With the death of Amnon, Absalom became the eldest son and actually attempted to overthrow David at one point. Sad to say, the fabled meeting between the beautiful Queen and the King renowned for his wisdom was essentially a business conference romanticized by the biblical writers. The new king wanted, more than anything, the insight to lead the nation well. Thankfully, we read in Ecclesiastes that Solomon eventually turned back to serve only God and rejected the false idols, however; damage had already been done. Ivory plaque from Megiddo. So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. King Solomon had it all and failed in so many ways, but he found restoration in the arms of God. After meeting with King Solomon and hearing his wisdom, experiencing the grandeur of his palace grounds, and seeing "the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the LORD," the Queen of Sheba was "overwhelmed" (1 Kings 10:5). We know much more about Solomon than about the other kings of Israel and Judah for two reasons: When David captured Jebus, it only covered the small area in the bottom right of this map. Answer: Solomon was the third and last king of the united kingdom of Israel, following King Saul and King David. Instead of lightening the load placed on the people by his father, he increased it: "The king answered the people harshly. The woman, Bathsheba, was married to one of his highest-ranking soldiers. Solomon established trade and commerce for the nation, becoming a major player in maritime traffic. Solomon wrote the Song of Solomon, the book of Ecclesiastes, and much of the book of Proverbs. Each woman, he said, could have half a child each. The United Kingdom of Solomon split apart when he died. Now, each woman competed to have her son gain precedence over the other sons of the king. ~ Proverbs 29:11 "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice." During the early years of his reign, Solomon’s grip on power was not strong. Now protect it. Solomon’s name comes from the Hebrew word Shelomoh, which means peaceful. It reflects the commercial relationship between Solomon’s Israel and south-western Arabia. When Solomon became King of Israel, he knew he did not have the knowledge and wisdom to properly rule his people. This Temple, which was part of an elaborate palace complex, is described in detail in the Bible. Or perhaps she seduced him? This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright © 2020, Crosswalk.com. Solomon had wisdom and insight; he was a poet who could weave beautiful words together. Immediately after the account of the dream is the story of his famous judgment on the two prostitutes who came to him asking for a decision on their dispute. Instead of riches or power, Solomon asked for ‘an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil’. Not for a thousand years would it again be unified. We may have heard stories about this great king, but there are a few things left to uncover. Solomon married many foreign wives, women who worshipped false gods. The Bible comments that ‘all Israel stood in awe of the king because they saw the wisdom of God in him’. This foreign influence was evident in the Jerusalem shrine. 10 Quotes about the Bible from Influential Christians, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The other woman denied this, and claimed the living child as her own. The nation of Israel split after the … What happened to this man was just about beyond belief. In earlier times, the prophets had nominated and anointed the kings Saul and David), but this tradition was not as firmly established as it once had been. For more on this story, see Bible Women: Bathsheba. Slide 2 of 5. At home, the priests of Jahweh became increasingly hostile as they saw their own power eroded. Who was King Solomon in the Bible? In the book, Song of Solomon, a love story is told. They looked for an alternative king and found it in Jeroboam, who subsequently led a rebellion against Solomon. He built temples to the idols so that he and his wives, along with others, could worship them. After all, he governed a nation of mixed race and religion, and a large part of Solomon’s ‘wisdom’ may have been his ability to juggle these competing groups. It may show a Queen Mother, the most powerful woman in the Court – which is what Bathsheba was. Solomon had taxed both rich and poor with as much enthusiasm as any modern government, but now the worm began to turn. It’s really a beautiful look into their love and a guide we can use today in our own pursuit of love and healthy marriages. Furthermore, when Solomon was connected to God and really pursuing Him, God developed incredible works through him that can be found in the Bible. These are books of wisdom packed full of incredible Biblical truth we can apply to our lives today! 3 Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. 1 Kings 3:7-12 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. The relationship with Israel’s neighbor Edom soured, and warfare began to drain the resources of the kingdom. King Solomon is the author of Song of Solomon, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. It was obviously underhanded – Adonijah invited royal officials, his brothers (except for Solomon), and priests to the event. What happened to this man was just about beyond belief. Solomon told the court to give the living baby to the first woman – she was obviously the child’s mother. He was the son of David and Bathsheba, the former wife of Uriah the Hittite whom David had killed to hide his adultery with Bathsheba while her husband was on the battle front. "King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. No doubt, he felt the damage and loss caused by his decision. Solomon showed not only his knowledge but also his wisdom into action in the way his kingdom operated. The nation never saw unity again. Solomon also cultivated the idea that he was exceptionally wise. SOLOMON is a teen-ager when he becomes king. The book shares their courtship, marriage, and even conflict. He did not, however, invite David, Solomon, or Nathan the prophet. Perhaps Solomon’s most famous achievement was building the Temple in Jerusalem. 1 Kings 11 [Full Chapter] [ Solomon’s Wives ] King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. Take to heart the wisdom shared by this powerful and troubled king. While most would have asked for power or wealth, Solomon asked for wisdom. Unfortunately, Solomon’s sin not only affected him, but affected the nation of Israel and all who lived in it. The woman who had the dead baby claimed the other woman had stolen her living child and substituted the dead one. He was the son of David and Bathsheba, the former wife of Uriah the Hittite whom David had killed to cover his infidelity with Bathsheba while her husband was on the battlefront. First they placed Solomon on the throne, and then they executed Adonijah on a trumped-up charge. The story of the visit of the Queen of Sheba is meant to illustrate this. We know much more about Solomon than about the other kings of Israel and Judah for two reasons: he seized the throne by force of arms, and then took pains to justify this to later generations She praised God and gave Solomon "120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones" (1 Kings 10:10). Judgement of Solomon, Giuseppe Cades, 1750. Daily Life – Prayer – Paintings – Books of the Bible – Bible Paintings. Solomon ruled with wisdom over Israel for 40 years, securing stability through treaties with foreign powers. She is the author of Untouchable: Unraveling the Myth That You're Too Faithful to Fall, founder of For the Mama Heart, and hosts the Epic Fails podcast.