Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; [but] will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.
Ver. 13. I will not rend away all.] Here is a second mitigation of the sentence. See 1 Kings 11:12. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion: he quickly repenteth him of the evil, and leaveth a blessing behind him.
One tribe.] Benjamin is reckoned as part of Judah, because within him. Joshua 19:1 ; Jos 19:9
For David my servant's sake.] Five times in this chapter is David honoured with this title, and therein God's dear respects unto him expressed: but all of mere mercy. How this message wrought upon Solomon is uncertain. Some hold that hereupon he repented; others judge otherwise, and that (1.) Because he replied nothing; (2.) Because that after this he sought to slay Jeroboam, to prevent the rending away of his kingdom threatened, as Saul did to slay David.