1Kings 11-13; Psalm 97 - Prayer Tents

1Kings 11

Solomon’s Many Wives

11Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh's daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites.H4428H8010H157H7227H5237H802H1323H6547H4125H5984H130H6722H28502The LORD had clearly instructed the people of Israel, 'You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.' Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway.H1471H3068H559H1121H3478H935H935H403H5186H3824H310H430H8010H1692H1573He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the LORD.H7651H3967H802H8282H7969H3967H6370H802H5186H38204In Solomon's old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the LORD his God, as his father, David, had been.H6256H8010H2209H802H5186H3824H310H312H430H3824H8003H3068H430H3824H1732H15Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech

, the detestable god of the Ammonites.H8010H3212H310H6253H430H6722H310H4445H8251H59846In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the LORD's sight; he refused to follow the LORD completely, as his father, David, had done.H8010H6213H7451H5869H3068H4390H310H3068H1732H17On the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem

, he even built a pagan shrine for Chemosh, the detestable god of Moab, and another for Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites.H8010H1129H1116H3645H8251H4124H2022H6440H3389H4432H8251H1121H59838Solomon built such shrines for all his foreign wives to use for burning incense and sacrificing to their gods.H6213H5237H802H6999H2076H4309The LORD was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.H3068H599H8010H3824H5186H3068H430H3478H7200H647110He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the LORD's command.H6680H1697H3212H310H312H430H8104H3068H668011So now the LORD said to him, "Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants.H3068H559H8010H8104H1285H2708H6680H7167H7167H4467H5414H565012But for the sake of your father, David, I will not do this while you are still alive. I will take the kingdom away from your son.H3117H6213H1732H1H7167H3027H112113And even so, I will not take away the entire kingdom; I will let him be king of one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, my chosen city."H7535H7167H4467H5414H259H7626H1121H1732H5650H3389H977

Solomon’s Adversaries

14Then the LORD raised up Hadad the Edomite, a member of Edom's royal family, to be Solomon's adversary.H3068H6965H7854H8010H1908H130H4428H2233H12315Years before, David had defeated Edom. Joab, his army commander, had stayed to bury some of the Israelite soldiers who had died in battle. While there, they killed every male in Edom.H1732H123H3097H8269H6635H5927H6912H2491H5221H2145H12316Joab and the army of Israel had stayed there for six months, killing them.H8337H2320H3097H3427H3478H3772H2145H12317But Hadad and a few of his father's royal officials escaped and headed for Egypt. (Hadad was just a boy at the time.)H111H1272H582H130H1H5650H935H4714H1908H6996H528818They set out from Midian and went to Paran, where others joined them. Then they traveled to Egypt and went to Pharaoh, who gave them a home, food, and some land.H6965H4080H935H6290H3947H582H6290H935H4714H6547H4428H4714H5414H1004H559H3899H5414H77619Pharaoh grew very fond of Hadad, and he gave him his wife's sister in marriage—the sister of Queen Tahpenes.H1908H4672H3966H2580H5869H6547H5414H802H269H802H269H8472H137720She bore him a son named Genubath. Tahpenes raised him

in Pharaoh's palace among Pharaoh's own sons.H269H8472H3205H1592H1121H8472H1580H8432H6547H1004H1592H6547H1004H8432H1121H654721When the news reached Hadad in Egypt that David and his commander Joab were both dead, he said to Pharaoh, "Let me return to my own country."H1908H8085H4714H1732H7901H1H3097H8269H6635H4191H1908H559H6547H7971H3212H77622"Why?" Pharaoh asked him. "What do you lack here that makes you want to go home?" "Nothing," he replied. "But even so, please let me return home."H6547H559H2638H1245H3212H776H559H7971H797123God also raised up Rezon son of Eliada as Solomon's adversary. Rezon had fled from his master, King Hadadezer of Zobah,H430H6965H7854H7331H1121H450H1272H113H1909H4428H667824and had become the leader of a gang of rebels. After David conquered Hadadezer, Rezon and his men fled to Damascus, where he became king.H6908H582H8269H1416H1732H2026H3212H1834H3427H4427H183425Rezon was Israel's bitter adversary for the rest of Solomon's reign, and he made trouble, just as Hadad did. Rezon hated Israel intensely and continued to reign in Aram.H7854H3478H3117H8010H7451H1908H6973H3478H4427H758

Jeroboam Rebels against Solomon

26Another rebel leader was Jeroboam son of Nebat, one of Solomon's own officials. He came from the town of Zeredah in Ephraim, and his mother was Zeruah, a widow.H3379H1121H5028H673H6868H8010H5650H517H8034H6871H490H802H7311H3027H442827This is the story behind his rebellion. Solomon was rebuilding the supporting terraces

and repairing the walls of the city of his father, David.H1697H7311H3027H4428H8010H1129H4407H5462H6556H5892H1732H128Jeroboam was a very capable young man, and when Solomon saw how industrious he was, he put him in charge of the labor force from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph.H376H3379H1368H2428H8010H7200H5288H6213H4399H6485H5447H1004H313029One day as Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh met him along the way. Ahijah was wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone in a field,H6256H3379H3318H3389H5030H281H7888H4672H1870H3680H2319H8008H8147H770430and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces.H281H8610H2319H8008H7167H8147H6240H716831Then he said to Jeroboam, "Take ten of these pieces, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and I will give ten of the tribes to you!H559H3379H3947H6235H7168H559H3068H430H3478H7167H4467H3027H8010H5414H6235H762632But I will leave him one tribe for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.H259H7626H5650H1732H3389H5892H977H7626H347833For Solomon has

abandoned me and worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians; Chemosh, the god of Moab; and Molech, the god of the Ammonites. He has not followed my ways and done what is pleasing in my sight. He has not obeyed my decrees and regulations as David his father did.H5800H7812H6253H430H6722H3645H430H4124H4445H430H1121H5983H1980H1870H6213H3477H5869H2708H4941H1732H134"'But I will not take the entire kingdom from Solomon at this time. For the sake of my servant David, the one whom I chose and who obeyed my commands and decrees, I will keep Solomon as leader for the rest of his life.H3947H4467H3027H7896H5387H3117H2416H1732H5650H977H8104H4687H270835But I will take the kingdom away from his son and give ten of the tribes to you.H3947H4410H1121H3027H5414H6235H762636His son will have one tribe so that the descendants of David my servant will continue to reign, shining like a lamp in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen to be the place for my name.H1121H5414H259H7626H1732H5650H5216H3117H6440H3389H5892H977H7760H803437And I will place you on the throne of Israel, and you will rule over all that your heart desires.H3947H4427H5315H183H4428H347838If you listen to what I tell you and follow my ways and do whatever I consider to be right, and if you obey my decrees and commands, as my servant David did, then I will always be with you. I will establish an enduring dynasty for you as I did for David, and I will give Israel to you.H8085H6680H1980H1870H6213H3477H5869H8104H2708H4687H1732H5650H6213H1129H539H1004H1129H1732H5414H347839Because of Solomon's sin I will punish the descendants of David—though not forever.'"H6031H2233H1732H311740Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but he fled to King Shishak of Egypt and stayed there until Solomon died.H8010H1245H4191H3379H3379H6965H1272H4714H7895H4428H4714H4714H4194H8010

Summary of Solomon’s Reign

41The rest of the events in Solomon's reign, including all his deeds and his wisdom, are recorded in The Book of the Acts of Solomon.H3499H1697H8010H6213H2451H3789H5612H1697H801042Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years.H3117H8010H4427H3389H3478H705H814143When he died, he was buried in the City of David, named for his father. Then his son Rehoboam became the next king.H8010H7901H1H6912H5892H1732H1H7346H1121H4427

1Kings 12

The Northern Tribes Revolt

12Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to make him king.H7346H3212H7927H3478H935H7927H44272When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of this, he returned from Egypt

, for he had fled to Egypt to escape from King Solomon.H3379H1121H5028H4714H8085H1272H6440H4428H8010H3379H3427H47143The leaders of Israel summoned him, and Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel went to speak with Rehoboam.H7971H7121H3379H6951H3478H935H1696H7346H5594"Your father was a hard master," they said. "Lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us. Then we will be your loyal subjects."H1H7185H5923H7185H7186H5656H1H3515H5923H5414H7043H56475Rehoboam replied, "Give me three days to think this over. Then come back for my answer." So the people went away.H559H3212H7969H3117H7725H5971H32126Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. "What is your advice?" he asked. "How should I answer these people?"H4428H7346H3289H2205H5975H6440H8010H1H2416H559H3289H7725H1697H59717The older counselors replied, "If you are willing to be a servant to these people today and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects."H1696H559H5650H5971H3117H5647H6030H1696H2896H1697H5650H31178But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.H5800H6098H2205H3289H3289H3206H1431H5975H64409"What is your advice?" he asked them. "How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?"H559H3289H7725H1697H5971H1696H559H7043H5923H1H5414H704310The young men replied, "This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist!H3206H1431H1696H559H559H5971H1696H559H1H3513H5923H3513H7043H1696H6995H5666H1H497511Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I'm going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!'"H1H6006H3515H5923H3254H5923H1H3256H7752H3256H613712Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to hear Rehoboam's decision, just as the king had ordered.H3379H5971H935H7346H7992H3117H4428H1696H559H7725H7992H311713But Rehoboam spoke harshly to the people, for he rejected the advice of the older counselorsH4428H6030H5971H7186H5800H2205H6098H328914and followed the counsel of his younger advisers. He told the people, "My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I'm going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!"H1696H6098H3206H559H1H3513H5923H3513H3254H5923H1H3256H7752H3256H613715So the king paid no attention to the people. This turn of events was the will of the LORD, for it fulfilled the LORD's message to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh.H4428H8085H5971H5438H3068H6965H1697H3068H1696H3027H281H7888H3379H1121H502816When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded, "Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Back to your homes, O Israel! Look out for your own house, O David!" So the people of Israel returned home.H7725H3478H7200H4428H8085H5971H1697H4428H559H2506H1732H5159H1121H3448H168H3478H7200H1004H1732H3478H3212H16817But Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah.H1121H3478H3427H5892H3063H7346H442718King Rehoboam sent Adoniram

, who was in charge of the labor force, to restore order, but the people of Israel stoned him to death. When this news reached King Rehoboam, he quickly jumped into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem.H4428H7346H7971H151H4522H3478H7275H68H4191H4428H7346H553H5927H4818H5127H338919And to this day the northern tribes of Israel have refused to be ruled by a descendant of David.H3478H6586H1004H1732H311720When the people of Israel learned of Jeroboam's return from Egypt, they called an assembly and made him king over all Israel. So only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the family of David.H3478H8085H3379H7725H7971H7121H5712H4427H3478H310H1004H1732H2108H7626H3063

Shemaiah’s Prophecy

21When Rehoboam arrived at Jerusalem, he mobilized the men of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—180,000 select troops—to fight against the men of Israel and to restore the kingdom to himself.H7346H935H3389H6950H1004H3063H7626H1144H3967H8084H505H977H6213H4421H3898H1004H3478H7725H4410H7725H7346H1121H801022But God said to Shemaiah, the man of God,H1697H430H8098H376H430H55923"Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the people of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people,H559H7346H1121H8010H4428H3063H1004H3063H1144H3499H5971H55924'This is what the LORD says: Do not fight against your relatives, the Israelites. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!'" So they obeyed the message of the LORD and went home, as the LORD had commanded.H559H3068H5927H3898H251H1121H3478H7725H376H1004H1697H1961H8085H1697H3068H7725H3212H1697H3068

Jeroboam Makes Gold Calves

25Jeroboam then built up the city of Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and it became his capital. Later he went and built up the town of Peniel

.H3379H1129H7927H2022H669H3427H3318H1129H643926Jeroboam thought to himself, "Unless I am careful, the kingdom will return to the dynasty of David.H3379H559H3820H4467H7725H1004H173227When these people go to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple of the LORD, they will again give their allegiance to King Rehoboam of Judah. They will kill me and make him their king instead."H5971H5927H6213H2077H1004H3068H3389H3820H5971H7725H113H7346H4428H3063H2026H7725H7346H4428H306328So on the advice of his counselors, the king made two gold calves. He said to the people

, "It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. Look, Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt!"H4428H3289H6213H8147H5695H2091H559H7227H5927H3389H430H3478H5927H776H471429He placed these calf idols in Bethel and in Dan—at either end of his kingdom.H7760H259H1008H259H5414H183530But this became a great sin, for the people worshiped the idols, traveling as far north as Dan to worship the one there.H1697H2403H5971H3212H6440H259H183531Jeroboam also erected buildings at the pagan shrines and ordained priests from the common people—those who were not from the priestly tribe of Levi.H6213H1004H1116H6213H3548H7098H5971H1121H387832And Jeroboam instituted a religious festival in Bethel, held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month

, in imitation of the annual Festival of Shelters in Judah. There at Bethel he himself offered sacrifices to the calves he had made, and he appointed priests for the pagan shrines he had made.H3379H6213H2282H8066H2320H2568H6240H3117H2320H2282H3063H5927H4196H6213H1008H2076H5695H6213H5975H1008H3548H1116H621333So on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a day that he himself had designated, Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar at Bethel. He instituted a religious festival for Israel, and he went up to the altar to burn incense.H5927H4196H6213H1008H2568H6240H3117H8066H2320H2320H908H3820H6213H2282H1121H3478H5927H4196H6999

1Kings 13

A Prophet Denounces Jeroboam

13At the LORD's command, a man of God from Judah went to Bethel, arriving there just as Jeroboam was approaching the altar to burn incense.H935H376H430H3063H1697H3068H1008H3379H5975H4196H69992Then at the LORD's command, he shouted, "O altar, altar! This is what the LORD says: A child named Josiah will be born into the dynasty of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests from the pagan shrines who come here to burn incense, and human bones will be burned on you."H7121H4196H1697H3068H559H4196H4196H559H3068H1121H3205H1004H1732H2977H8034H2076H3548H1116H6999H120H6106H83133That same day the man of God gave a sign to prove his message. He said, "The LORD has promised to give this sign: This altar will split apart, and its ashes will be poured out on the ground."H5414H4159H3117H559H4159H3068H1696H4196H7167H1880H82104When King Jeroboam heard the man of God speaking against the altar at Bethel, he pointed at him and shouted, "Seize that man!" But instantly the king's hand became paralyzed in that position, and he couldn't pull it back.H4428H3379H8085H1697H376H430H7121H4196H1008H7971H3027H4196H559H8610H3027H7971H3001H3201H77255At the same time a wide crack appeared in the altar, and the ashes poured out, just as the man of God had predicted in his message from the LORD.H4196H7167H1880H8210H4196H4159H376H430H5414H1697H30686The king cried out to the man of God, "Please ask the LORD your God to restore my hand again!" So the man of God prayed to the LORD, and the king's hand was restored and he could move it again.H4428H6030H559H376H430H2470H6440H3068H430H6419H3027H7725H376H430H2470H6440H3068H4428H3027H7725H72237Then the king said to the man of God, "Come to the palace with me and have something to eat, and I will give you a gift."H4428H1696H376H430H935H1004H5582H5414H49918But the man of God said to the king, "Even if you gave me half of everything you own, I would not go with you. I would not eat or drink anything in this place.H376H430H559H4428H5414H2677H1004H935H398H3899H8354H4325H47259For the LORD gave me this command: 'You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came.'"H6680H1697H3068H559H398H3899H8354H4325H7725H1870H198010So he left Bethel and went home another way.H3212H312H1870H7725H1870H935H100811As it happened, there was an old prophet living in Bethel, and his sons

came home and told him what the man of God had done in Bethel that day. They also told their father what the man had said to the king.H3427H259H2205H5030H1008H1121H935H5608H4639H376H430H6213H3117H1008H1697H1696H4428H5608H112The old prophet asked them, "Which way did he go?" So they showed their father

which road the man of God had taken.H1H1696H1870H1980H1121H7200H335H1870H376H430H1980H935H306313"Quick, saddle the donkey," the old man said. So they saddled the donkey for him, and he mounted it.H559H1121H2280H2543H2280H2543H739214Then he rode after the man of God and found him sitting under a great tree. The old prophet asked him, "Are you the man of God who came from Judah?" "Yes, I am," he replied.H3212H310H376H430H4672H3427H424H559H376H430H935H3063H55915Then he said to the man of God, "Come home with me and eat some food."H559H3212H1004H398H389916"No, I cannot," he replied. "I am not allowed to eat or drink anything here in this place.H559H3201H7725H935H398H3899H8354H4325H472517For the LORD gave me this command: 'You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came.'"H1697H1697H3068H398H3899H8354H4325H7725H3212H1870H198018But the old prophet answered, "I am a prophet, too, just as you are. And an angel gave me this command from the LORD: 'Bring him home with you so he can have something to eat and drink.'" But the old man was lying to him.H559H5030H4397H1696H1697H3068H559H7725H1004H398H3899H8354H4325H358419So they went back together, and the man of God ate and drank at the prophet's home.H7725H398H3899H1004H8354H432520Then while they were sitting at the table, a command from the LORD came to the old prophet.H3427H7979H1697H3068H5030H772521He cried out to the man of God from Judah, "This is what the LORD says: You have defied the word of the LORD and have disobeyed the command the LORD your God gave you.H7121H376H430H935H3063H559H559H3068H3282H4784H6310H3068H8104H4687H3068H430H668022You came back to this place and ate and drank where he told you not to eat or drink. Because of this, your body will not be buried in the grave of your ancestors."H7725H398H3899H8354H4325H4725H1696H398H3899H8354H4325H5038H935H6913H123After the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the old prophet saddled his own donkey for him,H310H398H3899H310H8354H2280H2543H5030H772524and the man of God started off again. But as he was traveling along, a lion came out and killed him. His body lay there on the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it.H3212H738H4672H1870H4191H5038H7993H1870H2543H5975H681H738H5975H503825People who passed by saw the body lying in the road and the lion standing beside it, and they went and reported it in Bethel, where the old prophet lived.H582H5674H7200H5038H7993H1870H738H5975H681H5038H935H1696H5892H2205H5030H342726When the prophet heard the report, he said, "It is the man of God who disobeyed the LORD's command. The LORD has fulfilled his word by causing the lion to attack and kill him."H5030H7725H1870H8085H559H376H430H4784H6310H3068H3068H5414H738H7665H4191H1697H3068H169627Then the prophet said to his sons, "Saddle a donkey for me." So they saddled a donkey,H1696H1121H559H2280H2543H228028and he went out and found the body lying in the road. The donkey and lion were still standing there beside it, for the lion had not eaten the body nor attacked the donkey.H3212H4672H5038H7993H1870H2543H738H5975H681H5038H738H398H5038H7665H254329So the prophet laid the body of the man of God on the donkey and took it back to the town to mourn over him and bury him.H5030H5375H5038H376H430H3240H2543H7725H2205H5030H935H5892H5594H691230He laid the body in his own grave, crying out in grief, "Oh, my brother!"H3240H5038H6913H5594H1945H25131Afterward the prophet said to his sons, "When I die, bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones.H310H6912H559H1121H559H4191H6912H6913H376H430H6912H3240H6106H681H610632For the message the LORD told him to proclaim against the altar in Bethel and against the pagan shrines in the towns of Samaria will certainly come true."H1697H7121H1697H3068H4196H1008H1004H1116H5892H811133But even after this, Jeroboam did not turn from his evil ways. He continued to choose priests from the common people. He appointed anyone who wanted to become a priest for the pagan shrines.H310H1697H3379H7725H7451H1870H6213H7725H7098H5971H3548H1116H2655H4390H3027H3548H111634This became a great sin and resulted in the utter destruction of Jeroboam's dynasty from the face of the earth.H1697H2403H1004H3379H3582H8045H6440H127

Psalm 97

97The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice! Let the farthest coastlands be glad.H3068H4427H776H1523H7227H339H80552Dark clouds surround him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.H6051H6205H5439H6664H4941H4349H36783Fire spreads ahead of him and burns up all his foes.H784H3212H6440H3857H6862H54394His lightning flashes out across the world. The earth sees and trembles.H1300H215H8398H776H7200H23425The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.H2022H4549H1749H6440H3068H6440H113H7766The heavens proclaim his righteousness; every nation sees his glory.H8064H5046H6664H5971H7200H35197Those who worship idols are disgraced—all who brag about their worthless gods—for every god must bow to him.H954H5647H6459H1984H457H7812H4308Jerusalem

has heard and rejoiced, and all the towns of Judah are glad because of your justice, O Lord!H6726H8085H8055H1323H3063H1523H4941H30689For you, O Lord, are supreme over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.H3068H5945H776H5927H3966H43010You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.H157H3068H8130H7451H8104H5315H2623H5337H3027H756311Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right.H216H2232H6662H8057H3477H382012May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord and praise his holy name!H8055H3068H6662H3034H2143H6944