1 Kings 11:1

1. Loved many strange women Chiefly princesses, (1 Kings 11:3,) the daughters of the many vassal kings who were tributary to Solomon. How strange that he who in his Proverbs (Proverbs 2:16-19; Proverbs 5:3-4; Proverbs 7:5-27) could give such noble counsel to avoid the strange woman, should be himself taken in her snare.

Together with the daughter of Pharaoh That is, besides the daughter of Pharaoh. She was the wife of his youth and of his better days; and although his marriage with her was not in harmony with the spirit of the law, (see note on 1 Kings 3:1,) had he remained true to her no particular harm would have resulted, for we cannot find that she ever seduced him to idolatry. But when he essayed to take other foreign wives, and especially of nations among whom the Hebrews were positively forbidden to marry, his fall was speedy and fatal.

Moabites, Ammonites According to the letter of the law (Exodus 34:11; Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy 7:1; Deuteronomy 7:3) only marriage with the Canaanitish nations was prohibited; but Moabites and Ammonites were forbidden to enter the congregation until the tenth generation, and the Edomites until the third. Deuteronomy 23:3; Deuteronomy 23:8. Indeed, the spirit of the law was against intermarriage with any and all who would be likely to turn the heart after false gods.