How did Solomon's actions in 1 Kings 11:6 displease the Lord?

◄ Why did Solomon displease the Lord? ►

“So Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD; unlike his father David, he did not follow the LORD completely.”

What Solomon actually did

• Turned his heart after the gods of his foreign wives (11:1–4)

• Built “high places” for Chemosh and Molech on the hill east of Jerusalem (11:7)

• Allowed idolatrous worship to flourish inside Israel (11:8)

• Ignored God’s twice-given warnings to keep His covenant (11:9–10)

Why these choices displeased the LORD

1. Direct violation of the first two commandments (Exodus 20:3–5).

2. Disregard for the specific kingly restriction: “He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray” (Deuteronomy 17:17).

3. Compromise with the surrounding nations, though Israel was called to be set apart (Exodus 34:12–16).

4. Partial obedience—choosing some of God’s ways while discarding others—counts as evil in God’s sight (James 2:10; 1 Samuel 15:22–23).

Contrast with David’s example

• David sinned, yet he never served other gods; Scripture says he “followed the LORD with all his heart” (1 Kings 14:8).

• David’s repentance kept his relationship with God alive (Psalm 51).

• Solomon, by comparison, allowed his affections to remain divided, so God labeled his walk “not…completely” devoted (11:6).

Consequences God announced

• “The LORD became angry with Solomon” (11:9).

• The kingdom would be torn away, leaving only one tribe for David’s sake (11:11–13).

• Generational fallout: future kings struggled with idolatry, leading to exile (2 Kings 17:7–23).

Key lessons for believers today

• Blessing and wisdom are no substitutes for simple, wholehearted obedience.

• Small compromises sow seeds that eventually grow into open rebellion.

• God desires exclusive devotion; divided loyalty is evil in His sight (Matthew 6:24).