Introduction to 1 Kings 11:2
1 Kings 11:2 records a divine prohibition against intermarriage with foreign nations, warning that such alliances would lead to idolatry and spiritual corruption. The verse references a past command from YHWH to Israel and highlights Solomon’s failure to obey by forming relationships with foreign women. The prohibition construction (לֹֽא־תָבֹ֣אוּ בָהֶ֗ם, “You shall not enter among them”) and the consequence clause (אָכֵן֙ יַטּ֣וּ אֶת־לְבַבְכֶ֔ם, “Surely they will turn your heart”) demonstrate theological causality between disobedience and spiritual decline.
This study will analyze the grammatical structure of the prohibition, the syntax of the consequence clause, and the theological implications of Solomon’s actions.
מִן־הַגֹּויִ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָֽמַר־יְהוָה֩ אֶל־בְּנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל לֹֽא־תָבֹ֣אוּ בָהֶ֗ם וְהֵם֙ לֹא־יָבֹ֣אוּ בָכֶ֔ם אָכֵן֙ יַטּ֣וּ אֶת־לְבַבְכֶ֔ם אַחֲרֵ֖י אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם בָּהֶ֛ם דָּבַ֥ק שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְאַהֲבָֽה׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
1. מִן־הַגֹּויִ֗ם (min-haggoyim)
– Root: גּוֹי (“nation, people”)
– Translation: “From the nations”
– Function: Introduces the nations from which Solomon took wives.
2. אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָֽמַר־יְהוָה֩ (asher amar-YHWH)
– Root: אָמַר (“to say”)
– Translation: “Which YHWH said”
– Function: Introduces a past divine command.
3. לֹֽא־תָבֹ֣אוּ בָהֶ֗ם (lo tavo’u bahem)
– Root: בּוֹא (“to come, enter”)
– Form: Qal imperfect 2nd masculine plural with לֹֽא (prohibition)
– Translation: “You shall not enter among them”
– Function: A divine prohibition against intermarriage and assimilation.
4. וְהֵם֙ לֹא־יָבֹ֣אוּ בָכֶ֔ם (vehem lo yavo’u bakhem)
– Root: בּוֹא (“to come, enter”)
– Form: Qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural
– Translation: “And they shall not enter among you”
– Function: Prohibition against reciprocal relationships with foreign nations.
5. אָכֵן֙ יַטּ֣וּ אֶת־לְבַבְכֶ֔ם (akhen yattu et-levavkhem)
– Root: נָטָה (“to turn, incline”)
– Form: Hifil imperfect 3rd masculine plural
– Translation: “Surely they will turn your heart”
– Function: Expresses certainty of negative influence.
6. בָּהֶ֛ם דָּבַ֥ק שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְאַהֲבָֽה (bahem davaq Shelomoh le’ahavah)
– Root: דָּבַק (“to cling, cleave”)
– Form: Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular
– Translation: “Solomon clung to them in love”
– Function: Highlights Solomon’s attachment to foreign women despite the divine warning.
Explanation of Grammatical Function
The Prohibition Construction לֹֽא־תָבֹ֣אוּ (“You Shall Not Enter”)
– לֹא + imperfect verb (תָבֹ֣אוּ) expresses a direct prohibition.
– Reciprocal prohibition (וְהֵם֙ לֹא־יָבֹ֣אוּ בָכֶ֔ם) reinforces separation from foreign nations.
The Certainty of Influence in אָכֵן֙ יַטּ֣וּ (“Surely They Will Turn”)
– אָכֵן (“surely”) → Intensifies the certainty of foreign influence.
– Hifil verb יַטּ֣וּ (“they will turn”) → Indicates causative action, showing foreign wives as the active agents of corruption.
The Verb דָּבַק (“Clung”) in Solomon’s Disobedience
– Qal perfect form (“he clung”) → Indicates a completed action, suggesting Solomon’s deep emotional attachment.
– Contrast with Deuteronomy 10:20 (“You shall cling to YHWH”) → Shows misplaced devotion.
Theological Implications of Foreign Influence
1. The Danger of Assimilation
– Foreign wives do not just live among Israel—they change its religious direction.
2. The Certainty of Spiritual Corruption
– “Surely they will turn your heart” → Disobedience inevitably leads to apostasy.
3. Misplaced Love vs. Covenant Loyalty
– Solomon clings to foreign women instead of YHWH.
The Role of Prohibition and Consequence in Biblical Hebrew
1 Kings 11:2 presents a structured prohibition-consequence relationship, where forbidden actions lead to inevitable downfall. The Hifil verb יַטּ֣וּ (“they will turn”) underscores the active role of foreign influence, reinforcing the theological warning against spiritual compromise.
Thus, this verse serves as both a historical account and a theological lesson: disobedience to divine commands inevitably leads to spiritual decline and judgment.
