1 Kings 11 16

1 Kings 11:16 kjv

(For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)

1 Kings 11:16 nkjv

(because for six months Joab remained there with all Israel, until he had cut down every male in Edom),

1 Kings 11:16 niv

Joab and all the Israelites stayed there for six months, until they had destroyed all the men in Edom.

1 Kings 11:16 esv

(for Joab and all Israel remained there six months, until he had cut off every male in Edom).

1 Kings 11:16 nlt

Joab and the army of Israel had stayed there for six months, killing them.

1 Kings 11 verses

1 Kings 11 16 Meaning

This verse describes the extent and thoroughness of Joab's military campaign in Edom during the reign of King David. It explicitly states that Joab, as David's military commander, remained in Edom for a substantial period of six months with the entire Israelite army. The purpose of this prolonged campaign was to ensure complete subjugation by "cutting off every male in Edom," signifying a brutal yet effective strategy to neutralize all potential military and political threats from the Edomite nation and solidify Israel's dominion. This historical action sets the stage for the subsequent rise of Hadad the Edomite as an adversary to Solomon, as referenced later in the chapter.

1 Kings 11 16 Context

First Kings chapter 11 primarily focuses on King Solomon's spiritual decline due to his extensive foreign marriages and the resulting idolatry. As a consequence of his disobedience, the Lord informs Solomon that the kingdom will be torn from him, though not completely in his lifetime for the sake of David his father. The chapter then details the raising of "adversaries" (Heb. satan, an opposing force or opponent) against Solomon as a direct fulfillment of God's judgment. Hadad the Edomite is introduced as the first such adversary (1 Kgs 11:14), setting the scene for verse 16.

This specific verse harks back to an earlier period in Israel's history, the reign of King David, and Joab's military conquest of Edom. Historically, Edom, situated southeast of the Dead Sea, was a long-standing rival of Israel, descendant from Esau, Jacob's brother. Its strategic location controlled important trade routes like the King's Highway. David's conquest of Edom (documented in 2 Sam 8:13-14 and 1 Chr 18:12-13) was crucial for establishing and maintaining his extensive empire. The severe measures taken by Joab, as described in verse 16, underscore the determination required to completely pacify this defiant nation, leading to a long occupation to ensure no viable claimants to the Edomite throne or military opposition remained, effectively extinguishing any immediate threat from the male Edomite populace. Hadad's survival (1 Kgs 11:17) directly leads to his eventual return as an adversary in Solomon's reign, fulfilling the prophetic judgment against Solomon.

1 Kings 11 16 Word analysis

• for six months: Hebrew: כִּי שִׁשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים (ki shisha hodashim). This specifies the duration of the campaign. The extended period indicates that the conquest and "cutting off" was not a swift battle but a systematic and deliberate effort to pacify or eliminate resistance throughout the Edomite territory. It underscores the severity and thoroughness of Joab's mission, suggesting a significant level of resistance or the need for a comprehensive sweep of the land.
• did Joab: Hebrew: יוֹאָב (Yo'av). Joab was the ruthless and highly effective commander of David's army (2 Sam 8:16; 1 Chr 18:15). His character throughout the biblical narrative suggests he was capable of such brutal and thorough military actions. His presence signifies a professional and determined military campaign directly ordered by the king.
• remain there: Hebrew: שָׁם יָשַׁב (sham yashav). Literally "there he sat" or "he stayed." It conveys Joab's established presence and ongoing occupation in Edom. It suggests an encampment or strategic presence for a sustained period, beyond merely engaging in a single battle.
• with all Israel: Hebrew: עִם כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל (im kol Yisra'el). This signifies the full military might and organized forces of the unified Israelite kingdom under David. It implies a significant investment of resources and manpower in the campaign, reflecting the strategic importance of Edom's subjugation. This was a national military effort, not just a small raiding party.
• until he had cut off: Hebrew: עַד הַכְרִיתוֹ (ad hakhrito), derived from the root כרת (karat), meaning "to cut off," "to destroy," "to annihilate." In this context, it refers to the decisive act of elimination. This verb often carries a sense of complete removal or termination, whether of a physical object, a lineage, or a people. It suggests an action aimed at nullifying any future threat or uprising.
• every male: Hebrew: כָּל־זָכָר (kol-zakhar). This refers to the entire male population. In the context of ancient Near Eastern warfare, this could mean either literal slaughter of all males, including boys, or the effective neutralization of the male fighting force and potential leadership, thereby eliminating any capacity for future rebellion or the continuation of royal lineages. Given that Hadad (a male of royal lineage) survived, the "every male" here strongly implies the eradication of those capable of fighting or posing a political threat, especially potential royal claimants and warriors, or the widespread massacre that allowed a few, like Hadad, to escape with great difficulty. This extreme measure was intended to utterly break Edom's national spirit and capacity to resist.
• in Edom: Hebrew: אֱדוֹם (Edom). The nation south of Judah, traditional enemies and descendants of Esau. Their land controlled vital trade routes and was a source of persistent hostility. The thoroughness of the campaign here relates directly to their historical enmity and strategic significance.

• "for six months did Joab remain there": This phrase emphasizes the methodical and prolonged nature of the campaign, indicating a comprehensive effort to secure and pacify the entire territory rather than just a quick strike. It conveys the sheer will and commitment of David's military to complete its objective.
• "cut off every male in Edom": This is a critical phrase denoting extreme military action. While Hadad's survival demonstrates that it wasn't a literally perfect extermination of every single individual male (as exceptions occurred in ancient campaigns), it signifies a widespread and systematic campaign of eliminating the fighting-age male population and those who could perpetuate a royal lineage or leadership structure. It represents the decisive termination of Edom's capacity for independent resistance and self-governance by decapitating its potential for male-led opposition and succession. It secured Israelite hegemony over Edom.

1 Kings 11 16 Bonus section

The thoroughness of Joab's campaign in Edom, described in 1 Kings 11:16, holds deeper theological significance beyond just historical fact. It shows David's establishment of the kingdom's borders and security, a direct outworking of the Lord's covenant promises of dominion and rest from enemies (2 Sam 7:1; Pss 60:8). Yet, despite such decisive military actions meant to ensure long-term stability and Israel's dominance, divine judgment eventually infiltrates the most secure human triumphs. The survival of Hadad, against such an intense campaign, is subtly woven into the narrative to underscore God's active involvement in human affairs. Even if a human general carries out an operation to extreme lengths, if the next generation falls away from God (as Solomon did), God can effortlessly raise an adversary from the very place of past victory. This points to the overarching biblical theme that true security and lasting peace are not merely the result of military might or human effort, but depend ultimately on fidelity to God and His covenant. It contrasts human effort for permanent peace with divine sovereignty that ensures consequences for sin.

1 Kings 11 16 Commentary

This verse details a harsh reality of ancient warfare and King David's aggressive consolidation of his empire. Joab's six-month campaign in Edom was not merely a skirmish but a sustained and deliberate effort to ensure Edom's utter subjugation. The command to "cut off every male" reflects the brutal custom of the time for ensuring no future threats or challenges to sovereignty. While unsettling to modern sensibilities, this was a common, albeit severe, means of total pacification. It aimed to destroy Edom's fighting capability and prevent any male Edomite, particularly those of royal blood, from later reclaiming their independence. The irony, as the surrounding narrative shows, is that despite Joab's thoroughness, a royal Edomite remnant, Hadad, escaped. God, in His sovereign purpose, later used this very Hadad, a survivor of David's triumph, as an adversary to chastise Solomon for his disobedience, demonstrating that human victories, no matter how absolute, cannot circumvent divine will. The verse, therefore, highlights both the political necessities and extreme measures of an empire-building period, while also implicitly setting the stage for divine retribution and the theme of God raising up adversaries as a consequence of sin.