God's Warning to Isreal Regarding Multiply Wives - Deuteronomy 17:17 and 1 Kings 11:1-8 

There has always been an argument about various religions and multiple wives. One of the stagnating challenges is that if we read the bible starting with the Old testament God made it clear that man should only marry one wife within a monogamous relationship.

1: Let's start with Adam and Eve Old Testament: 

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
— Genesis 2:24 KJV

Jesus later repeats this same teaching in the New Testament:

“For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh.”
— Matthew 19:5 KJV

The command in Deuteronomy 17:17 was part of God’s instructions specifically for kings of Israel. God knew that unchecked power, wealth, and relationships could slowly corrupt a ruler’s heart. “Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away…”

This passage from 1 Kings 11:1–8 is one of the most sobering moments in the life of Solomon because it shows how gradual compromise can affect even the wisest person.

Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. ...

This warning was prophetic because it revealed what would eventually happen to several leaders in Scripture.

The text is very intentional in showing that Solomon did not simply make a minor mistake. The writer connects Solomon’s actions directly back to God’s earlier warnings in Deuteronomy.

Why This Warning Was So Serious

In the ancient world, kings often married:

• for political alliances,
• military protection,
• wealth,
• influence,
• and status.

But God wanted Israel’s kings to be different from pagan nations. Israel’s king was supposed to:

• trust God,
• lead spiritually,
• uphold righteousness,
• and remain separate from idolatry.

The danger was not simply having many wives itself. The deeper danger was:

• divided loyalty,
• spiritual compromise,
• and foreign influence bringing idol worship into Israel.

God understood that the heart can be slowly pulled away through compromise long before outward destruction appears.

Solomon, The Clearest Example

Solomon directly violated this command.

The Bible says: “And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.”
— 1 Kings 11:3

Then:

“For when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods…”
— 1 Kings 11:4

This is important because Solomon was:

• the wisest king,
• builder of the Temple,
• blessed with extraordinary favor,
• and personally visited by God.

Yet wisdom did not protect him from ongoing compromise.

His foreign wives introduced:

• idol worship,
• pagan altars,
• false gods such as Chemosh and Molech,
• and spiritual corruption into the nation.

• Notice the wording:

  “from the nations concerning which the Lord had said…”

  This means Solomon already knew the command.

  God had already warned:

  • do not intermarry with these nations,
  • do not adopt their worship,
  • do not allow your heart to be turned.

  Yet Solomon:

  • ignored the warning,
  • multiplied wives,
  • formed alliances through marriage,
  • and eventually allowed foreign worship into Israel.

  “Solomon Clung to These in Love”

  That phrase is powerful.

  The Hebrew idea behind “clung” carries the sense of:

  • attachment,
  • devotion,
  • being joined strongly to something.

  Ironically, it echoes language used in Genesis for marriage:

  “a man shall cleave unto his wife…”

  But here, Solomon’s attachments eventually competed with his devotion to God.

  This reveals an important biblical principle:
  what we attach our hearts to can shape our spiritual direction.

  “His Wives Turned Away His Heart”

  The passage repeats this phrase multiple times because it is the central tragedy of Solomon’s downfall.

  Notice:
  the Bible does not first focus on political failure or military weakness.

  It focuses on the heart.

  Why?

  Because throughout Scripture, the heart represents:

  • devotion,
  • worship,
  • loyalty,
  • desires,
  • and spiritual direction.

  Solomon’s downfall began inwardly before it appeared outwardly.

  Eventually the inward compromise became outward action:

  • building high places,
  • supporting idol worship,
  • permitting pagan practices,
  • and dishonoring God publicly.

  The False Gods Mentioned

  Ashtoreth

  Ashtoreth was associated with:

  • fertility worship,
  • sensuality,
  • and pagan ritual practices.

  Milcom (or Molech)

  Molech worship became infamous for extremely detestable practices, including child sacrifice.

  This shows how far compromise can progress when truth is gradually abandoned.

  “His Heart Was Not Wholly True”

  This is one of the saddest lines in Solomon’s story:

  “his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God…”

  Solomon did not necessarily stop believing God existed.
  The issue was divided devotion.

  Scripture repeatedly teaches that God desires wholehearted devotion, not partial loyalty mixed with compromise.

  Comparison to David

  The passage compares Solomon to David:

  “as was the heart of David his father.”

  David sinned seriously at times, but David repeatedly:

  • repented,
  • returned to God,
  • humbled himself,
  • and sought God wholeheartedly.

  Solomon’s later years instead became marked by ongoing compromise and accommodation.

  The Broader Lesson

  This chapter is not only about Solomon’s marriages. It is about:

  • compromise,
  • gradual drift,
  • divided loyalty,
  • and spiritual influence.

  It demonstrates that:

  • wisdom alone is not enough,
  • success does not guarantee faithfulness,
  • and even gifted people must guard their hearts continually.

  That is why Proverbs, many traditionally connected to Solomon himself — says:

  “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
  — Proverbs 4:23 KJV

  Ironically, Solomon taught this wisdom, yet later struggled to fully live it in his own life.