King Solomon was the son of King David and God considered him to be the wisest man on Earth. Solomon lived a full and spectacular life like his father before him. He was not only the most knowledgeable man to have ever existed he was also extremely rich, very renown and one of Israel’s greatest rulers. He appears on the Biblical Timeline as king beginning in 1015 BC.
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Solomon’s Birth
King Solomon’s story begins with his father, David. In 2 Samuel 11, King David didn’t go off to war with his soldiers during a particular campaign against the Ammonites. While at his palace he saw a beautiful woman named Bathsheba. She was the wife of Uriah the Hittite who was one of his most loyal soldiers. King David didn’t care and ultimately had Uriah killed and Bathsheba moved into his palace. God dealt with King David behind his sin because David’s actions displeased him (see 2 Samuel 11:27). The prophet Nathan was sent to King David to tell him about the punishments that God had given to him for his sins. One of God’s punishment’s towards David was to kill the first child that he had with Bathsheba. After losing this child, Bathsheba bore him another son and his name was Solomon.
Solomon Becomes the King
1 Kings tell about King David’s last years as ruler. He had to govern his kingdom from his bedside because his old age. An older son of his named Adonijah claimed the throne. God sent Nathan to Bathsheba so he could tell her what she must do to stay alive and have Solomon to become king. Ultimately, Bathsheba and Nathan convinced the king that Solomon should sit on the throne and David swore that Solomon would be the next ruler. King David had his servants proclaim Solomon the next ruler all throughout the land and Adonijah had fearfully submitted to his authority(1 Kings 1:49-53).
The Wisdom of Solomon
God had appeared to Solomon in a dream during the early days of his reign. The Lord told Solomon he could have whatever he desired because he truly worshiped and honored him as he was instructed by his father. Solomon chose wisdom as a gift from God, and the Lord blessed him with wealth, honor, and a long life because of his choice. 1 Kings 3:16-28 is an example of Solomon’s great wisdom and heart for justice. He had rightfully decided a matter between two prostitutes on a child. When the people heard about his judgment on the matter, his fame spread wide and far. Solomon’s wisdom has also been recorded in the Bible within the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.
The End of Solomon’s Reign
In 1 Kings, 9 Solomon builds the temple to God. After he was finished building the temple God warns Solomon that if he doesn’t obey him he will cut off Israel from the land that he gave them. Solomon’s greatest sin was taking too many foreign women as wives. This ultimately resulted in God dividing up the kingdom. 1 Kings 11:1-3 states that Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. All of these women eventually turned Solomon’s heart away from God and the Lord judged him. God decided to divide up the kingdom from the line of David but not to completely take it away because of the promise that he made to David. The last part of Solomon’s rule was not good according to God. After ruling the land for 40 years, Solomon died and was buried in the city of David.
Biblical References to King Solomon
- 1 Kings 1:32-40 David has his servants declare Solomon’s rule throughout the land
- 1 Kings 13:4-15 God appears to Solomon in a dream and grants him wealth, honor, and a long lasting life because he chooses wisdom as a gift.
- 1 Kings 13:16-28 Solomon decides a matter between two prostitutes and his fame spreads far and wide because of his judgment.
- 1 Kings 9 Solomon builds the temple for God.
- 1 Kings 9:2-6 God’s warns Solomon not to turn away from serving him, or he would have to suffer the consequences.
- 1 Kings 11:1-3 states that Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines and this displeases the Lord.
- 1 Kings 11:9-13 God decided to divide up the kingdom from the line of David.
- 1 Kings 11:14-40 Scriptures outline the major problems that Solomon had during the last few years of their reign.