1 Kings 11:4-5
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It's so easy to blame the wives, but the verse points to Solomon's heart being the issue, specifically that it was no longer "wholly true" to God. This isn't about a sudden, dramatic fall, but a gradual drifting, where his affections were divided. The sting is in the comparison: unlike David, whose heart, though flawed, consistently returned to God, Solomon's loyalty became compromised over time.
For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Solomon, once renowned for his wisdom and devotion, begins to stray in his later years. This verse highlights a turning point where his foreign wives, whom he married for political alliances, led him to worship their gods. This personal failing directly contrasts with his father David's more steadfast, though not perfect, faithfulness to God, setting the stage for the division of the kingdom that follows.
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, made a tragic decision. How could his heart, once so devoted to God, falter so dramatically?
This verse marks a turning point for Solomon. His legendary wisdom didn't automatically grant him immunity from sin. The problem wasn't a lack of knowledge, but a deliberate turning away from God's commands.
The Root of the Problem
God had explicitly warned Israel against intermarrying with surrounding nations and adopting their practices (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Solomon, in his old age, disregarded these warnings. His many foreign wives weren't just a personal indulgence; they brought their pagan worship into the very heart of his kingdom and his home.
A Heart Divided
When Solomon’s heart wasn't "wholly true to the LORD," it means his devotion became divided. It wasn't a sudden abandonment of God, but a gradual drift, influenced by the desires and traditions of those he loved but shouldn't have fully integrated into his life. This illustrates that faithfulness isn't a one-time declaration, but a daily choice.
The verse contrasts Solomon's heart with that of his father, David. What made David's devotion the benchmark?
The writer holds up David as the standard of true faithfulness, even though David wasn't perfect.
David's Undivided Devotion
David, despite his significant sins (like with Bathsheba), consistently demonstrated a heart that, when confronted, turned back to God with repentance and deep reliance. His life was marked by seeking God's will, praising Him, and longing for His presence. Even in his struggles, his ultimate desire was to be right with God.
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Solomon's Deviation
Solomon’s failure is highlighted by his deviation from this standard. His heart, once perhaps as wholehearted as David's, became 'not wholly true.' This implies a lack of singular focus, a compromise that David, for all his flaws, largely avoided in the core of his relationship with God.
Understand the original words
šālēm · Hebrew Adjective
To be entirely devoted, sincere, or undivided in one's commitment; in a religious context, it refers to a life fully consecrated to God without wavering.
‘aštōret · Hebrew Proper Noun
A female deity worshipped by various Canaanite and surrounding nations, often associated with fertility, war, and sexual rituals.
šiqqûṣ · Hebrew Noun
Something detestable, loathsome, or morally repulsive to God, particularly used in reference to idols and the practices associated with idolatry.
milkōm · Hebrew Proper Noun
The primary national deity of the Ammonites, frequently condemned in the Bible for the child sacrifices offered to him.
Solomon's downfall wasn't a sudden event but a gradual compromise born from his large number of foreign wives, illustrating how even great leaders can be swayed from their devotion by unchecked desires and relationships.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Reign Begins
Solomon inherits the united kingdom of Israel from his father David, known for his wisdom and initial devotion to God.
c. 966 BC
Temple in Jerusalem Completed
Solomon finishes the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, a central place of worship for Israel. This marked a high point in his early reign and commitment to God.
c. 931 BC— this verse
Solomon's Wives Lead Him Astray
As Solomon ages, his many foreign wives influence him to worship their native gods, leading to the construction of shrines and compromising his devotion to the LORD.
c. 931 BC
God's Judgment Announced
The prophet Ahijah informs Solomon that the kingdom will be torn from his house due to his disobedience, though the division will not happen during his lifetime.
c. 931 BC
Rebellion of Jeroboam
Jeroboam, an official under Solomon, leads a rebellion. Though suppressed during Solomon's life, it foreshadows the kingdom's division.
c. 931 BC
Solomon's Death
Solomon dies after a long reign, leaving a divided legacy of immense wisdom and building achievements, marred by his later idolatry.
c. 931 BC
Kingdom Divided
Solomon's son Rehoboam's harsh response to the people's grievances leads to the northern ten tribes seceding, splitting the united kingdom into Israel (north) and Judah (south).
This passage warns against intermarriage with foreign nations, directly addressing the danger Solomon fell into by marrying outside of Israel and allowing his wives to influence him toward other gods.
Nehemiah 13:26Nehemiah points to Solomon's downfall as a cautionary tale, demonstrating that even the wisest king could be led astray by improper relationships, reinforcing the severity of Solomon's sin.
Ecclesiastes 1:2Written by Solomon himself, this book reflects on the vanity of life under the sun, likely stemming from the regret and disillusionment of his later years, including the consequences of his straying from God.
2 Samuel 11:1-5While David is presented as having a heart 'wholly true' in comparison to Solomon's later years, this passage shows David's own serious moral failure with Bathsheba, highlighting that even great servants of God can stumble and showing the pervasive nature of sin.
It's so easy to blame the wives, but the verse points to Solomon's heart being the issue, specifically that it was no longer "wholly true" to God. This isn't about a sudden, dramatic fall, but a gradual drifting, where his affections were divided. The sting is in the comparison: unlike David, whose heart, though flawed, consistently returned to God, Solomon's loyalty became compromised over time.
Solomon, once renowned for his wisdom and devotion, begins to stray in his later years. This verse highlights a turning point where his foreign wives, whom he married for political alliances, led him to worship their gods. This personal failing directly contrasts with his father David's more steadfast, though not perfect, faithfulness to God, setting the stage for the division of the kingdom that follows.
Solomon, once renowned for his wisdom and devotion, begins to stray in his later years. This verse highlights a turning point where his foreign wives, whom he married for political alliances, led him to worship their gods. This personal failing directly contrasts with his father David's more steadfast, though not perfect, faithfulness to God, setting the stage for the division of the kingdom that follows.
"For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and afte…" — It's so easy to blame the wives, but the verse points to Solomon's heart being the issue, specifically that it was no longer "wholly true" to God. This isn't about a sudden, dramatic fall, but a gr…
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Last reviewed October 2026
