Why did God allow Solomon to have 1,000 wives and concubines?

Answer

First Kings 11:3 states that Solomon had “seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines.” Clearly, God permitted Solomon to have these wives, but permission does not imply approval. Solomon’s marital choices directly disobeyed God’s Law, leading to consequences.

Solomon began his reign well, heeding his father David’s advice, who instructed him, “Be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go” (1 Kings 2:2-3). Solomon’s early humility is evident in 1 Kings 3:5-9 when he seeks wisdom from the Lord. Wisdom is the application of knowledge; it guides us in making decisions that honor the Lord and align with the Scriptures. The book of Proverbs, authored by Solomon, offers practical advice on following the Lord. Additionally, the Song of Solomon portrays a beautiful image of God’s intended design for marriage. Thus, King Solomon understood what was right, even if he did not always choose the right path.

As time passed, Solomon disregarded his own advice and the wisdom found in Scripture. God had clearly instructed any future king: refrain from accumulating horses, multiplying wives, and amassing silver and gold (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). These commands aimed to prevent the king from relying on military strength, worshiping foreign gods, and trusting in wealth.

Instead of relying on God. Any examination of Solomon’s life will reveal that he violated all three of these divine prohibitions!

Therefore, Solomon’s practice of marrying many wives and concubines directly contradicted God’s Word. Just as God had foretold, “As Solomon grew old, his wives led him astray to other gods, and his heart was not fully committed to the LORD his God” «For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. », (1 Kings 11:4). To please his wives, Solomon even participated in worshipping Milcom (or Molech), a god that demanded abominable practices to be carried out (1 Kings 11:7-8).

God permitted Solomon to make the decision to disobey, but Solomon’s decision resulted in inevitable consequences. “So the Lord said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates’” «Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. », (1 Kings 11:11). God extended mercy to Solomon for David’s sake (verse 12), but Solomon’s kingdom was eventually divided. Another punishment inflicted on Solomon was conflict with the Edomites and Arameans (verses 14-25).

Solomon was not a mere figurehead king. God did not compel him to do what was right. Instead, God revealed His will, bestowed wisdom upon Solomon, and expected the king to comply. In his later years, Solomon chose to disobey, and he was held accountable.

Accountable for his decisions.

It is instructive that, toward the end of Solomon’s life, God used him to write one more book, which we find in the Bible. The book of Ecclesiastes gives us “the rest of the story.” Solomon throughout the book tells us everything he tried in order to find fulfillment apart from God in this world, or “under the sun.” This is his own testimony: “I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired… a harem as well – the delights of the heart of man” «I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. », (Ecclesiastes 2:8). But his harem did not bring happiness. Instead, “Everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun” (verse 11). At the conclusion of Ecclesiastes, we find wise counsel: “Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man” «Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. », (Ecclesiastes 12:13).”

It is never God’s will that anyone sin, but He does allow us to make our own choices. The story of Solomon is a powerful lesson for us that it does not pay to disobey. It is not enough to start well; we must seek God’s grace to finish well, too. Life without God is a dead-end street. Solomon thought that having 1,000 wives and concubines would provide happiness, but whatever pleasure he derived was not worth the price he paid. A wiser Solomon concluded that his life of pleasure was “meaningless” «Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity. », (Ecclesiastes 2:11).

The book of Ecclesiastes concludes with a caution that “God will bring every deed into judgment” (verse 14) as stated in Ecclesiastes 12:8.