38If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right(AS) in my eyes by obeying my decrees(AT) and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. If we believe the sages of tradition, Solomon spent the rest of his life gathering wisdom and wine, whores and wives, vanities upon vanities. The hundreds of women said to have married King Solomon or reside in his harem described in the Book of Kings included the daughter of Pharaoh and women of Moabite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite origins. 17At that time Hadad was only a young boy, so he ran away to Egypt with some of his fathers officers. Nothing, Hadad replied, but do let me go!. 33I will do this because they have[b] forsaken me and worshiped(AL) Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Molek the god of the Ammonites, and have not walked(AM) in obedience to me, nor done what is right in my eyes, nor kept my decrees(AN) and laws as David, Solomons father, did. Save 15% on BibleGateway+ with code SPRINGSTUDY15. 43Then he rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David his father. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. In the end his kingdom is divided and his legacy is the punch-line/by-word of the Deuteronomist's warning against kings. His wives were to have included the daughter of Pharaoh, as well as women of Moabite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite origins (1 Kgs 7:8; 11:1). He reigned from 968 to 928 B.C.E. 34But I will not take all the kingdom away from Solomon. However, the daughter of the king intervened and called off the attack. 15Earlier, David had defeated Edom. Solomon built altars to foreign gods and then his son did as well. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! The Bible does not provide a list of King Solomon wives, so the exact number is unknown. After meeting King Solomon, she was so impressed that she offered to give him all her wealth, livestock, and servants in exchange for marriage. Women in Scripture. 2They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, You must not intermarry(C) with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods. Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. Lets take a closer look at these Biblical figures, and the legacy they left behind. Salem Media Group. Its possible David wanted to return his kindness by marrying his daughter into their family, but in doing us Solomon and Naamah became unequally yoked. And Rehoboam(AY) his son succeeded him as king. What did the Lord mean when He commanded Israel's king not to multiply wives? The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Source: Dorotheum, via Wikimedia Commons. Originally Answered: Why did Solomon have 700 wives? For diplomacy but this was against Torah he fell away from YHWH doing this and sought pagan gods he had also three hundred concubines but it doesnt say they drove his heart from Elohim/gods it was his wives the 700 who brought the gods of Canaan and the surrounding countries The woman from Sidon was said to be a widow looking for a husband. One falters a little but then falls deeper and deeper into immoral behaviors. Episode 91: Israel at 75: Voices of Protest. In this area of marriage, Solomon was not wise, 27This is the story of how Jeroboam turned against the king. The story of his life and relationships with his wives and concubines is fascinating, and exploring it can help us learn more about this mysterious ruler. Are there any canonical examples of the Prime Directive being broken that aren't shown on screen? Both Rezon and Hadad made trouble for Israel. 5 3He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines,(D) and his wives led him astray. (P) 11So the Lord said to Solomon, Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees,(Q) which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear(R) the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will tear the kingdom away from Solomon and give you ten tribes. According to the Bible, King Solomon had many wives and concubines, and it is likely that he had many children as a result. 8He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods. Answer King David had many wives, according to the Bible, although only eight of them are named. So we created doortoeden.com becausea city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 19Pharaoh was so pleased with Hadad that he gave him a sister of his own wife, Queen Tahpenes, in marriage. 28Now Jeroboam was a man of standing,(AF) and when Solomon saw how well(AG) the young man did his work, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the tribes of Joseph. 12Nevertheless, for the sake of David(S) your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. 36I will allow Solomons son to continue to rule over one tribe so that there will always be a descendant of David, my servant, in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to be worshiped. NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. His wives caused him to turn away from God. Rehoboam made many poor decisions, but one, in particular, was when he refused the counsel of the elders to provide the request of the Israelites. 42Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. Even though his own mother warned him of women who ruined kings, Solomon pursued a life with them anyway. He had seven princesses from foreign countries who were his wives and a harem of women who were not princesses. [2] She was also the only one of Solomon's wives to be mentioned, within the Hebrew Bible, as having borne a child. 9The Lord had appeared to Solomon twice, but the king turned away from following the Lord, the God of Israel. Rehoboam, however, did not turn back to God. Did Solomon falter when he ignored biblical wisdom and took many wives? This site is dedicated to all kinds of people. Solomon The Ammonites werent highly regarded by the Israelites. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The Life of Ruth - 5 Essential Faith Lessons, The Greatest Villain - King Nebuchadnezzar. Then Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me go, that I may return to my own country.. Photo credit: Getty Images/Monkey Business Images. Among the many nations, there is no king like him. 41Everything else King Solomon did, and the wisdom he showed, is written in the book of the history of Solomon. Despite this, King Solomon went down in history as one of the wisest and wealthiest men. 17But Hadad, still only a boy, fled to Egypt with some Edomite officials who had served his father. In addition to these famous wives, King Solomon married the daughter of the king of Gaza. The other three wives 3He had seven hundred wives who were from royal families and three hundred slave women who gave birth to his children. So Hadad said to the king, Let me go; I will return to my own country., 22Why do you want to go back to your own country? the king asked. 27Here is the account of how he rebelled against the king: Solomon had built the terraces[a](AE) and had filled in the gap in the wall of the city of David his father. I will do this for the sake of my servant David and for Jerusalem, the city I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular, Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number, Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular, Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular, The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural, To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend, Solomon's adversaries were Hadad, who was entertained in Egypt, Solomon's acts, reign, and death. [34] The wives were When Solomon married Naamah as well as the other foreign women, he brought the traditions of their pagan gods into the lives of his family. What do we know about Naamah and her family? Q. Web3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. Solomons gold shields were taken along with everything else so Rehoboam had bronze shields made and remained at war with Jeroboam. Could a subterranean river or aquifer generate enough continuous momentum to power a waterwheel for the purpose of producing electricity? 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 31Then he said to Jeroboam, Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: See, I am going to tear(AJ) the kingdom out of Solomons hand and give you ten tribes. Naamahs father was probably Shobi who had brought Davids peoplebedding and food when they traveled through the wilderness. So Rezon ruled in Aram(AC) and was hostile toward Israel. Perhaps this is part of the reason the book of Ecclesiastes is attributed to him: a book of wisdom and regret after a life ill-spent. This article will look closely at King Solomon wives, how many he had, and the stories behind them. They not only gave him advice and counsel, but they also helped to shape his political decisions. 21While he was in Egypt, Hadad heard that David had died and that Joab, the commander of the army, was dead also. Weakened by sin, Jerusalem fell to Shishak king of Egypt in the fifth year of Rehoboams rule. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. And his son Rehoboam became king in his place. Let us know. How many people in the kingdom were affected by the actions of these two kings? His father, Solomon, had the 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3) [see How many wives did Solomon have? When does it all start to go wrong for Solomon? Although, according to the book of Deuteronomy 7:3, marrying a woman was prohibited and also echoes the exclusion of Moab and Edom from the congregation of the Lord in Deuteronomy 23:4-9. King Solomon with three of his wives by Giovanni Venanzi di Pesaro. WebKing Solomon had 700 wives & over 300 concubines. 4As Solomon grew old, his wives caused him to follow other gods. 14The Lord caused Hadad the Edomite, a member of the family of the king of Edom, to become Solomons enemy. His wives were to have included the daughter of Pharaoh and the women of Moabite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite origins. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Why Does God Compare Our Relationship with Him to That of a Bride and Groom? During Rehoboam's reign, 1 Kings 14:22 says Judah did evil in the eyes of the Lord. According to the Bible, King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. New International Version (NIV). King Solomon is one of the most famous and mysterious rulers in history. I will tear it away from your son when he becomes king. The people we surround ourselves with matter. 30Ahijah took his new coat and tore it into twelve pieces. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. 2The Lord had told the Israelites, You must not marry people of other nations. The focus of the passage is on the women who worshiped gods other than YHWH and Solomon's building of high places and altars to those gods, which begs the question, what happened to Solomon? Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. (1 Kings 11:4-8) And who physically built those altars? If you do, they will cause you to follow their gods. But Solomon fell in love with these women. After Solomon died and Rehoboam became king, Jeroboam remerged. What havent I given you here?, Nothing, Hadad answered, but please, let me go.. Of these wives, at least 300 were foreign princesses. 19The king liked Hadad so much he gave Hadad a wifethe sister of Tahpenes, the kings wife. Naamah (wife of Solomon) - Wikipedia 9 The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from If you will check our articles, you may find some relevant answers to your questions. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth They went to Damascus and settled there, and Rezon became king of Damascus. The Tribe of Simeon, The Tenth Tribe Of Israel. Save 15% for life! All these women were said to be beautiful and helped bring peace and prosperity to the kingdom. Rezon had run away from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah. Christians, Muslims, or even atheists who want to seek the truth. I will make your family a lasting family of kings, as I did for David, and give Israel to you. King Solomon, who has great riches in wisdom and all the worlds wealth, obedient and faithful king to the Lord, may still stumble and cause an excellent sin for his idolatry in marrying many women, which has caused his heart a significant burden that leads him to repentance. Rehoboam consulted the elders about the peoples request. Access 50+ premium resources. Perhaps this is why Solomon needed so many wives and concubines. Is a downhill scooter lighter than a downhill MTB with same performance? 1 Kings 11:3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. Foreign women were considered a potential source of trouble because they might not always adopt the culture and values of their husbands and their new place of residence. 3 He had seven hundred wives who were from royal families and three hundred slave women who gave birth to his children. Why the obscure but specific description of Jane Doe II in the original complaint for Westenbroek v. Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity? A Canon Card Talk On Rethinking Christmas, Although Surprising to Most, the Kingdom of Heaven is really like___________, O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14) [An Advent Card Talk], Death by lion for not punching a prophet (1 Kings 20:35-36). Unhappy with the prophecy, Solomon tried to assassinate Jeroboam, sending him into hiding. I will do this because of David, my servant, and because of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen.. When Joab, the commander of Davids army, went into Edom to bury the dead, he killed all the males. King Solomon reigned over the Kingdom of Israel and was known for his many wives, who were said to number in the hundreds. Jewish Women's Archive. Naamahs family story is a sad one but provides us with valuable lessons. 18They left Midian and went to Paran, where they were joined by other men. Read the latest from JWA from your inbox. King Solomon accepted her offer and married her. We know that one of his wives was the daughter of Pharaoh (1 Kings 9:16; 2 Chronicles 8:11). 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 1) Despite what many claim, this is not a prohibition against polygamy. 18They set out from Midian and went to Paran. Proverbs 13:20 says Walk with the wise and become wise,or a companion of fools suffers harm. Perhaps Rehoboam would have left a different type of legacy if he had listened to the elders instead of his peers. Who Was Naamah, Wife of Solomon, Mother of Rehoboam. Were relational people. I will build you a dynasty(AU) as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you. One of the less positive relationships was the one between King Solomon and the daughter of the king of Gaza. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Meyers, Carol, General Editor. Enter code SPRINGSTUDY15 and have answers to your Bible questions at your fingertips. However, it was believed that some of the more famous women in his harem were the daughter of the Pharaoh, a woman from Sidon, and the daughter of the king of Gaza. Hes believed to have had as many as 700 wives and 300 concubines from different religions. Queen Tahpenes brought him up in the royal palace with the kings own children. WebNevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. ]: And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. Their relationship is said to have been cut short when Pharaohs daughter died. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. Together with the Moabites, they hired Balaamto curse Israel. Her days are busy, but shes determined she can conquer anything with a fuzzy blanket and a hot cup of tea. Solomon claimed 1,000 wives consisting of women with royal status and concubines. Top of the day to everyone. Its often this way with sin. 4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. Solomon amassed wealth while enslaving his own people, creating Egyptian-like conditions in Israel. I hope you will enjoy these articles and you will learn something by reading them. New Century Version (NCV). Asmodeus then swallowed the king, stood up fully with one wing touching heaven and the other earth, and spat out Solomon to a distance of 400 miles. But Solomon did not obey the Lords command. Although King Solomon was a polygamist, it is essential to note that polygamy did not become a common practice in the Middle East until several centuries after his death. Since many of these women were foreign wives and were not godly women, there was no One small indiscretion leads to another and another until the person wakes up in a pit so deep its hard to get out. Deuteronomy 17:14-20). The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. Solomon By the sins they committed they stirred up his jealous anger more than those who were before them had done.They set up shrines and worshipped idols, all going against Gods command to not have any other gods beside him. 11So the Lord said to Solomon, Because you have chosen to break your agreement with me and have not obeyed my commands, I will tear your kingdom away from you and give it to one of your officers. What were the most popular text editors for MS-DOS in the 1980s? Naamah (Hebrew: , romanized:Nam, lit. king Solomon Reporting from London. They were real people who may have had their hopes and dreams. We can say about us that we are a young married couple who strives to be a small light to the world. Since many of these women were foreign wives and were not godly women, there was no need to name them. Solomon Solomon is recorded to have had 700 wives and 300 concubines, many of whom were non-Israelites. 31 December 1999. 14Then the Lord raised up against Solomon an adversary,(W) Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom. We dont live in isolation and neither do our actions and sins. How many wives does Deuteronomy allow a king to have? History of Ancient Israel and Judah. And why did he not marry one wife? BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. We're given a hint as to the reason in 1 Kings 3:1 (NASB): Then Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her to the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem. (Matthew 27:52-53): A Good Friday Card Talk, Peter's need for Ritalin (Mark 9:5-6) OR What we can learn from The Transfiguration and Other Mountain-Top Experiences, The wise men, three years late for the nativity (Matthew 2:8-11) [An Epiphany Card Talk], "May the God of hope fill you with all joy, peace, and ____________." Pharaoh Shishak (the father of his first wife) attacked the kingdom of Israel and took a considerable amount of treasure. You will not find the names of all of Solomons wives. And why did he not marry one wife? If they decided to continue practicing their customs and cult, they would influence these in their children and might sway their husbands to embrace some non-Israelite practices. 25Rezon ruled Aram, and he hated Israel. Something to keep him warm at night. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Did God change his mind concerning the wealth of kings? Solomon was then able to regain his throne and expel Asmodeus. A wise as King Solomon was in the bible, why did he choose to have so many wives and concubines? 7On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built two places for worship. The As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers, she enjoys spending time with other writers and perfecting her craft. many wives And we are told how many wives he had (1 Kings 11:1-10). To understand the stories behind King Solomon wives is essential to know a little about them. Solomon Wives | What Were Their Stories? - DoorToEden Their loyalty and identity with Israelite tradition would be endangered. But how many wives did he really have? 43Then he died and was buried in Jerusalem, the city of David, his father. The stories of King Solomon wives are essential because they help us learn more about the rulers life. (Viewed on May 1, 2023) . Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? Some of these relationships were friendly and beneficial, while others were less positive. Like Samsons wife (Judges 14-16), Potiphars wife (Genesis 39), and the foreign woman of Proverbs 1-9, they stay loyal to their own personal or political agenda and, as a result, disrupt law and order in their adoptive Israelite community. A close reading of the Hebrew indicates that this verse is merely recording the number of foreign wives and concubines, not the total number of his women, which means that he had many more wives than this. Start for FREE. Taking her cue from the story of Rebekah and Jacob screwing Esau out of his birthright, Bathsheba makes sure her little boy gets the crown by twisting the reality of a frail, old man who can't stay warm even with a beautiful young co-ed wrapped around his body. Throughout human history, marriage alliance has been the most common way for rulers to attempt to secure peaceful relationships with potential enemies. Naamah was a wife of Solomon and an Ammonite. Start your free trial today! If they were recorded, it would be a book in and of itself. April 30, 2023. 16Joab and all the Israelites stayed in Edom for six months and killed every male in Edom. A It seems to illustrate the prohibition in Deut 7:3 against marrying foreign women and also to echo the exclusion of Moab and Edom from the congregation of the Lord in Deut 23:49. Naamah is mentioned in Bava Kamma 38b wherein it states that Moses had previously been warned by God not to make war upon the Ammonites, Molech worshippers, for Naamah was to descend from them. ", Being afraid to have sex in your tent, for fear of Phineas breaking in and stabbing you in the back with his spear (Numbers 25:6-8), The Angel of Death (Hezekiah 3:18): A Misunderstood and Theologically Vital Non-Entity, Zombies!! We are only told the names of some of Davids wives as well. How many children did King Solomon had in the Bible? in Narrative Technique. In A Jeroboam turned against the king. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Women of Solomon: Bible | Jewish Women's Archive Of the eight, five are mentioned only once. 1 Kings 11 NCV - Solomons Many Wives - King Solomon Their descendants were not allowed to enter the assembly of the Lord through the 10th generation. 9The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared(N) to him twice. So he was an enemy of Israel all the time Solomon was alive. 1 Kings 11:2 These women were from the nations about which the LORD 26Jeroboam son of Nebat was one of Solomons officers. Where does the version of Hamapil that is different from the Gemara come from? 35I will take the kingdom from his sons hands and give you ten tribes. Saul had no choice but to give Michal to David as his wife ( 1 Samuel 18:20-27 ). Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. So Solomon put him over all the workers from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. A However, the stories of some of his more famous wives have been documented and reveal fascinating details about their relationships with the king. The daughter of the king of Egypt was another famous wife of King Solomon. All rights reserved. 36I will give one tribe(AO) to his son so that David my servant may always have a lamp(AP) before me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put my Name. Deuteronomy 17: 16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, You are not to go back that way again. 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. ), is said to have had a harem that included 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kgs 11:3).