over Syria.

26And 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.

26Jeroboam son of Nebat was from Zeredah, in the land of Ephraim. His mother was a widow named Zeruah. He worked for Solomon, but he turned against the king.

27And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.

27Here is why he turned against the king. Solomon had built the Millo. He had also fixed the broken places in the wall of David's city.

NoteThe KJV keeps the Hebrew name "Millo." It was a large platform of stone and dirt that held up part of Jerusalem.

28And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.

28Jeroboam was a strong and brave man. Solomon saw that the young man worked hard. So he put Jeroboam in charge of all the workers from Joseph's family group.

29And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:

29One day Jeroboam was walking out of Jerusalem. Ahijah from Shiloh met him on the road. Ahijah was a prophet, someone who told people what God said. Ahijah had put on a new coat. The two men were alone in an open field.

30And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:

30Ahijah took hold of the new coat he was wearing. He tore it into twelve pieces.

31And 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:

31He said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces for yourself. The LORD, the God of Israel, says this: 'I will tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hand. I will give ten tribes to you.'"

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:)

32"'But one tribe will stay with Solomon's family. I do this for David my servant. I also do it for Jerusalem, the city I chose out of all Israel.'"

33Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

33"'They have left me. They have worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of Sidon, and Chemosh, the god of Moab, and Milcom, the god of Ammon. They have not lived my way. They have not done what is right to me. They have not kept my rules, the way David did.'"

34Howbeit 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:

34"'Even so, I will not take the whole kingdom from Solomon. I will let him rule all his life. I do this for David my servant, whom I chose. David kept my commands and my rules.'"

35But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.

35"'But I will take the kingdom from his son. I will give ten tribes to you.'"

36And 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.

36"'I will give his son one tribe. Then David my servant will always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem. That is the city I chose for my name.'"

Note"A light alway before me" is an old way of saying David's family will keep on ruling in Jerusalem.

37And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.

37"'I will take you and make you king over Israel. You will rule over all that you want.'"

38And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.

38"'Listen to everything I tell you. Live my way and do what is right to me. Keep my rules and my commands, as David my servant did. Then I will be with you. I will make your family strong, as I did for David. And I will give Israel to you.'"

39And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.

39"'Because of this, I will bring trouble on David's family. But the trouble will not last forever.'"

40Solomon 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.

40So Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam ran away to Egypt, to King Shishak. He stayed there until Solomon died.

41And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?

41Solomon did many other things, and he was wise. All of it was written down in the book called the Acts of Solomon.

42And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.

42Solomon was king in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years.

43And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

43Then Solomon died and was buried in the city of David, his father. His son Rehoboam became king after him.