Solomon's heart turns away
1 Kings 11:1–40; Deuteronomy 17:17
In his old age, Solomon's many foreign wives turned his heart to other gods, and God announced that the kingdom would be torn from his son.
When Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as the heart of David his father was.
1 Kings 11:4 (World English Bible)
Deuteronomy had warned that a king must not multiply wives, horses, or gold. Solomon did all three. He built shrines for Chemosh of Moab and Molech of Ammon on the hill east of Jerusalem.
God raised up adversaries, and the prophet Ahijah tore his new cloak into twelve pieces and gave ten to Jeroboam, one of Solomon's officials, as a sign that he would rule ten tribes.
Places
JerusalemEgyptEdomSyriaDamascusCity of DavidMount of OlivesMillo
Dating notes
“When Solomon was old” (1 Kings 11:4). The date shown is an estimate.