Exposition of 1 Kings 11:5-6 Meaning
1 Kings 11:5-6 states, "For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done" [2]. This passage marks a significant turning point in the narrative of Solomon's reign, highlighting his spiritual downfall.
Literary Context
The surrounding narrative in 1 Kings 11 describes Solomon's later years, where his many foreign wives led him into idolatry. The passage is part of a larger unit that critiques Solomon's failure to remain faithful to the Lord. The preceding verses (1 Kings 11:1-4) detail Solomon's numerous marriages to women from nations forbidden by the Deuteronomic law, and how they turned his heart away from God [1].
Historical Setting
Solomon's reign is traditionally dated to around 970-930 BCE. His idolatry, as described in 1 Kings 11:5-6, reflects the cultural and religious influences of his time, particularly the impact of his foreign wives and the political alliances they represented. The Deuteronomistic historian, who is believed to have written or edited 1 Kings, presents Solomon's failure as a pivotal moment in the history of Israel, leading to the division of the kingdom [3].
Key Terms
The term "abomination" (Hebrew: šiqqûṣ) used to describe Milcom, the Ammonite deity, carries significant weight. It is a term often used in Deuteronomic literature to denote something or someone that is detestable to God, highlighting the severity of Solomon's sin [4].
Major Exegetical Decisions
A key exegetical decision revolves around understanding the nature of Solomon's sin and its consequences. The text emphasizes that Solomon "did not wholly follow the Lord," indicating a partial or incomplete devotion. This interpretation hinges on understanding the Hebrew phrase "did not wholly follow" (Hebrew: lō' mālē' אַחֲרֵי yhwh), which suggests a lack of complete fidelity to God [5].
Range of Interpretations
Interpreters have varied in their understanding of Solomon's actions. Some, like the Reformed tradition represented by John Calvin, see Solomon's idolatry as a grave sin that reflects the human tendency towards apostasy, even among those who have been blessed and favored by God [5]. Patristic interpreters, such as Augustine, often viewed Solomon's fall as a cautionary tale about the dangers of sin and the importance of perseverance in faith [6].
Function in Tradition
1 Kings 11:5-6 has been used in various theological discussions, particularly regarding the nature of sin, the dangers of idolatry, and the consequences of disobedience to God's laws. In Reformed theology, this passage is often cited to illustrate the doctrine of total depravity, highlighting that even someone as wise and blessed as Solomon could fall into sin [3].
The passage also serves as a historical and theological explanation for the division of the Israelite kingdom, as the narrative continues in 1 Kings 11:9-13 to describe God's judgment on Solomon and the subsequent tearing apart of his kingdom.
Sources
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “1 Kings 1:5 cross-references: Exodus 9:17, Deuteronomy 17:15, Judges 9:2, 2 Samuel 3:4, 2 Samuel 15:1, 1 Kings 1:11, 1 Kings 2:13, 1 Kings 2:24, 1 Chronicles 3:2, 1 Chronicles 22:5, 1 Chronicles 28:5, 1 Chronicles 29:1, Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 18:12, Isaiah 2:7, Luke 14:11, Luke 18:14”
- 1 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Kings 6:11: The word of the Lord came to Solomon - Some think that this is the same revelation as that mentioned Kg1 9:2, etc., which took place after the dedication of the temple: but to me it appears different; it was a word to encourage him while building; to warn him against apostasy, and to assure him of God's continued protection of him and his family, if they continued faithful to the grace which God had given.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 144: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:26 1:26-27 1:27 2:7 2:7 3:1 3:6 3:15 3:15 3:19 3:22 3:22 6:3 6:5 6:5-6 8:21 8:21 10:15-18 15:18 17:13 21:27 37:35 46:15 46:18 46:22 46:25 Exodus 4:16 7:1 10:17 30:12-16 30:15 31:3-4 32:30 32:32 34:6-7 34:7 Leviticus 4:2 4:3 4:20 4:26 5:1 5:6-7 5:16 5:16 5:17 7:1 7:18 16:6 17:10 17:11 17:16 19:8 20:17 22:9 Numbers 6:11 9:1-23 9:13 10:1-36 11:17 14:33 14:34 16:22 18:22 18:32 19:1-22 21:1-36 24:1-25 24:17 27:18 35:31 Deuteronomy 1:39 8:18 10:16 18:18-19 30:6 30:6 Joshua 24:25 Judges 3:10 16:31 1 Samue”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 11:5: 11:5 came down: The tower was a human attempt to ascend to God’s realm (see Deut 26:15; Pss 2:4; 103:19; 115:16). The folly of that attempt was exposed by God’s “coming down” to see their feeble efforts.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 109: 2 Kings 1:12 5:17-19 5:31 6:17 6:17 8:19 10:10 16:10 16:17 17:24-34 19:4 19:35 20:2 20:3 20:9 20:11 20:15 22:1 22:3-4 22:8 22:20 23:16 2 Chronicles 19:6-7 19:6-7 34:15 Ezra 8:21 Nehemiah 1:4 1:5 1:6-7 9:14 Esther 4:16 Job 1:6 1:21 4:17-20 4:18 4:19 5:17 9:2-3 9:3 9:4 9:20 10:15 12:18 12:20 12:24 13:15 14:4 14:5 14:5 14:17 15:15-16 18:17 19:25-27 19:25-27 21:13 26:14 28:21 28:28 28:28 34:30 41:11 110 Psalms 1 1:1 1:2 2:2-4 2:8 2:9 2:9 2:10 2:12 2:12 3 3:5 5:3 5:7 5:7 6:1 7:6 7:9 8:2 8:3 8:4 8:4 9:10 12:2 12:6 14:1 14:3 14:53 15:1-2”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — Introduction (part 6): overtakes those who transgress the law of God. 5. "Yet am I set by Him as King upon Sion, His holy hill, preaching His decree" (ver. 6). This is clearly spoken in the Person of the very Lord our Saviour Christ. But if Sion signify, as some interpret, beholding, we must not understand it of anything rather than of the Church, where daily is the desire raised of beholding the bright glory of God, according to that of the Apostle, "but we with open face beholding the glory of the Lord."(2) Therefore the meaning of this is, Yet”