"He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart." — The *shocking numbers*: *700 wives* and *300 concubines*—a *harem of 1,000 women*. These are *princesses* (*neshim sachot*, possibly 'princesses') from *royal houses*, serving as *political alliances*. Yet the *plural verb* (*va-tit nu et-libbo*, his wives turned away his heart) indicates their *collective influence*. The *plural subject* dominates: *they*, not Solomon alone, *cause the turning away*.

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