Performed Solomon Very Simply take a keen Egyptian Bride?

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Maybe not Pharaoh’s Daughter. Which coffin defense belonged to a woman which lived-in Thebes throughout Egypt’s twenty-first Dynasty. In the event their particular name was not maintained, she seemingly have been rich and belonged for the clerical class-once the conveyed from the brand of their own coffin defense. The fresh new woman resided within exact same time given that Solomon’s bride, the fresh unnamed child out of Pharaoh, might have stayed. 0.

His harem is provided with from the 700 wives and you can 3 hundred concubines (step 1 Kings eleven:3)-definitely an exaggeration. Predicated on step one Kings 11, the guy and got overseas spouses, a number of which added him so you’re able to idolatry. Eg, to meet their Moabite spouses, he established a beneficial shrine toward Moabite god Chemosh. The fresh new biblical author trembles with indignation when reporting Solomon’s falling away.

This isn’t remarkable you to Solomon is to ally themselves with queens from the lands around him. Eg ended up being royal plan for of a lot kings throughout the ancient Close Eastern record. Yet , that which was outstanding is actually for Solomon for ily (1 Kings step 3:1).

The thing that was so exceptional regarding it? Simply take including so it exchange included in among the greatest Amarna Characters (c. 14th century B.C.E.), authored by the fresh new Babylonian king Kadashman-Enlil II to your Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III, more three centuries before lifetime of Solomon:

Moreover, your my buddy, when i had written for you from the marrying the daughter, prior to the habit of perhaps not offering (a child) you typed to me “Off forever zero child of your king of Egypt is made available to some one.” … I wrote the following … Upload me personally a lovely woman since if she was in fact your child. Who are able to say, “She is no child of your own queen!” But carrying towards choice, you’ve not delivered individuals. 1

According to biblical college student Abraham Malamat, there can be one most other illustration of a prospective Egyptian little princess are provided to a different ruler-so you can King Nikmad away from Ugarit, predicated on an enthusiastic Ugaritic document depicting the newest in the stops the queen probably didn’t get married a genuine daughter of your own pharaoh but instead a person in the newest regal harem. New Greek historian Herodotus records you to definitely King Amasis out of Egypt also would not render his dbyses, queen out of Persia (Histories, Publication III:1). dos

New alliance off Solomon and you can Egypt, in the event that genuine, try its a different. Practical question are, was it a bona-fide happening or an empty feature? Malamat’s example out of Ugarit will bring no less than a limited precedent. Yes, this new Egyptian leader exactly who offered an enthusiastic “Egyptian little princess” in order to Nikmad ran apart from just what Amenhotep III are ready to manage into Babylonian monarch. A look at the biblical text message recounting Solomon’s matrimony in order to a keen Egyptian princess is apparently manageable.

Queen Solomon is fabled for his facts and, among other things, his of numerous arital dating

At the end of 1 Kings dos, Solomon provides consolidated his laws. Section 3 starts with breaking information: “Solomon contracted a married relationship alliance having Pharaoh, king regarding Egypt, using child away from Pharaoh since the a wife, and you can providing their own [to call home] around away from David, up until the guy complete strengthening his palace, plus the Temple off YHWH, and also the wall encircling Jerusalem” (author’s interpretation).

Credit: Photo Robin Stevens/CC from the-NC-ND 2

Punctual forward to 1 Leaders 9:24: “Once Pharoah’s child went upwards in the Town of David into family [Solomon] got built mГёde Haitian kvinder for her, then reconstructed the fresh Millo citadel.” Once again, the text states Pharaoh’s child mainly with regards to Solomon’s building tactics. Alas, not one person have understood our home otherwise castle Solomon is considered getting designed for their Egyptian spouse, but some scholars has actually recognized new Millo into the so-named Went Stone Framework into the Jerusalem. step 3