1 Kings 12:24

Authorized King James Version

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Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.

Original Language Analysis

כֹּ֣ה H3541
כֹּ֣ה
Strong's: H3541
Word #: 1 of 27
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
אָמַ֣ר Thus saith H559
אָמַ֣ר Thus saith
Strong's: H559
Word #: 2 of 27
to say (used with great latitude)
יְהוָֽה׃ of the LORD H3068
יְהוָֽה׃ of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 3 of 27
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לֹֽא H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 4 of 27
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תַעֲלוּ֩ Ye shall not go up H5927
תַעֲלוּ֩ Ye shall not go up
Strong's: H5927
Word #: 5 of 27
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
וְלֹא H3808
וְלֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 6 of 27
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִלָּ֨חֲמ֜וּן nor fight H3898
תִלָּ֨חֲמ֜וּן nor fight
Strong's: H3898
Word #: 7 of 27
to feed on; figuratively, to consume
עִם H5973
עִם
Strong's: H5973
Word #: 8 of 27
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם against your brethren H251
אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם against your brethren
Strong's: H251
Word #: 9 of 27
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])
בְּנֵֽי the children H1121
בְּנֵֽי the children
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 10 of 27
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל of Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל of Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 11 of 27
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וַיָּשֻׁ֥בוּ and returned H7725
וַיָּשֻׁ֥בוּ and returned
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 12 of 27
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אִ֣ישׁ every man H376
אִ֣ישׁ every man
Strong's: H376
Word #: 13 of 27
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
לְבֵית֔וֹ to his house H1004
לְבֵית֔וֹ to his house
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 14 of 27
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
כִּ֧י H3588
כִּ֧י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 15 of 27
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
מֵֽאִתִּ֛י H853
מֵֽאִתִּ֛י
Strong's: H853
Word #: 16 of 27
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
נִֽהְיָ֖ה is H1961
נִֽהְיָ֖ה is
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 17 of 27
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כִּדְבַ֥ר according to the word H1697
כִּדְבַ֥ר according to the word
Strong's: H1697
Word #: 18 of 27
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
הַזֶּ֑ה H2088
הַזֶּ֑ה
Strong's: H2088
Word #: 19 of 27
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
וַֽיִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ from me They hearkened H8085
וַֽיִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ from me They hearkened
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 20 of 27
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 21 of 27
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כִּדְבַ֥ר according to the word H1697
כִּדְבַ֥ר according to the word
Strong's: H1697
Word #: 22 of 27
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
יְהוָֽה׃ of the LORD H3068
יְהוָֽה׃ of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 23 of 27
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וַיָּשֻׁ֥בוּ and returned H7725
וַיָּשֻׁ֥בוּ and returned
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 24 of 27
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
לָלֶ֖כֶת H1980
לָלֶ֖כֶת
Strong's: H1980
Word #: 25 of 27
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
כִּדְבַ֥ר according to the word H1697
כִּדְבַ֥ר according to the word
Strong's: H1697
Word #: 26 of 27
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
יְהוָֽה׃ of the LORD H3068
יְהוָֽה׃ of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 27 of 27
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Analysis & Commentary

Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.

This verse contributes to the broader narrative of kingdom divided: rehoboam and jeroboam, within the book's focus on kingdom division as judgment for Solomon's idolatry. The temple represents God's dwelling among His people and foreshadows Christ as Immanuel ('God with us').

The Hebrew text reveals nuances important for understanding this passage's contribution to 1 Kings' theological message about kingship, covenant, and faithfulness to Yahweh. This verse demonstrates the consequences when God's people—especially their leaders—either follow or forsake the covenant established at Sinai.

Historical Context

First Kings was written during or after the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE), reflecting on the monarchy period (10th-9th centuries BCE) to explain why the kingdoms fell. The kingdom division (c. 930 BCE) created the northern kingdom (Israel, 10 tribes) and southern kingdom (Judah, 2 tribes).

Ancient Near Eastern kingship ideology viewed kings as divine representatives responsible for maintaining cosmic order through right worship. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Megiddo, Hazor, and Samaria confirm the historical reliability of 1 Kings' descriptions of building projects and administrative structures.

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