Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
Ver. 26. Did not Solomon, king of Israel, &c.] Did not he deviate and prevaricate in his old age, shamefully turning from the Lord, who had appeared unto him twice? Did not his strange wives draw him to strange practices; insomuch as some have doubted about his salvation, and Bellarmine reckoneth him (but wrongfully) amongst reprobates?
Yet among many nations was there no king like him] For honour, pleasure, wisdom, and wealth, &c., the abundance he had of these drew out his spirits, and dissolved him. See Mark 10:23,25 1 Timothy 6:9 Isaiah 39:1,2 .
Who was beloved of his God] His corculum, his darling, his Jedidiah, 2 Samuel 12:25, but he did not reciprocate; his heart was disjointed and hung loose from the Lord, whom he grievously provoked by his sensuality and apostasy.
And God made him king over all Israel] Not by right of inheritance (for he was a younger brother), but by special designation. Yet he defied that throne whereunto God had so graciously advanced him; this was a great aggravation of his sin, 2 Samuel 12:7,8 Deuteronomy 32:12; Deu 32:19 Amos 2:9 .
Nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin] And that most shamefully. Never was there a wiser man than Solomon; and never any saint fell into more foolish lusts. Job, who had the greatest adversity that ever man felt, fell much; but Solomon, who had the greatest prosperity that ever man saw, fell more.