…I nearly gave up. I’m lying, but the Books of Kings so far has been a lot of names of generals and seconds and people who were loyal to David, and people who are loyal now, to Solomon, who is fixing to go off the rails because he married a lot of non-Jews, and they’re pulling him off toward gods like Astarte, whom I looked up because she sounded interesting.
And she is. She was known as the goddess of war and sexual love. And maybe motherhood, too. And she was seen as the female counterpart of Baal.
Dating Jesus 
It was hard to stay focused on the names and all of the construction details. I’m glad there will be no test! Thanks for sharing the links on Astarte. I wonder how it could be that King Solomon had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines? What is the difference between a wife and a concubine?
About three donkeys? Great question.
Legitimacy.
Wives got it. Concubines don’t. For various reasons. The benefit package is much different.
Status,
It’s a symbol of a nation’s wealth, power, and great leadership. A ruler with that many wives and concubines, who hasn’t wound up with his throat slit, is generally considered, in that time, to have something going for him.
It’s so messed up! I do wonder about the decision process: “Should I make this woman wife #487 or concubine #193? Hmmmm…”