Footnote 1 – The First Peace Treaty Between Israel and Egypt

Rehoboam was 41 years old when he began to reign (1 Kings 14:21) so his father Solomon must have been married before his 40 year-reign. From this I infer that the marriage between Solomon and the Ammonite princess was arranged by Solomon’s father David, who still sat on the throne at the time of his son’s marriage. Perhaps David arranged this marriage for Solomon to strengthen Solomon’s claim to the throne, since Solomon, who was not the first born, would not automatically become king on his father’s death.