1 Kings 9 24

1 Kings 9:24 kjv

But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo.

1 Kings 9:24 nkjv

But Pharaoh's daughter came up from the City of David to her house which Solomon had built for her. Then he built the Millo.

1 Kings 9:24 niv

After Pharaoh's daughter had come up from the City of David to the palace Solomon had built for her, he constructed the terraces.

1 Kings 9:24 esv

But Pharaoh's daughter went up from the city of David to her own house that Solomon had built for her. Then he built the Millo.

1 Kings 9:24 nlt

Solomon moved his wife, Pharaoh's daughter, from the City of David to the new palace he had built for her. Then he constructed the supporting terraces.

1 Kings 9 verses

1 Kings 9 24 Meaning

This verse states that Pharaoh's daughter, one of Solomon's wives, relocated from the part of Jerusalem known as the City of David to a separate house Solomon specifically built for her. The explicit reason given by Solomon for this separation was his conviction that his wife should not reside in David's former dwelling, which he deemed holy due to its prior association with the Ark of the Lord. It highlights Solomon's recognition of the sacredness imparted by God's presence, indicating an awareness of cultic purity despite his later spiritual compromises.

1 Kings 9 24 Context

1 Kings 9 follows God's appearance to Solomon and His reaffirmation of the Davidic covenant and the conditional nature of the kingdom, explicitly tied to Solomon's obedience (1 Kgs 9:1-9). This happens after Solomon has completed the extensive building projects of the Temple and his own palaces, a total of 20 years (1 Kgs 9:10). The chapter then details Solomon's arrangements regarding land, his workforce (distinguishing Israelites from conquered peoples who became forced laborers), and his trade and naval activities. Verse 24 is strategically placed, detailing an architectural and ceremonial decision regarding his foreign wife amidst a chapter celebrating his accomplishments. It shows a seemingly pious consideration of holiness from Solomon's part regarding physical space and the Ark. However, it also serves as a subtle foreshadowing of the eventual spiritual dangers posed by his many foreign alliances, notably his marriage to Pharaoh's daughter and later wives, which led to his downfall in 1 Kings 11.

1 Kings 9 24 Word analysis

• But: Implies a continuation or a slight shift in focus from the previous enumeration of Solomon's achievements and personnel. It introduces a specific, significant detail about his domestic arrangements.
• Pharaoh's daughter: (Heb. בַּת־פַּרְעֹה, bat-Parʿoh) - This specific title signifies her royal, non-Israelite, and pagan origin. Her marriage to Solomon was a political alliance, indicating Israel's growing international influence but also a potential spiritual vulnerability (cf. Deut 7:3-4).
• had come up: Signifies a movement, possibly geographical (from a lower area to higher ground within Jerusalem) or simply a transfer of residence from an initial dwelling (likely David's former palace, which Solomon might have used temporarily for all his wives) to her newly constructed palace.
• from the City of David: (Heb. עִיר דָּוִד, ‘Ir David) - This refers to the original Jebusite stronghold on Ophel conquered by David, which became his capital. It's distinct from the Temple Mount. For the Ark to have been housed there by David meant it was deeply associated with the foundational acts of the Davidic dynasty and God's chosen city.
• to the house which he had built for her: A separate, grand palace was specifically constructed for Pharaoh's daughter. This highlights Solomon's wealth and diplomatic effort but also sets her apart, hinting at the challenges of integrating foreign royal families within a religiously sensitive capital.
• for he said: (Heb. כִּי־אָמַר, ki-amar) - Directly attributes the rationale to Solomon's own words and conviction, emphasizing his understanding of the sacredness.
• My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel: Solomon’s conscious decision to prevent her from residing in this particular house. It reflects a desire to protect the perceived holiness of that specific space, distinct from common dwellings.
• because the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy: (Heb. מָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־בָּא אֲרוֹן יְהוָה קֹדֶשׁ הוּא, maqom asher-ba ‘aron Yahweh qodesh huʾ) - This is the core theological justification.
  • places (maqom): Indicates that the sanctifying effect extends to the surrounding area, not just the exact spot where the Ark rested. Holiness permeates space by divine presence.
  • ark of the LORD: (‘aron Yahweh) - The Ark was the most sacred object in Israel, representing God's throne, presence, and the Covenant. Its presence sanctified whatever space it occupied.
  • holy (qodesh): Meaning 'set apart,' 'consecrated,' 'sacred.' The holiness principle is fundamental to Old Testament worship and life, differentiating between the sacred and the common/profane. This statement demonstrates Solomon's awareness of ritual purity and the enduring impact of God's presence.
• Words-group Analysis:
• "Pharaoh's daughter had come up...to the house which he had built for her": This phrase details Solomon's accommodation for a foreign queen, illustrating his grandeur and wealth, but also his deep involvement in foreign alliances that eventually led him astray. The act of building a separate house points to a distinct cultural and religious identity.
• "My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy.": This forms a complete thought, providing Solomon's clear theological rationale. It emphasizes the enduring holiness of a site once consecrated by God's presence, connecting it directly to David's legacy and the Ark. This highlights a king's perceived obligation to uphold ritual purity regarding sacred spaces, even for his personal dwelling arrangements. The contrast drawn between a secular ruler's palace ("house of David") and the holy impact of God's dwelling within it, serves as a significant theological marker for Solomon's reign.

1 Kings 9 24 Bonus section

• The concept of "holy ground" from the encounter between God and Moses at the burning bush (Exod 3:5) resonates strongly here, demonstrating that a location becomes permanently sanctified through divine interaction or dwelling, necessitating special respect and boundaries for all who interact with it.
• The theological reasoning for the segregation of space—holy versus common—is foundational in Israelite thought, visible in the design of the Tabernacle and Temple, which systematically distanced the "most holy place" from common areas. Solomon’s application of this principle to his palace further emphasizes the permeating influence of the Ark’s sacred presence.
• While 1 Kings 3:1 indicates Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter to the City of David upon marriage, this verse indicates a later relocation to her own distinct house, suggesting an initial temporary arrangement within David's residence before her dedicated palace was completed, or an immediate move to her completed home was simply a matter of completion, yet emphasizing the stated divine principle for it.
• The move could be viewed as a symbolic assertion of national and religious identity for Israel, as the foreign queen, representing external powers and perhaps other deities, was not to occupy a space so intrinsically tied to the covenant and God's presence within the heart of Israel's royal power.

1 Kings 9 24 Commentary

1 Kings 9:24 reveals a facet of Solomon's character: an understanding and apparent reverence for the sanctity of spaces touched by the divine. By stating that his Egyptian wife could not dwell in the house previously sanctified by the presence of the Ark of the Lord, Solomon exhibited an awareness of the theological principle that divine presence renders a place permanently holy. This separation for purity, however, stands in ironic tension with his later, comprehensive failures regarding his numerous foreign wives and their idols (1 Kgs 11). While Solomon meticulously maintained ritual boundaries for physical locations, his own spiritual boundaries became fatally porous, allowing his foreign wives to turn his heart away from the Lord. This verse acts as a poignant reminder that outward piety concerning places does not always translate into inward fidelity regarding personal devotion or obedience to God's broader commandments. The priority Solomon placed on a location's holiness concerning the Ark starkly contrasts with his subsequent tolerance for practices that desecrated his own heart and kingdom.