King Solomon and his 700 wives.

Does anyone care to share their thoughts on King Solomon and his 700 wives? I'm not an authority on the subject. Simply bringing the topic for discussion. Not many people have 700 wives. I certainly don't want 700 wives. Thank you for your time.

They must have been underserviced.

God designed marriage to be one man and I e woman, for life. Any other design for marriage (gay marriage, multiple spouses, divorce, etc etc) is sinful. That being said, God used a while lot of people for good, despite their sin, and he can do the same with you and me.

Vanity of vanities, there is nothing new under the sun

I've often thought about WHY he had so many wives and concubines. No solid conclusion.

He was the smartest person to walk the earth, so there must be logic in it. Lol

I've often wondered why Solomon was considered "wise"...

he disobeyed God by marrying foreigners and taking up their idol worship

That was not God's intended purpose as loosegoose brought out. God let it be for the time being but had several incidences recorded in the Bible to show the strife it would cause for families. God also warned Solomon (the wisest man ever) that if he took many wives that they would lead him astray to false worship. That's what happened. Solomon was persuaded by his women to leave pure worship.

When Christianity was instated God once again made it clear that marriage was to be as he originally purposed, one man and one woman.

Why anyone would want the problems that come with 700 wives is beyond me. Just 1 is hard enough.

King Solomon was wealthy. King Solomons mines you know. I bet a modern rock star could have 700 wives. Maybe not contractual marriage you get a license and register for but the version of 700 wives in the merry old kings days is certainly possible.

I see humor in all the 'explaining' by clergy why the bibles wisest man was wrong for keeping a harem. I think a harem is the fantasy of a LOT of men.

Can you say Wilt Chamberlain.

Genetic diversity.

Good luck remembering their names, birthdays and anniversaries. I'd settle for a half dozen. Evenly divided between blonde and brunette.

If they all had good paying jobs it might be worth it.

The really humorous part is King Solomon had 300 concubines for rock star style of relationship. He had his bases covered to say the least.

No love for red heads? Don't forget spreading out the model years and purchase years. Easier training when you have the older one to train the younger ones.

Now that you mention it.

Back then 700 was probably the magic number to keep himself out of any conversation.Women today have so much more to keep them occupied.

More distractions but less work. The wash machine and dryer do most laundry, dish washer washes dishes, schools baby sit the kids, and factories make the meals. But some how there is not enough time to vacum and dust so got to have a house keeper one day a week.

Wow just typing that I'm glad I don't have a modern woman. My boss/ wife is an 80s model but more like a 1930s. No microwave, dryer, large garden that feeds 7 other families, milks by hand, cooks from scratch, ECT....

Look at the result of his relationship with all of these women, mostly foreign ones. He began to build temples and altars to their strange gods. Many of these false deities required child sacrifice. How do you get more sacrifices to appease all of these foreign gods? You get more wives....

His kingdom was divided after his reign. Israel fell into spiritual wickedness, which incorporates physical wickedness. Read Ezekiel 16=- God says that Israel's wickedness was worse than that of Samaria or Sodom.

Now read the entirety of Ecclesiastes. Although he had wisdom from God, he chose to pursue and lavish himself in the wickedness of the world (corruption) . Let he who standeth, take heed, lest he fall.

These men who violated God's design of one man and one woman, all suffered consequences of their choices, and that followed for generations.

He was just looking for one that could cook or would.

All that I need is one, that is rich, over sexed, and owns a liquor store.

Don't come to Virginia. Virginia liquor stores are State owned.

I agree.

Jokes aside, as others have mentioned, this is part of the Bible's portrayal of Solomon's (and Israel's) downfall. There is sort of a Jekyll and Hyde thing going on at this point in the narrative. You get portrayals of the splendor, riches, and glory of Solomon/Israel, but you also get many indications that there is a dark and corrupt underbelly to the kingdom. For starters read Exodus 2 and Deuteronomy 17, then go read the account of Solomon. You'll see that Israel has become Babylon. Solomon has become Pharaoh. All of this leads up to the scattering of the people in the exile just like the scattering of the people of Babel (Babylon) in Genesis 11. Given the propensity of biblical authors to use symbolic numbers, I suppose the number 700 itself is meant to show that Solomon is completely and excessively enthralled with/to his foreign wives. In the Bible the number 7 represents completeness. If 7=completeness, and 70=7x10=ultimate completeness, then maybe 700=70x10=excessive completeness?

Keep in mind that God's promise of wisdom (and riches and honor) to Solomon are given with a big "if" (see 1 Kings 3:14), and Solomon quite obviously falls quite short of that if.

It's impossible to conceptualize the narrative of Solomon without the total storyline.
Open any book and ask a question and the answer will always be... read the author's whole intent = the whole book.

God is always using sinners to further His Kingdom.
Was then with Solomon.
Still is today.
Gathering as He goes according to His will.
Until the end of the Church Age, and then TRUMPET!

Gonna be awesome.

Blessings,
Mark

I think some 'splaining is in order.

Wives in this sense isn't exactly wives in the bed hopping sense. In ancient cultures male mortality was much higher than today's actual high male male mortality vs female mortality. This often left widows vulnerable to the vissitudes of life. To counter that many cultures, particularly Semitic ones, had allowances for not only multiple wives but also mandates to take in as wives the widows of brothers and kinsmen. Now imagine the wealthiest king of his time. I would opine that he enjoyed the claims of many as kinsmen plus the numerous widows of his army and the political ties of diplomatic marriages.
So this 700 number may very well have been a combination of a welfare system and a political international diplomatic mission.

So get your heads out of the gutter.

Thanks for the explanation, that makes sense.

Good point warrior. Wives then meant alliances. The more you had, the more rest from enemies you trusted in.
There's the key. Who do you trust. Where is your faith.
Like the epistle by James points to >>>> faith produces works.

That's the story line of Solomon in partial form.... Solomon didn't trust in God but rather in his wisdom (given to him by God) "shown" by his vast harem of wives used to make deals.

Hard for us to envision warfare then as we reach for our Dr. Pepper's and turn down the AC.

Blessings,
Mark

1 Kings 11

11 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:

2 Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

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.

5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.

7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.

11 Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.

12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

13 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.


For some clarity, Milcolm is verse 5, is another manifestation of Molech, seen in verse 7, the pagan diety that required infant sacrifice burned alive on the altar.

I don't see public welfare and political diplomacy.

I always suspected it was more of a political thing. And if you read Song of Songs, he really did seem to love his beloved. I mean, teeth like a flock of sheep! That's the nonsense of a man fully in love.

OK I give up.
Just formulate your own opinions. I'll just keep reading my Bible.

I’m with you RKG. Trying to steer this ship that way too with my previous post. We seem to be hung up on the practicalities of Solomon’s marriages or his reasoning for them. I don’t think the biblical authors were interested in discussing that. They seem to be interested in telling us the meaning though, as you’ve stated and I’ve alluded to.

Jrt and RKG, well done.

It's an online forum so we miss the fellowship of reading and studying God's Word as a group. Internet is tricky at best.

We remember however that Scripture is God's revealed story and we err when we put ourselves in every tittle and iota of "God's Word."
We must always guard against missing God's Exod 34:6-7 characteristics He would have us know (as He did Moses) and we have to tread softly between answering sincere hearted questions on what scripture means to any of us uninspired individuals.... and where we as believers may fall in love with Scripture and out of love with Jesus (Martin Luther's claim).

Blessings,
Mark

Dont forget all the concubines


In reality it was just a biblical version of welfare for single women that probably wouldn't find a husband. The female to male ratio was probably way out of proportion because of David's wars.

I didn't say none of the above is not true. On the contrary it obviously is true.

My point was merely to explain the number and undoubtedly among the number, including those specifically mentioned in this passage were a handful of wives that turned more than just King Solomon's head.

It may very well been a case of things we are perfectly legally allowed to do that is not what God would have us do yet Solomon did ask for wisdom so God may have said have at it son let's see just what you learn.

The book of Ecclesiastes is a book near and dear to my heart and my favorite of the Old Testament. Not for it's wonderful prose but because I identify with the preacher in Jerusalem. Not that I am wise in any way other than to fear God and keep His commandments but that I too have had my head turned.

Warrior, it's innate in all made in God's Image.

Seems you're keeping with God's two reasons for making humans in His image,

Be fruitful and multiply and
Subdue the earth

Who the glory is given to is the deal breaker as you mention.

Blessings,
Mark

I imagine Ecclesiastes was written late in life with an old man's reflections on a life spent with every opportunity to hand yet at the end of the day the regrets that come with it. I would like to think Solomon in his last days returned to his first love.

I know a lot of people I sit next to (often in silence) do just that.
Want to return to a love they knew once upon a time and forgot about for too long.
Until the angels are cued and ready.
Fascinating really.

We are a stiff necked lot, are we not?

We're redeemed. And God gives some a thorn to keep them humble. We await the restoration for perfection

Thorn?

Just call me Br'er Rabbit. LOL

God is good.

. I get sucker punched by the foe all the time here at seminary.
Demons and their master hate hate hate the Holy Holy Holy teaching of God's Word.
We anticipate crap happening. To us and our spouse.
Part of the spiritual battle but Ephesians 6 armor is prayed for often.

Well my wife didn't think it was funny when I told her that in many cultures when a woman is no longer fertile it not only ok but expected that a man takes another wife. (4 pregnancies and 2 miscarriages were hard on her so she had a tubal during her last c section)

I want more kids she starts talking about adoption. After my helping mom with my 4 adopted siblings I'm not keen on that.

Hmm I guess I could adopt another young wife. She may get on board if the new one can pull weeds, harvest, can, milk and butcher. lol not worth the headache for sure I almost have this one trained after 22 years. Or she has me trained and I don't realize it.

I hear once you hit 40 years you can get 2 20 year olds..... If your wiring can handle it.

Pike, you mean if your plumbing can handle it. lol

Jim

Lol 220 is typically wiring. Maybe you're thinking of schedule 40?

I don't think either my plumbing or wiring could handle a frisky twenty-year-old anymore.

Jim

Right! And imagine having a bunch of them. No wonder that even wise old Solomon became apostate. Piir guy lost his mind with all them girls.

Most every person in the Bible started well; but finished poorly. Both King David and King Solomon had excellent starts, but finished poorly. The difference is that King David owned it.

It is the plight of all true believers.......to finish well.......As I get older, I understand that finishing well is much more difficult than I thought it would be when I was younger. Chancey

Thanks for the points you brought to the table, Warrior. It was not my intention to drag people's minds through the gutter. I wanted to talk about a Bible character that Danny Clifton takes an interest in. Thanks for your contributions, everyone.

I take my hat off to the guy. I have more than enough to do for one wife. I bet he hd next to no time for trapping hunting and fishing. And he must have spent very little time on the internet as well.

Xactly...even before shock collars....

Oh boy!!!! Sorry

Try to keep their old boy friends and mad daddys from coming around was the plan.

Wow!!!

Better He than I

How many of you guys can honestly say that you even casually know 700 women. I’m pretty sure I don’t even know the names of 700 women.

Just trying to put a little perspective on the whole thing.

I hope they kept his tent clean at least.

Some reading I have read indicates that many of the wives were strategic marriages to form alliances, security and many other secular issues and concerns. The bringing to Israel the hundreds of non Jewish persons and persons in higher places contributed toward a more secular culture and the worship of other gods and idols. It does show the price we pay when we want to maintain or expand our wealth, power and control. None of those are bad in and of themselves but when they are the goal and or means to obtain those goals that can create major cultural changes. To a certain extent it does demonstrate that secular leaders probably are not the best resources for cultures that want to maintain a strong spiritual life style and or cultural input.

Bryce