1 Kings 11:7
Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
1 Kings 11:7 (KJV)
Context
This verse appears in the account of King Solomon’s later years. Solomon had received great wisdom from God and had built the Temple in Jerusalem. Yet he married many foreign women, and they turned his heart away from the Lord (1 Kings 11:1-6). In this setting, Solomon built high places for Chemosh and Molech on a hill east of Jerusalem, often identified as the Mount of Olives. The location “before Jerusalem” made the idolatry public and provocative, visible from the city where the Temple stood.
High places were elevated platforms or altars on hilltops used for worship. They were common in pagan religions and were forbidden to Israel. Solomon’s action was not mere toleration of other gods; he directly built these sites, showing his personal involvement in idolatry.
Meaning
Chemosh was the god of the Moabites, a neighbouring nation descended from Lot. The Bible calls Chemosh an “abomination,” a word that means something detestable and hateful to God. Moabite worship included immoral rites and, at times, human sacrifice. By building a high place for Chemosh, Solomon violated God’s commandments and joined in pagan worship.
Molech was the god of the Ammonites, another neighbouring people. Molech worship was especially evil because it involved child sacrifice, burning infants as offerings. The Lord had strictly forbidden this practice (Leviticus 18:21). Solomon’s high place for Molech showed how far he had fallen from the true worship of God.
The word “abomination” appears twice in this verse, emphasizing that these idols were utterly detestable to the Lord. Solomon, who had known God’s glory, now honoured gods that God hated.
Biblical connections
This act of idolatry broke the covenant God had made with David and Israel. As a result, God declared that He would tear the kingdom from Solomon, leaving only one tribe for the sake of David and Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:9-13). The division of the kingdom after Solomon’s death was a direct consequence of this sin.
Application
Solomon’s example warns us that no amount of wisdom, blessing, or past faithfulness makes us safe from falling into sin. He began well but ended badly because he did not guard his heart. We must examine our own lives for “high places“—anything we allow to compete with God for our devotion. This could be wealth, power, relationships, or even religious activity that replaces true obedience.
Idolatry is not only bowing to statues; it is giving our hearts to anything that takes God’s place. The verse calls us to remain faithful to the Lord and to reject every practice that He calls an abomination.
Reflection
Solomon’s public sin was a terrible fall for a man who had once prayed for wisdom. Yet his story reminds us that God’s judgment is real, but so is His mercy. If we have turned away, we can repent and return to Him. Let us learn from Solomon’s failure and ask God to keep our hearts loyal to Him alone.
