how many wives did king solomon have

Oil on canvas, 1668. Could a subterranean river or aquifer generate enough continuous momentum to power a waterwheel for the purpose of producing electricity? Miller, J. Maxwell, and John H. Hayes. Christians, Muslims, or even atheists who want to seek the truth. The Ammonites werent highly regarded by the Israelites. As influential as the King of Israel is, hundreds of women had their eyes on the king. "Signpost" puzzle from Tatham's collection. Copyright 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. (Source: Jewish Womens Archives). David offered his services to a man named Nabal, Abigails husband before David. Its often this way with sin. 9 The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from When does it all start to go wrong for Solomon? Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! You will not find the names of all of Solomons wives. (X) 16Joab and all the Israelites stayed there for six months, until they had destroyed all the men in Edom. Women in Scripture. According to 1 Kings book, King Solomon has had a harem that includes 700 wives and 300 concubines. 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. He is renowned for his wisdom, wealth, and harem of wives and concubines. 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. We dont live in isolation and neither do our actions and sins. Naamah, a princess of Ammon, (part of present-day Jordan) who arrives in Jerusalem at age fourteen to marry King Solomon and of all his wives becomes the mother of his dynasty, is the narrator of Aryeh Lev Stollman's novel published by Aryeh Nir/Modan (Tel Aviv) in Hebrew translation under the title Divrei Y'mai Naamah ( ). His wives were to have included the daughter of Pharaoh and the women of Moabite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite origins. 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. [3], She was said to be the daughter of Hanun, king of the Ammonites in Greek biblical texts and rabbinical literature.[4]. Oct 20, 2011 at 21:37. 9The Lord had appeared to Solomon twice, but the king turned away from following the Lord, the God of Israel. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. So he was an enemy of Israel all the time Solomon was alive. We tend to follow in the footsteps of our parents as was the case with Rehoboam. 2The Lord had told the Israelites, You must not marry people of other nations. But because of a belief that foreign women were viewed as a potential source of issues, they might have problems adapting to the culture and values of their husbands and their new place of residence. Both Rezon and Hadad made trouble for Israel. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. His wives caused him to turn away from God. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Did Solomon himself actually offer sacrifices to other gods? Its hard to define a moment where both Solomon andRehoboam turned away from God. To understand the stories behind King Solomon wives is essential to know a little about them. Like Potiphars wife (Genesis 39), Samsons wife (Judges 1416), and the foreign woman of Proverbs 19, they remain loyal to their own personal or political interests and, as a result, disrupt law and order in their adoptive Israelite community. 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. When King Charles III is crowned on Saturday, he will undergo a ritual so rare in modern British history that it last occurred 70 Did they pass that tradition on to their children and their childrens children? WebBut Solomon fell in love with these women. and three hundred concubines and his wives turned his heart away. Some of these relationships were friendly and beneficial, while others were less positive. 1 Kings 11:3 states He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three And Solomon has been wise enough to use his power to ensure a peaceful reign in his kingdom. But what do we know: we made this game and you probably think we're going to hell. 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. 7On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built two places for worship. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005,2008) 159-166. 12But I will not take it away while you are alive because of my love for your father David. The Lord was angry with Solomon, 10because he had commanded Solomon not to follow other gods. So we created doortoeden.com becausea city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. How many wives does Deuteronomy allow a king to have? Solomons rightful wife was Pharaohs daughter (1 Kings 3:1) although he became infatuated by many other foreign women (1 Kings 11:1) and took them as his own including Naamah. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. Queen Tahpenes brought him up in the royal palace with the kings own children. WebSulaimn ibn Dwd (Arabic: , lit. This fact makes King Solomon the only man with more wives than any other human being. 43Then he rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David his father. Is a downhill scooter lighter than a downhill MTB with same performance? Save 15% on BibleGateway+ with code SPRINGSTUDY15. Naamahs family story may be tragic, but ours doesnt have to be. Solomon, third king of Israel (reigned c. 968928B.C.E. Episode 91: Israel at 75: Voices of Protest. (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 ____________." (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. Well also explore these relationships impact on King Solomon wives andlegacy. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. 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. Unfortunately, Rehoboam followed the advice of his peers leading him to lose half of his kingdom. Naamahs family story is a sad one but provides us with valuable lessons. The stories of King Solomon wives are essential because they help us learn more about the rulers life. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Their descendants were not allowed to enter the assembly of the Lord through the 10th generation. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Solomon was filling in the land and repairing the wall of Jerusalem, the city of David, his father. God can renew our hearts no matter how deep we find ourselves as he did with David. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The other three wives Rehoboam consulted the elders about the peoples request. Saul had no choice but to give Michal to David as his wife ( 1 Samuel 18:20-27 ). 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 17But Hadad, still only a boy, fled to Egypt with some Edomite officials who had served his father. Did God change his mind concerning the wealth of kings? HAD MARY OTHER CHILDREN BESIDES JESUS?WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS, Simeon. Since many of these women were foreign wives and were not godly women, there was no need to name them. I will tear it away from your son when he becomes king. But how many wives did he really have? 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. He even built altars to the foreign gods, encouraging idol worship of false deities. The two of them were alone out in the country, 30and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore(AI) it into twelve pieces. Unhappy with the prophecy, Solomon tried to assassinate Jeroboam, sending him into hiding. Our two cents: Solomon had mommy and daddy issues. [2] She was also the only one of Solomon's wives to be mentioned, within the Hebrew Bible, as having borne a child. He would also often build these women shrines and temples of their ESV Tamar, faithful and obedient to the promise of the Lord (Genesis 38); Ruth, a widowed woman who has been faithful to her mother-in-law (Book of Ruth); Rahab, a prostitute who helped the Israelites spy to escape from Jericho (Joshua 2); and Jael, courageous and faithful to the Lord (Judges 4-5); these women provide a constructive view of foreign women, each demonstrates through he behavior her adoption of Israelite of Judahite society, religious beliefs, and practices, and gains acceptance in her new community. 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. Along with writing, shes pursuing her dreams of creating a community of brave young women, who she can encourage to live out their dreams amid challenges and imperfection. Jeroboamruled Judah which was the smaller southern region, and Rehoboam led Israel, the larger, northern part. We can infer from this that at least some, or perhaps many, of the marriages were likely marriage alliances (which is why 1 Kings 11:1 notes that many of them were foreign). Edelman, Diana. Themeaning of Naamahs name is the beautiful.Matthew Henry notes It was strange that David would marry his son Solomon to an Ammonites (for it was done while he lived), but it is probable that Solomon was in love with her. The marriage had a negative effect not only on Solomon but future generations. 10Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods,(O) Solomon did not keep the Lords command. The Feminist Companion to Samuel and Kings, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. 28Jeroboam was a capable man, and Solomon saw that this young man was a good worker. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. New Century Version (NCV). 34But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomons hand; I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose and who obeyed my commands and decrees. You must obey all my commands. His father, David, also took many wives. The Rabbis claim this was a divine punishment for Solomon's having failed to follow three divine commands, and Solomon was forced to wander from city to city, until he eventually arrived in an Ammonite city where he was forced to work in the king's kitchens. What Every Christian Should Know about the Protestant Reformation. New York: 2000. King Solomon is said to have been wise and wealthy, and his many wives were a testament to his power and influence. After Solomon died and Rehoboam became king, Jeroboam remerged. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth, and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. Rezon had run away from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah. Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon, king of Israel, sinned? Solomon began to Naamah (Hebrew: , romanized:Nam, lit. Among the many nations, there is no king like him. 33I will do this because Solomon has stopped following me and has worshiped the Sidonian god Ashtoreth, the Moabite god Chemosh, and the Ammonite god Molech. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The Story. While there has been much debate about the exact number of wives Solomon had, there is no doubt that these women influenced his life significantly. And his wives turned away his heart. The tradition in 1 Kgs 11:18 about Solomons marriage to foreign wives, whether based on historical records or not, employs the motif of the dangerous foreign woman to condemn Solomon for idolatry in his later years (see Neh 13:26). Manage Settings Instead, he listened to the advice of his peers and lost half of his kingdom. No matter where we may find ourselves or our family, God is the God of Restoration. He also had many concubines who were the daughters of his vassals. 12Nevertheless, for the sake of David(S) your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. However, the Bible only mentions a few of his Even though his own mother warned him of women who ruined kings, Solomon pursued a life with them anyway. What is Wario dropping at the end of Super Mario Land 2 and why? He was an Ephraimite from the town of Zeredah, and he was the son of a widow named Zeruah. King Solomon was crowned as the third king of Israel. (E) 4As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods,(F) and his heart was not fully devoted(G) to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. When do you use in the accusative case? but having "many wives" like Solomon did was certainly forbidden. Weakened by sin, Jerusalem fell to Shishak king of Egypt in the fifth year of Rehoboams rule. 3 He had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines. They were real people who may have had their hopes and dreams. Meyers, Carol, General Editor. 2 Samuel 3:2-5 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; . The Holy Bible, New Century Version. One of the less positive relationships was the one between King Solomon and the daughter of the king of Gaza. The daughter of the Pharaoh was believed to be either the daughter of the Pharaoh Shishak or the Pharaoh Sheshonq I. Their power was so great that it was said that King Solomon was able to make wise and equitable judgments because of the advice of his wives and concubines. We know that one of his wives was the daughter of Pharaoh (1 Kings 9:16; 2 Chronicles 8:11). Start for FREE. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. But Solomon did not obey the Lords command. Rehoboam died after ruling for 17 years. I will make your family a lasting family of kings, as I did for David, and give Israel to you. WebSolomon, third king of Israel (reigned c. 968928 B.C.E. 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? In the end his kingdom is divided and his legacy is the punch-line/by-word of the Deuteronomist's warning against kings. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Reinhartz, Adele. The foreign wives included women from the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites. After David moved his capital to Jerusalem, he married Bathsheba. In addition, rumors suggest that King Solomon married one of his daughters. A Hi, we are David and Mirabela. His wives were from Egypt, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and several other countries. They have lasting effects. And while Solomon built one Temple to YHWH, he built countless more altars to "Astarte the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites, and "built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites did the same for all his foreign wives, who offered incense and sacrificed to their gods." 13Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe(T) for the sake(U) of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.(V). There were specific instructions for the king of Israel to not acquire many wives for himself, since that could have the effect of turning his heart away from the Lord. If they chose to continue to practice their native customs and cults, they would pass these on to their children and might also influence their husbands to adopt some non-Israelite practices as well. When King Solomon was a young man, he traveled with a caravan through the land of Gaza. According to 1 Kings book, King Solomon has had a harem that includes 700 wives and 300 concubines. ", 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!! Solomons foreign wives, by contrast, portray the negative side of foreign women. NIV, The Woman's Study Bible, Full-Color, Red Letter: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation, NIV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NIV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV, Story of Jesus: Experience the Life of Jesus as One Seamless Story, NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture, NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible, Comfort Print: Follow Gods Redemptive Plan as It Unfolds throughout Scripture. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. History of Ancient Israel and Judah. 41Everything else King Solomon did, and the wisdom he showed, is written in the book of the history of Solomon. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers, she enjoys spending time with other writers and perfecting her craft. Read the latest from JWA from your inbox. When she heard of King Solomons reputation as a wise man, she decided to travel to Jerusalem to present herself as a wife to him. Source: Dorotheum, via Wikimedia Commons. One of the more positive relationships was between King Solomon and the daughter of the king of Egypt. 26Jeroboam son of Nebat was one of Solomons officers. The Then Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me go, that I may return to my own country.. 30Ahijah took his new coat and tore it into twelve pieces. Naamahs father was probably Shobi who had brought Davids peoplebedding and food when they traveled through the wilderness. 18They set out from Midian and went to Paran. We know that one of his wives was the daughter of Pharaoh (1 Kings 9:16; 2 Chronicles 8:11). 13I will not tear away all the kingdom from him, but I will leave him one tribe to rule. The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will tear the kingdom away from Solomon and give you ten tribes. Solomons gold shields were taken along with everything else so Rehoboam had bronze shields made and remained at war with Jeroboam.

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