King Solomon

Today I am focusing King Solomon.  The leadership to get the Temple built, the wisdom portrayed in Proverbs, and the love expressed in Song of Solomon speak to his greatness.  Ecclesiastes is also usually attributed to Solomon (though not all scholars agree on this), most likely written in his later life, and looks back on his failures as a human.  Here’s some basic information on the man and what is known about him.

·          Although most remembered for his wisdom and for his building of the Temple, he was also the king who sins included idolatry and turning away from God which ultimately led to the division of the kingdom during the reign of his son.

·         The time of Solomon is commonly known as the “high time” for the Israelites – they had command over a wide geographical area (often due to strategic marriages by Solomon), tremendous wealth, and the Temple, of course, was built. 

·         Islam has Solomon to be a prophet, known as Sulaiman.

·         Solomon is also widely known for his “famous” encounter with the Queen of Sheba  during which she not only brought a slew of gifts but also asked a number of questions which he answered

·         Solomon had many wives and concubines.  Many of these were not Israelites and led him astray from God toward idolatry

·         Deut. 17:16-17 warns kings not to multiply horses or wives nor gold or silver.  Solomon did all these.

·         Solomon was the child of David and Bathsheba.  He was not the oldest, but was promised the kingship by his father who anointed him so prior to his death when he was only 12.  Solomon’s older brother Adonijah thought he should be king and ended up being killed along with Joab and Shimei, enemies of David.

·         Solomon ruled for about 40 years

·         Some speculation exists around the Song of Solomon – was he writing of his passion for a woman or passion toward God.  I’d never before seen or heard it as the second possibility and re-read it with that slant.  Interesting!

·         Regarding Ecclesiastes:  as I mentioned above, most people ascribe this to Solomon, either written later in his life or written down by someone else after he died.  Others ascribe it to rulers who came after Solomon, either regarding their own “failures” or putting themselves in the place of Solomon and writing as him. 

·         Solomon also wrote several Psalms which were included in our chronological study

·         Solomon’s son Rehoboam succeeded him after his death from natural causes.  I found references that put him at anywhere between 52 and 80 at the time of his death.  52 would signify that he died at about the time his rule ended, the upper ends allowed him to live afterwards.