“Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.”
King James Version (KJV)
11:3 Seven hundred wives, &c. - God had particularly forbidden thekings to multiply either horses or wives, #Deut 17:16|,17, we sawchap.#1Ki 10:29|, how he broke the former law, multiplying horses: andhere we see, how he broke the latter, multiplying wives. David set theexample. One ill act of a good man may do more mischief than twenty of awicked man. Besides, they were strange women, of the nations which Godhad expressly forbidden them to marry with. And to compleat the mischief,he clave unto these in love; was extravagantly fond of them, Solomonhad much knowledge. But to what purpose, when he knew not how to governhis appetites?
11:4 Was old - As having now reigned nigh thirty years. When it mighthave been expected that experience would have made him wiser: then Godpermitted him to fall so shamefully, that he might be to all succeedinggenerations an example of the folly, and weakness of the wisest and thebest men, when left to themselves. Turned his heart - Not that theychanged his mind about the true God, and idols, which is not credible; butthey obtained from him a publick indulgence for their worship, and possiblypersuaded him to join with them in the outward act of idol - worship; or, atleast, in their feasts upon their sacrifices, which was a participation oftheir idolatry.