TRV
See on the biblical-era map
Study This Verse
Commentary on 1 Kings 11 verses 1–8
This is a sad story, and very surprising, of Solomon's defection and degeneracy.
I. Let us enquire into the occasions and particulars of it. Shall Solomon fall, that was the beauty of Israel, and so great a blessing of his generation? Yes, it is too true, and the scripture is faithful in relating it, and repeating it, and referring to it long after, Neh 13:26. There was no king like Solomon who was beloved of his God, yet even him did outlandish women cause to sin. There is the summary of his apostasy; it was the woman that deceived him, and was first in the transgression.
1.He doted on strange women, many strange women. Here his revolt began. (1.) He gave himself to women, which his mother had particularly cautioned him against. Pro 31:3, Give not thy strength unto women (perhaps alluding to Samson, who lost his strength by giving information of it to a woman), for it is that which, as much as any thing, destroys kings. His father David's fall began with the lusts of the flesh, which he should have taken warning by. The love of women has cast down many wounded (Pro 7:26) and many (says bishop Hall) have had their head broken by their own rib. (2.) He took many women, so many that, at last, they amounted to 700 wives and 300 concubines, 1000 in all, and not one good one among them, as he himself owns in his penitential sermon (Ecc 7:28), for no woman of established virtue would be one of such a set. God had, by his law, particularly forbidden the kings to multiply either horses or wives, Deu 17:16, Deu 17:17. How he broke the former law, in multiplying horses, and having them out of Egypt too (which was expressly prohibited in that law) we read Kg1 10:29, and here we are told how he broke the latter (which proved of more fatal consequence) in multiplying wives. Note, Less sins, made gold with, open the door to greater. David had multiplied wives too much, and perhaps that made Solomon presume it lawful. Note, If those that are in reputation for religion in any thing set a bad example, they know not what a deal of mischief they may do by it, particularly to their own children. One bad act of a good man may be of more pernicious consequence to others than twenty of a wicked man. Probably Solomon, when he began to multiply wives, intended not to exceed his father's number. But the way of sin is down-hill; those that have got into it cannot easily stop themselves. Divine wisdom has appointed one woman for one man, did so at first; and those who do not think one enough will not think two or three enough. Unbridled lust will be unbounded, and the loosened hind will wander endlessly. But this was not all: (3.) They were strange women, Moabites, Ammonites, etc., of the nations which God had particularly forbidden them to intermarry with, Kg1 11:2. Some think it was in policy that he married these foreigners, by them to get intelligence of the state of those countries. I rather fear it was because the daughters of Israel were too grave and modest for him, and those foreigners pleased him with the looseness and wantonness of their dress, and air, and conversation. Or, perhaps, it was looked upon as a piece of state to have his seraglio, as his other treasures, replenished with that which was far-fetched; as if that were too great an honour for the best of his subjects which would really have been a disgrace to the meanest of them - to be his mistresses. And, (4.) To complete the mischief, Solomon clave unto these in love, Kg1 11:2. He not only kept them, but was extravagantly fond of them, set his heart upon them, spent his time among them, thought every thing well they said and did, and despised Pharaoh's daughter, his rightful wife, who had been dear to him, and all the ladies of Israel, in comparison of them. Solomon was master of a great deal of knowledge, but to what purpose, when he had no better a government of his appetites?
2.He was drawn by them to the worship of strange gods, as Israel to Baal-peor by the daughters of Moab. This was the bad consequence of his multiplying wives. We have reason to think it impaired his health, and hastened upon him the decays of age; it exhausted his treasure, which, though vast indeed, would be found little enough to maintain the pride and vanity of all these women; perhaps it occasioned him, in his latter end, to neglect his business, by which he lost his supplies from abroad, and was forced, for the keeping up of his grandeur, to burden his subjects with those taxes which they complained of, Kg1 12:4. But none of these consequences were so bad as this: His wives turned away his heart after other gods, Kg1 11:3, Kg1 11:4. (1.) He grew cool and indifferent in his own religion and remiss in the service of the God of Israel: His heart was not perfect with the Lord his God (Kg1 11:4), nor did he follow him fully (Kg1 11:6), like David. We cannot suppose that he quite cast off the worship of God, much less that he restrained or hindered it (the temple-service went on as usual); but he grew less frequent, and less serious, in his ascent to the house of the Lord and his attendance on his altar. He left his first love, lost his zeal for God, and did not persevere to the end as he had begun; therefore it is said he was not perfect, because he was not constant; and he followed not God fully, because he turned from following him, and did not continue to the end. His father David had many faults, but he never neglected the worship of God, nor grew remiss in that, as Solomon did (his wives using all their arts to divert him from it), and there began his apostasy. (2.) He tolerated and maintained his wives in their idolatry and made no scruple of joining with them in it. Pharaoh's daughter was proselyted (as is supposed) to the Jews' religion, but, when he began to grow careless in the worship of God himself, he used no means to convert his other wives to it; in complaisance to them, he built chapels for their gods (Kg1 11:7, Kg1 11:8), maintained their priests, and occasionally did himself attend their altars, making a jest of it, asking, "What harm is there in it? Are not all religions alike?" which (says bishop Patrick) has been the disease of some great wits. When he humoured one thus, the rest would take it ill if he did not, in like manner, gratify them, so that he did it for all his wives (Kg1 11:8), and at last came to such a degree of impiety that he set up a high place for Chemosh in the hill that is before Jerusalem, the mount of Olives, as if to confront the temple which he himself had built. These high places continued here, not utterly demolished, till Josiah's time, Kg2 23:13. This is the account here given of Solomon's apostasy.
II. Let us now pause awhile, and lament Solomon's fall; and we may justly stand and wonder at it. How has the gold become dim! How has the most fine gold changed! Be astonished, O heavens! at this, and be horribly afraid, as the prophet exclaims in a like case, Jer 2:12.
1.How strange, (1.) That Solomon, in his old age, should be ensnared with fleshly lusts, youthful lusts. As we must never presume upon the strength of our resolutions, so neither upon the weakness of our corruptions, so as to be secure and off our guard. (2.) That so wise a man as Solomon was, so famed for a quick understanding and sound judgment, should suffer himself to be made such a fool of by these foolish women. (3.) That one who had so often and so plainly warned others of the danger of the love of women should himself be so wretchedly bewitched with it; it is easier to see a mischief, and to show it to others, than to shun it ourselves. (4.) That so good a man, so zealous for the worship of God, who had been so conversant with divine things, and who prayed that excellent prayer at the dedication of the temple, should do these sinful things. Is this Solomon? Have all his wisdom and devotion come to this at last? Never was gallant ship so wrecked; never was crown so profaned.
2.What shall we say to all this? Why God permitted it it is not for us to enquire; his way is in the sea and his path in the great waters; he knew how to bring glory to himself out of it. God foresaw it when he said concerning him that should build the temple, If he commit iniquity, etc., Sa2 7:14. But it concerns us to enquire what good use we may make of it. (1.) Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. We see how weak we are of ourselves, without the grace of God; let us therefore live in a constant dependence on that grace. (2.) See the danger of a prosperous condition, and how hard it is to overcome the temptations of it. Solomon, like Jeshurun, waxed fat and then kicked. The food convenient, which Agur prayed for, is safer and better than the food abundant, which Solomon was even surfeited with. (3.) See what need those have to stand upon their guard who have made a great profession of religion, and shown themselves forward and zealous in devotion, because the devil will set upon them most violently, and, if they misbehave, the reproach is the greater. It is the evening that commends the day; let us therefore fear, lest, having run well, we seem to come short.
The hands of the sinful woman were stretched out over his feet, that they might receive a gift from his divinity. Our Lord, therefore, showed his humanity so that the sinful woman might approach him. He also revealed his divinity in order that the Pharisee might be found guilty by him. Consequently, the sinful woman could scoff at the cunning thoughts of him who had been scoffing at her tears. She, through her love, brought into the open the tears that were hidden in the depths of her eyes, and [the Lord], because of her courage, brought into the open the thoughts that were hidden in the Pharisee. The sinful woman thought he was like God. Her faith was witness to this. Simon thought he was [merely] like a man. What he had worked out in his mind showed this. Our Lord, therefore, standing in the middle, worked out a parable between the two of them, so that the sinful woman might be encouraged through his pronouncing the parable and the Pharisee might be denounced through the explanation of the parable.But now, likewise, we are in the middle; and like Solomon we have fallen between women. But, even if we, like Solomon, have fallen between women, we are not, like Solomon, wounded by women. For these Gentile women were turning Solomon aside from the fear of God to their idols by means of their allurements. We place the faith of the Gentile women above the heroic exploits of the Hebrew women. For the latter, through the wholeness of their bodies, rendered Solomon’s healthy faith sick, while the former, through their being healed, restore our ailing faith to health. Who therefore would not [wish] to be healed [by such faith]?
The words “the wives turned away his heart” do not mean that Solomon himself apostatized and worshiped the idols but that he gave [his wives] freedom to worship their idols without preventing them or converting them, as his father David [had done]. Therefore, since “man and wife become one flesh,” and the Scripture usually attributes to them both the action of one because of their union … this is why [Solomon] is justly rebuked for allowing his wives to adore [the idols]. Silence, as they say, expresses consent. Other commentators assert that [Solomon] worships the idols but is not punished, even though he deserved it, thanks to his father and all his merits and toil in building the house.
Continue studying 1 Kings 11:3 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
First Kings 11:3 stands as a poignant turning point in the narrative of King Solomon's reign, revealing the staggering extent of his polygamy with seven hundred wives, who were princesses, and three hundred concubines. This verse immediately follows accounts of his unparalleled wisdom and prosperity, yet critically precedes the explicit description of his spiritual decline. It starkly presents the primary catalyst for his eventual apostasy and the subsequent divine judgment that would lead to the tragic division of the united kingdom of Israel, marking the beginning of the end for his glorious reign.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its tragic message. Juxtaposition is profoundly evident as the immense wisdom, wealth, and prosperity of Solomon, so celebrated in the preceding chapters, are starkly contrasted with his profound folly and spiritual decline introduced here. This creates a deep sense of tragic irony, highlighting the fall from grace. The phrase "turned away his heart" functions as potent foreshadowing, hinting at the severe consequences that will inevitably unfold, including God's judgment and the division of the kingdom, as detailed in the remainder of 1 Kings 11. Furthermore, the "heart" serves as a powerful metonymy or synecdoche, representing not just a physical organ but the entirety of Solomon's inner being, his will, his loyalties, his intellect, and his spiritual core. This emphasizes that the corruption was not superficial but deeply rooted, affecting his fundamental relationship with God and his very identity as Israel's king.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Solomon's tragic failure, encapsulated in 1 Kings 11:3, serves as a profound theological warning about the insidious nature of compromise and the critical importance of exclusive devotion to God. His story underscores that even unparalleled wisdom and divine favor do not inoculate one from the temptations of the world, particularly when it comes to relationships that pull the heart away from God. The Mosaic Law's prohibition against multiplying foreign wives was not arbitrary; it was a divine safeguard to preserve Israel's covenant fidelity and prevent the very idolatry that Solomon tragically embraced. His divided heart, swayed by the allure of foreign gods and political expediency, stands as a stark reminder that God demands wholehearted allegiance, not a fragmented devotion. This narrative powerfully illustrates the principle that our closest relationships significantly shape our spiritual trajectory, either drawing us closer to God or leading us astray into apostasy.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Solomon's story in 1 Kings 11:3 offers a timeless and sobering lesson for believers across generations. It reveals that spiritual decline often begins subtly, not with a dramatic rejection of faith, but with seemingly small compromises or the gradual embrace of influences that are not fully aligned with God's will. For Solomon, it was the multiplication of wives, especially foreign princesses, which led to the insidious infiltration of idolatry. For us, it might be the relentless pursuit of wealth, power, comfort, or relationships that, while not overtly sinful, slowly erode our primary devotion to God. This verse challenges us to critically examine our own "foreign influences"—be they cultural trends, media consumption, friendships, career ambitions, or even seemingly benign habits—and ask if they are subtly or overtly turning our hearts away from the Lord. It emphasizes the absolute necessity of guarding our hearts with vigilance, for out of it flow the springs of life and the very essence of our spiritual vitality. True wisdom, as Solomon's life ultimately demonstrates, is not merely intellectual knowledge or strategic acumen but the unwavering, wholehearted application of God's truth to every area of our lives, especially in our most intimate relationships and deepest desires.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did Solomon have so many wives if it was against God's law?
Answer: Solomon's motivation for accumulating such a vast harem was multifaceted, reflecting both cultural norms and personal ambition. In the ancient Near East, kings often had multiple wives to display their wealth, power, and prestige, symbolizing their ability to support a large household and secure their lineage. More significantly, many of these marriages, particularly with "princesses," were strategic political alliances designed to secure peace and strengthen his kingdom's international standing. By marrying daughters of foreign rulers, Solomon aimed to cement treaties and avoid conflict, expanding his influence without military conquest. However, this practice directly violated God's explicit command to future kings of Israel in Deuteronomy 17:17, which warned against multiplying wives "that his heart turn not away." Despite his legendary wisdom, Solomon prioritized political expediency and personal indulgence over divine obedience, leading directly to his spiritual downfall.
How exactly did his wives "turn away his heart"?
Answer: The turning away of Solomon's heart was not merely an emotional distraction but a profound spiritual reorientation, leading to apostasy. His foreign wives brought their native religious practices and deities with them, and out of a desire to please them or maintain domestic harmony, Solomon tolerated and eventually participated in their idolatry. As 1 Kings 11:4-8 details, as Solomon grew old, his wives "turned his heart after other gods." He allowed them to worship their idols and, shockingly, even built high places and altars for these pagan deities (e.g., Ashtoreth, Milcom, Chemosh, Molech) in Jerusalem, right on the hills surrounding the very temple he had built for Yahweh. This demonstrates that his heart was not exclusively devoted to the Lord; it became divided, accommodating false gods out of a desire to please his wives and maintain political harmony. This gradual compromise with idolatry fundamentally shifted his allegiance from the one true God, leading to divine judgment and the eventual division of his kingdom.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Solomon's tragic story in 1 Kings 11:3, where his heart is turned away by foreign wives and their gods, profoundly highlights the desperate need for a perfect King whose heart would remain undivided and wholly devoted to God. Solomon, the wisest of men, ultimately failed to keep the covenant, demonstrating the inherent weakness and susceptibility of even the most gifted human leaders to sin. He multiplied wives, accumulated excessive wealth, and acquired numerous horses, all in direct violation of the commands for kings outlined in Deuteronomy 17. This profound failure underscores the brokenness of the human heart and its innate susceptibility to idolatry and compromise. In stark contrast, Jesus Christ is the true and ultimate King, the "Son of David" who perfectly fulfills all righteousness. His heart was never turned away; He lived a life of singular devotion to the Father, always doing what pleased Him (John 8:29). Unlike Solomon, who built altars for false gods, Jesus is the very wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:30) who perfectly upholds God's law and leads His people in truth and faithfulness. Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ provides the means for our own divided, wayward hearts to be transformed, enabling us to truly love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37), fulfilling the very covenant fidelity that Solomon so tragically abandoned.