1 Kings 11 33

1 Kings 11:33 kjv

Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

1 Kings 11:33 nkjv

because they have forsaken Me, and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the people of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways to do what is right in My eyes and keep My statutes and My judgments, as did his father David.

1 Kings 11:33 niv

I will do this because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Molek the god of the Ammonites, and have not walked in obedience to me, nor done what is right in my eyes, nor kept my decrees and laws as David, Solomon's father, did.

1 Kings 11:33 esv

because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did.

1 Kings 11:33 nlt

For 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.

1 Kings 11 verses

1 Kings 11 33 Meaning

This verse succinctly states the divine reason for the impending division of Solomon's kingdom: his profound spiritual deviation. Solomon, swayed by his foreign wives, had turned away from the LORD, the one true God of Israel, to worship the false deities of surrounding nations. Specifically, he engaged in the worship of Ashtoreth of the Sidonians, Chemosh of the Moabites, and Milcom of the Ammonites. This abandonment of God directly manifested in his failure to live according to God's commandments, statutes, and judgments, a stark contrast to the faithful example set by his father, David.

1 Kings 11 33 Context

1 Kings chapter 11 marks a significant turning point in the history of Israel, signaling the end of the unified kingdom under Solomon and the subsequent division. Earlier in Solomon's reign, he was blessed with wisdom and wealth (1 Ki 3-10). However, the narrative transitions to expose Solomon's great spiritual failing. Verses 1-8 describe how Solomon accumulated many foreign wives (700 wives, 300 concubines), directly violating the divine command against marrying women from nations who would turn the Israelites' hearts away from God (Exod 34:16; Deut 7:3-4). As these foreign wives grew old, they led Solomon astray, influencing him to worship their gods and build high places for these detestable idols on the very hills surrounding Jerusalem.

Verses 9-13 present God's stern judgment. Because Solomon turned from the LORD who had twice appeared to him and despite explicit commands, God declared that He would tear the kingdom away from him, leaving only one tribe (Judah) for David's sake and Jerusalem's sake. Verse 33 is a direct articulation of the specific reasons for this judgment, elaborating on the "how" and "why" Solomon violated God's covenant, thereby justifying the severe divine response. It contrasts Solomon's spiritual bankruptcy with David's enduring loyalty.

Historically and culturally, this period saw Israel's interactions with surrounding Canaanite, Phoenician, Moabite, and Ammonite cultures, often leading to syncretism, where Israel incorporated foreign religious practices into their worship of Yahweh. Such actions were an anathema to God, who demanded exclusive devotion.

1 Kings 11 33 Word analysis

• Because that they have forsaken me: The core transgression. The Hebrew azav (עָזַב) means "to abandon," "to neglect," "to leave entirely." This is not a casual oversight but a deliberate turning away from the exclusive worship of the LORD (Yahweh), indicating a breach of the covenant relationship. This active abandonment is severe because the LORD is the God who brought Israel out of Egypt and established them as His own people.
• and have worshipped: Signifies active engagement and allegiance to other deities. It means to bow down or serve.
• Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians: Ashtoreth (עַשְׁתֹּרֶת) was the principal goddess of the Phoenicians (Zidonians), equivalent to the Babylonian Ishtar or the Greek Astarte. She was a fertility goddess, associated with war, sexual rites, and often depicted as the consort of Baal. Her worship involved pagan rites antithetical to God's holiness. For Solomon to embrace her worship meant rejecting the LORD as the true source of all life and fertility. The Zidonians (Sidonians) were powerful maritime people of Phoenicia, allied with Solomon (1 Ki 5).
• Chemosh the god of the Moabites: Chemosh (כְּמוֹשׁ) was the national god of Moab. His worship often involved human sacrifice, particularly child sacrifice (2 Ki 3:27; Jer 48:7, 46). This was an abomination to the LORD, who explicitly forbade child sacrifice (Lev 18:21; Deut 12:31).
• and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon: Milcom (מִלְכֹּם) was the national god of the Ammonites, often identified with Molech. Like Chemosh, his cult also practiced child sacrifice, described as "passing children through fire" (Lev 18:21; 2 Ki 23:10). For Solomon to tolerate or participate in such worship represented a radical deviation from the purity of Israel's worship and ethics commanded by God. The Ammonites were historical adversaries of Israel.
• and have not walked in my ways: Refers to a person's entire conduct and manner of life. "My ways" are God's divinely ordained paths of righteousness and truth, contrasting with human traditions or pagan practices. It signifies a profound moral and spiritual decline.
• to do that which is right in mine eyes: Right (יָשָׁר, yashar) here signifies morally correct, straight, or pleasing from God's absolute perspective. It means acting in alignment with divine commands, rather than relying on human wisdom or preferences. Solomon's actions were offensive to God's holiness and justice.
• and to keep my statutes and my judgments: This phrase (chuqqim (חֻקִּים) and mishpatim (מִשְׁפָּטִים)) comprehensively refers to the full body of God's Law given to Israel, including specific ordinances, decrees, ethical guidelines, and legal rulings. Solomon failed to adhere to the divine constitution of Israel.
• as did David his father: This direct comparison highlights Solomon's failure against the benchmark of his father's devotion. While David had personal failings (like Bathsheba), his heart remained loyal to the LORD and his covenant, characterized by seeking God's will and striving for obedience (1 Ki 3:6). This contrast underscores Solomon's intentional spiritual departure.

1 Kings 11 33 Bonus section

• Syncretism's Danger: Solomon's sin was not merely abstract belief in other gods but active integration of their worship into the national religious life, a practice known as syncretism. This blending was abhorrent to God as it blurred the lines between the Creator and false deities, diminishing the singularity of His holy nature.
• A Precursor to Exile: The idolatry practiced by Solomon foreshadows the widespread apostasy of the later Israelite and Judean kings, ultimately leading to the divided kingdoms, foreign conquests, and eventual exiles. His actions set a precedent for spiritual decline that resonated for centuries.
• The Weight of David's Legacy: The constant comparison to "David his father" (repeated throughout Kings, e.g., 1 Ki 11:4, 11:38, 14:8) emphasizes that David, despite his own personal sins, was remembered as fundamentally devoted to God's covenant. This fidelity provided a conditional grace for his lineage (2 Sam 7), but Solomon's gross disobedience pushed the boundaries of that covenant faithfulness.
• Violation of Kingship Instructions: Deuteronomy 17:16-17 specifically warned future kings against multiplying horses, silver, gold, and especially wives, lest their "heart turn away." Solomon directly violated all these specific commands, and this verse illustrates the exact fulfillment of that prophetic warning regarding wives leading to a "turned heart" (1 Ki 11:4).

1 Kings 11 33 Commentary

1 Kings 11:33 serves as the theological hinge connecting Solomon's moral failings to God's subsequent judgment of tearing the united kingdom apart. The verse meticulously itemizes the egregious sins of idolatry and covenant breach. It reveals that Solomon's initial wisdom, wealth, and grand temple, impressive as they were, did not safeguard him against the insidious corruption of polytheism. His political marriages, intended to secure alliances, instead became conduits for spiritual compromise, introducing abominable foreign cults directly into the heart of Jerusalem. The mention of Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Milcom, with their associated detestable rites (especially child sacrifice), underlines the severity and defilement of Solomon's deviation. This was not mere neglect but active, cultic participation in the worship of rival gods. God's rejection of this syncretism demonstrates His jealousy for His exclusive worship, essential for Israel's identity as His covenant people. Solomon's failure to "walk in my ways" and "keep my statutes and my judgments," unlike David, highlights a core message throughout Kings: kingship and national well-being are contingent on covenant fidelity, not political maneuvering or material prosperity. This tragic fall of the "wisest man" serves as a perpetual warning against spiritual compromise and the lure of worldly influence.