1 Kings 11 27

1 Kings 11:27 kjv

And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.

1 Kings 11:27 nkjv

And this is what caused him to rebel against the king: Solomon had built the Millo and repaired the damages to the City of David his father.

1 Kings 11:27 niv

Here is the account of how he rebelled against the king: Solomon had built the terraces and had filled in the gap in the wall of the city of David his father.

1 Kings 11:27 esv

And this was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king. Solomon built the Millo, and closed up the breach of the city of David his father.

1 Kings 11:27 nlt

This is the story behind his rebellion. Solomon was rebuilding the supporting terraces and repairing the walls of the city of his father, David.

1 Kings 11 verses

1 Kings 11 27 Meaning

This verse explains why Jeroboam rebelled against King Solomon: The specific trigger for his discontent and subsequent uprising was Solomon's large-scale building initiatives. These included the construction of the Millo and the extensive repairs made to the defensive breaches in Jerusalem, often referred to as "the city of David." Such grand projects necessitated a burdensome levy of labor and resources from the populace, which fueled widespread dissatisfaction.

1 Kings 11 27 Context

First Kings Chapter 11 marks a profound downturn in Solomon's reign. After years of unprecedented wisdom, wealth, and peace, his heart turned from the Lord due to his numerous foreign wives, who led him into idolatry (1 Ki 11:1-8). God, in His judgment, declares He will tear the kingdom from Solomon's son (1 Ki 11:9-13). As a result, God raises adversaries against him. While Hadad the Edomite and Rezon of Zobah represent external threats (1 Ki 11:14-25), Jeroboam ben Nebat is an internal Israelite threat, chosen by God to fulfill His prophecy (1 Ki 11:26, 29-39). Verse 27 specifically elucidates the immediate socio-political grievance that served as the catalyst for Jeroboam's "lifting up of his hand." Solomon's vast construction projects, particularly his work on Jerusalem's defenses, were carried out using heavy taxation and burdensome forced labor. This increasingly oppressed the populace, particularly the northern tribes like Ephraim, from which Jeroboam hailed. The dissatisfaction and burden on the people, arising from these national projects, provided fertile ground for Jeroboam's rebellion, framing it as a direct consequence of Solomon's unrighteous policies.

1 Kings 11 27 Word analysis

• And: Links the current verse to the preceding one, continuing the explanation about Jeroboam's actions.
• this: Refers back to Jeroboam's act of rebellion mentioned in the prior verse.
• was the reason: Identifies the direct cause or underlying explanation. This clause is pivotal as it explicitly provides the motive behind a significant political act.
• that he lifted up his hand: (Hebrew: yarim yad) An idiomatic expression meaning to rebel, to rise against authority, or to take up arms in defiance. It signifies a direct, overt challenge.
• against the king: Specifies the target of the rebellion, King Solomon. This denotes a serious act of treason.
• Solomon built: Indicates an action by the monarch. Highlights his active role in initiating these significant projects.
• Millo: (Hebrew: הַמִּלּוֹא, ha-millō’) Literally meaning "the filling" or "that which is filled." It was a prominent structure within the City of David in Jerusalem, likely a large terraced earthwork or fortress filling the gap between Ophel and the Jebusite fortress, crucial for reinforcing the city's defenses. Both David and Solomon invested heavily in it, signifying its strategic importance. Solomon's extensive "building" or "filling in" work suggests a large and resource-intensive project.
• and repaired: (Hebrew: חֲזַק, ḥāzaq) Implies strengthening, reinforcing, or fixing. It indicates necessary restoration or fortification.
• the breaches: (Hebrew: פֶּרֶץ, peretz) Refers to breaks, gaps, or weak points in city walls. These could have been natural wear and tear, or remnants from previous attacks that needed securing. Repairing them was vital for defense but demanded substantial labor.
• of the city of David his father: Clearly identifies Jerusalem as the capital and underscores its establishment and connection to David, Solomon's respected predecessor. This connection is ironic, as the projects for "David's city" ultimately contribute to the division of the kingdom his father unified. These public works, though enhancing the capital's security and grandeur, came at a heavy cost to the wider populace.

Words-group analysis:

• "And this was the reason that he lifted up his hand against the king": This phrase succinctly states the causal link. It directly answers "why" Jeroboam rebelled, pointing to a tangible grievance rooted in royal policy. This framing shifts the focus from purely divine decree to observable socio-political dynamics, while divine sovereignty operates beneath.
• "Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father": This phrase details the specific projects. The scope of these endeavors, crucial for Jerusalem's defense and glory, concurrently represents the heavy burden placed on the populace through taxes and forced labor. These projects symbolized Solomon's ambition and power, but they also embodied the very oppression that incited rebellion.

1 Kings 11 27 Bonus section

• Divine and Human Agency: This verse perfectly illustrates the biblical tension between God's sovereign plan and human responsibility. While God decreed the kingdom's division due to Solomon's sin, Jeroboam's rebellion was sparked by specific, tangible grievances arising from Solomon's human choices in governance. God used these human choices and grievances to accomplish His divine will.
• The Northern Burden: The "house of Joseph" (Ephraim and Manasseh), to which Jeroboam belonged, was a powerful block of northern tribes often distinct from Judah. Solomon's policies likely burdened them more directly, exacerbating existing tribal tensions and providing a ripe environment for disunity.
• Millo's Significance: The term "Millo" points to complex engineering within ancient Jerusalem. Its fortification and repair under Solomon were critical to secure David's newly expanded capital. Yet, the cost of such vital national security projects led to internal insecurity for the reigning dynasty.

1 Kings 11 27 Commentary

First Kings 11:27 acts as a crucial explanatory link in the unfolding drama of Israel's division. It shifts the immediate cause of Jeroboam's rebellion from a vague notion of ambition to the concrete impact of Solomon's heavy-handed rule. While divine judgment on Solomon for his idolatry (1 Ki 11:1-13) is the overarching theological reason for the kingdom's fracturing, this verse provides the socio-political mechanism through which that judgment began to manifest. Solomon's extensive construction programs, including the critical fortification of the Millo and repairs to Jerusalem's walls, required immense human and material resources. This often translated into forced labor and exorbitant taxation, leading to deep resentment among the people, especially the northern tribes, who bore a disproportionate share of the burden. Jeroboam, likely observing this public dissatisfaction, effectively leveraged these grievances, transforming discontent into outright rebellion. The verse underscores a profound biblical truth: A ruler's neglect of justice and compassion for their people, even when undertaking ostensibly noble projects, can breed the very internal strife that leads to their downfall and divinely ordained consequences. This principle serves as a recurring theme throughout the prophetic critiques of later Israelite and Judean kings.