King Solomon is known for having had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). This is an astounding number of spouses by any standard. Many people wonder why God allowed Solomon to have so many wives and concubines. There are a few factors to consider:
1. Polygamy was common and accepted in ancient Israel
During Solomon’s time, having multiple wives was culturally acceptable and a normal practice among kings. Though God’s original intent was for marriage to be between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24), polygamy was tolerated in Old Testament times. Kings often married many wives for political alliances with other nations (1 Kings 11:1-3). So Solomon’s large harem was not unusual or looked down upon in that historical context.
2. God gave Solomon great wisdom, wealth, and power
As king of Israel, God blessed Solomon tremendously. God told Solomon, “Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you” (1 Kings 3:12). Solomon asked for wisdom to lead God’s people, and this request pleased God. So God also granted Solomon riches, honor, and unprecedented peace and prosperity during his reign (1 Kings 3:13). With this great power and affluence, Solomon was able to acquire many wives.
3. Some of Solomon’s marriages were for political reasons
Many of Solomon’s marriages were strategic arrangements to benefit his kingdom politically. In ancient Near East culture, kings solidified alliances by marrying the daughters of other kings. For example, Solomon married an Egyptian princess (1 Kings 3:1) and women from the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites (1 Kings 11:1-3). These marriages helped unite his kingdom with powerful neighboring nations. Though spiritually unwise, it was politically expedient for Solomon to enter into many marriages.
4. God did not directly forbid Solomon’s marriages
There is no record of God expressly forbidding Solomon to take multiple wives or place a limit on the number of wives he could have. While God’s laws given through Moses regulated some aspects of marriage and prohibited kings from acquiring “many wives” (Deuteronomy 17:17), God did not impose an explicit restriction on the number of wives Solomon could have. God allowed polygamy without endorsing it as his ideal.
5. Solomon’s sins were worse than the number of his wives
More significant than the sheer number of Solomon’s marriages were the spiritual compromises those marriages led to. Many of Solomon’s foreign wives worshiped idols, and they turned his heart away from the Lord (1 Kings 11:3-4). Solomon even built places of worship for the false gods of some of his wives. So the issue was not the number of Solomon’s wives in itself, but that many of those marriages led Solomon to engage in idolatry and sin against God.
6. God was longsuffering and merciful to Solomon
Despite Solomon’s many wives leading him into idolatry, God showed patience and mercy. God had promised David that his dynasty would not fail due to his sins (2 Samuel 7:12-16). So while Solomon’s actions merited punishment, God postponed judgment until after Solomon’s death out of faithfulness to David (1 Kings 11:11-13). God often shows mercy despite people’s poor decisions.
7. God used Solomon’s life to teach important lessons
Though God allowed Solomon to have many wives, Scripture makes clear this was not God’s ideal plan. The consequences of Solomon’s marriages highlight the importance of obeying God’s laws. Solomon’s life illustrates how idolatry and foreign influences can lead even a wise man astray. The account of Solomon’s downfall due to his wives is a warning for future generations.
8. The righteousness of Christ provides redemption
No human ruler is without fault. While Solomon sinned greatly, Christ obeyed God perfectly (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus’ sacrifice can cover any sin, including sins of the flesh like Solomon’s. Through Christ’s righteousness, even someone as flawed as Solomon can receive redemption (Romans 5:19). So in the end, Solomon’s story points to our need for the salvation only found in Christ.
9. God’s plan cannot be thwarted
Despite Solomon’s moral failures, God’s divine plan was not frustrated. God used Solomon’s wisdom to build the temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 5-7). Many of Solomon’s proverbs and Psalms still edify people today. His legacy as Israel’s wisest and most prosperous king endures. This shows that man’s sinfulness cannot override God’s sovereignty. God works through and in spite of human weakness to accomplish His good purposes.
In summary, while Scripture does not specifically say why God permitted Solomon to have so many wives, examining the historical context provides insight. Though Solomon’s marital decisions led to grave sins, God remained faithful to His promises. Ultimately, Solomon’s life offers vital lessons about the severity of idolatry, the grace of God, and His sovereign will.
Through Christ, even those who falter as Solomon did can receive forgiveness and redemption. While polygamy was tolerated in ancient Israel, Jesus restored God’s original standard for marriage as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman (Matthew 19:4-6). As culture changes, God’s ideal for marriage remains fixed – one spouse at a time for life.