Bible Strands
1 Kings 11:23
And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records a historical shift during Solomon’s reign where divine judgment begins through political opposition. God acts against the king by initiating the rise of a new enemy following the account of Hadad’s departure from Egypt.
The words — The verb וַיָּקֶם (va.ya.kem) literally means “he raised up,” paired with אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) “God” and שָׂטָן (satan) “an adversary.” These terms establish divine agency in the political conflict without implying a supernatural being.
The thread — This event mirrors 1 Kings 11:14, where God raises Hadad against Solomon, and recalls 2 Samuel 8:3, which records David’s defeat of Hadadezer king of Zobah. The pattern of God using foreign rulers to execute judgment appears across the monarchic narratives.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that political upheaval and personal rebellion are framed as direct consequences of covenant failure. It asks the reader to observe how divine sovereignty operates through historical actors rather than abstract forces.
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
And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 8:3 David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River.
- 1 Kings 11:14 Then the LORD raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom.
- 2 Samuel 10:8 The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.
- 2 Samuel 10:15 When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped.
- 2 Samuel 16:11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.
- 1 Chronicles 18:3 As far as Hamath, David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah, who had marched out to establish his dominion along the Euphrates River.
- 1 Chronicles 19:6 When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.
- 1 Chronicles 19:16 When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.
- Ezra 1:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows:
- Psalms 60:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A Miktam of David for instruction. When he fought Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. You have rejected us, O God; You have broken us; You have been angry; restore us!