1 Kings 11:14 kjv
And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.
1 Kings 11:14 nkjv
Now the LORD raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was a descendant of the king in Edom.
1 Kings 11:14 niv
Then the LORD raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom.
1 Kings 11:14 esv
And the LORD raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite. He was of the royal house in Edom.
1 Kings 11:14 nlt
Then the LORD raised up Hadad the Edomite, a member of Edom's royal family, to be Solomon's adversary.
1 Kings 11 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Solomon's Disobedience & God's Judgment | ||
| 1 Ki 11:9 | Now the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned... | God's anger as the direct cause. |
| 1 Ki 11:10 | and had commanded him concerning this matter... | Solomon knew God's specific commands. |
| 1 Ki 11:11 | Therefore the Lord said to Solomon: ...I will surely tear the kingdom... | God's verbal declaration of judgment. |
| 1 Ki 11:13 | However, I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give... | Mercy shown for David's sake. |
| 1 Ki 11:23-25 | God also raised up another adversary for him, Rezon... | Another divinely appointed adversary. |
| 1 Ki 11:26-40 | Then Jeroboam the son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon... | The main adversary, fulfilling prophecy. |
| Deut 17:16-17 | "He shall not multiply horses... nor shall he multiply wives for himself..." | Explicit Mosaic Law warnings for kings. |
| 1 Ki 9:6-7 | But if you turn away... I will cut off Israel from the land... | God's prior warning to Solomon directly. |
| God Raising Up Adversaries/Nations | ||
| Judg 2:14-15 | So the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel... and He delivered them... | God giving Israel into enemies' hands for disobedience. |
| Judg 3:7-8 | they forgot the Lord their God... Therefore the anger of the Lord was... | God "selling" His people to oppressors. |
| 2 Sam 12:10-12 | Thus says the Lord: 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you...' | God raising adversity for David's sin from within his own house. |
| Isa 10:5-6 | "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger... against an ungodly nation..." | God uses pagan nations as instruments of judgment. |
| Jer 25:9 | "behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,' says the Lord... | God calling Nebuchadnezzar "My servant" for His punitive work. |
| Amos 3:6 | "If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?" | God's sovereignty over calamitous events. |
| Hab 1:6 | "For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation..." | God actively raising nations for His purposes. |
| Consequences of Unfaithfulness/Covenant Breaking | ||
| Lev 26:14-17 | "But if you do not obey Me... I will appoint terror over you..." | Covenant curses for disobedience leading to enemies. |
| Deut 28:15-20 | "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey... all these curses..." | Extensive list of curses for disobedience, including foreign oppression. |
| Josh 23:15-16 | Therefore it shall happen, that just as all the good things... | Warning that covenant breaking brings disaster. |
| 1 Chr 28:9 | And you, my son Solomon... If you forsake Him, He will cast you off... | David's counsel to Solomon about remaining faithful. |
| Neh 9:26-27 | Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled... Therefore You delivered them... | Historical pattern of Israel's rebellion and God's delivering them to foes. |
| Psa 78:58-60 | For they provoked Him to anger with their high places... | God's displeasure leading to abandoning His people/places. |
| Rom 1:18 | For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness... | New Testament principle of divine judgment against sin. |
1 Kings 11 verses
1 Kings 11 14 Meaning
This verse signifies the direct and sovereign action of the Lord in bringing judgment upon King Solomon. Because of Solomon's unfaithfulness, particularly his turning to idolatry through his foreign wives, God raises up a specific adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from a royal lineage, to trouble his kingdom. This demonstrates God's active involvement in the affairs of nations and His commitment to His covenant warnings against disobedience.
1 Kings 11 14 Context
Chapter Context (1 Kings 11): This chapter details the catastrophic spiritual decline of King Solomon. Despite his wisdom and initial faithfulness, he married numerous foreign women who turned his heart to their gods (1 Ki 11:1-8). This direct disobedience to God's specific commands concerning foreign wives and idolatry provoked the Lord's anger (1 Ki 11:9-10). As a consequence, God declares He will tear the kingdom away from Solomon's line, though not entirely in his lifetime, for the sake of David (1 Ki 11:11-13). Verses 14-25 introduce the adversaries God raises up: Hadad the Edomite and Rezon of Zobah. The chapter then culminates with the prophetic announcement to Jeroboam that he would rule over ten tribes, thus ensuring the division of the kingdom. Verse 14 initiates the visible outworking of God's judgment declared earlier.
Historical/Cultural Context: Solomon's reign was characterized by unprecedented peace and prosperity, largely due to his father David's military victories which brought neighboring lands like Edom under Israelite control. The kingdom of Edom, a long-standing rival, was thoroughly subdued by David and Joab (2 Sam 8:13-14). Hadad represents a significant challenge because he is not a random raider but a member of Edom's former royal family who survived David's purge by fleeing to Egypt and marrying into the Pharaoh's house (1 Ki 11:15-19). This signifies a legitimate claimant to the Edomite throne, backed by powerful Egyptian connections. For Israel, God raising such an adversary undermined Solomon's vaunted wisdom and diplomatic alliances, exposing the kingdom's vulnerability when God's favor was withdrawn. It also stood as a clear theological statement: prosperity and security depended on covenant fidelity, not political maneuvering.
1 Kings 11 14 Word analysis
- The Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): This is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His unchanging, sovereign nature and His covenant relationship with Israel. Its presence highlights that the adversity against Solomon is not a random misfortune but a deliberate, just action initiated by the sovereign God who governs history. This stresses divine initiative and accountability, not happenstance.
- raised up (וַיָּקֶם - vayyāqem from קוּם - qum): A causative verb, meaning "He caused to stand" or "He established." It conveys an active and intentional bringing forth. God is the active subject who brings this adversary into being or prominence. This directly counters any belief that political events simply unfold on their own or are solely due to human scheming; God is directing them.
- an adversary (שָׂטָן - satan): In this context, the Hebrew term satan means an opponent, an accuser, or an antagonist. It refers to a human or national enemy who stands in opposition, rather than the proper name of the spiritual entity "Satan." Here, Hadad is an instrument of opposition chosen by God. Its usage emphasizes that even human opposition can serve divine purposes.
- against Solomon: Clearly identifies the direct target of this divine action, reinforcing that the trouble is a direct consequence of Solomon's personal actions.
- Hadad the Edomite: Provides specific identity. Edom, a fraternal but often hostile nation to Israel (Gen 25:24-34, Num 20:14-21), symbolizes a historic tension. The mention of "Edomite" reminds the audience of past conflicts and David's conquest of Edom. Hadad is not a new foe but a resurgence of a prior one, highlighting the vulnerability of the kingdom when God's protection is lifted.
- from the royal house in Edom: This detail signifies Hadad's legitimacy and his right to claim the throne of Edom. He is not a mere bandit or opportunist but a surviving member of the royal lineage, who posed a credible threat and who had garnered support during his time in Egypt (1 Ki 11:15-22). This amplifies the severity of the threat God orchestrated.
1 Kings 11 14 Bonus section
The account of Hadad the Edomite (1 Ki 11:15-22) provides a detailed narrative of his escape from David's general Joab's destructive campaign in Edom and his long-term refuge in Egypt, where he grew up and gained the Pharaoh's favor and kinship. This backstory emphasizes that God can prepare His instruments of judgment years in advance, bringing them into play precisely when needed to fulfill His declared purpose. It suggests that Solomon's decline had been known to God long before it manifested, and the means for correction were already in place. This underscores the precise and patient working of God in human history to uphold His divine law and bring about His will.
1 Kings 11 14 Commentary
1 Kings 11:14 stands as a profound theological statement regarding divine justice and sovereignty. It marks the commencement of God's judgment on Solomon for his egregious idolatry, demonstrating that no king, regardless of his power or wisdom, is above divine accountability. The verse highlights that God does not passively watch the unraveling of a nation's fate; He actively "raises up" adversaries as instruments of His righteous retribution. This specific example of Hadad underscores the long-reaching consequences of disobedience: past conquests (David's subjugation of Edom) do not guarantee future security if the covenant with God is violated. God, who grants peace and prosperity, is also the One who allows and orchestrates opposition and trouble as corrective measures or punitive judgments.