Solomon Forsakes the Lord, His Death

I Kings 11:1 "But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;...For it came to pass, when Solomon was old that his wives turned away his heart after other gods...v4"

The question often comes up as to why God allowed the men of the Old Testament to have many wives but the New Testament teaches us to have only one wife. Personally, I would not desire to have more than one. To me it would divide loyalty where total devotion is right. Who would want to be second fiddle and would a man want to be one of many husbands to one woman?

Biblically, I have not found where multiple marriages were blessed or praised by God. There were occasions where God still used someone to fulfill his will even though he may have been in the wrong about some things. Our hero, Solomon, is a prime example. He married many wives but they led him astray in his desire to please them.

v5 "For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, and after MIlcom, the abomination of the Ammonites. v6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. v7 Then 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."

v8 "And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods."

After all the blessings bestowed on Solomon by the Lord, it is no wonder that the Lord became angry with Solomon. No longer would his kingship line be kept because he did not keep his end of the bargain.

v11 "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."

For David's sake, the LORD let Solomon keep the kingdom together in his lifetime but enemies were already being stirred up against him. Hadad who had fled to Egypt and Rezon of Damascus. Now the peace was broken.

v28 "And 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."

So Jeroboam is building a reputation in Israel. When the prophet Ahijah made the announcement that the kingdom would be divided, Solomon sought to kill him and so he fled to Egypt and remained there until Solomon died.

I am struck by how many people of Israel received safe haven in Egypt given the history between the two nations. After all, it was because of Israel that all the plagues came upon Egypt during Moses' time.

v43 " And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead."

Now we have to be careful to not get these two men confused: Rehoboam was the son, Jeroboam was the servant.

Proverbs 1:24-26 "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;"

Keywords: Bible Study, Old Old Story, Old Testament, Solomon. Solomon follows other gods to please his wives. Solomon dies.