1 Kings 11 41

1 Kings 11:41 kjv

And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?

1 Kings 11:41 nkjv

Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?

1 Kings 11:41 niv

As for the other events of Solomon's reign?all he did and the wisdom he displayed?are they not written in the book of the annals of Solomon?

1 Kings 11:41 esv

Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon?

1 Kings 11:41 nlt

The rest of the events in Solomon's reign, including all his deeds and his wisdom, are recorded in The Book of the Acts of Solomon.

1 Kings 11 verses

1 Kings 11 41 Meaning

1 Kings 11:41 concludes the biblical account of King Solomon's reign by referring the reader to an external historical source, "the book of the acts of Solomon," for further details on his life, accomplishments, and wisdom beyond what is recorded in the inspired narrative. It signifies that the biblical account, while divinely inspired and sufficient for its theological purpose, is selective in its historical presentation, pointing to more comprehensive royal annals for additional secular or detailed information not critical to its divine message.

1 Kings 11 41 Context

1 Kings chapter 11 narrates the spiritual decline of King Solomon. After his magnificent reign and construction of the Temple, Solomon, contrary to God's commandments (Deut 17:17), married many foreign women who turned his heart after other gods (1 Kgs 11:1-8). As a result, God pronounced judgment against him, stating that the kingdom would be torn from his son, leaving only one tribe for David's sake (1 Kgs 11:9-13). The chapter details God's raising up adversaries against Solomon (1 Kgs 11:14-25) and the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite regarding Jeroboam receiving ten tribes (1 Kgs 11:26-40). Verse 41 serves as a concluding summary, a standard historical marker signaling the end of an monarch's account in the books of Kings, and refers readers to a more detailed secular archive. Historically, ancient Near Eastern kings often had scribes who maintained extensive court records, annals, and chronicles documenting their reigns, conquests, and accomplishments. The biblical authors frequently reference these contemporary state documents, not as sources for their theological narrative directly, but as points of additional, broader information for those who wished to delve into every specific detail, implicitly validating the accuracy of their core facts while emphasizing their own selective, God-focused message.

1 Kings 11 41 Word analysis

• Now the rest of the acts of Solomon:
  • Now (וְיֶתֶר - və·ye·ṯer): A common Hebrew conjunction meaning "and," also often implies "now as for." It serves as a transition to conclude the discussion of Solomon's reign.
  • the rest of the (יֶתֶר - ye·ṯer): From the root "yatar," meaning "to be left over, to remain." This signifies that the biblical narrative presented is not exhaustive. It focuses on the divinely significant aspects, leaving the "rest" for other sources. This highlights the theological selectivity of Scripture, which records what God deems necessary for His people's understanding and instruction, not every mundane detail.
  • acts (דִּבְרֵי - ḏiḇ·rê): The plural construct of "dāḇār" (דָּבָר), which primarily means "word," but can also refer to "matter," "thing," "event," or "affair." Here, it comprehensively refers to all of Solomon's deeds, accomplishments, and significant events of his reign. It encompasses his works, achievements, and dealings, especially those not detailed in 1 Kings.
  • of Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה - šə·lō·mōh): The famous king, son of David. The reference serves as the subject of the detailed history.
• and all that he did:
  • and all (וְכָל - və·ḵōl): "And everything." This phrase further emphasizes the comprehensive scope of the external book being referenced, distinguishing it from the selected details in 1 Kings.
  • that he did (אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה - ’ă·šer ‘ā·śāh): Refers to the totality of his activities, accomplishments, constructions, and decisions. This reiterates that the referenced source covers the full range of his public and private life not necessarily focused upon by the biblical author.
• and his wisdom:
  • and his wisdom (וְחָכְמָתוֹ - və·ḥāḵ·mā·ṯōw): Refers to the exceptional gift of discerning understanding given to Solomon by God (1 Kgs 3:12, 4:29-31). This specifically notes that even aspects of his famed wisdom, not elaborated upon within Kings, are available elsewhere. While the biblical text mentions his wisdom generally, and the Book of Proverbs is attributed to him, the full scope of his intellectual endeavors and applications of wisdom extended beyond what is directly quoted in Scripture.
• are they not written:
  • are they not written (הֵם הֲלֹא כְתֻבִים - hêm hă·lō kə·ṯu·ḇîm): This is a rhetorical question in Hebrew, which expects an affirmative answer ("Yes, they are written!"). It serves as a strong affirmation of the existence and accessibility of this source. This rhetorical device validates the information and directs the reader to another, presumably well-known, public record.
• in the book of the acts of Solomon?
  • in the book (בְּסֵפֶר - bə·sê·p̄er): "In the scroll" or "in the volume." This indicates a written record, likely a formal, authoritative document or collection of records.
  • of the acts of Solomon (דִּבְרֵי שְׁלֹמֹה - ḏiḇ·rê šə·lō·mōh): Literally "the matters/words of Solomon." This specific title, "Sefer Divrei Shlomo" (סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי שְׁלֹמֹה), identifies the original royal chronicle or state archives concerning King Solomon's reign. It was a presumably comprehensive official court record, distinct from the theological and interpretive narrative of 1 Kings. This "lost book" is never canonized within the Bible, underscoring the biblical authors' divine inspiration and their selective, redemptive-historical purpose, rather than simply compiling all available historical facts.

1 Kings 11 41 Bonus section

The "Book of the Acts of Solomon" (סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי שְׁלֹמֹה) is one of many non-canonical historical sources referenced throughout the books of Kings and Chronicles. Its mention serves a dual purpose: it demonstrates that the biblical authors had access to and made use of contemporary official records, validating the historical basis of their work. Yet, by referring to these books and not incorporating them wholesale into the canon, it reinforces the divine inspiration and theological selectivity of Scripture. The biblical narrative of Solomon (and other kings) focuses on their obedience or disobedience to God's covenant, their relationship with the Lord, and the implications for the Davidic dynasty and the nation of Israel. Matters of vast wealth, daily administration, or detailed architectural plans might have been in "the book of the acts," but only specific, theologically significant aspects are retained in the inspired record. This practice assures readers that further details exist if one seeks them, but crucially implies that for spiritual instruction and understanding of God's unfolding plan, the inspired Scripture is sufficient. The parallel passage in 2 Chronicles 9:29 interestingly identifies prophetic writings (chronicles of Nathan the prophet, prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, visions of Iddo the seer) as containing "the rest of the acts of Solomon," which could suggest that even these non-canonical records, while detailed, still carried a divinely inspired aspect, perhaps distinguishing them from purely secular court annals mentioned elsewhere in Kings.

1 Kings 11 41 Commentary

1 Kings 11:41 acts as a formal concluding formula for the narrative of King Solomon's reign in the books of Kings. It directs the reader to an external historical document, "the book of the acts of Solomon," for more exhaustive details regarding his wisdom, actions, and achievements. This reference highlights several key aspects: Firstly, the Bible's inherent selectivity. The inspired narrative does not aim to be an exhaustive biography or a complete historical record in a modern sense. Its primary purpose is theological and spiritual: to show God's hand in history, the consequences of obedience and disobedience to His covenant, and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. The divine authors chose only what was necessary for their specific, divinely mandated message. Secondly, it suggests the availability of contemporary official state records, common in ancient Near Eastern kingdoms, that contained a fuller, albeit less interpretively guided, account of a monarch's reign. This lends historical grounding to the biblical narrative, as it was aware of, and could point to, other accounts for further validation or details not pertinent to its main focus. Thirdly, the use of a rhetorical question ("are they not written?") emphasizes the public knowledge and presumed accessibility of this "Book of the Acts of Solomon" to the original audience, further solidifying the factual basis of the abridged biblical account. This lost source underscores the unique character of Scripture as a divinely inspired, theologically purposeful account rather than merely a human historical chronicle.