SUMMARY
Solomon’s apostasy is blamed on his inability to keep his heart from following the foreign deities of his many wives, drawn from the original inhabitants of the land, in violation of Deuteronomy’s proscriptions.
ANALYSIS
“All’s well that ends well….” Unfortunately, this Shakespearean adage is entirely inappropriate for Solomon. The reign that had begun in such horror, seemed to right itself and grow increasingly magnificent, now crashes in the final chapter. There have been warning signs along the way, stemming from the Deuteronomistic editors’ carefully placed warnings in the narrative. Here, the king is charged with apostasy for following the deities of his foreign wives (vv. 4-5) instead of staying faithful to God. Twice, God had appeared to SolomonThird king of Israel who was known for wisdom and building the first Temple. More, warning him about the consequences of his lack of faithful obedience (3:5-14; 9:1-9). Now, the divine punishment appears in the form of two foreign “adversaries” (satan), Hadad the Edomite (11:14) and Rezon of Damascus (vv. 23-24), and an internal foe, Jeroboam son of Nebat, supported by the prophet Ahijah (v. 29). By ripping his garment into twelve pieces and giving ten to Jeroboam, Ahijah prophetically announced that God was giving Jeroboam the territory of the ten northern tribes of Israel. Jeroboam even received the assurance of a secure dynasty if he remained faithful (vv. 37-38). Jeroboam fled to Egypt until the death of Solomon, which is related in verses 41-43. The Book of the Annals of Solomon (11:41), much like the Book of the Annals of the Kings, has been lost to history.
