“His own living quarters, in the other courtyard, set back from the Hall, were similarly designed. He also made a house like this Hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom Shlomo had taken as his wife.” – 1 Kings 7:8
Back in chapter 3, we heard that Solomon took Pharaoh’s daughter to be his wife.
Well, she makes another appearance here in Chapter 7.
In verse 8, we’re told Solomon built a special house for her.
In those days, men and women, even if married, were usually kept apart in separate quarters.
This was especially convenient for royalty given their multiple wives and concubines.
Now, from a human, worldly perspective, Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter was a brilliant diplomatic move.
It allied Solomon with Egypt, one of the most powerful kingdoms at the time.
This gave Israel international prestige and security and opened the door to increased trade.
However, spiritually speaking, this was a big no-no.
In His Torah, the Lord had instructed His People that they were never to return to Egypt in any way, shape, or form.
We can see that Solomon completely ignored these instructions.
When I say “completely,” I ain’t exaggerating, homie.
He was basically bending over backwards to ensure Pharaoh’s daughter’s every need was met luxuriously.
She wasn’t officially called a queen.
But given how Solomon treated her, she might as well have been one.
Ya feel me?
Alrighty, the takeaway here should be pretty clear.
There is the world’s way of doing things.
This way often seems to be the most practical and socially approved way of doing things.
And then there’s God’s way of doing things.
This way often doesn’t make sense and seems impractical.
However, as worshippers of the God of Israel…
We are called to obey the Lord’s commands…
No matter how politically incorrect…
No matter how impractical…
And no matter how inconvenient.
Ya feel me?
This seems to be the biggest challenge the body of believers has faced in every era.
That’s why Israel has always been hated by the GOYIM (gentile nations).
Because they are a nation the Lord has marked as different.
Separation, not assimilation, has always been one of the Lord’s chief guiding principles.
I’ll just leave it at that for today.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“If you belonged to the world,
it would love you as its own.
As it is, you do not belong to the world,
but I have chosen you out of the world.
That is why the world hates you.”
-John 15:19
Most people have learned that to be “holy” doesn’t mean to act in a religious manner, but simply to be separate.
Throughout the Tanakh, one of the most repeated commandments God gives to his chosen people (chosen to be priests to the world- Ex. 19:6) is “Be thou holy, as I am holy.”
God separated the Levites to be priests to the tribes, and the tribes to be priests to the world, and as such, we are to be separate and demonstrate how God wants everyone to worship him and to treat each other, which he outlines in the Torah.
The Torah is God’s “User Manual for Righteousness.”
And that was proven by Yeshua, who lived it perfectly and, as a result, was resurrected into God’s presence, forever.
Of course, we humans can’t be that obedient, which is why God sent Yeshua but…I digress into a totally different discussion.
Exactly. What KADOSH or KODESH really means is to be “separated away from” or “to set apart“.
For example, you know how when you’re doing your laundry, you separate the coloreds from the whites.
You’re literally KADOSH-ing the colored clothing away from the non-colored clothing.