Harem
Summary
The secluded quarters for royal wives and concubines, a feature of ancient Near Eastern courts including Israel's monarchy.
☩Biblical Examples
Persian kings maintained elaborate harems (Esther 2:3, 8-14), with separate quarters for virgins and concubines. Solomon's 700 wives and 300 concubines 'turned his heart after other gods' (1 Kings 11:3-4). David's harem was violated by Absalom as an act of rebellion (2 Samuel 16:22). The accumulation of wives was specifically forbidden to Israelite kings (Deuteronomy 17:17), a command Solomon flagrantly violated.
Related Verses1 mention
Esther· 1 verse
