It's easy to focus on the long list of foreign gods, but the verse sharply contrasts this by highlighting what Israel failed to do: walk in God's ways and do what's right in His sight. The true tragedy isn't just their embrace of other deities, but their abandonment of the simple, faithful obedience that characterized David.
because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes after Solomon, once wise, has been led astray by his many foreign wives into worshiping their gods. God is explaining to Solomon why he is tearing the kingdom away from him, pointing directly to the king's and the people's idolatry and disobedience. The consequence is the division of Israel, a painful break from the unified nation David had established and God had promised.
Solomon's descent into idolatry wasn't a sudden fall, but a series of choices. What does it mean to 'forsake' God, and why were these foreign gods so appealing?
The verse pinpoints Solomon's sin: abandoning Yahweh, the God of Israel, to worship foreign deities like Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Milcom. These weren't just abstract idols; they represented specific cultural and religious practices tied to power, fertility, and even child sacrifice.
The Allure of the Other
Beyond just worshipping other gods, Solomon stopped 'walking in my ways.' What did this active disobedience look like, and how did it contrast with his father David?
The verse doesn't just condemn the of worship but also the of life. Solomon failed to 'walk in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my rules.'
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The Active Disconnect
Understand the original words
azab · Hebrew Verb
To abandon, leave behind, or depart from someone or something, often used in scripture to describe a spiritual betrayal where God’s people turn away from Him to follow idols.
shachah · Hebrew Verb
The act of bowing down, serving, or showing supreme reverence to a deity; biblically, it is the exclusive prerogative of God, and offering it to others is the essence of idolatry.
chuqqah · Hebrew Noun
The set of formal, authoritative commands or ordinances given by God to His people to govern their moral, religious, and civil life. Obedience to these is evidence of covenant loyalty.
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
A legal or judicial decision, a custom, or an ordinance established by God as an authoritative standard for behavior and justice within the covenant community.
This verse highlights the tragic consequence of King Solomon's later years, where his foreign wives introduced the worship of gods like Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Milcom, directly leading to God's judgment and the eventual division of the kingdom.
~1000 BC
David's United Kingdom Flourishes
Under King David, the united tribes of Israel reach their zenith, establishing Jerusalem as the capital and expanding their influence. David's reign is marked by faithfulness and expansion.
c. 970-931 BC
Solomon's Reign and Compromises
King Solomon, David's son, initially rules wisely but later makes alliances through marriage with foreign women, leading to the introduction of foreign gods and worship into Jerusalem.
c. 931 BC
Solomon's Death and Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom splits into two: the Northern Kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (two tribes). This division marks a significant decline in Israel's spiritual and political unity.
931-870 BC— this verse
Early Reigns in Divided Kingdoms
Subsequent kings in both Israel and Judah grapple with the legacy of Solomon's compromises. Idolatry continues to be a major challenge, especially in the Northern Kingdom.
This passage warns the Israelites that if they turn to worship other gods, God's wrath will be kindled against them, mirroring the cause of judgment in 1 Kings 11.
Joshua 23:15-16Joshua delivered a similar warning to the Israelites, emphasizing that straying from God to follow other nations' gods would bring disaster, echoing the consequence Solomon faced.
Judges 2:11-13This account shows the cycle of Israelite disobedience by worshiping Baals and Asherah after leaving Egypt, a pattern directly preceding and similar to the idolatry described in 1 Kings 11.
Jeremiah 2:5-8The prophet Jeremiah confronts Israel for their unfaithfulness and for blaming their troubles on the gods they themselves made, a concept that highlights the folly of abandoning the true God for idols.
It's easy to focus on the long list of foreign gods, but the verse sharply contrasts this by highlighting what Israel failed to do: walk in God's ways and do what's right in His sight. The true tragedy isn't just their embrace of other deities, but their abandonment of the simple, faithful obedience that characterized David.
This verse comes after Solomon, once wise, has been led astray by his many foreign wives into worshiping their gods. God is explaining to Solomon why he is tearing the kingdom away from him, pointing directly to the king's and the people's idolatry and disobedience. The consequence is the division of Israel, a painful break from the unified nation David had established and God had promised.
This verse comes after Solomon, once wise, has been led astray by his many foreign wives into worshiping their gods. God is explaining to Solomon why he is tearing the kingdom away from him, pointing directly to the king's and the people's idolatry and disobedience. The consequence is the division of Israel, a painful break from the unified nation David had established and God had promised.
"because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes…" — It's easy to focus on the long list of foreign gods, but the verse sharply contrasts this by highlighting what Israel failed to do: walk in God's ways and do what's right in His sight. The true tra…
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Last reviewed October 2026
