Naamah נַעֲמָה
An Ammonite; mother of King Rehoboam of Judah.
Biography
Naamah was an Ammonite woman who became the wife of King Solomon of Israel and the mother of his successor, King Rehoboam of Judah (1Ki.14.21,31; 2Ch.12.13). The Ammonites were a neighboring people of the Israelites, often in conflict with them throughout their history.
Naamah's marriage to Solomon was likely a political alliance, as it was common for kings to marry foreign princesses to strengthen diplomatic ties and maintain peace with neighboring kingdoms. However, Solomon's many foreign wives, including Naamah, are cited as a reason for his eventual downfall, as they led him to worship other gods (1Ki.11.1-8).
As the mother of Rehoboam, Naamah played a significant role in the history of the Davidic dynasty. Rehoboam became king after Solomon's death, but his harsh treatment of the people led to the division of the kingdom into two separate realms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south (1 Kings 12).
The mention of Naamah's Ammonite heritage in both 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles suggests that her foreign origins were significant to the biblical authors. It serves as a reminder of the influence that foreign alliances and marriages had on the religious and political life of ancient Israel, sometimes leading to the erosion of the nation's faithfulness to God.
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books1 Kings 2 verses
- 1 Kings 14:21
"Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. His mother’s name was Naamah the..."
- 1 Kings 14:31
"Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David’s city. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. Abijam his son reigned in his place."
2 Chronicles 1 verse
- 2 Chronicles 12:13
"So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned; for Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. His mother’s name was..."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | נַעֲמָה | H5279A |
Naamah (1)
n whom Solomon married, and who became the mother of Rehoboam (1Ki 14:21; 2Ch 12:13). According to an addition in the Septuagint following 1Ki 12:24, "her name was Naaman, the daughter of Ana (Hanun) son of Nahash, king of the sons of Ammon" (see Benzinger, Konige, in the place cited.).
(1) One of a group of 16 lowland (Shephelah) cities forming part of Judah's inheritance (Jos 15:41).
(2) The home of Zophar, one of Job's friends (<ref osisRef="Bible:Job