How did Solomon's actions in 1 Kings 11:5 displease God?

The Verse in Focus

“Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.” (1 Kings 11:5)

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What Solomon Actually Did

• “Followed” implies active devotion, not casual curiosity

• Gave personal allegiance to two pagan deities:

 – Ashtoreth (Astarte), a Sidonian fertility goddess tied to ritual immorality

 – Milcom (Molech), an Ammonite god linked to child sacrifice (cf. Leviticus 18:21; 2 Kings 23:10)

• Built high places and altars for these gods (1 Kings 11:7–8)

• Led his many foreign wives—and by extension Israel—into the same practices (1 Kings 11:3–4)

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Why This Displeased the Lord

• Violated the first and greatest command: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3–5; Deuteronomy 6:14–15)

• Broke the specific covenant reminder God had given Solomon: “If you walk before Me… in integrity… I will establish your throne” (1 Kings 9:4–7)

• Provoked divine jealousy—God will not share His glory with idols (Isaiah 42:8)

• Introduced detestable practices that God had explicitly condemned and driven out of the land (Deuteronomy 12:31; 18:9–12)

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The Heart Issue Behind the Sin

• A divided heart—“his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God” (1 Kings 11:4)

• Compromise through ungodly alliances (Deuteronomy 7:3–4; 1 Corinthians 15:33)

• Gradual drift from wisdom to folly despite earlier devotion (1 Kings 3:3–14)

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Consequences God Announced

• Kingdom torn from Solomon’s line after his death (1 Kings 11:11–13)

• Rise of adversaries—Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:14–40)

• Long-term spiritual decline in Israel, culminating in exile (2 Kings 17:7–15)

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Lessons We Can’t Ignore

• Even great wisdom cannot excuse disobedience (James 1:22)

• Small compromises today can become open idolatry tomorrow (Galatians 5:9)

• Wholehearted devotion is God’s non-negotiable requirement (Matthew 22:37; 1 John 5:21)