(2) 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. (3) And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. (4) For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. (5) For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. (6) And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. (7) Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. (8) And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
It is worth remarking how subtle the enemy of souls acted upon Solomon. Had Solomon begun without the instrumentality of women exciting his lusts, to depart from the Lord, the strength of his temptation would have been lessened. But by this inlet to the corruptions of nature he gradually paved the way for idolatry. So Balaam advised Moab concerning Israel. The daughters of Moab fascinated the poor Israelites by their charms, and when once they had been brought to prostitute their bodies the transition was soon made to the prostitution of their souls. Compare Numbers 25:1-2; Revelation 2:14. But Reader! pause over the alarming account as it refers to Solomon. Well may everyone that reads it cry out, Lord! what is man! Is this Solomon, the beloved, the Jedidiah of the Lord? Is this he who built the temple; and now over against it sets up an high place for the dunghill idol of Moab! Oh! precious, precious Jesus! I would say for my Self and Reader, Keep us, dearest Lord, keep us by thine almighty power through faith unto salvation!