The darker side of Solomon’s kingdom can be summarized in one word: idolatry. The establishment of the Israelite tribes in Canaan posed a significant challenge for believers in the Lord, which was exacerbated by the rise of the monarchy. Instead of trusting in Him, the kings looked to mighty armies and formed alliances, often through marriage. As a result, Solomon married many foreign wives who demanded worship of their gods in pagan temples. To please them, Solomon visited these idolatrous sites, often accompanied by court officials and townspeople. The seriousness of these actions is clearly expressed in the texts of Deuteronomy, which, although written later, remain important (cf. Dt 7:1-6).