1 Kings 11:2-3 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 11:1-8

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:2

Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you ,.... That is, they should not intermarry with one another; this is to be understood of the last mentioned, the Hittites, who were one of the seven nations this law respected, Deuteronomy 7:1 . for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods ; which is the reason given for the making the above law, and was sadly verified in Solomon: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:3

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines ,.... 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 Song of Solomon 6:8 , 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 Ecclesiastes 7:28 , and his wives turned away his heart ; both... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 11:3

He had seven hundred wives , princesses - How he could get so many of the blood royal from the different surrounding nations, is astonishing; but probably the daughters of noblemen, generals, etc., may be included. And three hundred concubines - These were wives of the second rank, who were taken according to the usages of those times; but their offspring could not inherit. Sarah was to Abraham what these seven hundred princesses were to Solomon; and the three hundred... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 11:1-8

The Fall of a King. Solomon was a king of men. Not only was he supreme civil ruler of his nation, he was also chief in wisdom and knowledge, and distinguished in the favour of God ( Nehemiah 13:26 ). This moral royalty is open to all. The prize is nobler than that of the most glittering "corruptible crown." From this kingship Solomon fell, though he retained the throne of the nation. The rascal often lurks in the heart that is under an anointed face. Let us consider— I. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 11:1-8

Solomon's Sin. I. THE SIN . 1 . Its nature . He not only aided his wives to continue their idolatrous worship, he himself participated in it. He went after strange gods, seeking their favour and observing their ordinances. The worship of Jehovah was not discarded, but delight in the true God was gone, and the flame of that loving zeal for God's commandments died away: his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God. The worship now offered in the temple was the lingering... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 11:2

Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel [Of the nations just enumerated, the law expressly forbade marriage with the Hittites alone ( Exodus 34:11-16 ; Deuteronomy 7:1-4 ), though the Zidonians are probably to be included, as being Canaanites ( Genesis 10:15 ). But the principle which applied in the ease of the seven nations of Canaan applied equally to all other idolaters. "They will turn away thy son from following me," etc. ( Deuteronomy 7:4 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 11:3

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses [These may have been members of royal or princely houses of neighbouring nations. Evidently they enjoyed a distinguished rank], and three hundred concubines [Though not committed to a defence of the accuracy of the figures 700 and 300 (which are clearly round numbers), it must be said that the reasons alleged for reducing them are not of much weight. It is hardly correct, e . g ; to say (as Rawlinson) that the numbers are given in Song of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 11:2

Ye shall not go in unto them ... - These words are not a quotation from the Pentateuch. They merely give the general meaning of the two passages prohibiting intermarriage with neighboring idolators (marginal references). Strictly speaking, the prohibition in the Law of intermarriage was confined to the Canaanite nations. But the principle of the prohibition applied equally to the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites who all bordered on the holy land; and was so applied by Ezra Ezra 9:1 and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 11:3

These numbers seem excessive to many critics, and it must be admitted that history furnishes no parallel to them. In Song of Solomon 6:8 the number of Solomon’s 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.” read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 11:1-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 11:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 11:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 11:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 11:2

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 11:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 11:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 11:3

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