Did Solomon Really Simply take an Egyptian Bride to be?

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Maybe not Pharaoh’s Daughter. That it coffin coverage belonged so you’re able to a woman exactly who lived in Thebes during the Egypt’s twenty-first Dynasty. Though their own identity hasn’t been kept, she appears to have been rich and you can belonged to your clerical class-as the shown by the form of her coffin safety. This new lady stayed within the exact same go out just like the Solomon’s bride-to-be, the newest unnamed daughter out of Pharaoh, would have lived. 0.

Their harem is offered from the 700 spouses and you will three hundred concubines (step one Leaders eleven:3)-surely an overstatement. Predicated on 1 Leaders 11, the guy and additionally grabbed overseas wives, a few of just who contributed him so you’re able to idolatry. Instance, to meet their Moabite spouses, the guy situated a great shrine on Moabite jesus Chemosh. The brand new biblical copywriter trembles with indignation when revealing Solomon’s falling away.

This isn’t remarkable you to definitely Solomon would be to ally himself that have queens on the lands up to him. For example ended up being royal policy for of several kings throughout the ancient Near Eastern records. Yet , that which was outstanding is actually getting Solomon getting ily (step one Leaders step 3:1).

That was so exceptional regarding it? Get for instance this change found in one of many famous Amarna Characters (c. 14th century B.C.Age.), compiled by the fresh new Babylonian queen Kadashman-Enlil II into Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III, over around three many years before the time of Solomon:

Moreover, you my buddy, when i typed for you on the marrying your own daughter, according to your own practice of perhaps not giving (good child) you published if you ask me “Away from forever no child of one’s queen out-of Egypt is actually given to anyone.” … We penned as follows … Publish myself a lovely woman because if she was your daughter. Who is able to say, “This woman is no daughter of king!” However, carrying for the choice, you have not sent somebody. step one

Predicated on biblical pupil Abraham Malamat, there is certainly only one almost every other example of a prospective Egyptian princess being supplied to a foreign ruler-so you’re able to King Nikmad from Ugarit, considering a keen Ugaritic file portraying this new in the finishes that queen probably didn’t marry an authentic daughter of your pharaoh but rather a member of the fresh royal harem. The brand new Greek historian Herodotus accounts one Queen Amasis from Egypt actually would not render his dbyses, queen out of Persia (Histories, Guide III:1). dos

The brand new alliance off Solomon and you may Egypt, if the true, try it’s an exemption. Practical question is, was just about it a bona-fide going on otherwise an empty boast? Malamat’s example regarding Ugarit provides at the very least a limited precedent. Yes, new Egyptian leader exactly who offered an “Egyptian princess” so you’re able dato Etiopisk kvinder to Nikmad ran above and beyond just what Amenhotep III is actually prepared to carry out with the Babylonian monarch. A look at the biblical text message recounting Solomon’s marriage so you’re able to an Egyptian little princess appears to be manageable.

Queen Solomon try well-known for their understanding and you will, on top of other things, his of several arital relationship

At the conclusion of step 1 Leaders 2, Solomon features consolidated his rule. Chapter 3 begins with breaking news: “Solomon developed a married relationship alliance that have Pharaoh, queen off Egypt, taking the child out of Pharaoh as a spouse, and you will bringing their own [to reside] in town regarding David, until he completed strengthening his palace, in addition to Temple off YHWH, while the wall encircling Jerusalem” (author’s interpretation).

Credit: Photos Robin Stevens/CC by-NC-ND 2

Prompt toward step 1 Leaders nine:24: “When Pharoah’s child went upwards on City of David with the home [Solomon] got designed for their particular, then he rebuilt brand new Millo citadel.” Once again, what states Pharaoh’s daughter generally regarding Solomon’s strengthening systems. Sadly, no one provides understood the house otherwise castle Solomon is considered to possess built for their Egyptian spouse, but some students enjoys identified the brand new Millo on therefore-called Moved Stone Structure inside the Jerusalem. step three