Topical Bible: Women: Solomon's Wives, in Their Idolatrous and Wicked Influence Over Solomon

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The narrative of Solomon's wives is a significant aspect of the biblical account of King Solomon, the son of David and the third king of Israel. Solomon's reign is marked by wisdom, wealth, and extensive building projects, including the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem. However, his marriages to foreign women and their subsequent influence over him are depicted as a turning point that led to his spiritual decline and the eventual division of the kingdom.

Biblical Account

The primary biblical account of Solomon's wives and their influence is found in 1 Kings 11:1-8. The text states, "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, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.' Yet Solomon clung to these women in love" (1 Kings 11:1-2).

Solomon's marriages to these foreign women were often politically motivated, intended to secure alliances with surrounding nations. However, these alliances came at a spiritual cost. The text continues, "He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away" (1 Kings 11:3). Despite his wisdom, Solomon's heart was led astray by his wives, who influenced him to worship other gods.

Idolatrous Influence

The idolatrous practices introduced by Solomon's wives are explicitly mentioned in the biblical narrative. "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" (1 Kings 11:4). Solomon's wives led him to worship deities such as Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites.

The text further elaborates, "Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD; unlike his father David, he did not follow the LORD completely" (1 Kings 11:6). Solomon's construction of high places for these foreign gods, as described in 1 Kings 11:7-8, was a direct violation of the covenantal laws given to Israel, which prohibited idolatry and demanded exclusive worship of Yahweh.

Spiritual and National Consequences

The spiritual decline of Solomon due to the influence of his wives had profound consequences for the nation of Israel. The LORD's anger was kindled against Solomon, as stated in 1 Kings 11:9-10, "Now the LORD grew angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although He had warned Solomon explicitly not to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command."

As a result of Solomon's disobedience, God declared that the kingdom would be torn from Solomon's lineage, though not during his lifetime, for the sake of David, his father. This prophecy was fulfilled when the kingdom was divided after Solomon's death, with ten tribes forming the northern kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam, and the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remaining under the rule of Solomon's son, Rehoboam.

Theological Implications

The account of Solomon's wives serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromising one's faith and the consequences of disobedience to God's commandments. It underscores the importance of remaining faithful to God and the perils of allowing external influences to lead one's heart away from Him. Solomon's experience illustrates the biblical principle that wisdom and knowledge are insufficient without a steadfast commitment to God's will and commands.

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1 Kings 11:1-11
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:
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Nehemiah 13:26
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
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Library

What Happened to Solomon
... These women were idolaters. ... It came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives
turned away ... result is generally pretty much the same as it was with Solomon. ...
/.../naylor/heart talks/talk twenty-seven what happened to.htm

Perseverance of Saints.
... Solomon's idolatrous wives and concubines had doubtless exerted great ... But, from the
writings of Solomon, we may ... widows, uneducated as heathen women were and are ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture li perseverance of saints.htm

The Historical Books.
... David with its calamitous consequences, and the idolatry of Solomon. ... princes and
people of the heathen wives whom they ... them, both little ones and women, and to ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm

Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ...
... them, so that there was a daily strife among his women who should ... killed in the battle;
[787] or how his son Solomon had three hundred wives, and seven ...
/.../faustus states his objections to.htm

Second Sunday after Epiphany
... laymen; monks better than priests; virgins than wives. ... teachers: for instance, the
women who followed ... seasonable, in keeping with Solomon's words (Ecclesiastes ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/second sunday after epiphany.htm

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
... God to put away all the (strange) wives,"according to ... the destroyer" (Psalm 17:4).
Therefore Solomon saith, "My ... is evident, not only by their irregular lives ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a treatise of the fear.htm