For Solomon had many wives and concubines. In other words, I currently believe having "multiple wives" were for having more children and having "concubines" were primarily just for the pleasure of being intimate with a woman.
Hey Jason, Just wanted to say that I'm very much enjoying your study here. It's amazing to see how God's word comes together from beginning to end. I especially enjoyed the section where God told Abram about his decendants going into captivity, and as it goes on we see it followed through with Jacob's son Joseph beginning the fulfilment of what God told him would take place.
I wanted to share some verses that were given for instrcution of Kings in Israel, (In regards to King Solomon.) It sheds a lot of light some of these matters.
Deuteronomy 17:14 When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;
Deuteronomy 17:15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.
Deuteronomy 17:16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
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.
Deuteronomy 17:18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
There's nothing like reading and studying all of these biblical accounts and piecing it together. God's word is amazing! I for one appreciate this thread very much.
Keep up the good work!