3<\/strong>. seven hundred wives, princesses<\/em> ] The numbers in this verse are far in excess of those in the Song of Solomon, which makes mention (1Ki 6:8<\/span>) of threescore queens. But from the instances known of other monarchs there is little reason to question what is stated in this verse. Philippson ( die Israelitische Bibel<\/em>) tells of the wives of the great Mogul as 1000 in number, and in ancient history there are similar examples. Many of these were probably never seen by the monarch in his life, but counted among his household, as an item of magnificence. It was only by the few who were his more constant companions that Solomon’s heart was turned away.<\/p>\n These numbers seem excessive to many critics, and it must be admitted that history furnishes no parallel to them. In Son 6:8<\/span> the number of Solomons legitimate wives is said to be sixty, and that of his concubines eighty. It is, perhaps probable, that the text has in this place suffered corruption. For 700 we should perhaps read 70.<\/P> <\/p>\n Verse 3<\/span>. He had seven hundred wives, princesses<\/B><\/I>] How he could get so many of the blood royal from the different surrounding nations, is astonishing; but probably the daughters of noblemen,<\/I> generals<\/I>, c., may be included.<\/P> <\/P> And three hundred concubines<\/B><\/I>] These were wives of the second<\/I> rank<\/I>, who were taken according to the usages of those times but their offspring could not inherit. Sarah was to Abraham what these seven hundred<\/I> princesses were to Solomon; and the three hundred<\/I> concubines stood in the same relation to the Israelitish king as Hagar<\/I> and Keturah<\/I> did to the patriarch.<\/P> <\/P> Here then are one thousand wives<\/I> to form this great bad man’s harem<\/I>! Was it possible that such a person could have any piety to God, who was absorbed by such a number of women? We scarcely allow a man to have the fear of God who has a second wife<\/I> or mistress<\/I>; in what state then must the man be who has one<\/I> thousand<\/I> of them? We may endeavour to excuse all this by saying, “It was a custom in the East to have a multitude of women, and that there were many of those whom Solomon probably never saw,” c., c. But was there any of them whom he might not have seen<\/I>? Was it for reasons of state, or merely court splendour, that he had so many? How then is it said that he loved many strange<\/I> women<\/I>? – that he clave to them in love<\/I>? And did he not give them the utmost proofs of his attachment<\/I> when he not only tolerated<\/I> their iniquitous worship in the land, but built temples<\/I> to their idols, and more, burnt incense<\/I> to them himself<\/I>? As we should not condemn what God justifies, so we should not justify what God condemns. He went after Ashtaroth<\/I>, the impure Venus<\/I> of the Sidonians<\/I> after Milcom<\/I>, the abomination of the Ammonites<\/I> after Chemosh<\/I>, the abomination of the Moabites<\/I>; and after the murderous Molech<\/I>, the abomination of the children of Ammon<\/I>. He seems to have gone as far in iniquity as it was possible.<\/P> <\/p>\n Seven hundred wives, and three hundred concubines; <\/B>partly for his lust, which being indulged, becomes infinite and unsatiable; and partly from his pride, accounting this a point of honour and magnificence. <\/P> <\/p>\n 3. he had seven hundred wives,princesses<\/B>They were, probably, according to an existingcustom, the daughters of tributary chiefs, given as hostages for goodconduct of their fathers. <\/P> concubines<\/B>werelegitimate, but lower or secondary wives. These the chief or firstwife regards without the smallest jealousy or regret, as they look upto her with feelings of respectful submission. Solomon’s wives becamenumerous, not all at once, but gradually. Even at an early period histaste for Oriental show seems to have led to the establishment of aconsiderable harem (So 6:8<\/span>).<\/P><\/p>\n And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines<\/strong>,…. In all 1000, a prodigious number; though these might not be all for use, but for state after the manner of the eastern monarchs; these were a far greater number than are alluded to in So 6:8<\/span>, unless the virgins without number there, were such of these as were not defiled by him; but the number here seems plainly referred to in Ec 7:28<\/span>,<\/p>\n and his wives turned away his heart<\/strong>; both from his duty to his God, and from attendance to his business as a king, especially the former, as follows.<\/p>\n (3) Seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines.<\/strong>The harem of an Eastern king is simply an adjunct of his magnificence, and the relation of the wives to him little more than nominal. (Comp. Est. 2:14<\/span>.) Nor does the statement here made necessarily imply that at any one time the whole number existed. Still, the numbers here given, though found also in the LXX. and in Josephus, are not only extraordinarily large, but excessive in comparison with the three- score queens and fourscore concubines of Son. 6:8<\/span>, and disproportionate in the relative number of the superior and inferior wives. It is possible that, in relation to the former, at any rate, the text may be corrupt, though the corruption must be of ancient date.<\/p>\n 3<\/strong>. <\/strong> Seven hundred wives <\/strong> Some have thought by a supposed corruption in the text to reduce the seven hundred to seventy, and the three hundred concubines <\/strong> to eighty, and have referred to Son 6:8<\/span>, as giving support to this conjecture. But all this proceeds from the false idea that an Oriental sovereign has intercourse with all his wives and concubines. The harem of an Eastern monarch is even at the present day looked upon as a sort of state necessity, and the king’s rank and greatness is estimated according to its extent. He multiplies his wives according to his wealth and power, though many of them he never sees at all. Darius Codomannus is said to have taken three hundred and sixty concubines in his camp when he marched against Alexander. So Solomon, wishing to surpass all other kings in the fame of greatness, filled his harem with a thousand women. Among these he had his favourites, who at length turned his heart from God; but the large majority of the thousand he probably never knew personally at all.<\/p>\n 1Ki 11:3<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. <\/strong>Seven hundred wives, <\/em><\/strong>&c.<\/strong> Without knowing the customs of the princes of the East, their pomp, and sumptuousness of living, one might be tempted to wonder of what possible use was this multitude of wives and concubines. But, as Solomon was between forty and fifty years old before he ran into this excess, we cannot but suppose that he kept this multitude of women partly for state. Darius Codomanus was wont to carry along with him in his camp no less than three hundred and fifty concubines in time of war; nor was his queen offended at it; for the women used to reverence and adore her, as if she had been a goddess. Father Le Compte, in his history of China, tells us, that the emperor has a vast number of wives chosen out of the prime beauties of the country, many of whom he never so much as saw in his whole life: and, therefore, it is not improbable that Solomon, as he found his riches increase, might enlarge his expences, and endeavour to surpass all the princes of his time in this, as well as in all other kinds of pomp and magnificence. <\/p>\n REFLECTIONS.<\/strong>1st, Lord, what is man! Is this Solomon the wise? Is this Jedediah, the beloved of the Lord? Is this the man of prayer, the builder of God’s temple? How art thou fallen, Son of the Morning! <\/p>\n 1. The cause of Solomon’s sad departure from God is here mentioned. The love of women stole away his heart; insatiate lust led him to multiply his wives and concubines; and when the women of Israel no longer pleased his vitiated taste, or piously refused to minister to his guilty pleasures, he sought for others, less scrupulous, from the forbidden nations around him. On these his heart doated; and as he grew old, he grew fonder still, and could refuse them nothing. Note; <\/em>(1.) No passion so dangerous to the soul as the criminal love of women. (2.) Every indulgence given to lewd desire, only makes those desires more insatiate. <\/p>\n 2. The sad effects produced by his inordinate affections. His heart was drawn aside to idolatry, to which David in his most lamented days never inclined. His wives, taking advantage of his fondness and age, first seduced him to grant them the worship of their own gods, and then engaged him to join with them in the abominable service. To such a pitch of impiety it grew at last, that the high place of Chemosh confronted the very temple of God. Note; <\/em>(1.) They who give way to one wilful sin, never know when or where they shall stop. (2.) The indulgence of fleshly lusts makes the heart brutish, and stupifies the conscience. (3.) Outward prosperity is a dangerous state: they who fare sumptuously every day, often find their table a snare, and pampered appetite their ruin. (4.) The greatest attainments, without continued watchfulness and jealousy, may be quickly lost; and, like Solomon, the highest in profession of godliness, become the foulest in their falls. (5.) Solomon’s sin should be our warning: a busy devil, and a body of flesh, will never cease tempting. Let us never turn into an argument to embolden us, what is left on record as an admonition to deter us from the like sins. <\/p>\n 2nd, Justly provoked at such base ingratitude and wilful disobedience, after such repeated instances of his kindness, God sends a terrible message to awaken him from his shameful backsliding. Since he had revolted from God, the kingdom shall revolt from him, that is, from his posterity in the next reign; and though, for the sake of the promise made to David, he would leave him one tribe, that is Judah, with which Benjamin, as adjacent, was reckoned: the other ten tribes should be given to his servant. In mercy God deferred the execution of his sentence till his son’s reign, but left him to lament the approaching desolations, when all the glory that he hoped to transmit to his posterity would be so eclipsed. God had given him fair warning before; he has now only his own wickedness to blame. What effect this message had we are not told; but we hope it was, like Nathan’s, the means of bringing him to repentance; and that the book of Ecclesiastes contains his repentance, and acknowledgment of his sin and folly. <\/p>\n 1Ki 11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.<\/p>\n Ver. 3. And he had seven hundred wives.<\/strong> ] Numerum effraenem.<\/em> Fewer they were by far at first, as some do gather from Son 6:8<\/span> , threescore queens, and fourscore concubines – wives of an inferior rank – and virgins without number: these likely were kept for store, as at this day sundry are in the great Turk’s harem, and turned off at pleasure, as Est 2:14<\/span> , “they came in to the king no more, except he delighted in them.” Miserabilis fuit hic lapsus,<\/em> saith one. a<\/em> This was a miserable fall indeed of so wise and holy a man into so foul evils: to teach us the truth of that old rhyming couplet, <\/p>\n “ Vestis pulchra, iocus, potus, cibus, otia, somnus,<\/p>\n Enervant mentem, luxuriamque fovent. ”<\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n And his wives turned away his heart.<\/em><\/strong> ] O wives! the most sweet poison – saith one of our historians, b<\/em> speaking of the Duke of Somerset’s lady, in King Edward VI’s time – the most desired evil in the world, &c. Woman was first given to man for a comforter, and not for a counsellor, much less for a controller and director: and therefore in the first sentence against man, this cause is expressed, “Because thou obeyedst the voice of thy wife.” <\/p>\n<\/p>\n a<\/em> A Lapide. <\/p>\n b<\/em> Sir John Heywood.<\/p>\n children = sons. <\/p>\n seven hundred: Jdg 8:30, Jdg 8:31, Jdg 9:5, 2Sa 3:2-5, 2Sa 5:13-16, 2Ch 11:21, Ecc 7:28 <\/p>\n Reciprocal: Gen 16:3 – his Jdg 19:1 – a concubine 1Ki 11:9 – his heart 1Ch 14:3 – took Est 1:18 – the ladies Jer 3:2 – unto<\/p>\n 1Ki 11:3. He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines This was multiplying them prodigiously indeed, and pouring contempt on the divine prohibition in the most notorious manner. David had multiplied wives too, although to no such extent as this; but probably the bad example which he had set in this particular, had encouraged Solomon to think it, if not lawful, yet a lesser evil than it really was. One ill act of a good man may do more mischief than twenty of a wicked man. Without knowing the customs of the princes of the East, says Dr. Dodd, their pomp and sumptuousness of living, one might be tempted to wonder of what possible use was this milliad of wives and concubines. But as Solomon was between forty and fifty years old before he ran into this excess, we cannot but think that he kept this multitude of women more for state than otherwise. Darius Codomanus was wont to carry along with him in his camp no less than three hundred and fifty concubines in time of war; nor was his queen offended at it, for the women used to reverence and adore her, as if she had been a goddess. Father Le Compte, in his history of China, tells us that the emperor has a vast number of wives, chosen out of the prime beauties of the country, many of which he never so much as saw in his whole life: and, therefore, it is not improbable that Solomon, as he found his riches increase, might enlarge his expenses, and endeavour to surpass all the princes of his time in this, as well as in all other kinds of pomp and magnificence. He was guilty, however, of a flagrant violation of the divine law.<\/p>\n 11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred {b} concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.<\/p>\n (b) To whom belonged no dowry.<\/p>\n And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 3. seven hundred wives, princesses ] The numbers in this verse are far in excess of those in the Song of Solomon, which makes mention (1Ki 6:8) of threescore queens. But from the instances known of other … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 11:3”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9123"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9123\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"