Bible Strands
1 Kings 11:33
For they have forsaken Me to worship Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites. They have not walked in My ways, nor done what is right in My eyes, nor kept My statutes and judgments, as Solomon’s father David did.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God pronounces the rationale for severing ten tribes from Solomon’s rule, speaking during the covenant judgment narrative. The declaration follows Solomon’s documented idolatry and precedes the partial preservation of his dynasty for David’s sake.
The words — The Hebrew עֲזָבוּנִי ('a.za.Vu./ni) means "they have forsaken Me," and וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ (va/i.yish.ta.cha.Vu) translates to "they have bowed down." These verbs describe the active abandonment of Yahweh to worship Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Milcom.
The thread — The same idolatrous pattern appears in 1 Kings 11:5 and 1 Kings 11:9, while the obedience standard recalls 1 Kings 3:14. The verse ties Solomon’s specific failures to the broader covenant framework established earlier in Kings.
Why it lands — The text states that Israel’s breach consists of forsaking Yahweh, bowing to foreign gods, and neglecting His statutes and judgments. It requires a reader to acknowledge that covenant survival depends on exclusive worship and practical obedience, contrasted against David’s faithful conduct.
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
Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 11:5 Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
- 1 Kings 11:9 Now the LORD grew angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.
- 1 Kings 3:14 So if you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments, just as your father David did, I will prolong your days.”
- 1 Kings 6:12 “As for this temple you are building, if you walk in My statutes, carry out My ordinances, and keep all My commandments by walking in them, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father David.
- 1 Kings 9:5 then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised your father David when I said, ‘You will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’
- 1 Chronicles 28:9 As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
- 2 Chronicles 15:2 So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
- Jeremiah 2:13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
- Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!