1 Kings 11:27

And this was the cause that hee lift vp his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the citie of Dauid his father. 1 Kings 11:27 (KJV)

And this

was the cause that he lifted up

his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo,

and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father. 1 Kings 11:27 (KJV)

1 Kings 11:27 gives us a glimpse into the events that led to a rebellion against King Solomon. To understand the verse, it helps to recall that Solomon was renowned for his great wisdom, wealth, and the splendor of his reign. Yet, as he grew older, his heart turned away from God because of many foreign wives who led him astray. These women worshipped foreign gods, and Solomon allowed their idols into the land of Israel despite God’s explicit command not to do so (see 1 Kings 11:1‑8). Their influence turned Solomon’s heart from the Lord, and he began to worship their gods. Consequently, God became angry and determined to tear away a portion of the kingdom from Solomon’s descendants.

The verse itself states that the cause of the rebellion was Solomon’s building of Millo and the repair of the breach of the city of David his father. Millo is understood as a fortified structure in Jerusalem, and the repairs indicate Solomon’s active effort to fortify the capital. While the text does not explain why Jeroboam rebelled, the fortification work provided a context in which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite and a valiant man, could act. Jeroboam had already been warned by the prophet Ahijah that God would tear the kingdom from Solomon’s hands and give ten tribes to him, leaving only Judah under Solomon’s line.

Later, in 1 Kings 11:28‑40, God confirms His word through Ahijah by tearing ten pieces from Jeroboam’s garment and pronouncing the division of the kingdom. This marks a pivotal shift in Israel’s history, as Solomon’s reign unravels and the united kingdom splits into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. In summary, 1 Kings 11:27 serves as a bridge between Solomon’s fortification efforts and the rebellion led by Jeroboam, highlighting the deterioration of Solomon’s rule due to his disobedience and setting the stage for the kingdom’s division.