Yet the Lord forsook him not. By messages of reproof and by severe judgments, He sought to arouse the king to a realization of the sinfulness of his course. He removed His protecting care and permitted adversaries to harass and weaken the kingdom. "The Lord stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite. . . . And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon, . . . captain over a band," who "abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria. And Jeroboam, . . . Solomon's servant," "a mighty man of valor," "even he lifted up his hand against the king." I Kings 11:14-28.

Men Herren svigtede ham ikke. Han benyttede irettesættelser og svære straffe for at få kongen til at indse det syndige i det liv, han levede. Han unddrog kongen sin beskyttelse og tillod hans fjender at hærge og svække riget. "Herren gav Salomo en modstander i edomitten Hadad af kongeslægten i Edom ..... Fremdeles gav Gud ham en modstander i Rezon ..... Han samlede en del mænd om sig og blev høvding for en friskare ..... Endvidere var der eframitten Jeroboam, ..... som stod i Salomons tjeneste ....." Jeroboam var "et dygtigt menneske". "Han løftede hånd mod kongen." 1Kong. 11,14-28.