Solomon’s Foreign Wives

1King Solomon, however (peace), loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh (great house)—women of Moab (from father: what father?), Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. 2These women were from the nations about which the LORD {YHWH} had told the Israelites (God prevails), “You⁺ must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your⁺ hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon (peace) clung to these women in love. 3He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away.

4For when Solomon (peace) grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God {YHWH Elohaw}, as his father David had been (beloved). 5Solomon (peace) followed Ashtoreth (star) the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom (Molech)a the abomination of the Ammonites. 6So Solomon (peace) did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH}; unlike his father David (beloved), he did not follow the LORD completely.

7At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem (city of peace), Solomon (peace) built a high place for Chemosh (subduer) the abomination of Moab (of his father) and for Molech (king) the abomination of the Ammonites (tribal). 8He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.

God’s Anger against Solomon

9Now the LORD {YHWH} grew angry with Solomon (peace), because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God {Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), who had appeared to him twice. 10Although He had warned Solomon explicitly not to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s {YHWH} command.

11Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Solomon (peace), “Because you have done this and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. 12Nevertheless, for the sake of your father David (beloved), I will not do it during your lifetime; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom away from him. I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David (beloved) and for the sake of Jerusalem (city of peace), which I have chosen.”

Hadad’s Return

14Then the LORD {YHWH} raised up against Solomon (peace) an adversary, Hadad (mighty) the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom (red).

15Earlier, when David (beloved) was in Edom (red), Joab (YHWH is father) the commander of the army had gone to bury the dead and had struck down every male in Edom. 16Joab (YHWH is father) and all Israel (he wrestles with God) had stayed there six months, until he had killed every male in Edom (red). 17But Hadad (I shall move softly), still just a young boy, had fled to Egypt (land of bondage), (mighty) along with some Edomites who were servants of his father.

18Hadad and his men set out from Midian (strife) and went to Paran (place of caverns). They took men from Paran with them and went to Egypt (land of bondage), to Pharaoh (great house) king of Egypt, who gave Hadad a house and land and provided him with food.

19There Hadad (mighty) found such great favor in the sight of Pharaoh (great house) that he gave to him in marriage the sister of Queen Tahpenes (wife of the king), his own wife. 20And the sister of Tahpenes (wife of the king) bore Hadad a son named Genubath (theft). Tahpenes herself weaned him in Pharaoh’s (great house) palace, and Genubath lived there among the sons of Pharaoh.

21When Hadad (mighty) heard in Egypt (land of bondage) that David (beloved) had rested with his fathers and that Joab (YHWH is father), the commander of the army, was dead, he said to Pharaoh (great house), “Let me go, that I may return to my own country.”

22But Pharaoh (great house) asked him, “What have you lacked here with me that you suddenly want to go back to your own country?”

“Nothing,” Hadad replied, “but please let me go.”

Rezon’s Hostility

23And God {Elohim} raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon (prince) the son of Eliada (God knows), who had fled from his master, Hadadezer (Hadad is help) king of Zobah (station), 24and had gathered men to himself. When David (beloved) killed the Zobaites, Rezon captained a band of raiders and went to Damascus (well-watered land), where they settled and gained control.

25Rezon was Israel’s (he wrestles with God) enemy throughout the days of Solomon (peace), adding to the trouble caused by Hadad (mighty). So Rezon ruled over Aram (exalted) with hostility toward Israel.

Jeroboam’s Rebellion

26Now Jeroboam (the people will contend) son of Nebat (aspect) was an Ephraimite (fruitfulness) from Zeredah (fortress) whose mother was a widow named Zeruah (full breasted). Jeroboam was a servant of Solomon (peace), but he rebelled against the king, 27and this is the account of his rebellion against the king.

Solomon (peace) had built the supporting terraces \the Millo/b and repaired the gap in the wall of the city of his father David (beloved). 28Now Jeroboam was (the people will contend) a mighty man of valor. So when Solomon (peace) noticed that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph (YHWH has added).

29During that time, the prophet Ahijah (brother of Yah) the Shilonite met Jeroboam on the road as he (the people will contend) was going out of Jerusalem (city of peace). Now Ahijah had wrapped himself in a new cloak, and the two of them were alone in the open field.

30And Ahijah (brother of Yah) took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into twelve pieces, 31and said to Jeroboam (the people will contend), “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), says: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon (peace), and I will give you ten tribes. 32But one tribe will remain for the sake of My servant David (beloved) and for the sake of Jerusalem (city of peace), the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God).

33For they have [he has]c forsaken Me to worship Ashtoreth (star) the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh (subduer) the god of the Moabites (of his father), and Milcom (great king) the god of the Ammonites (tribal). They have not walked in My ways, nor done what is right in My eyes, nor kept My statutes and judgments, as Solomon’s father David did (beloved).

34Nevertheless, I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon’s hand, because I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David (beloved) My servant, whom I chose because he kept My commandments and statutes. 35But I will take ten tribes of the kingdom from the hand of his son and give them to you. 36I will give one tribe to his son, so that My servant David (beloved) will always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem (city of peace), the city where I chose to put My Name. 37But as for you, I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your heart desires, and you will be king over Israel (he wrestles with God).

38If you listen to all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight in order to keep My statutes and commandments as My servant David (beloved) did, then I will be with you. I will build you a lasting dynasty just as I built for David, and I will give Israel (he wrestles with God) to you. 39Because of this, I will humble David’s (beloved) descendants—but not forever.’”

40Solomon (peace) therefore sought to kill Jeroboam (the people will contend). But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt (land of bondage), to Shishak (greedy of fine linen) king of Egypt, where he remained until the death of Solomon.

The Death of Solomon
(2 Chronicles 9:29–31)

41As for the rest of the acts of Solomon (peace)—all that he did, as well as his wisdom—are they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon? 42Thus the time that Solomon (peace) reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) over all Israel (he wrestles with God) was forty years.

43And Solomon (peace) rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David (beloved). And his son Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) reigned in his place.