1 Kings 11:13

Howbeit, I wil not rend away all the kingdome: but wil giue one tribe to thy sonne, for Dauid my seruants sake, and for Ierusalems sake, which I haue chosen. 1 Kings 11:13 (KJV)

In this verse, God is speaking directly to Solomon.

Understanding the context leading up to this verse helps to grasp its significance.

King Solomon had strayed from God’s commandments by marrying foreign women and allowing them to introduce idolatry into the kingdom.

These actions deeply displeased God because they violated His covenant and represented a departure from pure worship.

This prophecy occurs after Solomon’s disobedience, as recorded in 1 Kings 11:11-12, where God declares He will tear the kingdom from Solomon and give it to his servant due to Solomon’s idolatry.

However, verse 13 adds a provision: God will not take away the entire kingdom but will leave one tribe for the LORD’s sake, for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem which He has chosen.

“Nevertheless I will not tear away all the kingdom from you, but I will leave you one tribe for the LORD’s sake, for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem which I have chosen.”

However, God specifies that the division will not occur during Solomon’s lifetime for David’s sake, as stated in verse 13: “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.”

In 1 Kings 11:32, the prophet Ahijah tells Jeroboam, “But he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.”

The actual division of the kingdom occurred after Solomon’s death, with Jeroboam ruling ten tribes and Rehoboam retaining Judah and Benjamin.

Eventually, after Solomon’s death, the kingdom does split into two: the southern kingdom of Judah, ruled by the descendants of David, and the northern kingdom of Israel.

This event fulfilled God’s warning and demonstrated His faithfulness to His covenant with David while addressing Solomon’s unfaithfulness.

David my servant’s sake: God made a covenant with David, promising that his descendants would always sit on the throne of Israel (2 Samuel 7:12‑16).

Although Solomon had sinned, God’s faithfulness to his promise to David remained.

Jerusalem’s sake: Jerusalem was the city God had chosen as the place where He would dwell among His people.