Salomon, by Pedro Berruguete, abt 1500; from Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Solomon's parents & birth--2 Sam 11-12
King David & Bathsheba had an adulterous relationship, and then King David committed a worse crime by having Bathsheba's husband sent to the warfront to be killed, in order to cover up the scandal. Their child born of this adultery died. Solomon was born after David had married Bathsheba following her husband's death. All this is discussed previously, in David part 4.
Solomon is proclaimed King--1 Kings 1-2 (1 Chron 22-29 David organizes the kingdom & makes Solomon king)
It's not possible to know the personal relationship, the feelings of David and of Bathsheba. We can speculate that she had some sort of hold over him, that he promised to make her son his successor. But just as possible is that he had real feelings for her and her son, and perhaps she felt so herself. David seems to have genuinely had great affection for Solomon, as well as trust and respect for him. David had plenty of other sons he could have passed the kingdom to, perhaps with more experience in ruling (he made his sons governors). It may be that David spent more time with Solomon, and/or Bathsheba was an influence for good in his life, despite whatever culpability she may have had in her initial relationship with King David. It's clear that King David sought forgiveness for his part, and if she was in any way blamable, she could also have sought and received forgiveness. The clues for why David favored Solomon are in 1 Kings 3 . . .
1 Kings 3--Solomon seeks wisdom, judges correctly between two women who both claim a baby
Solomon right away seeks a political alliance by marriage with Egypt. He would want peace with perhaps the superpower of the day. He builds his own house, the walls of Jerusalem, and the Temple. This sounds like a heavy financial burden to his kingdom, but David had saved up treasures to effect the building of the Temple, Solomon would have gifts and tribute to help, and as we shall see later, when he passed his kingdom to his son Rehoboam, the people petitioned that the heavy taxation be lightened. Apparently before the Temple was finished Solomon continued to sacrifice to the Lord in Gibeon. Some important details are given in 2 Chron 1:1-13.
3 And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.
5 ¶ In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
Then as proof that God had blessed Solomon with amazing wisdom, the story of the two harlots and the baby they both claimed is told. Solomon rightly knows that the one would rather give up her claim to the child than to see him split in two. Now there might be some women who out of spite would rather have the child killed than give it up to another. If that was the case, Solomon must have been able to judge the demeanor & attitude of the two. Yet rather than say so, he allows the women to show their true characters. This is an important story to the success of Solomon's kingship, not only in gaining the respect & loyalty of his subjects, but in putting "the fear of God" into the hearts of those who needed it, against trying to deceive their king. It would also make other nations think twice before either rebelling under tribute, or attacking Israel. After so much warfare under the Judges (and probably before), Saul, and David, it seems there was peace in the Middle East.
1 Kings 4--Solomon's government
Solomon's cabinet:
Azariah, son of Zadok: priest
Elihoreph & Ahiah: scribes
Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud: recorder
Benaiah, son of Jehoiada: general
Zadok & Abiathar: priests (prob old by now, as they were part of David's cabinet)
Azariah, son of Nathan: Prime Minister?
Zabud, son of Nathan: principal officer, king's friend (counselor)
Ahishar: chief steward over the household
Adoniram, son of Abda: Secretary of State/foreign office, over tribute
12 regional officers are named that provisioned the king's household by month
each day:
30 measures fine flour, 60 of meal (prob as a type of cereal)
10 fat oxen, 20 from the pastures
100 sheep
game: harts/deer & roebucks, fallowdeer
fatted fowl (domestic birds)
barley & straw for the horses and camels
26 ¶ And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
27 And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon’s table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing. (see also 2 Chron 1:14-17)
The extent of Solomon's rule:20 ¶ Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.
21 And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.
24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.
25 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon.Solomon's character, education, wisdom, fame29 ¶ And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
30 And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.
32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.
33 And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.
34 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.1 Kings 5-9 Solomon builds the Temple and his house with the help of Hiram of Tyre (David's friend & ally)
1 Kings 5:1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
Solomon sends a letter to Hiram soliciting help.
1 Kings 5--prep to build the Temple (see also 2 Chron 2:1-16)
3 Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.
4 But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
5 And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
Solomon then outlines what he'd like from Hiram, King of Tyre, to hire timber from Lebanon. Hyrum replies that he is glad to help his friend's son. They make a bargain and an alliance.
7 ¶ And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the Lord this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.13 ¶ And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.
14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.
15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;
16 Beside the chief of Solomon’s officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
18 And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.1 Kings 6--building of the Temple took 7 years (4th year of Solomon's reign to the 11th), see 2 Chron 3-4
1 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord.
Details follow.
11 ¶ And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying,
12 Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:
13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.1 Kings 7--Solomon takes 13 years to build his own house, builds a house for his Egyptian wife, adds brass fixtures to the Temple
Solomon spent 13 years building his own house, and he built a house for his Egyptian wife. That could mean either that his own house was more extensive than the Temple, or that he just let it take more time. But most of this chapter continues about the brass fixtures in the Temple, also hired out of Tyre.
1 Kings 7:51 So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the Lord. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the Lord.1 Kings 8--Solomon brings the Ark of the Covenant from the Tabernacle to the Temple, gives a dedicatory prayer, exhorts the people, holds a feast for 2 weeks (see 2 Chron 5-7:11)--note that Solomon's prayer covered not only Israelites in distress, but even foreigners who might hear of Israel's God and come to pray toward His temple.
56 Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.
57 The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us:
58 That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.
60 That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God, and that there is none else.
61 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.
(see also 2 Chron 8:12-16, after the initial dedication of the Temple, sacrifices held as in the Law of Moses)
1 Kings 9--God replies to Solomon's prayer, Solomon gives Hiram 20 cities in Galilee, other works of Solomon, inclu a navy1 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do,
2 That the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.
3 And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
4 And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:
5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:
7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people. . . (see 2 Chron 7:12-22)
After 20 years both the Temple and Solomon's house are finished. Solomon gives Hiram 20 cities in Galilee (probably as tribute cities), which Hiram doesn't like. But he sends Solomon 120 gold talents. Likely Solomon was trying to raise more money for all his building projects.
Solomon's levies for his building works continue: beside the Temple and his own house, Millo (the house for Solomon's Egyptian wife), the walls of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, Gezer (the Pharaoh had captured, burned & killed the Canaanites, and given this city to his daughter, Solomon's wife), Beth-horon the nether, Baalath, Tadmor, cities of store, cities for his chariots & horsemen, etc. See 2 Chron 8:1-6. Note that Solomon had his Egyptian wife moved out of the holy city; 2 Chron 8:11; this may have been more than a religious statement/move, it may also have been wise to put distance between Egyptian influence on palace politics, or control Egyptian involvement in political intrigue.
On whatever remnants of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, were levied a tribute of bondservice. "But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.
These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work." (see also 2 Chron 2:17-18 & 2 Chron 8:7-10)
26 ¶ And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion-geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.
27 And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
28 And they came to Ophir [uncertain seaport or region, I surmise in Africa--possibly what caught the Queen of Sheba's attention; see 1 Kings 10:11], and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.
See 2 Chron 8:17-18)
1 Kings 10-11, 2 Chron 9 the Queen of Sheba, end of Solomon's 40 year rule
The Queen of Sheba hears about Solomon, and comes with hard questions to test him. She brings a large retinue to impress all with her own greatness. But she is so impressed with Solomon that she gives him an abundance of gifts, and he in exchange gives richly to her. She returns home. See 2 Chron 9:1-12.
The rest of 1 Kings 10 outlines the riches of King Solomon. See also 2 Chron 9:13-28.
1 Kings 10
23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
24 ¶ And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.1 Kings 11--the end of Solomon's wisdom & rule
But Solomon had a weakness for women, and they became his downfall. He had 700 wives & 300 concubines from many lands, forbidden marriages according to the Law of Moses. When he was old, they turned his heart from God to their gods, and he built temples for them. God was not happy about this, and promised Jeroboam, whom Solomon had put over the house of Joseph, that he would reign over 10 of the tribes of Israel. Thereafter Solomon tried to do away with Jeroboam, but he fled to Egypt. Other enemies of Solomon arose to trouble his kingdom in the end. So far all 3 of Israel's kings have been tragic, and the nation would suffer for it.
2 Chron 929 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?
30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
31 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
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