Nehemiah 13:26
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights the tragic irony that even a king as uniquely gifted and loved by God as Solomon could be led astray by "strange women." It's not just that he sinned, but that his exceptional status and divine favor didn't shield him from this specific temptation. This serves as a stark reminder that no amount of blessing or wisdom makes one immune to the corrosive influence of misplaced affections.
Nehemiah has just discovered that many Jewish men have married women from surrounding pagan nations, directly violating God's commands and threatening the people's spiritual purity. He responds with strong action, forcibly separating these couples and restoring proper temple worship and Sabbath observance. This verse is Nehemiah's powerful appeal to the conscience of these men, reminding them of King Solomon's tragic downfall due to similar foreign marriages, even though Solomon was exceptionally wise and favored by God.
Even the wisest and most favored can be led astray. This verse points to a tragic example from Israel's history.
Nehemiah uses King Solomon, a figure of immense wisdom and divine favor, to highlight the danger of foreign marriages.
A Unique King
Solomon was unmatched among nations for his wisdom, riches, and God's blessing. He was 'beloved by his God,' a testament to his special relationship with the Lord. God even bestowed great favor upon him, making him king over all Israel.
The Fatal Flaw
Yet, despite all these blessings and his God-given wisdom, Solomon fell into sin. The verse states plainly: 'nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.' His many foreign wives, who worshipped other gods, turned his heart away from the Lord, leading to idolatry and great sorrow.
This isn't just ancient history; it's a stark reminder that our associations and the influences we allow into our lives carry immense weight. No amount of personal strength or past favor can immunize us from the corrosive effect of ungodly companionship.
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Even when His chosen fall, God's purposes endure, and His love can be seen.
The story of Solomon, as recalled by Nehemiah, also reveals God's unwavering faithfulness, even in the face of human sin.
Love and Discipline
Solomon was 'beloved by his God,' and God made him king. This favor wasn't withdrawn immediately when Solomon sinned. Instead, God's love for Solomon (even calling him Jedidiah, 'beloved of the Lord') led to discipline, not abandonment. While Solomon's sin had severe consequences—including the division of the kingdom—God's covenant promises remained.
A Lesson in Grace
Nehemiah uses Solomon's example not just as a warning, but implicitly as a reminder of God's enduring commitment to Israel. Even after such a profound failure, God continued to work through the lineage of Solomon to fulfill His redemptive plan. This shows that while God hates sin and will discipline it, His grace is deep, and His ultimate purposes are secure.
Understand the original words
chata' · Hebrew Verb
A transgression against God's law, characterized by missing the mark of His holy standard, whether by act or nature. It represents a fundamental alienation from God that requires atonement.
nokriyyah · Hebrew Adjective
One belonging to a different nation, particularly those outside the covenant community of Israel. In the Old Testament, these groups were often viewed as sources of idolatrous influence and spiritual compromise.
'ahab · Hebrew Adjective/Participle
A state of high favor or affection; in biblical terms, it often refers to God's covenantal choice and love for a person, placing them in a special relationship of blessing and responsibility.
Nehemiah uses the tragic example of Solomon—a man blessed with unparalleled wisdom and God's favor, yet ultimately led into sin and national division by foreign wives—to impress upon his people the severe danger of their own mixed marriages.
c. 970–931 BC
Solomon's Reign and Temple Construction
Solomon, renowned for his wisdom and piety, builds the First Temple in Jerusalem and ushers in a golden age for Israel. During his reign, God blesses him greatly, but he also begins to stray.
c. 931 BC
Solomon's Sin and Divided Kingdom
Solomon's many foreign wives lead him to worship other gods, causing God's anger. This sin leads to the division of the united kingdom after his death, a profound political and spiritual crisis.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquer Judah, destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, and exile many Israelites. This event is a direct consequence of generations of disobedience, including the syncretism stemming from mixed marriages.
c. 516 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
After returning from exile, the Jewish people, led by figures like Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest, rebuild the Temple. However, the community remains vulnerable to external influences.
Mid-5th Century BC— this verse
Nehemiah's Reforms in Jerusalem
Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and witnesses widespread religious and social decay, including the alarming practice of Jews marrying women from surrounding nations.
Mid-5th Century BC
Nehemiah Confronts Mixed Marriages
Nehemiah passionately condemns the marriages to foreign women, seeing them as a direct threat to the covenant and the spiritual purity of the returned community. He enforces separation and restoration of the Law.
This passage details Solomon's downfall, directly referencing how his many foreign wives led him into idolatry, mirroring the warning Nehemiah gives in this verse.
2 Samuel 12:24-25This passage highlights God's special love for Solomon, naming him Jedidiah (beloved of the Lord), which makes his later sinning even more tragic and emphasizes the gravity of Nehemiah's warning.
Deuteronomy 7:3-4This foundational instruction from Moses explicitly warns the Israelites against intermarrying with surrounding nations, stating that it would surely turn their hearts away from the Lord, directly informing the context of Nehemiah's concern.
Judges 3:5-7This passage illustrates the negative consequences of the Israelites not driving out the nations, showing how they intermarried with them and began to worship their gods, a historical pattern Nehemiah is actively trying to correct.
clarkeNehemiah 13:26: "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."
Did not Solomon - Have you not had an awful example before you? What a heavy curse did Solomon's conduct bring upon himself and upon the people, for a conduct such as yours?
pulpitNehemiah 13:26: "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."
Verse 26. - Did not Solomon... sin by these things? The example adduced was more apt than any other to move Jews. Israelites might have felt more deeply the case of Ahab (1 Kings 21:25). Solomon's sin in "going after strange wives," and its punishment, a…
The verse highlights the tragic irony that even a king as uniquely gifted and loved by God as Solomon could be led astray by "strange women." It's not just that he sinned, but that his exceptional status and divine favor didn't shield him from this specific temptation. This serves as a stark reminder that no amount of blessing or wisdom makes one immune to the corrosive influence of misplaced affections.
Nehemiah has just discovered that many Jewish men have married women from surrounding pagan nations, directly violating God's commands and threatening the people's spiritual purity. He responds with strong action, forcibly separating these couples and restoring proper temple worship and Sabbath observance. This verse is Nehemiah's powerful appeal to the conscience of these men, reminding them of King Solomon's tragic downfall due to similar foreign marriages, even though Solomon was exceptionally wise and favored by God.
Nehemiah has just discovered that many Jewish men have married women from surrounding pagan nations, directly violating God's commands and threatening the people's spiritual purity. He responds with strong action, forcibly separating these couples and restoring proper temple worship and Sabbath observance. This verse is Nehemiah's powerful appeal to the conscience of these men, reminding them of King Solomon's tragic downfall due to similar foreign marriages, even though Solomon was exceptionally wise and favored by God.
"Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin." — The verse highlights the tragic irony that even a king as uniquely gifted and loved by God as Solomon could be led astray by "strange women." It's not just that he sinned, but that his exceptional st…
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