Did Solomon Really Grab an Egyptian Bride-to-be?

Did Solomon Really Grab an Egyptian Bride-to-be?

Perhaps not Pharaoh’s Daughter. This coffin cover belonged so you’re able to a lady just who lived-in Thebes through the Egypt’s 21st Dynasty. Although their particular term wasn’t preserved, she appears to have already been wealthy and you will belonged into the clerical class-just like the indicated by the types of their coffin security. New lady resided within the exact same big date given that Solomon’s bride to be, the brand new unnamed child regarding Pharaoh, will have stayed. 0.

His harem is provided with in the 700 wives and you can three hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:3)-positively an exaggeration. Considering 1 Kings 11, the guy and additionally took international spouses, the whom provided him to idolatry. Instance, to meet up with his Moabite wives, the guy created a shrine into the Moabite god Chemosh. The brand new biblical creator trembles with indignation when reporting Solomon’s falling away.

This isn’t superior that Solomon is ally themselves with queens on places up to him. Instance got regal plan for many kings throughout old Close Eastern background. Yet , that which was remarkable are to have Solomon having ily (step 1 Kings step 3:1).

The thing that was thus outstanding regarding it? Grab as an example this replace included in among greatest Amarna Characters (c. 14th century B.C.E.), compiled by the newest Babylonian queen Kadashman-Enlil II into the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III, more about three years up until the lifetime of Solomon:

Additionally, you my cousin, when i composed to you on marrying your own daughter, relative to your own practice of perhaps not providing (an excellent daughter) your had written to me “Regarding time immemorial no daughter of king out of Egypt try made available to individuals.” … We wrote as follows … Send me personally an attractive lady as if she was their child. Who are able to say, “The woman is no daughter of your king!” But holding to the decision, you haven’t sent someone. step 1

According to biblical pupil Abraham Malamat, there is one other instance of a potential Egyptian little princess becoming made available to a foreign leader-to Queen Nikmad off Ugarit, predicated on a keen Ugaritic document depicting the fresh new at comes to an end your king most likely did not wed a real child of the pharaoh but rather a person in the newest royal harem. The brand new Greek historian Herodotus reports one to King Amasis of Egypt actually refused to bring their dbyses, king out-of Persia (Histories, Publication III:1). dos

The newest alliance from Solomon and you can Egypt, in the event that correct, try it really is an exception to this rule. Practical question try, was just about it a bona-fide taking place or a blank offer? Malamat’s analogy away from Ugarit brings at least a partial precedent. Yes, the fresh Egyptian ruler who provided an enthusiastic “Egyptian little princess” in order to Nikmad ran apart from what Amenhotep III is prepared to manage towards Babylonian monarch. A glance at the biblical text recounting Solomon’s marriage in order to an Egyptian princess seems to be under control.

Queen Solomon are fabled for their skills and, on top of other things, his many arital relationship

At the end of step 1 Leaders 2, Solomon keeps consolidated their code. Section step 3 starts with breaking information: “Solomon developed a wedding alliance having Pharaoh, king of Egypt, using daughter out-of Pharaoh since the a wife, and you can getting their unique [to reside] in the city off David, up until the guy finished building his palace, and Forehead off YHWH, and wall surface encircling Jerusalem” (author’s translation).

Credit: Pictures Robin Stevens/CC because of the-NC-ND dos

Timely forward to 1 Leaders 9:24: “When Pharoah’s daughter ran up in the City of David for the family [Solomon] had designed for their unique, then reconstructed the latest Millo citadel.” Again, the words says Pharaoh’s daughter mainly when it comes to Solomon’s building strategies. Sadly, no one keeps known our home or castle Solomon is said getting built for their Egyptian wife, but some scholars enjoys identified the brand new Millo to your very-titled Strolled Stone Design inside Jerusalem. step 3

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