1 Kings 11:7 Meaning: Solomon’s Idolatrous High Places
Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the mountain that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon.
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.
Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, in the mount that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon.
Then doth Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is on the front of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the sons of Ammon;
Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, on the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon.
Meaning in one sentence
Solomon built high places for Chemosh and Molech on the mountain before Jerusalem. This act reveals the depth of his spiritual decline.
Context
This verse sits in a painful chapter. Solomon is old, and his many foreign wives have turned his heart away from God. The writer of Kings has been tracing Solomon's glory, but now the story turns. Instead of building the Lord's temple, Solomon builds altars for the gods of his wives. The mountain before Jerusalem is likely the Mount of Olives, later called the mount of corruption. It stands right across from the temple, in plain sight of the city. The action shows a king who no longer follows the Lord fully, a heart divided in the worst way.
Key Words
Two Hebrew words carry much of the weight. The first is bamah (high place), a raised platform used for worship. In the law, such places were forbidden once the temple was established. Building a bamah for another god was a direct challenge to God's presence. The second word is shiqquits (abomination), a strong term for something detestable, especially an idol. The very names Chemosh and Molech are called abominations here, not mere alternatives. The location matters too: al penei Yerushalaim means on the face of Jerusalem, visible to all. Solomon was not hiding his compromise; it stood in open view.
How Christians Read This Verse
Commentators agree that the mountain is the Mount of Olives. Adam Clarke calls it “the mount of corruption” after Josiah later defiled it. Barnes notes how widely Chemosh was worshipped in the ancient Near East, even appearing on the Moabite Stone. Some traditions focus on Solomon's political motivations, building shrines to keep peace with his wives' homelands. Others see a deeper failure: the king who wrote Proverbs about wisdom now acts like a fool. All readers recognize this as a turning point, the beginning of the end for the united kingdom.
A common misunderstanding
Some think Solomon personally worshipped Chemosh and Molech. In fact, the text says he built high places for them, likely to accommodate his foreign wives. He probably did not bow to these idols himself, but he made room for their worship in the land God had set apart. The sin was enabling what God called an abomination, right across from the temple. It was the failure of a leader who should have guarded the covenant.
Living This Out
This verse asks you to look at what stands on the hillside of your own life. Is there any compromise you have allowed to remain visible, even to yourself, that you know grieves God? It may be a habit, a relationship, or a loyalty that takes the place that belongs to Him alone. The danger is not always in outright rejection, but in making room for what is wrong. Solomon did not tear down the temple; he just added other altars. Ask the Lord this week to show you what needs to come down.
Main takeaway: Even the wisest king can fall when he makes room for what God calls an abomination.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Solomon built special places for pretend gods because he listened to his wives instead of God. That made God very sad.
For ages 9, 12
Solomon had many wives who worshipped other gods. To please them, he built altars for their gods on a hill right across from the temple. Even a very wise person can make wrong choices when they try to please everyone but God. God wants our whole heart, not just part of it.
Questions People Ask
Did Solomon actually worship Chemosh and Molech himself?
The text does not say he personally worshipped them. It says he built high places for them, likely to please his foreign wives. But by enabling their worship, he shared in the guilt and broke his covenant with God.
Where exactly was this high place built?
Commentators agree it was built on the Mount of Olives, the mountain east of Jerusalem. This location was later called the mount of corruption because of the idolatry that took place there.
What is a 'high place' in the Bible?
A high place was a raised platform or hilltop used for worship. Before the temple was built, worship at high places was sometimes tolerated, but after the temple, it was forbidden because God chose Jerusalem as the only place for sacrifice.
Why are Chemosh and Molech called 'abominations'?
The word 'abomination' (shiqquits) means something detestable and unclean. These gods were associated with practices like child sacrifice (Molech) and ritual prostitution, which were completely opposed to the worship of the Lord.
How did this action affect Israel's history?
Solomon's idolatry led God to tear the kingdom away from his family. After his death, the nation split into Israel and Judah, and the idolatry he introduced became a persistent problem for centuries.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study