God's Promise and Warning to Solomon
1 Kings 9:1-9
1 K.9.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ככלות: PREP+INFN,qal,inf
- שלמה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- לבנות: ADJ,f,pl,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ואת: CONJ
- כל: DET
- חשק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שלמה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- חפץ: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לעשות: VERB,qal,inf
Parallels
- 2 Chron.8.1 (quotation): Nearly identical parallel account: explicitly repeats that Solomon finished building the house of the LORD, the king's house, and all his desired works.
- 1 Kgs.6.38 (verbal): Gives the immediate statement of the temple's completion—uses similar language marking the finishing of the house of the LORD.
- 2 Sam.7.12-13 (thematic): God's promise to David that his son would build a house for God; 1 Kgs 9:1 reflects the fulfillment of that promise in Solomon's completed building.
- Ezra 6.15 (thematic): Announces the completion of the (second) house of the LORD—thematic parallel in language and emphasis on the temple's completion and consecration.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD and the king's house, and all that Solomon desired to do,
- And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD and the king's house, and all that Solomon desired to do,
1 K.9.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וירא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- שלמה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- שנית: ADV
- כאשר: CONJ
- נראה: VERB,nip,perf,3,m,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- בגבעון: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kgs 3:5 (verbal): Earlier the same report: the LORD appeared to Solomon at Gibeon and spoke to him — the verse in 9:2 refers back to this theophany.
- 2 Chr 1:7 (quotation): Parallel account of the Gibeon theophany: Chronicles explicitly records God appearing to Solomon at Gibeon and commissioning him to ask for wisdom.
- 1 Kgs 9:3 (structural): Immediate continuation of 9:2 where God answers Solomon — the appearance at Gibeon frames God's response about the temple and promises.
- 2 Chr 7:12 (thematic): Another divine appearance to Solomon connected with the temple: God appears by night, affirms hearing prayer, and addresses the dedication/choice of the place (thematic parallel to 9:2–3).
Alternative generated candidates
- that the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon.
- that the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon.
1 K.9.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- שמעתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- תפלתך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- תחנתך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- התחננתה: VERB,hitpael,perf,2,m,sg
- לפני: PREP
- הקדשתי: VERB,hiphil,perf,1,_,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הבית: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בנתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לשום: VERB,qal,inf
- שמי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1cs
- שם: ADV
- עד: PREP
- עולם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והיו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- עיני: NOUN,f,pl,cons+1s
- ולבי: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,_,sg
- שם: ADV
- כל: DET
- הימים: NOUN,m,pl,def
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 7:12-16 (quotation): Directly parallels and repeats the divine promise: God has heard the prayer, chosen/holy‑ized the house, set His name there, and vows ongoing regard and blessing (very close verbal correspondence).
- 1 Kings 8:29-30 (structural): Part of Solomon's temple dedication prayer asking that God 'hear' from heaven and be present to forgive and answer—echoes the theme of God hearing prayer and dwelling with His people in the temple.
- Psalm 132:13-14 (thematic): Affirms that the LORD chose Zion/His dwelling place and will 'dwell there forever,' paralleling the promise to put His name in the house and remain there perpetually.
- Exodus 25:8 (thematic): The foundational command to build a sanctuary 'that I may dwell among them' undergirds the temple theology: a holy place appointed for God's presence and name.
- Jeremiah 7:12-14 (allusion): Refers back to the fact that God once chose and set His name in the temple/house, but uses that history as the basis for warning and judgment when the people prove unfaithful—echoes the idea of God's chosen dwelling and its conditional status.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD said to him, "I have heard your prayer and your plea which you made before me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put my name there forever, and my eyes and my heart shall be there always.
- And the LORD said to him, "I have heard your prayer and your supplication which you made before me; I have consecrated this house that you have built, to put my name there forever; and my eyes and my heart shall be there all the days."
1 K.9.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואתה: CONJ+PRON,2,m,sg
- אם: CONJ
- תלך: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- לפני: PREP
- כאשר: CONJ
- הלך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אביך: NOUN,m,sg,suff+2ms
- בתם: NOUN,f,sg,suff
- לבב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובישר: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לעשות: VERB,qal,inf
- ככל: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- צויתיך: VERB,qal,perf,1,-,sg
- חקי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1s
- ומשפטי: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,sg
- תשמר: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kings 3:14 (quotation): Almost identical conditional promise: if you walk in my ways and keep my statutes, as David your father walked, then I will lengthen your days — near‑verbatim parallel to the condition in 1 Kgs 9:4.
- 1 Chronicles 28:9 (verbal): David's charge to Solomon to 'know the God of your father and serve him with a perfect heart' echoes the emphasis on wholehearted devotion, integrity of heart, and obedience in 1 Kgs 9:4.
- Deuteronomy 17:18–20 (thematic): Instruction for an Israelite king to write and keep the law and not turn aside parallels the royal obligation in 1 Kgs 9:4 to keep God's statutes and judgments.
- 1 Samuel 13:14 (quotation): David is described as 'a man after my own heart' (later quoted in Acts 13:22); this characterization undergirds the reference in 1 Kgs 9:4 to David's upright walk before God.
- 1 Kings 11:4 (thematic): A later narrative contrast: Solomon's heart is turned away from the LORD because of foreign wives, showing the failure to meet the very condition set out in 1 Kgs 9:4 and its consequences.
Alternative generated candidates
- And if you walk before me as David your father walked — in integrity of heart and in uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, keeping my statutes and my judgments —
- And you, if you walk before me as David your father walked—walking with an undivided heart and uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and keep my statutes and my ordinances—
1 K.9.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והקמתי: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- כסא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ממלכתך: NOUN,f,sg,suf
- על: PREP
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לעלם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כאשר: CONJ
- דברתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- על: PREP
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אביך: NOUN,m,sg,suff+2ms
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- לא: PART_NEG
- יכרת: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מעל: PREP
- כסא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (quotation): The original Davidic covenant in which God promises to establish David's house and throne forever; 1 Kgs 9:5 echoes this assurance.
- 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 (verbal): Parallel retelling of the divine promise to David (as in 2 Sam 7), using similar language about establishing the throne and offspring.
- Psalm 89:3-4 (thematic): Affirms God's covenantal promise to David to "establish the seed and throne forever," thematically matching the assurance in 1 Kgs 9:5.
- Jeremiah 33:17 (verbal): Uses virtually the same wording — that David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel — directly echoing the promise cited in 1 Kgs 9:5.
- Isaiah 9:6-7 (thematic): Prophecy of an enduring Davidic rule: the increase of government and everlasting throne on David's line, thematically linked to the perpetual establishment of the throne.
Alternative generated candidates
- then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised to David your father, saying, "There shall not fail you a man to sit on the throne of Israel."
- then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, "There shall not be cut off from you a man to sit on the throne of Israel."
1 K.9.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אם: CONJ
- שוב: ADV
- תשבון: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- ובניכם: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs+SUFF,2mp
- מאחרי: PREP
- ולא: CONJ
- תשמרו: VERB,qal,impf,2,masc,pl
- מצותי: NOUN,f,pl,abs,1cs
- חקתי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+SUF,1,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- לפניכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- והלכתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- ועבדתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אחרים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- והשתחויתם: VERB,hithpael,perf,2,m,pl
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 7:19-22 (verbal): Almost verbatim parallel: God warns Solomon that if he or his descendants turn away, worship other gods, and fail to keep God's statutes, the Temple will be rejected and Israel punished.
- Deuteronomy 31:16-18 (thematic): Moses predicts that Israel will abandon God after his death, serve other gods, and as a result God will hide his face—similar covenantal warning about apostasy and divine judgment.
- Deuteronomy 8:19-20 (verbal): A direct covenantal warning that if Israel forgets the LORD and serves other gods they will perish—closely parallels the consequence-theme of turning to other gods in 1 Kgs 9:6.
- Leviticus 26:14-17 (thematic): Part of the covenant curses: disobedience and idolatry bring escalating punishments from the LORD—echoes the cause-and-effect structure of the warning in 1 Kgs 9:6.
- Exodus 20:3-6 (allusion): The Decalogue's prohibition of other gods and the promise/penalty language (reward for obedience, punishment for idolatry) provides the legal-theological basis for the warning in 1 Kgs 9:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- But if you or your sons turn away from following me, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them,
- But if you or your sons turn away after me and do not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them,
1 K.9.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והכרתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,ms,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מעל: PREP
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- האדמה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ואת: CONJ
- הבית: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הקדשתי: VERB,hiph,perf,1,_,sg
- לשמי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+1,sg
- אשלח: VERB,qal,imperf,1,_,sg
- מעל: PREP
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- למשל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולשנינה: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- העמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 28:36-37 (verbal): Uses the same language and consequence—Israel becoming a 'proverb and byword' among the nations as part of the covenant curses for disobedience.
- 2 Chronicles 7:19-22 (quotation): Parallel warning given to Solomon: if they forsake God the house/temple and the people will be removed and become a byword—closely mirrors the threat in 1 Kings 9:7.
- Leviticus 26:30-33 (thematic): Part of the covenant curses: God will destroy sanctuaries, scatter the people among the nations and 'cast off' the land—themes of exile and desecration underlying 1 Kings 9:7.
- 2 Kings 21:12-15 (thematic): God pronounces removal of Israel and rejection of the temple/house because of idolatry (Manasseh’s reign), echoing the promise to cast away the house and make Israel a reproach among the nations.
Alternative generated candidates
- then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
- then I will cut off Israel from off the face of the land that I have given them; and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
1 K.9.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והבית: NOUN,m,sg,def,pref:v
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- יהיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עליון: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- כל: DET
- עבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- ישם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ושרק: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ואמרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- מה: PRON,int
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ככה: ADV
- לארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הזאת: DEM,f,sg,def
- ולבית: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
Parallels
- 2 Chron.7.20-22 (quotation): Direct parallel warning in Chronicles: the house will become a reproach/a byword and people will ask why the LORD has done this to the land and house (near-verbatim language and same prophetic consequence).
- Deut.28.37 (verbal): Part of the covenant curses: Israel will become a horror, a proverb and byword among all peoples—language and idea of the house/people becoming an object of scorn echo this curse formula.
- Jer.7.14-15 (thematic): God declares he will do to the temple/house as he did to Shiloh and will cast the people out of his sight—similar judgment rhetoric that the sanctuary will not protect them and will provoke reproach/astonishment.
- Ezek.36.20-23 (allusion): God responds to the nations' scorn over Israel's exile and profaning of his name; the passage treats the public disgrace of God’s house/people among nations—thematising divine judgment producing national/provincial shame like in 1 Kgs 9:8.
Alternative generated candidates
- And this house shall become a desolation; every one who passes by it will be appalled and will hiss, and they will say, "Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?"
- And this house shall become an astonishment; every one who passes by it shall be appalled and hiss, and shall say, "Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?"
1 K.9.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואמרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עזבו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הוציא: VERB,hif,perf,3,ms,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אבתם: NOUN,m,pl,abs,3,m,pl
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ויחזקו: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,pl
- באלהים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אחרים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- וישתחוו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ויעבדם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl+obj3mp
- על: PREP
- כן: ADV
- הביא: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- הרעה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הזאת: DEM,f,sg,def
Parallels
- 2 Kings 17:7-23 (verbal): Explicit recounting of Israel’s apostasy: they forsook the LORD, served other gods, and thus the LORD brought calamity and exile — closely parallels language and reasoning of 1 Kgs 9:9.
- Judges 2:11-15 (thematic): Describes Israel’s recurring pattern of doing evil, serving Baals/Ashtaroth, and suffering the LORD’s anger and subjugation — a thematic precedent for apostasy leading to disaster.
- Deuteronomy 8:19-20 (allusion): Warning that if Israel forgets the LORD and serves other gods they will perish — legal/prophetic rationale for punishment echoed by 1 Kgs 9:9.
- Ezekiel 20:7-8 (verbal): God recalls bringing the people out of Egypt only for them to rebel and follow idols; echoes the motifs of divine deliverance and subsequent idolatry found in 1 Kgs 9:9.
Alternative generated candidates
- And they will say, "Because they abandoned the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and they clung to other gods and bowed down to them and served them" — therefore the LORD has brought upon them all this disaster.
- And they shall say, "Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods and worshiped and served them; therefore the LORD has brought upon them all this calamity."
And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD and the king's house, and all that Solomon desired to do,
that the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. And the LORD said to him, 'I have heard your prayer and your plea that you made before me; I have consecrated this house that you have built to put my name there forever, and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually. Now if you walk before me as David your father walked, with wholehearted devotion and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, keeping my statutes and my ordinances,
then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, "There shall not be lacking to you a man to sit on the throne of Israel." But if you and your sons turn away from following me, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them,
then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them; and the house that I have consecrated to my name I will cast out of my sight, and Israel shall become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And this house shall be a wonder; everyone who passes by it will be astonished and hiss, and they will say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?' And they will say, 'Because they forsook the LORD their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and embraced other gods and worshiped and served them'—therefore the LORD brought upon them all this evil.'