1 Kings 3:1
INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KINGS 3
This chapter relates the marriage of Solomon with Pharaoh's daughter, 1Ki 3:1; his piety and devotion, 1Ki 3:2; his prayer for wisdom and understanding, which was acceptable to God, who promised to grant his request, with an addition to it, 1Ki 3:5; an instance and proof of the wisdom given him in determining a case between two harlots brought before him, which greatly raised his reputation, and gave him reverence among his people, 1Ki 3:16.
Ver. 1. And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt,.... Pharaoh was a common name of the kings of Egypt, of whom no mention is made in Scripture from the times of Moses until this time; which may seem strange, when it is considered that that kingdom was a potent one, and near the land of Canaan; but it was governed by a race of kings in this period of time, of whom, as Diodorus Siculus {i} says, there is nothing worthy of relation. The name of this Pharaoh, according to Eupolemus {k}, an Heathen writer, was Vaphres; for he says, that David contracted a friendship with this king, and he relates some letters which passed between him and Solomon, concerning sending him workmen for the building of the temple, which are still preserved; but Calvisius {l} thinks it was Sesostris; what this affinity was is next observed:
and took Pharaoh's daughter: that is, married her; who, according to Ben Gersom, was proselyted first to the Jewish religion; which is very probable, or otherwise it can hardly be thought Solomon would marry her; and as the forty fifth psalm, Ps 45:1, and the book of Canticles, supposed to be written on that occasion, seem to confirm; to which may be added, that it does not appear she ever enticed or drew him into idolatry; for, of all the idols his wives drew him into the worship of, no mention is made of any Egyptian deities. The Jews say {m} Rome was built the same day Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter, but without foundation: this was not Solomon's first wife; he was married to Naamah the Ammonitess before he was king, for he had Rehoboam by her a year before that for Solomon reigned only forty years, and Rehoboam, who succeeded him, was forty one years of age when he began to reign, 1Ki 11:41;
and brought her into the city of David; the fort of Zion:
until he had made an end of building his own house: which was thirteen years in building, and now seems to have been begun, 1Ki 7:1;
and the house of the Lord; the temple, which according: to the Jewish chronology {n}, was begun building before his marriage of Pharaoh's daughter, and was seven years in building; and therefore this marriage must be in the fourth year of his reign; for then he began to build the temple, 1Ki 6:37; and so it must be, since Shimei lived three years in Jerusalem before he was put to death, after which this marriage was, 1Ki 2:37;
and the wall of Jerusalem round about; all which he built by raising a levy on the people, 1Ki 9:15; and when these buildings were finished, he built a house for his wife, but in the mean while she dwelt in the city of David.
{i} Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 42. {k} Apud. Euseb. Praeparet. Evangel. l. 9. c. 30, 31, 32. {l} Chronolog. p. 191, 192. {m} T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 56. 2. & Sanhedrin, fol. 21. 2. {n} Seder Olam Rabba, c. 15. p. 41.