Bible Strands
1 Kings 11:13
Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom away from him. I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God speaks to Solomon at the end of his reign, declaring that the unified kingdom will be divided after Solomon's death.
The words — רַק (rak) = only; אֶקְרָע ('ek.Ra) = I will tear away.
The thread — The declaration mirrors 1 Kings 11:32, which reserves one tribe for David and Jerusalem, while 1 Kings 12:20 records Jeroboam assuming authority over the severed portion. The reference to Jerusalem's selection corresponds to Deuteronomy 12:11 regarding God choosing a dwelling for His Name.
Why it lands — The text states that God will withhold complete judgment to preserve one tribe for David and Jerusalem. It requires the reader to acknowledge that political continuity and royal authority depend entirely on divine restraint rather than human achievement.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 12:20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah followed the house of David.
- Deuteronomy 12:11 then the LORD your God will choose a dwelling for His Name. And there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice offerings you vow to the LORD.
- 1 Kings 11:32 But one tribe will remain for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.
- Deuteronomy 12:5 Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to establish as a dwelling for His Name, and there you must go.
- Psalms 132:13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home:
- Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
- Isaiah 62:7 nor give Him any rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.
- Jeremiah 33:15 In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout for David a righteous Branch, and He will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
- Deuteronomy 9:5 It is not because of your righteousness or uprightness of heart that you are going in to possess their land, but it is because of their wickedness that the LORD your God is driving out these nations before you, to keep the promise He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
- 2 Samuel 7:15 But My loving devotion will never be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.