1 kings 3:1 - Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into David’s city, until he had finished building his own house, Yahweh’s house, and the wall around Jerusalem.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "1 kings 3:1" mean?
This verse from 1 Kings 3:1 describes a significant event in the early reign of King Solomon, highlighting his political strategy and the beginning of his ambitious building projects. Let's break it down:
"Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt..." This is a key statement. Alliances in the ancient world were often cemented through marriage. Solomon forging an alliance with Egypt, a major power at the time, was a strategic move to secure his kingdom and establish his position on the world stage. This implies diplomatic negotiations and a formal agreement between Israel and Egypt.
"...and took Pharaoh’s daughter..." This refers to Solomon marrying Pharaoh's daughter. This marriage was not likely based on romantic love, but rather a calculated decision to solidify the political alliance. Marrying a foreign princess was a common way to ensure peace and cooperation between nations. The "Pharaoh" mentioned here remains unidentified, as Egyptian records do not mention this specific marriage, making it difficult to corroborate archaeologically.
"...and brought her into David’s city..." David's city refers to the original, smaller area of Jerusalem, which David had conquered. Bringing Pharaoh's daughter there suggests that a special dwelling was allocated for her within the royal complex, possibly reflecting her high status and the importance of the Egyptian alliance.
"...until he had finished building his own house, Yahweh’s house, and the wall around Jerusalem." This indicates the temporal context of the verse. Solomon housed Pharaoh's daughter in David's city temporarily, pending the completion of his major construction projects. These projects were:
"his own house": A grand palace for Solomon himself, signifying his power and wealth.
"Yahweh’s house": The Temple in Jerusalem, a magnificent structure dedicated to the God of Israel. This was a central undertaking during Solomon's reign, fulfilling David's desire to build a permanent house for God.
"the wall around Jerusalem": Fortification of the city, a necessary measure for defense and security.
In summary, the verse tells us that:
Solomon formed a political alliance with Egypt through marriage to Pharaoh's daughter.
This alliance was strategically important for Solomon's reign and his international standing.
Pharaoh's daughter was temporarily housed in David's city.
This event occurred early in Solomon's reign, before his major building projects were completed.
The verse highlights Solomon's political acumen, his ambition to build a powerful kingdom, and his dedication to constructing the Temple.
Significance:
Political strategy: The verse showcases how marriages were used as political tools in the ancient world.
Economic power: The verse alludes to the resources and manpower Solomon had at his disposal, allowing him to undertake massive building projects.
Religious significance: The building of the Temple was a pivotal event in Israelite history, solidifying Jerusalem as the center of worship.
Historical context: The verse provides insight into the early years of Solomon's reign and the challenges he faced in establishing his kingdom.
1 kings 3:1 - Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into David’s city, until he had finished building his own house, Yahweh’s house, and the wall around Jerusalem.
What does "1 kings 3:1" mean?
This verse from 1 Kings 3:1 describes a significant event in the early reign of King Solomon, highlighting his political strategy and the beginning of his ambitious building projects. Let's break it down:
"Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt..." This is a key statement. Alliances in the ancient world were often cemented through marriage. Solomon forging an alliance with Egypt, a major power at the time, was a strategic move to secure his kingdom and establish his position on the world stage. This implies diplomatic negotiations and a formal agreement between Israel and Egypt.
"...and took Pharaoh’s daughter..." This refers to Solomon marrying Pharaoh's daughter. This marriage was not likely based on romantic love, but rather a calculated decision to solidify the political alliance. Marrying a foreign princess was a common way to ensure peace and cooperation between nations. The "Pharaoh" mentioned here remains unidentified, as Egyptian records do not mention this specific marriage, making it difficult to corroborate archaeologically.
"...and brought her into David’s city..." David's city refers to the original, smaller area of Jerusalem, which David had conquered. Bringing Pharaoh's daughter there suggests that a special dwelling was allocated for her within the royal complex, possibly reflecting her high status and the importance of the Egyptian alliance.
"...until he had finished building his own house, Yahweh’s house, and the wall around Jerusalem." This indicates the temporal context of the verse. Solomon housed Pharaoh's daughter in David's city temporarily, pending the completion of his major construction projects. These projects were:
"his own house": A grand palace for Solomon himself, signifying his power and wealth.
"Yahweh’s house": The Temple in Jerusalem, a magnificent structure dedicated to the God of Israel. This was a central undertaking during Solomon's reign, fulfilling David's desire to build a permanent house for God.
"the wall around Jerusalem": Fortification of the city, a necessary measure for defense and security.
In summary, the verse tells us that:
Solomon formed a political alliance with Egypt through marriage to Pharaoh's daughter.
This alliance was strategically important for Solomon's reign and his international standing.
Pharaoh's daughter was temporarily housed in David's city.
This event occurred early in Solomon's reign, before his major building projects were completed.
The verse highlights Solomon's political acumen, his ambition to build a powerful kingdom, and his dedication to constructing the Temple.
Significance:
Political strategy: The verse showcases how marriages were used as political tools in the ancient world.
Economic power: The verse alludes to the resources and manpower Solomon had at his disposal, allowing him to undertake massive building projects.
Religious significance: The building of the Temple was a pivotal event in Israelite history, solidifying Jerusalem as the center of worship.
Historical context: The verse provides insight into the early years of Solomon's reign and the challenges he faced in establishing his kingdom.