The Thousand Wives BY J. JAMES TISSOT. REPRODUCED BY COURTESY + “And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.” -I. Kings, 11, 3. A S ONE of the most remarkable details of Solomon's splendor, it is mentioned that he had in his harem, in that magnificent palace which he erected for himself beside the Temple, a thousand female attendants, most of them his wives. This was carrying the polygamy of the East to an astonishing length. No other harem so extensive is known to history; and commentators have been inclined to prefer the smaller figures of the "Song of Solomon" (6, 8) where the total is set at somewhat over a hundred. Foremost among these wives was that daughter of Pharaoh, who had presumably been the earliest of them. Tradition mentions also a daughter of King Hiram, and includes the queen of Sheba. Then there were "princesses" of Moab, of Edom, of the Amorites, the Hittites, and so on. With some of these races the Israelites were expressly forbidden by God to intermarry; and it is to this disobedience that the Bible traces Solomon's degeneracy and downfall. His later days seem to have been mainly abandoned to a languorous life of seclusion among his women. SECOND CHRONICLES XXVI UZZIAH'S POWER 799 5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper. 6 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. 7 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims. 8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly. 9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. 10 Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry. 11 Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains. 12 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred. 13 And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones. 15 And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong. 16¶ But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: 18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. |