Contradiction with Genesis 2:24
This verse states that a man shall cleave unto his wife, suggesting monogamy, which contradicts Solomon having many wives.
Genesis 2:24: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 17:17
This verse advises kings not to multiply wives, contradicting Solomon having 700 wives and 300 concubines.
Deuteronomy 17:17: Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
Paradox #1
The contradiction could be related to Solomon having many wives, which goes against earlier biblical teachings that advocate monogamy and warn against taking many wives. This could be seen as conflicting with God's directives for kings in Deuteronomy 17:17, where it advises not to multiply wives.
Paradox #2
1 Kings 11:3 mentions that Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. The contradiction or inconsistency here is that such a large number of wives and concubines might seem logistically and practically challenging, leading to questions about the accuracy or exaggeration of this account in historical terms. It might also conflict with historical evidence regarding the norms of marriage and royal practices during that time.
Paradox #3
The contradiction in 1 Kings 11:3 could be related to the claim of a person having 700 wives and 300 concubines. From a scientific and practical perspective, it would be extremely difficult for one individual to maintain meaningful relationships or interact regularly with that many partners. It also raises logistical issues concerning living arrangements and resource management.
Paradox #4
The contradiction in 1 Kings 11:3 could be seen in the idea of having many wives and concubines, which might conflict with values of monogamy and faithfulness. This situation may seem inconsistent with later biblical teachings that emphasize loyalty to one partner.
Paradox #5
The contradiction lies in the claim of a very large number of wives and concubines, which seems impractical and unrealistic for any one person to manage or maintain such relationships. Additionally, this number is far greater than what is typically documented in historical records for rulers and kings, leading to questions about its accuracy or metaphorical intention.