31 He said to Jeroboam , "Take for yourself ten pieces ; for thus says the Lord , the God of Israel , 'Behold , I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes 32 ( but he will have one tribe , for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem , the city which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel ), 33 because e they have forsaken Me, and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians , Chemosh the god of Moab , and Milcom the god of the sons of Ammon ; and they have not walked in My ways , doing what is right in My sight and observing My statutes and My ordinances , as his father David did. 34 'Nevertheless I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand , but I will make him ruler all the days of his life , for the sake of My servant David whom I chose , who observed My commandments and My statutes ; 35 but I will take the kingdom from his son's hand and give it to you, even ten tribes .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 11:31-35
Commentary on 1 Kings 11:26-40
(Read 1 Kings 11:26-40)
In telling the reason why God rent the kingdom from the house of Solomon, Ahijah warned Jeroboam to take heed of sinning away his preferment. Yet the house of David must be supported; out of it the Messiah would arise. Solomon sought to kill his successor. Had not he taught others, that whatever devices are in men's hearts, the counsel of the Lord shall stand? Yet he himself thinks to defeat that counsel. Jeroboam withdrew into Egypt, and was content to live in exile and obscurity for awhile, being sure of a kingdom at last. Shall not we be content, who have a better kingdom in reserve?