📖 Biblical Definition
Solomon’s fall is the tragedy of 1 Kings 11. The wisest man in the world — who had built the temple, ruled in unparalleled splendor, and prayed at the temple’s dedication — failed at the very point his father David had warned him about: covenant faithfulness. "But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites" (11:1). Seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines drew his heart away. He built high places for Chemosh of Moab and Molech of Ammon. The LORD announced the kingdom would be torn in two — and Jeroboam’s revolt followed under Solomon’s son. Wisdom unkept does not save its keeper.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Solomon's late-life idolatry; division of kingdom prophesied.
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The decline narrated in 1 Kings 11. Solomon, who had asked for wisdom and built the temple, married seven hundred princesses and took three hundred concubines, accumulating foreign wives in violation of Mosaic law (Deut 17:17). His heart was drawn away by them to their gods; he built high places for Chemosh of Moab and Molech of Ammon. YHWH appeared twice and was now angry. The judgment: the kingdom would be torn from Solomon's son after his death — one tribe preserved for David's sake, ten given to Jeroboam. The golden age ended in the king's bedroom.
📖 Key Scripture
1 Kings 11:4 — "For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father."
1 Kings 11:11 — "Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant."
Deuteronomy 17:17 — "Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Solomon's wisdom is celebrated; his fall is largely ignored. Both belong to the same king.
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The same Solomon who wrote Proverbs about avoiding the strange woman fell into idolatry through seven hundred strange women. Wisdom written but not lived saves no one. The Pentateuchal warning about the king's heart turning away (Deut 17:17) was specifically aimed at Solomon's failure mode.
Recover the warning: wisdom is not insurance against wisdom-failure. The young Solomon and the old Solomon are the same man on different paths. Stay on the right path.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
From 1 Kings 11.
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['Hebrew', 'H8010', 'Shelomoh', 'Solomon']
Usage
"Wives turned his heart after other gods."
"Wisdom written but not lived saves no one."
"Kingdom divided as judgment."