Born to King David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:24)
Named Solomon, meaning "peace," and Jedidiah, "beloved of the Lord" (2 Samuel 12:24-25)
Anointed as king while David was still alive (1 Kings 1:32-40)
Succeeded David as king of Israel at a young age (1 Kings 2:12)
Early reign marked by devotion to God:
Asked God for wisdom when given the choice of any gift (1 Kings 3:5-9)
God granted him wisdom, wealth, and honour (1 Kings 3:10-14)
Demonstrated wisdom in the judgment of two women claiming the same baby (1 Kings 3:16-28)
Built the First Temple in Jerusalem, fulfilling David's desire (1 Kings 6)
This act showed great devotion and commitment to God
Expanded Israel's territory and influence (1 Kings 4:21-24)
Formed alliances with neighbouring kingdoms, including Egypt (1 Kings 3:1)
Married Pharaoh's daughter and many other foreign wives (1 Kings 3:1, 11:1-3)
These marriages, while politically advantageous, would later lead to his downfall
Queen of Sheba visited to witness his wisdom and wealth (1 Kings 10:1-13)
Established extensive trade networks (1 Kings 10:14-29)
Built numerous cities, fortifications, and palaces (1 Kings 9:15-19)
Divided the kingdom into 12 administrative districts (1 Kings 4:7-19)
Wrote much of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon
These writings reflect both his God-given wisdom and his later reflections on life's vanities
Middle of reign - still faithful but signs of compromise:
Accumulated great wealth and military power (1 Kings 10:14-29)
This accumulation went against Deuteronomy 17:16-17, showing early signs of deviation
Later reign - turning away from God:
Influenced by his foreign wives to worship other gods (1 Kings 11:1-8)
Built high places for foreign gods (1 Kings 11:7-8)
God became angry with Solomon and promised to divide the kingdom (1 Kings 11:9-13)
Reigned for 40 years (1 Kings 11:42)
Died and was succeeded by his son Rehoboam (1 Kings 11:43)
Solomon's relationship with God followed a downward trajectory. He started strong, demonstrating humility and devotion by asking God for wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-9). During the early part of his reign, Solomon remained faithful, building the Temple and leading Israel in worship of the one true God (1 Kings 8).
However, as Solomon accumulated wealth, power, and foreign wives, his heart gradually turned away from exclusive devotion to God. Despite his legendary wisdom, he allowed the influence of his foreign wives to lead him into idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-8). By the end of his life, Solomon had strayed significantly from the path of faithfulness, leading to God's judgment on his kingdom (1 Kings 11:9-13).
The book of Ecclesiastes, traditionally attributed to Solomon, may reflect his late-life realization of the emptiness of worldly pursuits apart from God. This decline serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromise and the importance of maintaining faithfulness to God throughout one's entire life, regardless of worldly success or wisdom.
Key People In Solomon's Life
Here's a list of key people in Solomon's life, along with brief descriptions and biblical references:
David: Solomon's father and previous king of Israel (2 Samuel 12:24). David chose Solomon as his successor (1 Kings 1:29-30)
Bathsheba: Solomon's mother (2 Samuel 12:24). She advocated for Solomon to become king (1 Kings 1:11-31)
Nathan: Prophet who supported Solomon's kingship (1 Kings 1:11-14). Nathan named Solomon "Jedidiah" (2 Samuel 12:25)
Adonijah: Solomon's half-brother who tried to usurp the throne (1 Kings 1:5-10). Later executed by Solomon (1 Kings 2:24-25)
Joab: David's military commander, executed by Solomon for supporting Adonijah (1 Kings 2:28-34)
Benaiah: Military leader loyal to Solomon, carried out Solomon's orders (1 Kings 2:35)
Zadok: High priest who anointed Solomon as king (1 Kings 1:39)
Pharaoh's daughter: Solomon's first and most prominent wife (1 Kings 3:1)
Hiram of Tyre: King of Tyre who provided materials and craftsmen for the Temple (1 Kings 5:1-12)
Queen of Sheba: Visited Solomon to test his wisdom (1 Kings 10:1-13)
Jeroboam: An official whom God chose to rule the northern tribes after Solomon (1 Kings 11:26-40)
Rehoboam: Solomon's son and successor (1 Kings 11:43)
Solomon's foreign wives: Collectively influenced Solomon to worship other gods (1 Kings 11:1-8)
Ahijah the prophet: Prophesied the division of Solomon's kingdom (1 Kings 11:29-39)
The following individuals may not have had as significant an impact as those in the first list, but they all contributed to the tapestry of Solomon's life and reign. The Bible provides varying levels of detail about these figures, some being mentioned only briefly while others play more substantial roles in the narrative.
Abishag: The young woman who cared for David in his old age (1 Kings 1:1-4). Her status became a point of contention between Solomon and Adonijah (1 Kings 2:13-25)
Abiathar: High priest who supported Adonijah; Solomon removed him from office (1 Kings 2:26-27)
Shimei: A man who had cursed David; Solomon initially spared him but later had him executed (1 Kings 2:36-46)
Solomon's other sons: Only Rehoboam is named, but 1 Kings 11:43 mentions that Solomon had other sons
Naamah the Ammonite: Mother of Rehoboam, one of Solomon's foreign wives (1 Kings 14:21)
Pharaoh of Egypt: Solomon's father-in-law, who gave Gezer as a wedding gift (1 Kings 9:16)
Hadad the Edomite: An adversary raised up against Solomon in his later years (1 Kings 11:14-22)
Rezon son of Eliada: Another adversary of Solomon, ruler in Damascus (1 Kings 11:23-25)
Solomon's officials: Including Azariah, Elihoreph, Ahijah, Jehoshaphat, Benaiah, Zadok, Abiathar, Adoniram, and others (1 Kings 4:1-6)
The two mothers who came for judgment: While not named, they were part of the famous incident demonstrating Solomon's wisdom (1 Kings 3:16-28)
Huram-Abi (or Hiram): The skilled craftsman from Tyre who worked on the Temple (2 Chronicles 2:13-14)