Solomon
Unlike his father David, in the case of Solomon, there is
clear condemnation for Solomon’s many wives. The problem was not that Solomon
engaged in polygamy. The problem was that Solomon violated the law of
Deuteronomy 17:16–17 that a king was not to have many wives, especially
foreign ones.
The narrative evaluation of Solomon is written to spotlight
the fact that Solomon was in direct violation of the laws for the king (table
4.1):
Table 4.1 Laws for the King
|
Deuteronomy 17:14-17 |
1 Kings 10:23-11:8 |
|
v. 16 “He must not acquire for
himself many horses . . . “ |
10:26 “And Solomon gathered chariots
and horseman. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horseman . . . “ |
|
v. 17a: “He shall not acquire
for himself many wives . . .” |
11:3 “Solomon had 700 wives and
300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.” |
|
17b “nor shall he acquire for
himself excessive silver and gold.” |
10:27 “and the king made silver
as common in Jerusalem as stone . . .” |
The comparison between these two texts shows that Solomon
was in violation of the law of Deuteronomy 17:17 prohibiting a king from having
many wives. Negative evaluations of Solomon’s polygamy must take into account
his violation of the law, not his polygamy in general. (Ryan Stephens, Polygamy
in the Law of Moses [Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books, 2024], 98-99)
