seven hundred wives] Whom he solemnly married. princesses] Such were some, before he married them, as Pharaohs daughter: Others he made such. concubines] Nor wives, nor wheres: but in a kinde of middle condition. Not wives, because not solemnly married, nor endowed with dowry or joynter: nor had their children any right of inheritance: Genesis 21:10. and 25. 6. Not whores, because taken by a man to be his alone, as wives, and none others, and in this respect oft stiled Wives, as Genesis 25:1; Genesis 25:6. 1 Chronicles 1:32. Genesis 30. 4. and 35. 22. Judges 19:1. Concubines therefore were a kinde of wives, but in an inferiour degree, see the notes on Judges 19:1-2. and on Genesis 22:24. and 30. 4. It is probable, in regard of the seven hundred wives, and three hundred concubines here mentioned, that Solomon dealt with many of them, as Ahashuerosh did with many of the maidens that went in to him, She came in to the king no more, except the king delighted in her, Esther 2:14. turned away his heart] From the LORD to their idols, vers. 4.