The Daily Audio Bible

Solomon Turns Away from the Lord

11 Now King Solomon loved many women from other nations. He loved the daughter of Pharaoh, and Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian and Hittite women. ² They were from the nations about which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “Do not take wives from them. And do not have them take wives from you. For they will be sure to turn your heart away to follow their gods.” But Solomon held on to these women in love. ³ He had 700 wives, kings’ daughters, and 300 women who acted as his wives. And his wives turned his heart away. ⁴ When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods. His whole heart was not faithful to the Lord his God, as the heart of his father David had been. ⁵ For Solomon followed Ashtoreth the false goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom the hated god of the Ammonites. ⁶ Solomon did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. He did not follow the Lord with all his heart, as his father David had done. ⁷ Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the hated god of Moab, and for Molech the hated god of the sons of Ammon, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. ⁸ He did the same for all his wives from other nations, who burned special perfume and gave gifts to their gods.

⁹ Now the Lord was angry with Solomon, because Solomon’s heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel. The Lord had come to him twice ¹⁰ and had told him about this, that he should not follow other gods. But Solomon did not obey what the Lord had told him. ¹¹ So the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this and have not kept My agreement and My Laws which I told you, for sure I will tear the nation from you and will give it to your servant. ¹² But I will not do it while you are alive, because of your father David. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. ¹³ But I will not tear away all the nation. I will give one family group to your son because of My servant David, and because of Jerusalem which I have chosen.”

Solomon’s Trouble

¹⁴ Then the Lord sent Hadad the Edomite to make trouble for Solomon. He was of the king’s family in Edom. ¹⁵ For when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the army had gone up to bury the dead, he killed every male in Edom. ¹⁶ (For Joab and all Israel stayed there six months, until he had killed every male in Edom.) ¹⁷ But Hadad ran away to Egypt, together with certain Edomites of his father’s servants, while Hadad was still a young boy. ¹⁸ They came from Midian to Paran. Then they took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt. Pharaoh gave Hadad a house and food and land. ¹⁹ Now Hadad found much favor in the eyes of Pharaoh. So Pharaoh gave him in marriage the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. ²⁰ Tahpenes’ sister gave birth to his son Genubath, whom Tahpenes took care of in Pharaoh’s house. Genubath was in Pharaoh’s house among the sons of Pharaoh. ²¹ But Hadad heard in Egypt that David and Joab the captain of David’s army were dead. So Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Send me away, so I may return to my own country.” ²² Pharaoh said to him, “But what have you been without while you stayed with me? Why do you want to go to your own country?” Hadad answered, “Nothing. But even so, let me go.”

²³ God sent Rezon the son of Eliada against Solomon also. Rezon had run away from his owner Hadadezer king of Zobah. ²⁴ He gathered men around him and became the leader of a group of fighters, after David killed the men of Zobah. They went to Damascus and stayed there. Rezon was made king in Damascus. ²⁵ So he brought trouble to Israel all the days of Solomon, together with the trouble brought by Hadad. He hated Israel and ruled over Syria.

Jeroboam Works against the King

²⁶ Then Jeroboam the son of Nebat turned against the king. Jeroboam was Solomon’s servant, an Ephraimite of Zeredah. His mother’s name was Zeruah, a woman whose husband had died. ²⁷ Now this is the reason he turned against the king. Solomon built the Millo, and built a stronger wall around the city of his father David. ²⁸ Now Jeroboam was a powerful soldier. When Solomon saw that the young man was a good worker, he chose him to rule over all men of the family of Joseph who were made to work. ²⁹ When Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the man who spoke for God Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Ahijah had dressed himself with a new coat, and both of them were alone in the field. ³⁰ Then Ahijah took hold of his new coat and tore it into twelve pieces. ³¹ And he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself. For the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘See, I will tear the nation out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten family groups. ³² (But he will have one family group, because of My servant David and because of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen from all the families of Israel.) ³³ Because they have turned away from Me. They have worshiped Ashtoreth the false goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the sons of Ammon. They have not walked in My ways, doing what is right in My eyes and keeping My Laws, as his father David did. ³⁴ But I will not take the whole nation from him. I will make him ruler all the days of his life, because of My servant David whom I chose, who kept My Word and My Laws. ³⁵ But I will take the nation from his son, and will give to you ten family groups. ³⁶ I will give one family group to his son, that My servant David will have a lamp always before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen for Myself to put My name. ³⁷ And I will take you, and you will rule over whatever you want. You will be the king of Israel. ³⁸ Listen to all I tell you to do. Walk in My ways. Do what is right in My eyes by keeping My Word and My Laws, as My servant David did. If you do, then I will be with you and build you a house that will last, as I built for David. And I will give Israel to you. ³⁹ I will bring trouble to the children of David for this, but not forever.’” ⁴⁰ So Solomon tried to put Jeroboam to death. But Jeroboam got up and ran to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt. And he stayed in Egypt until Solomon died.

The Death of Solomon

⁴¹ Now the rest of the acts of Solomon and whatever he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon? ⁴² Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. ⁴³ And Solomon died and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam ruled in his place.

Israel and Rehoboam

12 Rehoboam went to Shechem. For all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. ² Now Jeroboam the son of Nebat was still in Egypt where he had run away from King Solomon. When Jeroboam heard the news, he returned from Egypt. ³ They sent for him. Then Jeroboam and all the people of Israel came and said to Rehoboam, ⁴ “Your father made our load heavy. Take away some of the hard work and heavy load your father put on us, and we will serve you.” ⁵ Rehoboam said to them, “Leave for three days. Then return to me.” So the people left.

⁶ King Rehoboam spoke with the leaders who had worked for his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked them, “What answer do you think I should give to these people?” ⁷ They said to him, “Help these people today. Serve them. Answer them with good words. If you do, then they will be your servants forever.” ⁸ But Rehoboam turned away from the wise words the leaders gave him. Instead he spoke with the young men who grew up with him and stood by him. ⁹ He said to them, “What answer do you say we should give to these people who have said to me, ‘Take away some of the heavy load your father put on us’?” ¹⁰ The young men who grew up with him said, “This is what you should say to these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our load heavy. Now you take some of the load from us.’ You should say to them, ‘My little finger is bigger around than my father’s body! ¹¹ My father gave you a heavy load. I will add to your load. My father punished you with whips. But I will punish you with scorpions.’”

¹² Then Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had told them, saying, “Return to me on the third day.” ¹³ And the king was hard in his answer to them. For he turned away from the wise words the leaders had given him. ¹⁴ He spoke to them as he had been told by the young men. He said, “My father made your load heavy. I will add to your load. My father punished you with whips. But I will punish you with scorpions.” ¹⁵ So the king did not listen to the people. The Lord had let this happen, that He might keep His Word, which the Lord spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

¹⁶ All Israel saw that the king did not listen to them. So they said to the king, “What share do we have in David? We have no share in the son of Jesse! To your tents, O Israel! Now look after your own house, David!” So Israel went to their tents. ¹⁷ But as for the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam ruled over them. ¹⁸ Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who ruled over those who were made to work, and all Israel killed him with stones. So King Rehoboam got on his war-wagon in a hurry to go to Jerusalem. ¹⁹ So Israel turned against the family of David to this day.

Saul Becomes a Christian on the Way to Damascus ^(A)

9 Saul was still talking much about how he would like to kill the followers of the Lord. He went to the head religious leader. ² He asked for letters to be written to the Jewish places of worship in the city of Damascus. The letters were to say that if he found any men or women following the Way of Christ he might bring them to Jerusalem in chains.

³ He went on his way until he came near Damascus. All at once he saw a light from heaven shining around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice say, “Saul, Saul, why are you working so hard against Me?” ⁵ Saul answered, “Who are You, Lord?” He said, “I am Jesus, the One Whom you are working against. You hurt yourself by trying to hurt Me.” ⁶ Saul was shaken and surprised. Then he said, “What do You want me to do, Lord?” The Lord said to him, “Get up! Go into the city and you will be told what to do.”

⁷ Those with Saul were not able to say anything. They heard a voice but saw no one. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground. When he opened his eyes, he saw nothing. They took him by the hand and led him to Damascus. ⁹ He could not see for three days. During that time he did not eat or drink.

¹⁰ In Damascus there was a follower by the name of Ananias. The Lord showed him in a dream what He wanted him to see. He said, “Ananias!” And Ananias answered, “Yes, Lord, I am here.” ¹¹ The Lord said, “Get up! Go over to Straight Street to Judas’ house and ask for a man from the city of Tarsus. His name is Saul. You will find him praying there. ¹² Saul has seen a man called Ananias in a dream. He is to come and put his hands on Saul so he might see again.”

¹³ Ananias said, “But Lord, many people have told me about this man. He is the reason many of Your followers in Jerusalem have had to suffer much. ¹⁴ He came here with the right and the power from the head religious leaders to put everyone in chains who call on Your name.” ¹⁵ The Lord said to him, “Go! This man is the one I have chosen to carry My name among the people who are not Jews and to their kings and to Jews. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he will have to suffer because of Me.”

Saul Is Baptized

¹⁷ So Ananias went to that house. He put his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me to you. You saw the Lord along the road as you came here. The Lord has sent me so you might be able to see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ At once something like a covering fell from the eyes of Saul and he could see. He got up and was baptized. ¹⁹ After that he ate some food and received strength. For some days he stayed with the followers in Damascus.

Saul Preaches the Good News

²⁰ At once Saul began to preach in the Jewish places of worship that Jesus is the Son of God. ²¹ All who heard him were surprised and wondered. They said, “This is the man who beat and killed the followers in Jerusalem. He came here to tie the followers in chains and take them to the head religious leaders.” ²² But Saul kept on growing in power. The Jews living in Damascus wondered about Saul’s preaching. He was proving that Jesus was the Christ.

²³ After some days the Jews talked together and made plans how they might kill Saul. ²⁴ He heard of their plans. Day and night they watched for him at the city gates to kill him. ²⁵ So the followers helped him get away at night. They let him down over the wall in a basket.

Child-Like Trust in the Lord

131 O Lord, my heart is not proud. My eyes are not filled with pride. And I do not trouble myself with important things or in things too great for me. ² For sure I have made my soul quiet like a child who no longer nurses while he is with his mother. My soul within me is like a child who no longer nurses. ³ O Israel, hope in the Lord, now and forever.

⁴ A wrong-doer listens to sinful lips. A liar listens to a tongue that destroys.

⁵ He who laughs at the poor brings shame to his Maker. He who is glad at trouble will be punished.