1 Kings 11 40

1 Kings 11:40 kjv

Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

1 Kings 11:40 nkjv

Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

1 Kings 11:40 niv

Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam fled to Egypt, to Shishak the king, and stayed there until Solomon's death.

1 Kings 11:40 esv

Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

1 Kings 11:40 nlt

Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but he fled to King Shishak of Egypt and stayed there until Solomon died.

1 Kings 11 verses

1 Kings 11 40 Meaning

This verse describes Solomon's attempt to eliminate Jeroboam, who had been prophesied to rule ten tribes of Israel. Solomon, acting out of fear and opposition to God's declared will, sought to kill Jeroboam. However, Jeroboam, divinely protected, successfully fled to Egypt, finding refuge with Pharaoh Shishak, where he remained until the death of Solomon, setting the stage for his eventual return and the division of the kingdom.

1 Kings 11 40 Context

Chapter 11 of 1 Kings marks a profound turning point in the reign of Solomon and the history of Israel. It details Solomon's decline from faithfulness due to his foreign wives, who led him into idolatry (1 Ki 11:1-8). This unfaithfulness incurred God's severe judgment, declaring that He would tear the kingdom away from Solomon's son (1 Ki 11:9-13). As part of this divine judgment, God raised up adversaries against Solomon (1 Ki 11:14, 23). Jeroboam, a highly capable man appointed by Solomon to oversee the labor force of Joseph's house, was chosen by God through the prophet Ahijah to rule ten tribes of Israel after Solomon's death (1 Ki 11:26-39). Verse 40 directly follows Ahijah's prophecy and describes Solomon's human response to this divine revelation: an attempt to nullify God's declared plan by assassinating the anointed successor, leading to Jeroboam's flight for safety until the appointed time.

1 Kings 11 40 Word analysis

• Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה, Shlomo): The great king, renowned for wisdom and wealth (1 Ki 3:12; 10:23), but here shown in a state of spiritual and moral decline. His action against Jeroboam signifies a king attempting to oppose divine will through human means.
• therefore sought to kill (בִּקֵּשׁ לַהֲמִית, biqesh lahamith): Literally "he sought to kill." This phrase indicates a deliberate and active pursuit with the intention of assassination. It highlights Solomon's fear, jealousy, and resistance to the prophetic word regarding Jeroboam's future leadership. This action demonstrates Solomon's human attempt to thwart a divinely decreed event.
• Jeroboam (יָרָבְעָם, Yarov'am): Son of Nebat, from the tribe of Ephraim, initially an official under Solomon, now divinely appointed to rule a significant portion of Israel (1 Ki 11:28-31). His being sought for execution underscores his status as a key figure in God's plan.
• arose and fled (וַיָּקָם וַיִּבְרַח, vayyaqam vayyivrach): A common biblical idiom signifying immediate action and escape. This emphasizes the urgency and necessity of Jeroboam's departure. It also implies God's protective hand, allowing him to escape Solomon's lethal intent.
• into Egypt (מִצְרַיִם, Mitzrayim): Egypt historically served as both a place of refuge for those fleeing persecution (e.g., Abraham, Moses, Joseph, and even Jesus later) and a place of oppression for Israel (Ex 1:11). For Jeroboam, it was a providential safe haven provided by God's plan, yet ironically also a land symbolic of bondage that future Israelite kings would be warned against relying upon.
• to Shishak king of Egypt (שִׁישַׁק מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם, Shishaq Melekh Mitzrayim): Shishak I, the founder of the Twenty-Second Dynasty of Egypt. His historical existence (recorded on Egyptian monuments) validates the biblical narrative's historical accuracy. His readiness to harbor an adversary of Solomon suggests a shift in political dynamics from previous peaceful relations, perhaps indicative of growing Egyptian geopolitical ambition that would manifest in later incursions (1 Ki 14:25).
• and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon: This specific timeframe reveals the divine orchestration of events. Jeroboam remained protected until the very moment his return would be required for the fulfillment of prophecy. It demonstrates that his return was not premature but perfectly aligned with God's timetable.

• "Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam": This phrase represents human power and a king's perceived authority attempting to override a divine decree. Solomon's action stems from fear of losing control and a rejection of God's revealed plan concerning his successor. It parallels Saul's attempts to kill David after David was anointed.
• "but Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt": This clause highlights divine protection and the successful thwarting of Solomon's plan. The specificity of "Shishak king of Egypt" adds a layer of historical realism and demonstrates God using foreign rulers, knowingly or unknowingly, to achieve His purposes.
• "and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon": This final phrase signifies the temporal constraint and divine timing. Jeroboam's exile was not random but purposeful, ensuring he would return precisely when the way was prepared for his kingship, demonstrating God's sovereign control over even a long period of apparent inaction.

1 Kings 11 40 Bonus section

The parallels between Jeroboam's flight to Egypt and the flight of Moses to Midian (Ex 2:15) or the infant Jesus to Egypt (Mt 2:13) are noteworthy. All three figures were divinely appointed for future leadership/deliverance, faced threats from powerful rulers, and found refuge in exile before their time came to act. This suggests a pattern of divine preservation of chosen leaders through periods of apparent political inactivity. The relationship with Pharaoh Shishak also highlights the intricate web of ancient Near Eastern politics where exiled political figures often found refuge, sometimes becoming instruments for foreign powers or merely waiting for regime changes. Shishak would later raid Jerusalem, further complicating the relationship between Egypt and the Israelite kingdom post-Solomon. This period of Jeroboam's exile served not only as his protection but potentially as a time for him to observe, learn, and be further prepared for his future, albeit ultimately flawed, kingship.

1 Kings 11 40 Commentary

1 Kings 11:40 stands as a powerful testament to God's sovereignty over human endeavors and royal power. Solomon, despite his initial wisdom and glory, had tragically fallen into idolatry, prompting God's judgment that his kingdom would be divided. The divine agent for this division, Jeroboam, had been explicitly designated by the prophet Ahijah. Solomon's attempt to assassinate Jeroboam was a direct, albeit futile, act of resistance against God's pre-ordained plan. This verse underscores the futility of human resistance to God's will; just as Pharaoh could not thwart God's plan for Moses, so too Solomon's immense power was impotent against the divine decree. Jeroboam's safe refuge in Egypt under Shishak was a divinely orchestrated "waiting room" that protected him until the opportune moment, Solomon's death, at which point he was free to return and fulfill his prophetic destiny as the king of the northern tribes of Israel. This narrative firmly establishes that God raises up and casts down leaders according to His eternal purpose.