Human strategies always appear to be brilliant but they come with a steep price tag. Solomon was not a warrior like his father. He chose to use his brain instead of his brawn, to rule his kingdom. That would have been fine, had he always relied on God’s wisdom instead of his own brilliance.
In ancient times, marriage alliances with surrounding nations helped preserve peace. It was assumed a rival king would not invade a nation where his daughter was a queen. So Solomon made haste to marry the daughter of the Egyptian Pharaoh. How far the nation appeared to have advanced! Once slaves of Egypt, now marrying into its royal family! But Pharaoh and his family did not worship the true God. And, as a powerful family on the world stage, they expected to worship their own gods, regardless of which country they lived in. Even Israel.
Ultimately it would be these marriage alliances and the marrying of many women that would be the downfall of Israel’s wisest king. In following worldly “best practices,” Solomon forsook godly wisdom. The brilliance of the world seems appealing, but it leads to alienation from God.