Question:  How could Solomon perform his Marital Rights?

The question as given:

[2.] Marital Rights? Exodus 21:10 - How could Solomon perform his Marital Rights to his 700 wives? And does that include concubines? From your remarks, maybe not concubines, but definitely wives.

 

 

 

DOES "WIVES" INCLUDE THE CONCUBINES?

 

    In this context concubines (slave wives) are included. Exodus 21:9--all married women (free and slaves, concubines) were to be treated equally as "daughters" under the Law.

Exodus 21

10 And if he takes another woman, her food and clothing and her married rights are not to be less.

(BBE)

 

KJV:   

“If⁵¹⁸ he take³⁹⁴⁷ him another³¹² wife;” [“wife” is in italics in the KJV and that's one thing I like about the KJV. The italics always mean that the translators indicate that they feel that it can be understood but it is not in the original text.]

The verb is to “take” and in the context would include taking a woman whether free or slave. Both are equal. Both are under the ordinance of "the daughters" (Exodus 21:9).

 

“TAKE” H3947 (STRONG'S)

לקח

lâqach

Law-kakh'

A primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications): - accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive (-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.

 

RESPECTING THE "MARRIAGE RIGHTS"

 

“...he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marriage rights.”^{Strong's H5772}

 

H5772   עונה‛ônâh  O-naw'

From an unused root apparently meaning to dwell together; (sexual) cohabitation: - duty of marriage.

 

SOLOMON AND THE LAW (of Moses)

 

           Solomon would have had no trouble taking care of the first of his obligations and that's probably why kings enjoyed the privilege of multiple wives. But if he violated the last part, this was not his only failure for he violated God's Law concerning kings.

Deuteronomy 17 : 16 "But he shall not multiply horses for himself... 17 "Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.”

Three prohibitions that Solomon broke as king: multiplying 1. Horses 2. Wives 3. Silver and gold.

        1 Kings 10 :14 "The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, 15 besides that from the traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country. 16 And King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of gold went into each shield. Etc. 26 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.”

        28 Also Solomon had horses imported from Egypt and Keveh; the king's merchants bought them in Keveh at the current price."

        1 Kings 11 :1 “But King Solomon loved^H157 many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites- 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. 2 from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, "You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love. 6 Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David.'"

 

H157  אהב אהב  '    âhab 'âhêb    Aw-hab', aw-habe'

"A primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise): - (be-) love (-d, -ly, -R), like, friend."

 

        Solomon violated every prohibition (against multiplying horses, wives, and gold). He was not faithful to God in the sense that Abraham and David were.

 

        Did Solomon keep his marital duties to all his wives. The Bible says that he “loved” them. This word could just mean that he had affection for them. And the word could just be applied as a general expression for all his wives. After all, many of his marriages were political and enhanced his relations with the nations about him. In Solomon's day wives were currency. For example, a lesser king would seal a treaty with a greater king by offering up his daughter to be the wife of his victorious opponent.    And Solomon made a lot of treaties.

 

         God had given Solomon wisdom to govern his people but Solomon did not apply that wisdom prudently to his own life. If he is the writer of Ecclesiastes, his life seemed to be testing what wisdom God had given him. In other words, he would have been testing  God. He tried everything under the sun (good and bad). Everything was just like God's wisdom had said, “All was vanity.” Were the final words of Ecclesiastes indicating that Solomon repented before his death? “What is the duty of man? To fear God and keep his commandments.  This is the whole duty of man.” At any rate, Solomon's sins brought on the consequences of the split and destruction of the United Kingdom.

 

     

CONCLUSION:

       Could Solomon honor his marriage duties to 700 wives (plus 300 concubines)?

       My observation is that Solomon was trying to keep his wives happy and because of this he fell from the grace of God. His wives included ceremonially "unclean" wives. Hence, forbidden marriages. To please such women, Solomon would have to honor their false and idolatrous religions. 1 Kings 11:2. Whether he was able to keep his marital duties became the least of his worry.

 

Question #1:  Why Did God Allow Polygamy? Question #3:   How Could Abraham Favor Isaac Over Ishmael and Yet Be Called Faithful? Question #4:  Does God Allow Polygamy After the Law?