1 Kings 11:5
New International Version
He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites.

New Living Translation
Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites.

English Standard Version
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

Berean Standard Bible
Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

King James Bible
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

New King James Version
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

New American Standard Bible
For Solomon became a follower of Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and of Milcom the abhorrent idol of the Ammonites.

NASB 1995
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites.

NASB 1977
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites.

Legacy Standard Bible
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites.

Amplified Bible
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the [fertility] goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the horror (detestable idol) of the Ammonites.

Christian Standard Bible
Solomon followed Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom, the abhorrent idol of the Ammonites.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Solomon followed Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom, the detestable idol of the Ammonites.

American Standard Version
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Solomon went after Astruth, goddess of the Tsidonians, and after Kemosh the feared goddess of the Moabites, and after Malkom, god of the children of Amon.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and to Astarte the abomination of the Sidonians.

Contemporary English Version
Solomon also worshiped Astarte the goddess of Sidon, and Milcom the disgusting god of Ammon.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But Solomon worshipped Astarthe the goddess of the Sidonians, and Moloch the idol of the ammonites.

English Revised Version
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Solomon followed Astarte (the goddess of the Sidonians) and Milcom (the disgusting idol of the Ammonites).

Good News Translation
He worshiped Astarte, the goddess of Sidon, and Molech, the disgusting god of Ammon.

International Standard Version
Solomon pursued Astarte, the Sidonian goddess, and Milcom, that detestable Ammonite idol.

JPS Tanakh 1917
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the detestation of the Ammonites.

Literal Standard Version
And Solomon goes after Ashtoreth goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites;

Majority Standard Bible
Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

New American Bible
Solomon followed Astarte, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites.

NET Bible
Solomon worshiped the Sidonian goddess Astarte and the detestable Ammonite god Milcom.

New Revised Standard Version
For Solomon followed Astarte the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

New Heart English Bible
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

Webster's Bible Translation
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

World English Bible
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

Young's Literal Translation
And Solomon goeth after Ashtoreth goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Foreign Wives
4For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been. 5Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6So Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD; unlike his father David, he did not follow the LORD completely.…

Cross References
Judges 2:13
for they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.

Judges 10:6
And again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. They served the Baals, the Ashtoreths, the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab, and the gods of the Ammonites and Philistines. Thus they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him.

1 Samuel 7:3
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines."

1 Samuel 7:4
So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.

1 Kings 11:6
So Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD; unlike his father David, he did not follow the LORD completely.

1 Kings 11:7
At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites.

1 Kings 11:33
For they have forsaken Me to worship Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites. They have not walked in My ways, nor done what is right in My eyes, nor kept My statutes and judgments, as Solomon's father David did.


Treasury of Scripture

For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

Ashtoreth

1 Kings 11:33
Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

Judges 2:13
And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

Judges 10:6
And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.

Milcom

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.

Leviticus 18:21
And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 20:2-5
Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones…

Molech

Zephaniah 1:5
And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

Malcham

Jump to Previous
Abomination Ammonites Ashtoreth Detestable Detestation Disgusting Followed Goddess Idol Milcom Molech Sidonians Sido'nians Solomon Zidonians
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Abomination Ammonites Ashtoreth Detestable Detestation Disgusting Followed Goddess Idol Milcom Molech Sidonians Sido'nians Solomon Zidonians
1 Kings 11
1. Solomon's wives and concubines
4. In his old age they draw him to idolatry
9. God threatens him,
14. Solomon's adversaries were Hadad, who was entertained in Egypt
23. Rezon, who reigned in Damascus
26. And Jeroboam, to whom Ahijah prophesied
41. Solomon's acts, reign, and death. Rehoboam succeeds him














(5) Ashtoreth (or, Astarte).--The goddess of the Zidonians, and possibly the Hittites, corresponding to Baal, the great Tyrian god, and representing the receptive and productive, as Baal the active and originative, power in Nature. As usual in all phases of Natureworship, Ashtoreth is variously represented, sometimes by the moon, sometimes by the planet Venus (like the Assyrian Ishtar, which seems a form of the same name)--in either case regarded as "the queen of heaven." (See Jeremiah 44:17; Jeremiah 44:25). There seems, indeed, some reason to believe that the name itself is derived from a root which is found both in Syriac and Persian, and which became aster in the Greek and astrum in Latin, and has thence passed into modern European languages, signifying a "star," or luminary of heaven. With this agrees the ancient name, Ashteroth-Karnaim (or, "the horned Ashteroth")of a city in Bashan (Genesis 14:5; Deuteronomy 1:4; Joshua 13:12). This place is the first in which the name Ashtoreth is used in the singular number, and expressly limited to the "goddess of the Ziaonians." In the earlier history we hear not unfrequently of the worship of the "Ashtaroth," that is, of the "Ashtoreths," found with the like plural Baalim, as prevalent in Canaan, and adopted by Israel in evil times (see Judges 2:13; Judges 10:6; 1Samuel 7:3; 1Samuel 12:10; 1Samuel 31:10); and the worship of the Asherah (rendered "groves" in the Authorised version), may perhaps refer to emblems of Astarte. In these cases, however, it seems not unlikely that the phrase, "Baalim and Ashtaroth," may be used generally of the gods and goddesses of various kinds of idolatry. The worship of the Tyrian Ashtoreth, as might be supposed from the idea which she was supposed to represent, was one of chartered license and impurity. . . . Verse 5. - For Solomon went after [Rawlinson observes that this expression, which is "common in the Pentateuch, always signifies actual idolatry." He cites Deuteronomy 11:28; Deuteronomy 13:2; Deuteronomy 28:14; but it should be considered that in the two passages last cited the words are added, "and served them." And the true explanation would seem to be that, though "it is not stated that Solomon himself offered sacrifice to these idols," yet "even the building of altars for idols was a participation in idolatry, which was irreconcilable with true fidelity to the Lord" (Keil). Bahr contends that the words "went after Ashtoreth," etc., no more involve personal service than the word "built" in ver. 7 involves personal labour; but both expressions show that he regarded these idolatries not only without disfavour, but with positive approval and practical encouragement. "It is not likely he could be so insensate as to adore such deities, but so far was the uxorious king blinded with affection, that he gave not passage only to the idolatry of his heathenish wives, but furtherance" (Bp. Hall). And the distinction, so far as the sin is concerned, between this and actual idolatry is a fine one. It is not implied, however, that Solomon ever discarded the worship of Jehovah. To the end of his reign he would seem to have offered his solemn sacrifices on the great altar thrice a year. But his heart was elsewhere (ver. 9).] Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians [עַשְׁתֹּרֶת , Ἀστάρτη, probably connected with ἀστήρ, stella, and star, by some identified with the planet Venus, by others with the moon, is here mentioned for the first time in the singular (Ashtaroth, plural, is found in Genesis 14:5; Judges 2:13; Judges 10:6; 1 Samuel 7:4; 1 Samuel 12:10, etc.) With Baal, she divided the worship of the Phoenicians, the antiquity of which is evident from Genesis 14:5; Numbers 22:41. It was really an impure cultus of the reproductive powers (see below on 1 Kings 14:23). Interesting proof of the existence of a temple of this goddess at Sidon is supplied by an inscription discovered there in 1855 (see Dict. Bib. 1:123) ], and after Milcom [In Jeremiah 49:13; Amos 1:15, "Malcam," i.e., their king. According to Gesenius, the same as Molech (i.e., the king) in ver. 7, though Ewald, Movers, Keil regard them as different deities. But it seems more probable that it was the same deity, worshipped (2 Kings 23:10, 13) under different attributes. This is "the first direct historical allusion" to his worship in the Old Testament. A warning against it is found Leviticus 20:2-5. He was the fire god, as Baal was the sun god, and the sacrifices offered to him were those of children, who would seem to have not only "passed through the fire," but to have been burnt therein. Psalm 106:37, 38; Jeremiah 7:31; Jeremiah 19:5; Ezekiel 23:39, etc. See Dict. Bib. 2:403] the abomination [i.e., the hateful, detestable idol] of the Ammonites. [It has been suggested (Speaker's Commentary on Leviticus 20:2) that the children offered to Molech were children of incest or adultery., and we are reminded that Ammon was the child of incest. It must he remembered, however, that we have no record of Jewish children passing through the fire to Molech before the time of Ahaz (Bahr, Keil).]

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Solomon
שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה (šə·lō·mōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8010: Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne

followed
וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (way·yê·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

Ashtoreth
עַשְׁתֹּ֔רֶת (‘aš·tō·reṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine plural
Strong's 6253: Ashtoreth

the goddess
אֱלֹהֵ֖י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of the Sidonians
צִדֹנִ֑ים (ṣi·ḏō·nîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6722: Sidonians -- an inhabitant of Sidon

and Molech
מִלְכֹּ֔ם (mil·kōm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4445: Malcham -- a Benjamite

the abomination
שִׁקֻּ֖ץ (šiq·quṣ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8251: Disgusting, filthy, idolatrous, an idol

of the Ammonites.
עַמֹּנִֽים׃ (‘am·mō·nîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 5984: Ammonite -- descendants of Ammon


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OT History: 1 Kings 11:5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
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