Solomon

In short

Third king of a unified Israel, and the last one before it splits in two. As king, he did very good and very bad things. Also authored a lot of Scripture.

Why he is important

His father was David, he was the wisest man who had ever lived, and he had incomprehensible wealth. What could go wrong?

If you don’t know the actual answer, you can surely guess correctly.

“For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods…. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done” (1Ki 11:4-6).

Stories about Solomon

Basically everything is in 1 Kings 1-11.

• Son of David and Bathsheba (2Sa 12:24) – but not their first child
• Destined to become king (1Ki 1:13)
• But not without a challenge first (1Ki 1:11-31)
• Anointed (1Ki 1:32-46)
• Killed two traitors and fired the priest (1Ki 2:24-35)
• Asks God for wisdom (1Ki 3:5-15)
• Settles a dispute over a baby (1Ki 3:16-28)
• Insane success (1Ki 4:20-34)
• Sources and builds the temple (1Ki 5-6, 7:13-51)
• Built his own palace (1Ki 7:1-12)
• Consecrates the temple (1Ki 8:1-9:9)
• Meets with Queen of Sheba; more success (1Ki 10)
• Rocket-powered fall from greatness (1Ki 11)

Theology and doctrine

Perhaps it seems that Solomon came crashing down suddenly at the end of his story (in 1Ki 11). Even up through chapter 10, Solomon is praised and abounds in success.

But there are hints along the way.

Right at the beginning, he marries into Egyptian royalty (1Ki 3:1). As far as I can see, that’s not forbidden*. But it does raise all sorts of red flags, considering that there are over a half dozen nations that the Israelites were told not to marry into (Deut 7:1-4, for example).

In 1Ki 5:13, Solomon enslaves his own people to build “the house” (presumably the temple; possibly the palace). Didn’t they leave slavery in Egypt?

Chapter 10 (and 11:1) is the most deafening criticism, though. It’s a direct violation of Deuteronomy 17:15-17.

“you may indeed set a king over you…. Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses….  And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.”

Deut 17:15-17

Yet Solomon got horses from Egypt (1Ki 10:28), acquired much gold (10:14-17) and silver (10:27), and had many wives (11:1).