KING SOLOMON AND HIS MANY WIVES
KING SOLOMON: How Did he Cope With 700 Wives and 300 Concubines ?
jsmileApr 23, 2020
The mere thought that King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 Concubines really staggers my mentality. How on earth did he Cope with seven hundred wives at home with additional three hundred concubines in the neighborhood ? Nowadays a man who keeps two wives or concubines will probably end up with a broken head or worse. Did Solomon really have a happy home with 700 wives and 300 concubines ? Why did he marry so many wives ? Was God in Support of King Solomon's numerous marriage ? These are the questions that come to mind whenever we think about King Solomon.
Solomon was the tenth son of King David and the second son of Bethsheba. Historically, he was the third and the last King of the ancient United Kingdom of Israel who reigned over Israel for forty years, a period which is regarded in history as the " The Golden Age of Israel" due to the prosperity his reign brought to Israel.
The greatness and legend of King Solomon is defined by his unequal Wisdom and wealth as well as his marital life. He seemed to be a man who had everything going for him yet his words at old age revealed that Solomon was a man immersed in the labyrinthine complexity of life, who has had his own fair share of challenges and dilemma.
"But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all meaningless - like chasing the wind.There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere." (Ecclesiastes 2 vs 11)
Why did Solomon marry so many wives ? Obviously, the son of David loved women but he was a perfect heartthrob who attracted laddies like bees to the honey; he was handsome and rich as much as he was wise. However, many historians believe that Politics and foreign policy had played a big role in Solomon's Bigamy. During the 10th century BC that Solomon was the King of Israel, it was customary to seal a treaty or political alliance with a marriage . A lesser King would as a matter courtesy give his daughter in marriage to the greater King. This implied that everytime Solomon signed a treaty with an ally he simply got a new wife.
But, was God in Support of King Solomon's numerous marriages ? The answer to this question, can easily be found in the 1Kings 11 vs 1 - 3.
"Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh's daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon and from among the Hittites.2. The LORD had clearly instructed the people of Israel, "You must not marry them, because they will turn your heart to their gods." Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway.
"3. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the LORD."
So, did Solomon really have a happy home with 700 wives and 300 concubines ? Throughout the history of mankind, it can be said that no man ever had a better experience with women than Solomon. As a matter of fact, the majority of the book of Proverbs in the Bible is about King Solomon's experience with women and his efforts to advice his son to learn from his own experiences.
Now I am going to take you through some selected verses from the book of Proverbs that will help us see the light through the tunnel about Solomon's experience with his 700 wives and 300 concubines.
"It's better to live alone in the corner of an attic (housetop) than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home." (Proverbs 21 vs 9).
"A quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping on a rainy day." (Proverbs 27 vs 15)
Obviously, we can see and draw inference from the above scriptures that King Solomon had a rough time with nagging and overbearing wives. Contentious women would always complain, criticize, correct, remind, sob, demand and suggest until the man loses his cool.
"A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing." (Proverbs 9 vs 13).
Solomon has also had his fair share of experience with those he classified as foolish women. According to Solomon, a foolish woman is not difficult to spot. She makes a lot of noice and knows nothing like a dunciad. She does not abide by the instructions of her father or her husband. And she is generous with her body and constantly lie to cover up her dirty lifestyle.
"And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a strange woman." (Proverbs 5 vs 20).
The 'Strange woman' here refers to the woman that is not your wife, a strange bed fellow. Solomon here seems to be talking out of his experience with his 300 concubines. He advised that a man should be satisfied with his own wife's body and love, and strive to build a happy family together.
jsmileApr 23, 2020
The mere thought that King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 Concubines really staggers my mentality. How on earth did he Cope with seven hundred wives at home with additional three hundred concubines in the neighborhood ? Nowadays a man who keeps two wives or concubines will probably end up with a broken head or worse. Did Solomon really have a happy home with 700 wives and 300 concubines ? Why did he marry so many wives ? Was God in Support of King Solomon's numerous marriage ? These are the questions that come to mind whenever we think about King Solomon.
Solomon was the tenth son of King David and the second son of Bethsheba. Historically, he was the third and the last King of the ancient United Kingdom of Israel who reigned over Israel for forty years, a period which is regarded in history as the " The Golden Age of Israel" due to the prosperity his reign brought to Israel.
The greatness and legend of King Solomon is defined by his unequal Wisdom and wealth as well as his marital life. He seemed to be a man who had everything going for him yet his words at old age revealed that Solomon was a man immersed in the labyrinthine complexity of life, who has had his own fair share of challenges and dilemma.
"But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all meaningless - like chasing the wind.There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere." (Ecclesiastes 2 vs 11)
Why did Solomon marry so many wives ? Obviously, the son of David loved women but he was a perfect heartthrob who attracted laddies like bees to the honey; he was handsome and rich as much as he was wise. However, many historians believe that Politics and foreign policy had played a big role in Solomon's Bigamy. During the 10th century BC that Solomon was the King of Israel, it was customary to seal a treaty or political alliance with a marriage . A lesser King would as a matter courtesy give his daughter in marriage to the greater King. This implied that everytime Solomon signed a treaty with an ally he simply got a new wife.
But, was God in Support of King Solomon's numerous marriages ? The answer to this question, can easily be found in the 1Kings 11 vs 1 - 3.
"Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh's daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon and from among the Hittites.2. The LORD had clearly instructed the people of Israel, "You must not marry them, because they will turn your heart to their gods." Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway.
"3. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the LORD."
So, did Solomon really have a happy home with 700 wives and 300 concubines ? Throughout the history of mankind, it can be said that no man ever had a better experience with women than Solomon. As a matter of fact, the majority of the book of Proverbs in the Bible is about King Solomon's experience with women and his efforts to advice his son to learn from his own experiences.
Now I am going to take you through some selected verses from the book of Proverbs that will help us see the light through the tunnel about Solomon's experience with his 700 wives and 300 concubines.
"It's better to live alone in the corner of an attic (housetop) than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home." (Proverbs 21 vs 9).
"A quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping on a rainy day." (Proverbs 27 vs 15)
Obviously, we can see and draw inference from the above scriptures that King Solomon had a rough time with nagging and overbearing wives. Contentious women would always complain, criticize, correct, remind, sob, demand and suggest until the man loses his cool.
"A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing." (Proverbs 9 vs 13).
Solomon has also had his fair share of experience with those he classified as foolish women. According to Solomon, a foolish woman is not difficult to spot. She makes a lot of noice and knows nothing like a dunciad. She does not abide by the instructions of her father or her husband. And she is generous with her body and constantly lie to cover up her dirty lifestyle.
"And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a strange woman." (Proverbs 5 vs 20).
The 'Strange woman' here refers to the woman that is not your wife, a strange bed fellow. Solomon here seems to be talking out of his experience with his 300 concubines. He advised that a man should be satisfied with his own wife's body and love, and strive to build a happy family together.
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