Naamah the Ammonite is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the context of the United Monarchy of Israel. She is most notably recognized as one of the wives of King Solomon and the mother of his successor, King Rehoboam. Her account is primarily found in the historical books of the Bible, which provide insight into her role and significance within the royal lineage of Israel.

Biblical References

Naamah is explicitly mentioned in 1 Kings 14:21 and 2 Chronicles 12:13. In 1 Kings 14:21 , it is stated: "Meanwhile, Rehoboam son of Solomon reigned in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel in which to put His Name. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite." Similarly, 2 Chronicles 12:13 reiterates her identity: "Thus King Rehoboam strengthened his position in Jerusalem and reigned. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel in which to put His Name. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite."

Historical and Cultural Context

Naamah's designation as "the Ammonite" indicates her origin from the nation of Ammon, a neighboring kingdom to Israel. The Ammonites were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, and often had contentious relations with Israel. Despite this, Solomon's marriage to Naamah reflects the political alliances and complexities of his reign, as he married many foreign women, which was a common practice among ancient Near Eastern monarchs to secure alliances and peace.

Religious and Theological Implications

The marriage of Solomon to Naamah, along with his other foreign wives, is significant in the biblical narrative as it highlights Solomon's departure from exclusive worship of Yahweh. According to 1 Kings 11:1-4 , Solomon's many marriages led him to idolatry: "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, 'You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.' Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away. For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been."

Naamah's presence in Solomon's life, therefore, is part of the broader narrative of his spiritual decline, which ultimately led to the division of the kingdom after his death. Her son, Rehoboam, became the first king of the southern kingdom of Judah, marking a significant shift in Israel's history.

Legacy

Naamah's legacy is primarily tied to her son Rehoboam, under whose reign the united monarchy of Israel split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. This division had lasting implications for the history and spiritual life of the Israelite people. While Naamah herself is not a central figure in the biblical narrative, her role as the mother of Rehoboam places her within the lineage of the Davidic dynasty, which holds significant theological importance in the biblical tradition.