Short answer: Because Solomon was disobeying God's commands. Long answer: While Solomon was very much with God at the beginning of his reign, it was not so in the latter years; he worshipped false idols and even built temples for them. In 1st Kings 11:11, Solomon is rebuked by God for his sins, saying ""Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates." So, Solomon had hundreds of wives because he was turning away from God.

---he was very horny--

Actually it's because back then there wer no divorce laywers.

This account is recorded at I Kings 11: 1-8 There in short it states, "And he came to have seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines". Your answer is that was both these foreign wives and these foreign concubines that exposed him to a real "mixed stew" of pagan thinking. Can you imagine trying to keep all of those different women happy? He must have compromised his faith trying to get along with them, trying too hard to be agreeable. He allowed his personal relationship with his God to suffer. Now for some more detail: "As long as Solomon remained true to the worship of Jehovah, he prospered. Evidently his proverbs were uttered, and the books of Ecclesiastes and The Song of Solomon, as well as at least one of the Psalms (Ps 127), were written during his period of faithful service to God. However, Solomon began to disregard God’s law. We read: “And King Solomon himself loved many foreign wives along with the daughter of Pharaoh, Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian and Hittite women, from the nations of whom Jehovah had said to the sons of Israel: ‘You must not go in among them, and they themselves should not come in among you; truly they will incline your heart to follow their gods.’ It was to them that Solomon clung to love them. And he came to have seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives gradually inclined his heart. And it came about in the time of Solomon’s growing old that his wives themselves had inclined his heart to follow other gods; and his heart did not prove to be complete with Jehovah his God like the heart of David his father. And Solomon began going after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the disgusting thing of the Ammonites. And Solomon began to do what was bad in the eyes of Jehovah, and he did not follow Jehovah fully like David his father. It was then that Solomon proceeded to build a high place to Chemosh the disgusting thing of Moab on the mountain that was in front of Jerusalem, and to Molech the disgusting thing of the sons of Ammon. And that was the way he did for all his foreign wives who were making sacrificial smoke and sacrificing to their gods.” 1Ki 11:1-8. While this took place “in the time of Solomon’s growing old,” we need not assume that his deviation was because of senility, for Solomon was relatively young when taking the throne, and the length of his reign was 40 years. (1Ch 29:1, 2Ch 9:30) The account does not say that Solomon completely forsook the worship at the temple and the offering of sacrifices there. He apparently attempted to practice a sort of interfaith, in order to please his foreign wives. For this, “Jehovah came to be incensed at Solomon, because his heart had inclined away from Jehovah the God of Israel, the one appearing to him twice.” Jehovah informed Solomon that, as a consequence, He would rip part of the kingdom away from him, but not in Solomon’s day, out of respect for David and for the sake of Jerusalem. But he would do it in the days of Solomon’s son, leaving that son with only one tribe (besides Judah), which tribe proved to be Benjamin. 1Ki 11:9-13. It is not sufficient simply to gain knowledge. It is also essential for God’s servants to act upon that knowledge, to apply it according to the divine will, yes, to do “just so". This is a lesson that Solomon evidently forgot. Source: Insight on the Scriptures, Volume II Pages 987, 998 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.

A lot of people had sex outside of marriage in the scriptures. Nothing ever happened to them and it wasn't always spoken of as negative so I don't know, I think it was a general law becasue how would you know who the father of your child was, or STDs would spread, or things like that. Great question.

because he chose too. we all have choices. they may not all be the right ones depending on your beliefs.

This is a difficult question. As a Christian I do believe our loving God only ever sanctioned a loving relationship between one man and one woman who become one for life. I think the simple, easy answer is that Solomon was sinful toward the end of his reign, as others have suggested. BUT I think that God did sanction multiple wives and concubines in a RIGHTEOUS, NON-SEXUAL WAY. But as with Solomon it didn't always happen in a righteous way. There is at least one verse in the bible that talks of a man being "mighty" for having multiple wives _and_ concubines. Now that seems puzzling given that lifelong monogamy is God's desire and will. I would suggest that the extra wives and concubines were permitted as "women to have loving, non-sexual, spiritual fellowship with." That is, they are women who, otherwise lonely and rejected, were given a place in the household and permitted to have close, spiritual fellowship with the head of the house- and indeed his wife- but NEVER to have sex with him. And I think that this would be God-honouring. In other words, this is like having female friends round to help. This is like having lodgers. These are your best friends who chose to be virgins in the household. Like I said, I'm not suggesting that in actuality things happened as God would have wanted. But I am suggesting the ideal, assuming God did sanction the concept of extra wives and concubines, and this is my interpretation of how God could ever have sanctioned this extended household with many women. Let me make it clear again, however: SEX IS ONLY BETWEEN THE ONE MAN AND ONE LIFELONG WOMAN PARTNER. Clearly the men who engaged in multiple "wives" and "concubines" should have been faithful sexually to the one of the women: the true wife, the primary woman, the "first lady" of the household. There should have been fidelity. Sex should not have gone on between the man and any other woman in the household whether this extra was termed "wife," "concubine" or anything else. Clearly this didn't always happen. But the people involved should have had only one full wife. This message must be clear: ONE MAN ONE WOMAN was the real Law of Love, God's Law. BUT some broke it. And God did indeed discipline Solomon for his promiscuity in the end. I think that God did permit multiple women in a man's house BUT this was only to be as "non-sexual" relationships. Sure, these were women who were TO BE LOVED but NOT sexually. God's "heart's desire" was that only THE ONE MAN AND THE ONE WOMAN were ever to actually have marital sex (the true "marriage"). The other women in the household were his "as friends." They were merely to be close friends with rights and privileges. Incidently, if they were treated as slaves that was just the culture. But I cannot see how our loving God EVER condones men sleeping (having sex with) multiple women. I DO BELIEVE he allowed friendship-relationships between a man and many women in one married household where there is the PRIMARY WOMAN AND MAN. The final piece in the puzzle, for me, is that the Bible talks about people having multiple wives AND concubines. So, what is the difference? What was the difference between (a) the primary wife (b) the secondary (non-sexual) wives and (c) the concubines? My Answer: (a) The true wife was the one that was really married and she could have sex with the head of the household. She made decisions about the household and shared in the wealth and was the "first lady" who had authority over the rest of the household but the man was the head. (b) Remember, God permitted these "wives" and "concubines" as non-sexual friends. The secondary non-sexual "wives" had pretty-much equal rights and privileges to the one, true wife- access to wealth, decision-making, etc. but WITHOUT the sex. But they would have been second to the real, married wife. They were special friends of the husband, the head of the house, and they were to HELP. Remember, God created Eve (woman) as HELPER to man. These "wives" were extra-special friends who submitted to the head of the house as friends and helpers to share in his wealth and friendship. It was spiritual fellowship. (c) The concubines were to be non-sexual servant-women. They were to look after the running of the house, doing chores, with some privileges and wealth but, again, no sex etc. They were answerable in terms of duties. They were basically employed servant-girls. BUT they were NOT to have sex. These were girls that didn't have a sexual partner of their own but wanted the love of a "head of the household." They were under the one, true wife. These are girls that wanted the FELLOWSHIP of the man to alleviate their loneliness. But concubines were never meant to have sex. I'm not suggesting it actually happened that way, but that is the only way I can believe God would be able to allow it. Matthew 19 shows that really there is to be only one real marriage between a man and his (one) wife. And that marriage is (in my humble opinion) consecrated in the marriage bed (the true union that makes it a real marriage). Any ceremony is extra. But clearly there's to be only one man and one woman in this special relationship and it is for life. 4"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,'[a] 5and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'[b]? 6So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." 7"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?" 8Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." So there's only to be one man and one woman in this actual marriage relationship.

In response to AntigoneRising's comment, I did say that what actually happened in Old Testament times is that concubines and "extra wives" were kept for sex (the following are quotes from my answer) "I think that God did sanction multiple wives and concubines in a RIGHTEOUS, NON-SEXUAL WAY. But as with Solomon it didn't always happen in a righteous way." I was suggesting that God allows more than one woman in a household providing it is not a sexual relationship: "Like I said, I'm not suggesting that in actuality things happened as God would have wanted. But I am suggesting the ideal, assuming God did sanction the concept of extra wives and concubines, and this is my interpretation of how God could ever have sanctioned this extended household with many women."

Antigone, your question was about Solomon, not all the patriarchs. God's blessing can be revoked, as seen in the verse cited. If your point is that patriarchs did not practice monogamy and that therefore God should not have blessed them, your question should have included the biblical verse where monogamy is required. If your point is that they had concubines, you would have to prove that Solomon had sex with them as concubines were not necessarily used for sex. How could one man have sex with all those women anyway. I am not disagreeing with your apparent point that Solomon behaved badly; so did his father David. But if God only blessed perfect people, He would bless no-one. I have posted this as an answer. I tried to post it in the comment thread of another answer, but it kept choking.

The Bible shows people as they are with strengths and flaws. It is brutally honest and sometimes, strangely non-judgmental. David was an adulterer and a murderer, but those behaviors are not commended to us. Nor are many of the behaviors of the flawed and very human people God spoke to, loved, and used in the Bible.

I have noticed that these answers you've received are missing a more valid point. It is true that Solomon had many wives, and it is also true that he gave sacrifices to other gods. Solomom was wrong in doing this because he was a son of the True God. Does this mean that Solomon will never live again? No it does not, till this very day many who do love The True God go astray and face those consequences of their actions, and only God will determine their ultimate and final outcome. Apparently many do not discern the reason Jesus arrives in the name and personal expression of Jehovah. He lays the life he had in behalf of man, for those who had died before him, those who were then living, and those who had not yet been born. Solomon was gifted with wisdom but not perfection, as he states in Ecc. that worse than death is woman, his very downfall, and the downfall of most men. Hypocrites do not realize we have all in some fashion given ill sacrifices to either other gods or even disgraceful sacrifices to the True God. This being the case no one would survive unless God was so merciful, and again only he can judge the final heart and condition of man. Solomon alike with others who did not make sacrifices to other gods and who loved Jehovah, had many wives or intimacies with more than one wife. These others were loved by God and never mentioned to have dishonored him like Solomon had, and as we ourselves do sometimes. So this does not explain the comments concerning having multiple wives and love for God in context. Obviously Jehovah had pardoned certain rightful standards such as multiple wives, or concubines respectfully due to his universal plans concerning his developing kingdom lead by his Master worker, Christ. Solomon along with others of ancient worshipers of God, had this circumstance and pardoning of several "wives" or concubines. This arrangement was not set in stone or even a matter of debate, it was not a matter of wrong or right. With the mind and heart inclined more sinfully as time as progressed in mankind, these things become more so a matter of concern because of the lack of love for fellow man and woman, including a wife. Remember the issue of remarriage when certain ones questioned Jesus. He is teaching them that the heart is the seat of any motivation and this is the root of both any good and evil, not actual law or debate in any matter. These wayward men were seeking to divorce their wives because they did not love them and sought ways to undermine principle, not law! It is obviously better to have one wife due to the fact a man can barely love one wife wholefully, let alone many wives. It is not because God insists on one wife but because of the natural tendency to undermine principle and love itself. Why would a man today want or need many wives? Why did they want or need them then? This is the point! As Jesus states, new wine must not be put into old wine skins. As likewise old ways that man has lived cannot be likened to the ways we must live today. Adam was made and then Eve made for him, this was God's arrangement for Adam, obviously not Abraham, or Jacob or anyone else you can think of, but these are not the times of Adam or those ancient ones, this is the time to Love God, to not judge others who sin as you do also, and the time to appreciate principle over "the law". It is the time to exspect the Kingdom to judge FIRST the "house of God" and then the whole world! All who trust that Jehovah is the True God must realize that you must be humble as the nation of Israelites were not, you personally must realize we too will be judged!

Ok, we have to use logic here. incest is obviously wrong. Why? It brings about deformity and other social ills. however did not cain marry or have intercouse with his sisters? This had to be done and obviously in god's arrangment to carry on human life. Today it is no longer needed, likewise multiple wives in connection to the lineage that brought about christ and other prophets of Israel. Solomon may have been doing this and may have not with some wives, who really cares! The point is today is different, God's arrangements have also changed, so there is no debate. Reread carefully, what i wrote concerning this issue in my other comment prior to this one.

Ok, AntigoneRising. You make a valid point, it could seem like contradiction, however it doesn't change the fact that it is true. God did allow things in ancient times that are no longer appropriate. Take for instance the Israelites were commanded to stone disobedient children, to actually kill children of theirs who were wicked. However to day you would go to jail for it and God would dissaprove of it. Why? Christ died for these sins in persons, and God was preparing mankind for his arrival, those standards he put upon Israelites are void now because the Christ has arrived, he did come and proclaim salvation from sim and death. Also In the book of Isaiah it says, God's mind is higher than ours and his ways higher than our ways. How can you argue with God? if he allowed these multiple marrigaes among some of his servants how can we question it or debate it, it was god's decision, why does he allow good people to die? Why does he do anything he does? This is like asking some person how many stars exist in the universe. Obviously God knows best and has purpose beyond our understandings. Trust him, he won't let you down as much as you let down yourself or anyone else. Take care!!! Also remember he has set up a Kingdom that will do away with all wrongs and evils in the earth!!!! Romans 8:18-21.

From the beginning God intended to man and woman to have a monogamous relationship yet He did allow (not condone) men (and men only since they are over women)to have more then one woman. One only has to go to Abraham as well as Jacob to see that God allowed such activity. Concubines were basically for sex and/or procreation........concubines did not have authority or certain rights that of a wife. Such was the case wit Hagar. While she was not referred to as a concubine, she served her purpose. Men eventually abused this allowance of God and thus divorce became a norm. It was for this reason that Jesus save that Moses allowed divorce because the hardness of their (Israel)hearts..........meaning they were wanting to divorce women for any cause versus those that were legit.............yet Jesus said from the beginning (Genesis) that God's intent was one woman for one man. Will God punish a Christian for polygamy............in my opinion, No......as long as your wive(s), are ok with it AND it does not go against the laws of the land. Am I suggesting that polygamy is a good thing........of course not..the bible gives plenty of examples that validate that such activity presents problems not only with the women themselves but amongst the children as well. Can I find verses in the bible that forbids such activity.......only in regards to holding certain church offices...........elder and deacon. There were certainly Christians in the early church that had several wives / concubines prior to becoming Christians.........no where in the N.T. can I find to put away the other wives and only keep one.

Hypocracy? Like why some priests and preachers have sex with hookers, altar boys, etc...