Introduction

King Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, is renowned for his wisdom, wealth, and the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem. However, his reign is also marked by a significant spiritual decline attributed to his marriages to foreign women and the subsequent idolatry that ensued. This entry explores the biblical account of Solomon's foreign wives and the idolatry that led to the division of the united monarchy.

Biblical Account

The narrative of Solomon's foreign wives and idolatry is primarily found in 1 Kings 11. Solomon's marriages to foreign women were in direct violation of God's commandments to the Israelites. The Lord had explicitly warned Israel against intermarrying with foreign nations, stating, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods" (1 Kings 11:2).

Despite this clear directive, Solomon took many foreign wives. The biblical text records, "He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away" (1 Kings 11:3). These marriages were often politically motivated, intended to secure alliances with surrounding nations. However, they had profound spiritual consequences.

Idolatry and Spiritual Decline

Solomon's foreign wives led him into idolatry, a grave sin in the eyes of the Lord. The Bible states, "As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been" (1 Kings 11:4). Solomon's heart was divided, and he began to worship the gods of his wives, including Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites (1 Kings 11:5).

This idolatry was not merely a private matter but had public implications. Solomon built high places for these foreign deities, facilitating idol worship within Israel. The text records, "On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, and for Molech, the abomination of the Ammonites" (1 Kings 11:7). These actions were a direct affront to the worship of Yahweh, the one true God of Israel.

Divine Judgment

The Lord's response to Solomon's idolatry was one of righteous judgment. God appeared to Solomon twice, warning him to remain faithful, yet Solomon did not heed these warnings. Consequently, the Lord declared, "Since you have done this and have not kept My covenant and statutes, which I commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant" (1 Kings 11:11).

However, for the sake of David, Solomon's father, God promised not to divide the kingdom during Solomon's lifetime. Instead, the division would occur under the reign of Solomon's son, Rehoboam. The Lord said, "Nevertheless, I will not do it during your lifetime for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son" (1 Kings 11:12).

Theological Implications

Solomon's foreign wives and subsequent idolatry serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of disobedience and divided loyalty to God. The narrative underscores the importance of adhering to God's commandments and the consequences of allowing external influences to lead one's heart away from Him. Solomon's failure to remain faithful to the covenant had lasting repercussions, ultimately leading to the division of the united monarchy and setting the stage for future conflicts within Israel.