1 Kings 11:6 serves as another kind of marker, because it is the first time in the books of Kings that a verbal phrase is used that will be repeated several times over. We will call this a formula or pattern. The pattern is something like this: (Name of king) did what was (good or evil) in the sight of the Lord.
Sometimes there is one or two additions to the pattern. For example, as is the case here, a comparison (either favourably or unfavourably with David as the model of a righteous king). In a few cases with the kings of Judah, there is added that the king did not remove the high places.
Specifically, this pattern of words is found thirty-two times in 2 Kings. In the majority of cases, the judgment is negative, and, referring to the kings of Israel, the judgment is universally in the negative.
We must keep in mind that the judgment given in these cases is not a political judgment regarding the outward prosperity or glory of the kingdom. It is a spiritual judgment! This fact reiterates the point that the Bible frequently notes that God looks upon the heart and not on outward appearances.
Looking particularly at what the verse has to say regarding Solomon, we find a negative judgment on Solomon’s reign. This circumstance is true even though 1 Kings 11:1–10 gives a positive picture of Solomon. God labels Solomon’s reign as evil because of the manner in which it ended. There is a lesson also for believers. It is not how you begin; it is how you finish.
6 Et Salomon fit ce qui est mal aux yeux de l'Eternel, et il ne suivit point pleinement l'Eternel, comme David, son père.