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1 Kings

Starts with King Solomon's reign, his wisdom, and building the temple, then the kingdom dividing into Israel and Judah.

Chapter 11

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1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

*But King Solomon had a deep interest in many different women, including the daughter of the Egyptian leader, as well as ladies from the Moab, Ammon, Edom, Zidon, and Hittite tribes.

2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

*The Lord warned the Israelites not to mix with certain nations because their gods could tempt them. However, Solomon still chose to connect with them out of affection.

3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

*He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 lovers; but his wives made him lose interest in other things.

4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

*When Solomon grew older, his wives made him like other gods less than the LORD; his love for the LORD wasn't as strong as his father David's.

5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

*Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the main god of the Zidonians, and Milcom, a hated idol of the Ammonites.

6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.

*Solomon did wrong things that displeased God and didn't follow God as closely as his father, David, did.

7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

*Then, Solomon constructed a tall place for Chemosh, who was considered very bad by the people of Moab, on a hill near Jerusalem, and also one for Molech, who was considered very bad by the children of Ammon.

8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

*And in the same way, he did this for all his other unusual wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their own gods.

9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

*And the LORD became upset with Solomon since his heart no longer focused on Him, the God of Israel who had shown up to him two times.

10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.

*The Lord told him not to worship other gods, but he didn't follow this commandment.

11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.

*Because you didn't follow my rules, God told Solomon that he would take away his kingdom and give it to someone else who serves him better.

12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

*Even so, during your time, I won't do it because of David, your father; instead, I will take it away from your son.

13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.

*However, I won't take everything away from the kingdom; instead, I will give one area to your son. This is because of my loyalty to David, my servant, and the choice I made for Jerusalem as a special city.

14 And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom.

*God caused a challenger for Solomon to arise, named Hadad, who came from the royal family in Edom.

15 For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom;

*One day, when David was in a place called Edom, and his army leader Joab went to bury the dead soldiers there, he killed all the men in Edom.

16 (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)

*For half a year, Joab stayed with the entire Israel army, eliminating all the men in Edom.

17 That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child.

*Hadad and some of his father's servants, the Edomites, ran away together and went to Egypt when he was just a small child.

18 And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.

*They left Midian and went to Paran. They brought people from there to join them. Then they traveled to Egypt to see Pharaoh, the king. Pharaoh gave him a home, provided food, and gave him land.

19 And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.

*Hadad became very liked by Pharaoh. Because of this, Pharaoh gave Hadad his wife's sister to marry, who was also the sister of a queen named Tahpenes.

20 And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh’s household among the sons of Pharaoh.

*Tahpenes' sister had a son named Genubath. She raised him in Pharaoh's home, where he grew up with Pharaoh's other children.

21 And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.

*When Hadad learned in Egypt that David had died and Joab, the army leader, was also dead, he told Pharaoh, "Let me leave now so I can return to my homeland."

22 Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.

*Then Pharaoh asked him, "What do you need from me that you want to leave and go back to your own country?" He replied, "I don't need anything; please just let me go."

23 And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:

*And God encouraged another opponent for him, Rezon, son of Eliadah, who escaped from his ruler Hadadezer, king of Zobah.

24 And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.

*He brought people together and led a group when David defeated the people from Zobah. They then went to Damascus, lived there, and ruled over the city.

25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.

*He opposed Israel throughout Solomon's reign, along with the harm caused by Hadad. He strongly disliked Israel and ruled over Syria.

26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon’s servant, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.

*Jeroboam, son of Nebat and a Zereda Ephrathite, was Solomon's helper. His mother, Zeruah, was a widowed woman. He then raised his hand against the king.

27 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.

*So, this happened because he raised his hand against the king: Solomon constructed Millo and fixed the broken parts of his dad's city, David.

28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.

*Jeroboam was a brave man. Solomon noticed the hardworking young man and chose him to be in charge of everything related to the family of Joseph.

29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:

*At the same time Jeroboam left Jerusalem, Prophet Ahijah from Shiloh met him on the road. Jeroboam was wearing a new clothes, and they were the only ones in the field.

30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:

*Ahijah tore the new clothing into twelve parts.

31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

*He told Jeroboam, "Take ten sticks. The Lord, God of Israel, says this: I will take the kingdom away from Solomon and give you nine tribes."

32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)

*But there will be one tribe given just for David and Jerusalem, as these are special to me among all the areas of Israel.

33 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.

*Because they left me for other gods like Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Milcom, didn't follow my path of doing what's right, and didn't keep my rules like David, their ancestor, did.

34 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant’s sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:

*However, I won't take away the entire kingdom from him; instead, I will make him a ruler for the rest of his life. This is because of David, my chosen servant who followed my rules and commands.

35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.

*But I will remove the kingdom from his son's control and give it to you, including ten tribes.

36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.

*I will give one tribe to his son so that David, my servant, always has a light shining in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to place my name.

37 And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.

*I will choose you, and you will rule as you wish, being king over Israel.

38 And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.

*If you listen to all my commands, follow my path, do what is right, and keep my rules like David, my faithful servant did, I will be with you. I'll build a strong home for you just like I did for David, and give Israel to you.

39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.

*I will punish David's descendants, but not forever.

40 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.

*Solomon wanted to kill Jeroboam. So, Jeroboam ran away to Egypt to see King Shishak. He stayed there until Solomon died.

41 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?

*Isn't everything about Solomon's deeds and wisdom recorded in the book about Solomon's actions?

42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.

*Solomon ruled in Jerusalem, over all Israel, for forty years.

43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

*Solomon passed away and was buried in the city where his dad, David, was also buried. His son, Rehoboam, took over as king after him.

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