Bible Strands
1 Kings 11:1
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records King Solomon’s personal conduct during his reign, placing this account immediately after the description of his wisdom and temple completion. The disclosure occurs at the narrative turning point where his political alliances and private choices begin to conflict with earlier divine instructions.
The words — The Hebrew phrase אָהַב נָכְרִיּוֹת רַבּוֹת (ahav nakhrīyōt rabbōt) literally renders “he loved foreign women many.” This verb of affection is explicitly paired with a quantitative adjective to emphasize the scale of his attachment.
The thread — The text directly echoes Deuteronomy 17:17’s prohibition against the king taking many wives lest his heart turn astray. It also anticipates 1 Kings 11:8, where those same wives are shown burning incense and sacrificing to their gods.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to recognize how personal affection can systematically override explicit divine commands. It demands accountability for leaders whose private choices directly compromise communal covenant loyalty.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 17:17 He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.
- Proverbs 6:24 to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
- 1 Kings 11:8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.
- Nehemiah 13:23 In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
- Proverbs 2:16 It will rescue you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with seductive words
- Proverbs 7:5 that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words.
- 1 Kings 3:1 Later, Solomon formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. Solomon brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his palace and the house of the LORD, as well as the wall around Jerusalem.
- Proverbs 5:8 Keep your path far from her; do not go near the door of her house,
- Proverbs 22:14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.
- Proverbs 23:33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.