Useful Bible Studies > 1 Kings Commentary > chapter 3
The Bible now introduces two matters that, in the end, would cause great trouble in Solomon’s life. They are his marriages and his religion (11:1-9).
At the start, however, these things did not seem to be serious problems. Solomon truly loved God – but his religion was not completely as God had commanded (Deuteronomy 12:1-14). Also, his wife came from a foreign nation – however, it was not one of the nations with which God had told Israel’s people not to make marriages (Deuteronomy 7:1-4).
Egypt was the most powerful country in the world at this time. Solomon married the daughter of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, as part of a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. Solomon was eager to establish trading relationships with many countries, and such peace agreements made that possible.
Although Solomon would have very many wives, he gave special honour to Pharaoh’s daughter. He built a great palace especially for her (7:8).
Pharaoh, too, was very pleased by his daughter’s marriage to Solomon. Pharaoh gave her a whole city, Gezer, as her wedding gift. That city was near the border between Philistia and Israel. The people who lived there were called Canaanites; they were some of the original inhabitants of the country, from before Israel’s people came there (Joshua 16:10). Pharaoh sent an army from Egypt to defeat the Canaanites, then he gave the city to his daughter (9:16). Solomon rebuilt it. Probably afterwards, the rent from the city provided a large income for Pharaoh’s daughter. She lived in great luxury.
Next part: Solomon's sacrifice at the high place in Gibeon (1 Kings 3:2-4)
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