1 Kings 11:12

1Ki 11:12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: [but] I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

Ver. 12. Out of the hand of thy son,] i.e., Rehoboam, the only son that Solomon had by so many wives and concubines, quod prodigii instar est, saith one, which may well seem a wonder. See Psa 127:1 Hos 4:10 {See Trapp on title of "Psa 127:1"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ki_11:12

Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it.

Solomons sin

I. The action related to us. To appreciate it, we must consider

(1) the greatness of the offence. Here was authority itself doing that which it ought to have prevented and punished; Davids son departing from Davids God; wisdom guilty of indescribable folly; a man conspicuously favoured (1Ki_11:9), conspicuously disobedient; the appointed builder of Jehovahs temple building rival temples close by. Yet observe, in comparison with it

(2) the lightness of the correction. The offender loses nothing of his power or renown. He has enemies (1Ki_11:14, etc.), but they dare not attack him. There is not a loose stone in his throne till he dies. Only he is warned of the consequences to happen after his death; those consequences themselves, moreover, not being carried out to the full extent even then. Compare the case of pious Hezekiah, who acknowledged the goodness of God, when, for a less offence, he received a heavier stroke (2Ki_20:17-19). Just so it is Gods goodness that is here revealed to us most (Rom_11:22).

II. The motive revealed to us. Why this mercy shown in this instance? Only two reasons are mentioned. One had to do with Jerusalem (1Ki_11:13), the place of Solomons throne. God had chosen it for His dwelling-placer with great objects in view. The other motive (twice mentioned) has to do with Solomons father. For Davids sake the threatened evil was postponed till after his sons death; and even then, for the same Davids sake, it was not to be complete. See, finally, how all this encourages us in the hope of salvation through Christ. See how completely it is part of Gods character to spare one man for anothers sake; especially where they are so connected that they may be considered as one. Also, if He does thus for a sinner and a servant (as here), how much more for His Holy One (Act_2:27), His own Son, the Christ of God! (W. S. Lewis, M. A.)

Children honoured for their fathers sake

Many peerages have been created in this realm which descend from generation to generation, with large estates, the gift of a generous nation, and why? Because this nation has received some signal benefits from one man and has been content to ennoble his heirs for ever for his sake. I do not think there was any error committed when Marlborough or Wellington were lifted to the peerage; having saved their country in war, it was right that they should be honoured in peace; and when for the sake of the parents perpetual estates were entailed upon their descendants, and honours in perpetuity conferred upon their sons, it was only acting according to the laws of gratitude. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

(12, 13) For David my servant’s sake—that is, evidently, in order to fulfil the promise to David. By the postponement of the chastisement, the blessing promised to his son personally would be still preserved; by the retaining of the kingdom, though shorn of its splendour, and limited to Judah, the larger and more important promise, the continuance of the family of David till the coming of the Messiah, would be fulfilled. The “one tribe” is, of course, Judah, with which Benjamin was indissolubly united by the very position of the capital on its frontier. This is curiously indicated in 1Ki_11:31-32, where “ten tribes” are given to Jeroboam, and the remainder out of the twelve is still called “one tribe.”

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12. in thy days I will not do it] For a similar postponement of God’s penalty, cf. the history of Ahab (1Ki_21:29).

for David thy father’s sake] An example of God’s mercy shewn towards the descendants of them that love Him, as promised in the second commandment (Exo_20:6), and typifying that fuller mercy which was to be shewn for the sake of the obedience of Christ.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Howbeit, I will not rend away all the kingdom,.... The whole kingdom of Israel:

but will give one tribe to thy son; but it seems he had both Benjamin and Judah, and only ten tribes were rent from him; the reason of this mode of expression may be, either because he gave him one of the tribes of Israel, besides that of Judah, which was his own tribe; or only the tribe of Judah is meant, the whole tribe of Benjamin not being his, since Bethel, and some other places in that tribe, were in the possession of Jeroboam; or rather both these are called but one, because their inheritances lay together, and were mixed with one another; and particularly both had a share in the city of Jerusalem, and the kingdom always after the division went by the name of Judah only: and this tribe was given

for David my servant's sake; because of the promise to him, that there should not want one of his seed to sit on his throne, Kg1 9:5.

and for Jerusalem's sake, whom I have chosen; to have the house of his sanctuary and worship in, and therefore thought fit to have one rule there, that, would have a regard to his service in it.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Sake. As David placed this son upon the throne, the disgrace would seem to revert on him. (Menochius) --- Here we behold the reward of piety, and how desirable a thing it is to have saints for our parents. (Haydock)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

For David thy father’s sake; for the respect I bear to his memory, and for my promise sake made to him, 2Sa 7.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it The threatening had two gracious and merciful limitations,

(1) The blow should not fall until after his death (cf. ver. 34; 1 Kings, 2Ki_22:20) and

(2) the disruption should be but partial. There should be a "remnant" (Rom_9:27 Rom_11:5, etc.) for David thy father"s sake i.e., because both of David"s piety and God"s promise to him (2Sa_7:13) : but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Fathers sake - For my promise made to him, 2 Sam. vii, 12-15.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.