seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Kings 11:1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.
7 On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. 8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.
9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
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Nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them”: God gave a general warning to all Israel to not intermarry with these nations, because surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods. For all Solomon’s great wisdom, he did not have the wisdom to apply this simple command to his own life.
Solomon probably did what many of us do. He somehow thought that he would be the exception, that he would escape the consequences of this sin, despite seeing how it affected others. Solomon learned — or should have learned — that he was not the exception to this rule.
He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: This is an almost unbelievable number of marriage partners. His wives were considered princesses, but his concubines were legal partners without the same standing as wives. All said, Solomon had far more marriage partners than any man could possibly give attention to — sexual attention or other attention.
When Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods: Age did not make Solomon wiser. He seemed to be wiser in his youth, and old age hardened the sinful tendencies that were present in his younger days. Age and experience should make us more godly and wise, but they do not automatically do so.
So the LORD became angry with Solomon: God had special reason to be displeased with Solomon — He had appeared to him twice, and Solomon still went after other gods. Solomon’s sin was base ingratitude and a waste of great spiritual privilege.
I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son: For the sake of David, God delayed this judgment until after Solomon’s generation. But the disobedience that brought the judgment came in the first generation.
However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of my servant David: Even in this great judgment, God must mingle undeserved mercy with deserved judgment. God announces that the kingdom will be divided, and part of it will be loyal to the descendants of David and part of it will be under a different dynasty.
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Is it safe to say "Solomon fell in love all over again every other week"?
I find it interesting that the Bible doesn't say that Solomon didn't obey the "one man one woman" rule set in Genesis. We're talking about a man God took the time to talk to, in person, twice. Doesn't it raise a question? Why didn't God just tell Solomon "One... I said One"? Why didn't God take this opportunity to remind Solomon of the sanctity of marriage?
It's reported Solomon had 700 children. Now that's an expensive Christmas morning!!!
The problem stated here was NOT that Solomon had too many women. The problem stated here was NOT that Solomon married any woman who suited his fancy that week. The problem was those women were from other nations. Solomon was not being very selective.
Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites were forbidden. Solomon didn't care, he married them anyway.
The problem was, they introduced their gods to Solomon. It seems Solomon couldn't say no to a woman. He not only showed up at the worship services for other gods, he built temples for them.
God took his kingdom from him. He would let Solomon finish his reign, but then his kingdom would get split. Judah would remain in the family, but the rest of Israel would be ruled by others.
It's a biblical fact!
Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Concubines didn't have the clout the wives had, but they were counted.
It's a biblical fact!
1,000 Women for Solomon!
