Difference between revisions of "Solomon"

<p> Shlomoh in Hebrew. Second child of David by Bathsheba. [[Josephus]] makes [[Solomon]] last born of David's sons (Ant. 7:14, section 2). His history is contained in &nbsp;2 Samuel 12:24-25; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 22:6-16; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 22:1 Kings 1-11; 2 Chronicles 1-9. The leading events of his life were selected, under inspiration: namely, his grandeur, extensive commerce, and wisdom, etc. (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:10-10:29), from "the book of the Acts of Solomon"; his accession and dedication of the temple (1 Kings 1 - 1 Kings 8:66) from "the book of [[Nathan]] the prophet"; his idolatry and its penal consequences (1 Kings 11) from "the book of [[Ahijah]] the [[Shilonite]] and the visions of [[Iddo]] the seer." Psalm 72 was his production under the Spirit. Its objective character accords with Solomon's other writings, whereas subjective feeling characterizes David's psalms. Solomon's glorious and wide kingdom typifies Messiah's. The Nile, Mediterranean, and Euphrates, were then Israel's bounds (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:21; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 9:26) as promised in &nbsp;Genesis 15:18; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 11:24. </p> <p> From thence [[Messiah]] is to reign to the ends of the earth (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 11:8; &nbsp;Isaiah 9:5-6; Isaiah 11; &nbsp;Zechariah 9:10; see &nbsp;Micah 5:4; &nbsp;Numbers 24:19). "The song of degrees," i.e. for [[Israelites]] going up to the great feasts at [[Jerusalem]] (Psalm 127), was also Solomon's. It has no trace of the sadness which pervades "the songs of degrees" without titles, and which accords with the post captivity period. The individual comes into prominence here, whereas they speak more of the nation and church. The theme suits Solomon who occupied chiefly the domestic civic territory. The main thought answers to &nbsp;Proverbs 10:22, "so God giveth His beloved sleep," i.e. undisturbed repose and wealth without the anxieties of the worldly, in a way they know not how (&nbsp;Mark 4:27). So God gave to His beloved S. in sleep ''(Hengstenberg Supplies "In")'' ; &nbsp;Matthew 6:25; &nbsp;Matthew 6:34. Jedidiah ("beloved of Jehovah," &nbsp;Psalms 127:2) was his God-given name (&nbsp;Psalms 60:5). Solomon evidently refers (&nbsp;Psalms 60:2) to his own experience (&nbsp;1 Kings 3:5-13; &nbsp;1 Kings 4:20-25), yet in so unstudied a way that the coincidence is evidently undesigned, and so confirms the authenticity of both psalm and independent history. (See PROVERBS; CANTICLES; ECCLESIASTES.) </p> <p> His name Solomon , "peaceful", was given in accordance with the early prophecy that, because of wars, David should not build Jehovah's house, but that a son should be born to him, "a man of rest," who should build it (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 22:9; compare the fulfillment &nbsp;1 Kings 4:25; &nbsp;1 Kings 5:4, and the [[Antitype]] &nbsp;Matthew 11:29; &nbsp;Psalms 132:8-14; &nbsp;Isaiah 11:10; &nbsp;Isaiah 9:6; &nbsp;Ephesians 2:14). His birth was to David a pledge that God is at peace with him. [[Jehovah]] commissioned Nathan ''("Sent By The Hand Of Nathan")'' , and Nathan called David's son Jedidiah "for Jehovah's sake," i.e. because Jehovah loved him. Jehovah's naming him so assured David that Jehovah loved Solomon. Jedidiah was therefore not his actual name, but expressed Jehovah's relation to him (&nbsp;2 Samuel 12:24-25). Tradition makes Nathan the prophet his instructor, [[Jehiel]] was governor of the royal princes (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 27:32). Jehovah chose Solomon of all David's sons to be his successor, and promised to be his father, and to establish his kingdom for ever, if he were constant to His commandments (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 28:5-6-7). </p> <p> Accordingly David swore to [[Bathsheba]] that her son should succeed. She pleaded this at the critical moment of Adonijah's rebellion (&nbsp;1 Kings 1:13; &nbsp;1 Kings 1:17; &nbsp;1 Kings 1:30). (See [[Adonijah]] .) By the interposition of Nathan the prophet, [[Zadok]] the priest, Benaiah, Shimei, and Rei, David's mighty men, Solomon was at David's command taken on the king's own mule to Gihon, anointed, and proclaimed king. Solomon would have spared Adonijah but for his incestuous and treasonous desire to have [[Abishag]] his father's concubine; he mercifully spared the rest of his brothers who had joined Adonijah. (See [[Adonijah]] .) Abiathar he banished to [[Anathoth]] for treason, thus fulfilling the old curse on [[Eli]] (&nbsp;1 Samuel 2:31-35). (See [[Abiathar]] .) [[Joab]] the murderer he put to death, according to his father's dying charge, illustrating Solomon's own words, &nbsp;Ecclesiastes 8:12-13. [[Shimei]] fell by breaking his own engagement on oath. </p> <p> Solomon's reverent dutifulness to his mother amidst all his kingly state appears in the narrative (&nbsp;1 Kings 2:12; &nbsp;Exodus 20:12; &nbsp;Psalms 45:9; &nbsp;Proverbs 1:8; &nbsp;Proverbs 4:3; &nbsp;Proverbs 6:20; &nbsp;Proverbs 10:1). The ceremonial of coronation and anointing was repeated more solemnly before David and all the congregation, with great sacrifices and glad feastings, Zadok at the same time being anointed "priest"; and Jehovah magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in [[Israel]] (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 29:20-25). He was "yet young and tender" (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 29:1; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 22:5; &nbsp;1 Kings 3:7; "I am but a little child," &nbsp;Proverbs 4:3); perhaps 20 years of age: as [[Rehoboam]] was 41 at his accession and Solomon had reigned 40 years, Rehoboam must have been born before Solomon's accession (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:42; &nbsp;1 Kings 14:21). Solomon loved the Lord who had first loved him; &nbsp;1 Kings 3:3. (See [[Jedidiah]] .) </p> <p> He walked in David's godly ways but there being no one exclusive temple yet, he sacrificed in high places, especially at the great high place in Gibeon, where was the tabernacle with its altar, while the ark was in Zion. After his offering there a thousand burnt offerings God in vision gave him his choice of goods. In the spirit of a child (see &nbsp;1 Corinthians 2:14) he asked for an understanding heart to discern between good and bad (compare &nbsp;James 1:5; &nbsp;James 3:17; &nbsp;2 Timothy 3:17; &nbsp;Proverbs 2:3-9; &nbsp;Psalms 72:1-2; &nbsp;Hebrews 5:14). God gave him, besides wisdom, what he had not asked, riches, honour, and life, because he made wisdom his first desire (&nbsp;James 4:3; &nbsp;1 John 5:14-15; &nbsp;Ecclesiastes 1:16; &nbsp;Matthew 6:33; &nbsp;Ephesians 3:20; &nbsp;Proverbs 3:2; &nbsp;Proverbs 3:16; &nbsp;Psalms 91:16). His wise decision as to the owner of the living child established his reputation for wisdom. </p> <p> His [[Egyptian]] queen, Pharaoh's daughter, is distinguished from "the strange women" who seduced him to idolatry (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:1), and no Egyptian superstitions are mentioned. Still he did not let her as a foreigner stay in the palace of David, sanctified as it was by the presence of the ark, but assigned her a dwelling in the city of David and then brought her up out of the city of David to the palace he had built for her (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 8:11; &nbsp;1 Kings 9:24; &nbsp;1 Kings 3:1). Gezer was her dowry. (See [[Gezer]] .) Toward the close of his reign God chastised him for idolatry because, beginning with latitudinarian toleration of his foreign wives' superstitions, be ended with adopting them himself; retaining at the same time what cannot be combined with idolatry, Jehovah's worship (&nbsp;Ezekiel 20:39; &nbsp;Ezekiel 20:1 Kings 11). Jeroboam "lifted up his hand against the king, and fled to [[Shishak]] ''(Of A New Dynasty)'' of Egypt"; [[Rezon]] of [[Zobah]] on the N.E. frontier and [[Hadad]] the [[Edomite]] became his adversaries, Solomon otherwise had uninterrupted peace. (See [[Jeroboam]] ; REZON; HADAD.) </p> <p> Among his buildings were the famous Tadmor or Palmyra in the wilderness, to carry on commerce with inland Asia, and store cities in Hamath; Bethhoron, the Upper and the Nether, on the border toward [[Philistia]] and Egypt; [[Hazor]] and Megiddo, guarding the plain of Esdraelon; [[Baalath]] or Baalbek, etc. (See [[Tadmor]] .) ''(On '' &nbsp;1 Kings 10:28'', See Linen, And On '' &nbsp;1 Kings 10:29'', See Horse.)'' [[Tiphsah]] ("Thapsacus") on the [[Euphrates]] (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:24) was his limit in that direction. On [[Lebanon]] he built lofty towers (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 8:6; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 7:4) "looking toward Damascus" (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:19). The Hittite and [[Syrian]] kings, vassals of Solomon, were supplied from Egypt with chariots and horses through the king's merchants. [[Hiram]] was his ally, and supplied him with timber in return for 20,000 measures (core ) of wheat and 20 measures of pure oil (1 Kings 5). Solomon gave him at the end of his great buildings 20 cities in Galilee, with which Hiram was dissatisfied. (See [[Cabul]] .) </p> <p> Solomon had his navy at Ezion Geber, near [[Eloth]] on the Red Sea, which went to [[Ophir]] and brought back 420 talents of gold; and a navy of Tarshish which sailed with Hiram's navy in the Mediterranean, bringing every three years "gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks." (See [[Tarshish]] .) For the first time Israel began to be a commercial nation, and Solomon's occupation of [[Edom]] enabled him to open to Hiram his ally a new field of commerce. His own interest in it is evidenced by his going in person to [[Elath]] and Ezion [[Geber]] to view the preparations for expeditions (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 8:17; compare his allusions to seafaring life, &nbsp;Proverbs 23:34-35). Silver flowed in so plentifully that it was "nothing accounted of"; of gold yearly came in 666 ''(The Number Of The Beast, '' &nbsp;Revelation 13:18'')'' talents; a snare to him and his people, seducing the heart from God to luxurious self indulgence (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:20; &nbsp;1 Kings 4:25). [[Heretofore]] "dwelling alone, and not reckoned among the nations," Israel now was in danger of conformity to them in their idolatries (&nbsp;1 Kings 10:14). The Temple and his palace were his great buildings. (See [[Temple]] .) </p> <p> Hiram, a widow's son of [[Naphtali]] by a [[Tyrian]] father, was his chief artificer in brass. Solomon's men, 30,000, i.e. 10,000 a month, the other 20,000 having two months' relief, cut timber in Lebanon; 70,000 bore loads; 80,000 hewed stone in the mountains and under the rock, where the mason's Phoenician marks have been found; chiefly Canaanites, spared on conforming to Judaism; 3,300 officers were over these workmen. The preparation of stones took three years ''(Septuagint '' &nbsp;1 Kings 5:18'')'' . The building of the temple began in Ζif , the second month of his fourth year; the stones were brought ready, so that no sound of hammer was heard in the house; in seven years it was completed, in the month Βul ('November"), his 11th year (&nbsp;1 Kings 6:37-38); eleven months later Solomon offered the dedication prayer, after the ark had been placed in the holiest place and the glory cloud filled the sanctuary; this was during the feast of tabernacles. </p> <p> He recognizes in it God's covenant-keeping faithfulness (&nbsp;1 Kings 8:23-26); His being unbounded by space, so that "the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him," much less any temple; yet he begs God to regard the various prayers which should, under various exigencies, be offered there (&nbsp;Isaiah 66:1; &nbsp;Jeremiah 23:24; &nbsp;Acts 7:24). He acknowledges His omniscience as knowing already the plague of each heart which the individual may confess before Him. After kneeling in prayer Solomon stood to bless God, at the same time begging Him to incline Israel's heart unto Himself and to "maintain their cause at all times as the matter shall require" ''(Hebrew "The [[Thing]] Of A Day In Its Day")'' &nbsp;1 Kings 8:59; &nbsp;Luke 11:3. God's answer (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:3) at His second appearance to Solomon in [[Gibeon]] was the echo of his prayer (&nbsp;1 Kings 8:29), "Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually" (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:3), but God added a warning that if Israel should apostatize the temple should become "a bye-word among all people." The building of Solomon's palace occupied 13 years, after the temple, which was built in seven. It consisted of </p> <p> '''(1)''' the house of the forest of Lebanon, built of a forest of cedar pillars, and serving also as an armory (&nbsp;1 Kings 10:17), &nbsp;1 Kings 10:100 cubits long, 50 broad, 30 high, on four rows of cedar pillars and hewn cedar beams over the pillars. There were 45 side rooms, forming three stories of 15 rooms each, built upon the lower rows of pillars in ranges of 15 each; the windows of the three stories on one side were vis a vis to those on the opposite side of the inner open court enclosed between them (Keil on 1 Kings 7). An artificial platform of stones of ten and eight cubits formed the foundation; as in Sennacherib's palace remains at Koyunjik, and at [[Baalbek]] stones 60 ft. long, probably laid by Solomon. </p> <p> '''(2)''' The pillar hall with the porch (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:6) lying between the house of the forest of Lebanon and </p> <p> '''(3)''' The throne room and judgment hall (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:7). </p> <p> '''(4)''' The king's dwelling house and that of Pharaoh's daughter (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:8). All four were different parts of the one palace. His throne, targets, stables, harem ''(Both The [[Latter]] Forbidden By God, '' &nbsp;Deuteronomy 17:16-17'')'' , paradises at Εtham ("wady Urtas"), men and women singers (&nbsp;Ecclesiastes 2:5-8), commissariat, and officers of the household and state, all exhibit his magnificence (1 Kings 4; 1 Kings 10-11). </p> <p> His might and greatness of dominion permanently impressed the oriental mind; Solomon is evidently alluded to in the [[Persian]] king Artaxerxes' answer, "there have been mighty kings over Jerusalem which have ruled overall countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom was paid unto them." The queen of Sheba's ''(Arabian Tradition Calls Her '' Βalkis '')'' visit illustrates the impression made by his fame, which led "all the earth to seek to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart"; she "hearing of his fame concerning the name of Jehovah" ''(I.E. Which He Had [[Acquired]] Through Jehovah'S [[Glorification]] Of Himself In Him)'' brought presents of gold, spices, and precious stones. (See [[Sheba]] .) </p> <p> Josephus attributes to her the introduction of the balsam for which [[Judaea]] was afterward famed (&nbsp;1 Kings 10:1-25). Northern [[Arabia]] was at this time ruled by queens not kings, but she probably came from southern Arabia or Arabia Felix. Like the wise men coming to the Antitype, she came with a great train, and with camels laden with presents, in search of Heaven-sent wisdom (&nbsp;Proverbs 1:6; &nbsp;Matthew 2:1), "to prove Solomon with hard questions" ''('' chidah '', [[Pointed]] Sayings Hinting At Deep Truths Which Are To Be Guessed; Very Common In Arabic Literature)'' , and to commune with him of all that was in her heart; compare as to these "hard questions" &nbsp;Proverbs 30:18, etc., &nbsp;Proverbs 30:15-16; &nbsp;Judges 14:12-19; also Josephus (Ant. 8:5, section 3) quotes Phoenician writers who said that Solomon and Hiram puzzled one another with sportive riddles; Hiram at first had to pay forfeits, but was ultimately the winner by the help of a sharp Tyrian lad Abdemon. </p> <p> The queen of Sheba confessed that she believed not the report until her own eyes saw its truth, yet that half was not told her, his wisdom and prosperity exceeded the fame which she had heard ''(Compare [[Spiritually]] '' &nbsp;John 1:46''; '' &nbsp;John 4:42'')'' . Her coming to Solomon from so far condemns those who come not to Him who is infinitely greater, Wisdom itself, though near at hand, and needing no long pilgrimage to reach Him (&nbsp;Matthew 12:42; &nbsp;Proverbs 8:34). He is the true "Prince of peace," the Jedid-jah "the well beloved of the Father." "God gave Solomon wisdom ''('' chokmah '', "Practical Wisdom" To [[Discern]] The Judicious Course Of Action)'' , and understanding ''('' tebunah '', "Keenness Of Intellect" To Solve Problems)'' , and largeness of heart ''("Large Mental Capacity" Comprising Varied Fields Of Knowledge)'' as the sand," i.e. abundant beyond measure (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:29). He excelled the famous wise men of the East and of Egypt (&nbsp;Isaiah 19:11; &nbsp;Isaiah 31:2; &nbsp;Acts 7:22). Of his 3,000 proverbs we have a sample in the Book of Proverbs; of his 1,005 songs we have only the Song of Solomon ''(Its Five [[Divisions]] Probably Are Referred To In The [[Odd]] Five)'' , and Psalm 72 and Psalm 127. (See PROVERBS.) </p> <p> He knew botany, from the lowly hyssop ''(Probably The Tufty Wall Moss, '' Οrthotrichum saxatile '', A [[Miniature]] Of The True And Large Hyssop)'' to the stately cedar. He also spoke of the results of his observations in the natural history of beasts, birds, creeping things, and fish. As an autocrat, Solomon was able to carry on his magnificent buildings and works, having an unbounded command of wealth and labour. But the people's patience was tried with the heavy taxes and levies of provisions (&nbsp;1 Samuel 8:15; &nbsp;1 Kings 4:21-23) and conscriptions required (&nbsp;1 Kings 5:13). Thus by divine retribution the scourge was being prepared for his apostasy through his idolatrous mistresses. God declared by His prophet His purpose to rend the kingdom, except one tribe, from his son (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:9, etc.). One trace of the servitude of the "hewers of stone" existed long after in the so-called children or descendants of "SOLOMON'S SERVANTS" attached to the temple (&nbsp;Ezra 2:55-58; &nbsp;Nehemiah 7:57; &nbsp;Nehemiah 7:60); inferior to the Nethinim, hewers of wood (&nbsp;1 Kings 5:13-15; &nbsp;1 Kings 5:17-18; &nbsp;1 Kings 9:20-21; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 8:7-8; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 22:2), compelled to labour in the king's stone quarries. (See [[Nethinim]] .) </p> <p> His apostasy was the more glaring, contrasted with God's goodness in appearing to him twice, blessing him so much, and warning him so plainly; also with his own former scrupulous regard for the law, so that he would not let his Egyptian queen remain in the neighbourhood of the ark; and especially with his devout prayer at the dedication. See the lesson to us, &nbsp;1 Corinthians 10:12. Solomon probably repented in the end; for Chronicles make no mention of his fall. Again Ecclesiastes is probably the result of his melancholy, but penitent, retrospect of the past; "all is vanity and vexation of spirit": it is not vanity, but wisdom as well as our whole duty, to "fear God and keep His commandments." (See [[Ecclesiastes]] .) </p> <p> God having made him His Jedidiah ("beloved of Jehovah") "visited his transgression with the rod, nevertheless His lovingkindness He did not utterly take from him" (&nbsp;Psalms 89:30-36). As the Song of Solomon represents his first love to Jehovah in youth, so Proverbs his matured experience in middle age, Ecclesiastes the sad retrospect of old age. "Solomon in all his glory" was not arrayed as one of the "lilies of the field": a reproof of our pride (&nbsp;Matthew 6:29). The sudden rise of the empire under David and Solomon, extending 450 miles from Egypt to the Euphrates, and its sudden collapse under Rehoboam, is a feature not uncommon in the East. Before [[Darius]] Hystaspes' time, when the satrapial system was introduced of governing the provinces on a common plan by officers of the crown, the universal system of great empires was an empire consisting of separate kingdoms, each under its own king, but "paying tribute or presents to the one" suzerain , as Solomon. </p> <p> The Tyrian historians on whom [[Dius]] and [[Menander]] base their histories (Josephus, [[Apion]] 1:17) confirm Hiram's connection with Solomon, and state that letters between them were preserved in the Tyrian archives and fix the date as at the close of the 11th century B.C., and the building of the temple 1007 B.C. Menander (in Clem. Alex., Strom. 1:386) states that Solomon took one of Hiram's daughters to wife, so "Zidonians" are mentioned among his wives (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:1). At first sight it seems unlikely Israel could be so great under David and Solomon for half a century in the face of two mighty empires, Egypt and Assyria. But independent history confirms [[Scripture]] by showing that exactly at this time, from the beginning of the 11th to the close of the 10th century B.C., [[Assyria]] was under a cloud, and Egypt from 1200 B.C. to Shishak's accession 990 B.C. Solomon was prematurely "old" (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:4), for he was only about 60 at death. </p>

<p> <strong> SOLOMON </strong> </p> <p> 1. Sources . &nbsp; 1 Kings 1:1-53; &nbsp; 1 Kings 2:1-46; 1Ki 3:1-28; &nbsp; 1 Kings 4:1-34; &nbsp; 1 Kings 5:1-18; &nbsp; 1 Kings 6:1-38; 1Ki 7:1-51; &nbsp; 1 Kings 8:1-66; &nbsp; 1 Kings 9:1-28; &nbsp; 1 Kings 10:1-29; &nbsp; 1 Kings 11:1-43 (cf. &nbsp; 1 Kings 11:41 ), with parallels in &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 1:1-17; &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 2:1-18; &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 3:1-17; 2Ch 4:1-22; &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 5:1-14; &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 6:1-42; &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 7:1-22; 2Ch 8:1-18; &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 9:1-31 (add references in closing chs. of 1 Ch.). In Chronicles the character of Solomon, as of the period as a whole, is idealized; <em> e.g. </em> nothing is said of the intrigues attending his accession, his foreign marriages and idolatry, or his final troubles, even with Jeroboam. Details are added or altered in accordance with post-exilic priestly conceptions (&nbsp; 2 Chronicles 5:12-13; &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 7:5; &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 8:11-15 ); &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 1:3 (cf. &nbsp; 1 Kings 3:4 ) makes the sacrifice at Gibeon more orthodox; the dream becomes a theophany; in &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 7:1; &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 7:3 fire comes down from heaven. In &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 9:29 reference is made to authorities, possibly sections of 1Kings.; there is no evidence that the Chronicler was able to go behind 1, 2Kings. for his materials. The books of OT and [[Apocrypha]] ascribed to Solomon are of value only as giving later conceptions of his career. Josephus ( <em> Ant. </em> viii. i viii.) cannot be relied on where be differs from OT; the same holds good of the fragments quoted by [[Eusebius]] and [[Clemens]] Alexandrinus. Later legends, [[Jewish]] and Mohammedan, are interesting, but historically valueless; the fact that they have in no way influenced the OT narrative is an evidence of its general reliability; only two dreams and no marvels are recorded of Solomon. Archæology has so far contributed very little to our knowledge of his reign. </p> <p> <strong> 2. [[Chronology]] </strong> . His accession is dated <em> c </em> <em> [Note: circa, about.] </em> . b.c. 969, <em> i.e. </em> about 50 years later than the traditional chronology. We have unfortunately no exact data, the dates of Hiram and Shishak (&nbsp; 1 Kings 11:40 ) not having been precisely determined. The origin and interpretation of the 480 years in &nbsp; 1 Kings 6:1 are very doubtful. The ‘little child’ of &nbsp; 1 Kings 3:7 (cf. &nbsp; Jeremiah 1:6 ) does not require the tradition that Solomon was only twelve at his accession (Josephus); the probabilities point to his being about twenty. The 40 years of his reign, as of David’s (cf. &nbsp; Judges 3:11; &nbsp; Judges 3:30; &nbsp; Judges 5:31; &nbsp; Judges 8:28 etc.), would seem to represent a generation. </p> <p> <strong> 3. Early years </strong> . Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba (&nbsp; 2 Samuel 12:24-25 ), presumably their eldest surviving child; his position in the lists of &nbsp; 2 Samuel 5:14 , &nbsp; 1 Chronicles 3:5; &nbsp; 1 Chronicles 14:4 is strange, perhaps due to emphasis. The name means ‘peaceful’ (Heb. <em> Shetômoh </em> ; cf. <em> IrenÅ“us, Friedrich </em> ), indicating the longing of the old king (&nbsp; 1 Chronicles 22:9 ); cf. <em> Absatom </em> (‘father is peace’). The name given him by Nathan (&nbsp; 2 Samuel 12:25 ), <strong> Jedidiah </strong> (‘beloved of J″ [Note: Jahweh.] ,’ the same root as <em> David </em> ), is not again referred to, perhaps as being too sacred. It was the pledge of his father’s restoration to [[Divine]] favour. We have no account of his training. ‘The Lord loved him’ (&nbsp; 2 Samuel 12:24 ) implies great gifts; and &nbsp; 2 Samuel 12:25 and &nbsp; 1 Kings 1:1-53 suggest the influence of Nathan. His mother evidently had a strong hold over him (&nbsp; 1 Kings 1:1-53; &nbsp; 1 Kings 2:1-46 ). </p> <p> <strong> 4. Accession </strong> . The appointment of a successor in Eastern monarchies depended on the king’s choice, which in Israel needed to be ratified by the people (&nbsp; 1 Kings 12:1-33 ); where polygamy prevails, primogeniture cannot be assumed. &nbsp; 1 Kings 1:13 implies a previous promise to Bathsheba, perhaps a ‘court secret’; the public proclamation of &nbsp; 1 Chronicles 22:2-19 , if at all historical, must be misplaced. Adonijah, ‘a very goodly man’ (&nbsp; 1 Kings 1:6 ), relying on the favour of the people (&nbsp; 1 Kings 2:15 ) [it is doubtful whether he was the eldest surviving son], made a bid for the throne, imitating the method of [[Absalom]] and taking advantage of David’s senility. He was easily foiled by the prompt action of Nathan and Bathsheba; Solomon himself was evidently young, though soon able to assert himself. The careful and impressive ritual of the coronation was calculated to leave no doubt in the people’s mind as to who was the rightful heir. The young king learned quickly to distinguish between his friends and enemies, as well as to rely on the loyalty of the Cherethites, his father’s foreign bodyguard. The sparing of Adonijah (&nbsp; 1 Kings 1:53 ) suggests that he was not a very formidable competitor; his plot was evidently badly planned. His request to Bathsheba (&nbsp; 1 Kings 2:13 ) may have been part of a renewed attempt on the kingdom (as <em> heir </em> he claims his father’s wives), or may have been due to real affection. At any rate the king’s suspicion or jealousy was aroused, and his rival was removed; [[Canticles]] suggests that Solomon himself was believed to have been the lover of Abishag. The deposition of Abiathar, and the execution of Joab and Shimei, were natural consequences; and in the case of the two last, Solomon was only following the advice of his father (&nbsp; 1 Kings 2:5; &nbsp; 1 Kings 2:8 ). He thus early emphasized his power to act, and as a result ‘his kingdom was established greatly’ at a cheap cost. We shall hardly criticise the removal of dangerous rivals when we remember the fate which he himself would have met if Adonijah had succeeded (&nbsp; 1 Kings 1:21 ), and the incidents common at the beginning of a new reign (&nbsp; 2 Kings 11:1; cf. &nbsp; Proverbs 25:5 ). </p> <p> <strong> 5. [[Policy]] </strong> . The work of Solomon was to develop the ideas of his father. He consolidated the kingdom, welding its disorganized tribal divisions together into a short-lived unity, by the power of an Oriental despotism. The subjugation of the [[Canaanites]] was completed (&nbsp; 1 Kings 9:20 ). The position of Jerusalem as the capital was secured by the building of the Temple and palaces and by the fortification of [[Millo]] (&nbsp; 1 Kings 9:24 , &nbsp; 1 Kings 11:27 ). A chain of garrison and store cities was established (&nbsp; 1 Kings 9:15 ), together with a standing army which included 12,000 horsemen and 1400 chariots (&nbsp; 1 Kings 4:26 , &nbsp; 1 Kings 10:26 ). The extent of his dominions (&nbsp; 1 Kings 4:21; &nbsp; 1 Kings 4:24 ) may represent the idea of a later age, and Eastern monarchs were ready to claim suzerainty where there was but little effective control. But inscriptions show us how kaleidoscopic were the politics of the period; kingdoms rose and fell very quickly, and the surrounding States were all at the time in a state of weakness. It was this that enabled his reign to be a generation of peace. His troubles (&nbsp; 1 Kings 11:9-40 ) were very few for so long a life. The hostility of Hadad (&nbsp; 1 Kings 11:14 ff.) was a legacy from David, but there is no evidence that he became king of Edom. Rezon (&nbsp; 1 Kings 11:23 ) conquered [[Damascus]] and founded a dynasty, but we hear nothing of any serious war. Nothing is known of the Hamath-zobah which Solomon subdued (&nbsp; 2 Chronicles 8:3 ). More than any other Jewish king, he realized the importance of <em> foreign alliances </em> , which were closely connected with his <em> commercial policy </em> . ( <em> a </em> ) Early in his reign he married Pharaoh’s daughter (&nbsp; 1 Kings 3:1 ), who brought as her marriage portion Gezer (&nbsp; 1 Kings 9:16 ). This [[Pharaoh]] was apparently the last of the Tanite (21st) dynasty a confused period of which little is known; we have no other notice of the connexion between Egypt and [[Palestine]] at this period. Solomon was able to control, and no doubt profited by, the caravan trade between the Euphrates and the Nile. The caravanserai of [[Chimham]] (&nbsp; Jeremiah 41:17; cf. &nbsp; 2 Samuel 19:37 , &nbsp; 1 Kings 2:7 ) may have been established at this period in connexion with that trade. From Egypt (unless a N. Syrian Musri is intended) came horses and chariots for Solomon’s own use, and for the purposes of a Syrian trade (&nbsp; 1 Kings 10:28-29 ). The alliance was apparently not disapproved at the time (cf. &nbsp; Psalms 45:1-17 ), but it was not continued; Shishak protects Jeroboam (&nbsp; 1 Kings 11:40 ). ( <em> b </em> ) The alliance with Hiram of [[Tyre]] (according to Clem. Alex. [Note: lex. Alexandrian.] , Solomon also married his daughter, cf. &nbsp; 1 Kings 11:1; &nbsp; 1 Kings 11:5 ) was a continuation of the policy of David [but unless this Hiram was the son of David’s ally the building of the palace in &nbsp; 2 Samuel 5:11 is put too early]. This was in connexion with his building operations (&nbsp; 2 Samuel 5:1-12 ). [[Timber]] from Lebanon was brought by sea to Joppa, together with skilled workmen from Tyre, especially the [[Gebalites]] (&nbsp; 2 Samuel 5:18 , cf. &nbsp; Ezekiel 27:8 ); Hiram, a worker in brass, is particularly mentioned (&nbsp; 1 Kings 7:13 ). The yearly payment consisted of agricultural commodities (&nbsp; 1 Kings 5:11; note exaggerations in &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 2:10 ). A grant of twenty cities in [[Galilee]] was unsatisfactory to Hiram, though he apparently paid for them (&nbsp; 1 Kings 9:10-14 ). A more substantial return was the security which Solomon was able to offer to PhÅ“nician trade with the E [Note: Elohist.] ., and, above all, access to the port of Ezion-geber on the Red Sea, made possible by his suzerainty over Edom. [[Tamar]] (&nbsp; 1 Kings 9:18 RV [Note: Revised Version.] [AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘Tadmor’]) in S. Judah apparently protected the route to the port. A lucrative trade was carried on by the two kings in partnership, in gold, spices, sandalwood, apes, peacocks, etc. (&nbsp; 1 Kings 9:26 , &nbsp; 1 Kings 10:11; &nbsp; 1 Kings 10:22 ). The extent of their voyages is a mystery, the situation of both Ophir and Tarshish being unknown. Assuming that there was only one Tarshish, and that in the West, it is still very doubtful whether Solomon can have been allowed any share in the [[Mediterranean]] trade; ‘ships of Tarshish’ may be only a name for a particular type of vessel. The Ophir trade must have been connected with S. Arabia; hence no doubt the visit of the queen of Sheba (&nbsp; 1 Kings 10:1 ); the ‘presents’ exchanged would be really of the nature of barter, as illustrated by the Tell el-Amarna tablets. The [[Jews]] never took kindly to the sea, and, except for the abortive attempt of [[Jehoshaphat]] (&nbsp; 1 Kings 22:48 ), Solomon’s policy found no imitators. </p> <p> <strong> 6. Internal condition of his kingdom </strong> . The impression is given us of great wealth. Though the sums left by David (&nbsp; 1 Chronicles 22:14 ) are incredible (equal to a thousand million pounds), Solomon’s own revenue (four millions, &nbsp; 1 Kings 10:14 ) is possible for an exceptional year. But the gold was used chiefly in unproductive forms of display (&nbsp; 1 Kings 10:16 ff.), and probably but little was in circulation among the people; he had a difficulty in paying Hiram (&nbsp; 1 Kings 9:11 ). His passion for buildings was extravagant; the Temple was seven years in building (&nbsp; 1 Kings 6:38 ); his own house thirteen (&nbsp; 1 Kings 7:1 ); there was also the palace for his wife (&nbsp; 1 Kings 7:8 ). He had an enormous court (note list of officers in &nbsp; 1 Kings 4:2 ) and harem (&nbsp; 1 Kings 11:1 ), necessitating a luxurious daily provision (&nbsp; 1 Kings 4:22 ). The country was divided into twelve parts, under twelve officers, each responsible for a month’s supplies (&nbsp; 1 Kings 4:7 ); these did not coincide with the tribal divisions, and Judah was exempt. For the building operations a <em> mas </em> or forced levy was organized under [[Adoram]] (&nbsp; 1 Kings 5:13 , cf. &nbsp; 2 Samuel 20:24 ) with numerous subordinates (&nbsp; 1 Kings 5:16 , &nbsp; 1 Kings 9:23 ); 30,000 men were sent to Lebanon, 10,000 a month; there were carriers and hewers (&nbsp; 2 Samuel 5:15 ), and the aborigines were used as helots (&nbsp; 1 Kings 9:20 , &nbsp; Ezra 2:55 mentions their descendants). The <em> mas </em> was the very word used of the labour in Egypt, and beneath the apparent prosperity (&nbsp; 1 Kings 4:20; &nbsp; 1 Kings 4:25 ) was a growing discontent and jealousy of Judah, which broke out in the rebellion of Jeroboam. By his personal popularity and extravagant display Solomon won a great ‘name’ 1Ki 4:31 , &nbsp; 1 Kings 10:1; &nbsp; 1 Kings 10:7 ), and gave Israel a position among the nations. His reign came to be idealized, but his policy was clearly economically and socially unsound, and could only lead to ruin. From the <em> religious point of view </em> the outstanding feature is the building of the Temple. It is an anachronism to represent it as the centralization of the worship of J″ [Note: Jahweh.] according to the standard of Deut., to the exclusion of the ‘high places,’ and its effect was largely neutralized by the honour paid to other gods (11); none the less its elaborate magnificence was a visible proof of the triumph of J″ [Note: Jahweh.] over the [[Baal]] worship of Canaan, and of His exaltation as supreme God of the nation. It cannot be maintained that the material and local conception of the [[Deity]] which it suggested made entirely for spiritual religion (&nbsp; Isaiah 1:13 , &nbsp; Jeremiah 7:4 , &nbsp; Acts 7:48 ); it meant a concentration of power in the hands of the Jerusalem priesthood at the cost of the prophets, who had no influence during Solomon’s reign (Nathan in &nbsp; 1 Kings 4:6 is probably his brother), and the attitude of Nathan, Ahijah, and [[Shemaiah]] makes it probable that they looked with suspicion on the new developments. It was, however, a necessary step in the religious history of the nation, and the Psalms prove that it made [[Zion]] the centre of its enthusiastic patriotism. </p> <p> <strong> 7. His wisdom </strong> was the special gift of God (&nbsp; 1 Kings 3:5 ). His ‘judgment’ (&nbsp; 1 Kings 3:18 ff.) is the typical instance. It presumably took place early in his reign (cf. the contemptuous laughter of the people in Jos. [Note: Josephus.] <em> Ant. </em> VIII. ii. 2), and simply shows a shrewd knowledge of human nature; many parallels are quoted. It proves his fitness for judicial functions, and &nbsp; 1 Kings 4:29-34 gives the general idea of his attainments. He was regarded as the father of Jewish proverbial (or gnomic) wisdom; ‘wisdom books’ existed in Egypt long before, but it seems impossible to distinguish in our present ‘Proverbs’ ( <em> c </em> <em> [Note: circa, about.] </em> . b.c. 250) what elements may be due to him. [[Sirach]] and Wis. have no title to his name. &nbsp; 1 Kings 4:20; &nbsp; 1 Kings 4:33 suggest general and poetical culture, parables drawn from nature, rather than the beginnings of science. &nbsp; Psalms 72:1-20 may possibly belong to his age, but not &nbsp; Psalms 127:1-5 or Canticles. Later tradition added much; the solving of ‘riddles’ held a large place in the wisdom of the East, and we hear of the ‘hard questions’ of the queen of Sheba (&nbsp; Psalms 10:1 ), and of a contest between Solomon and Hiram (Jos. [Note: Josephus.] <em> Ant </em> . VIII. v. 3). Josephus also speaks of his power over demons; Rabbinical legend of his control over beasts and birds, of his ‘magic carpet,’ and knowledge of the Divine name. Examples of the legendary material are accessible in Farrar’s <em> Solomon </em> . </p> <p> <strong> 8. Character </strong> . Solomon evidently began his reign with high ideals, of which his dream (&nbsp; 1 Kings 3:5 ) was a natural expression. His sacrifice at Gibeon (&nbsp; 1 Kings 3:4 ) gives another aspect; his religion was associated with external display. So the magnificence of the Temple, the pageantry and holocausts of its dedication (&nbsp; 1 Kings 3:8 ), certainly ministered to his own glory, no less than to God’s. His prayer, however, if it he in any sense authentic, is lull of true piety, and he seems to have had a real delight in religious observances (&nbsp; 1 Kings 9:25 ). His fall is connected with his polygamy and foreign wives (&nbsp; 1 Kings 9:11 , cf. &nbsp; Nehemiah 13:26 ). He not only allowed them their own worship, a necessary concession, but shared in it; the memory of his ‘high places,’ within sight of his own Temple, was preserved in the name ‘Mount of Offence.’ This idolatry was, in fact, the natural syncretism resulting from his habitual foreign intercourse. Self-indulgence and the pride of wealth evidently played their part in his deterioration. Of his actual end nothing is known; he was an ‘old man’ (&nbsp; 1 Kings 11:4 ) at sixty years, but Jeroboam’s flight suggests that he could still make his authority felt. Ecclesiastes gives a good impression of the ‘moral’ of his life; but whether he actually repented and was ‘saved’ was warmly debated by the Fathers. &nbsp; Deuteronomy 17:16 f. criticises his Egyptian alliance and harem, his love of horses and of wealth, and Sir 47:12-21 is a fair summary of the career of one whose ‘heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father’ (&nbsp; 1 Kings 11:4 ). His wisdom could not teach him self-control, and the only legacy of a violated home-life was a son ‘ample in foolishness and lacking in understanding.’ </p> <p> C. W. Emmet. </p>

<p> '''Sol'omon.''' ''(Peaceful).'' </p> <p> '''I. ''' '''Early life and occasion to the throne.''' - Solomon was the child of David's old age, the last born of all his sons. &nbsp;1 Chronicles 3:5. The yearnings of the "man of war" led him to give to the new-horn infant, the name of Solomon ([[Shelomoth]] , ''The Peaceful One'' ). Nathan, with a marked reference to the meaning of the king's own name (David, ''The Darling, The [[Beloved]] One'' ), calls the infant Jedidiah, ('''Jedid'yah''' ), that is, ''The [[Darling]] Of The Lord'' . &nbsp;2 Samuel 11:24-25. He was placed under the care of Nathan from his earliest infancy. </p> <p> At first, apparently, there was no distinct purpose to make him the heir. Absalom was still the king's favorite son, &nbsp;2 Samuel 13:37; &nbsp;2 Samuel 18:33, and was looked on, by the people, as the destined successor. &nbsp;2 Samuel 14:13; &nbsp;2 Samuel 15:1-6. The death of Absalom, when Solomon was about ten years old, left the place vacant, and David pledged his word, in secret, to Bath-sheba that he, and no other, should be the heir. &nbsp;1 Kings 1:13. The words which were spoken somewhat later express, doubtless, the purpose which guided him throughout. &nbsp;1 Chronicles 28:9; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 28:20. </p> <p> His son's life should not he, as his own had been, one of hardships and wars, dark crimes, and passionate repentance, but, from first to last, be pure, blameless, peaceful, fulfilling the ideal of glory and of righteousness, after which he himself had vainly striven. The glorious visions of &nbsp;Psalms 72:1, may be looked on as the prophetic expansion of these hopes of his old age. So far, all was well. Apparently his influence over his son's character was one exclusively for good. Nothing that we know of Bath-sheba lends us to think of her as likely to mould her son's mind and heart, to the higher forms of goodness. Under these influences, the boy grew up. </p> <p> At the age of ten or eleven, he must have passed through the revolt of Absalom, and shared his father's exile. &nbsp;2 Samuel 15:16. He would be taught all that priests or [[Levites]] or prophets had to teach. When David was old and feeble, Adonijah, Solomon's older brother attempted to gain possession of the throne; but he was defeated, and Solomon went down to Gihon, and was proclaimed and anointed king. A few months more and Solomon found himself, by his father's death, the sole occupant of the throne. The position to which he succeeded was unique. Never before, and never after, did the kingdom of Israel take its place among the great monarchies of the East. Large treasures, accumulated through many years, were at his disposal. </p> <p> '''II. ''' '''Personal appearance.''' - Of Solomon's personal appearance, we have no direct description, as we have of the earlier kings. There are, however, materials for filling up the gap. Whatever higher mystic meaning may be latent in &nbsp;Psalms 45:1, or the Song of Songs, we are all but compelled to think of them as having had, at least, a historical starting-point. </p> <p> They tell of one who was, in the eyes of the men of his own time, "fairer than the children of men," the face "bright, and ruddy" as his father's, &nbsp;Song of Solomon 5:10; &nbsp;1 Samuel 17:42, bushy locks, dark as the raven's wing, yet not without a golden glow, the eyes soft as "the eyes of cloves," the "countenance as Lebanon excellent as the cedars," "the chiefest among ten thousand, the altogether lovely." &nbsp;Song of Solomon 5:13-18. Add to this all gifts of a noble, far-reaching intellect, large and ready sympathies, a playful and genial humor, the lips "full of grace," and the soul "anointed" as "with the oil of gladness," &nbsp;Psalms 45:1, and we may form some notion of what the king was like in that dawn of his golden prime. </p> <p> '''III. ''' '''Reign.''' - All the data, for a continuous history, that we have of Solomon's reign are - </p> <p> (a) The duration of the reign, forty sears, B.C. 1015-975. &nbsp;1 Kings 11:4. </p> <p> (b) The commencement of the Temple in the fourth, its completion in the eleventh, year of his reign. &nbsp;1 Kings 6:1; &nbsp;1 Kings 6:37-38. </p> <p> (c) The commencement of his own palace in the seventh, its completion in the twentieth, year. &nbsp;1 Kings 7:1; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 8:1. </p> <p> (d) The conquest of Hamath-zobah, and the consequent foundation of cities in the region of north Palestine after the twentieth year. &nbsp;2 Chronicles 8:1-6. </p> <p> '''IV. ''' '''Foreign policy.''' - Egypt. The first act of the foreign policy of the new reign must have been, to most Israelites, a very startling one. He made affinity with Pharaoh, king of Egypt, by marrying his daughter. &nbsp;1 Kings 3:1. The immediate results were, probably, favorable enough. The new queen brought with her, as a dowry, the frontier city of Gezer. But the ultimate issue of alliance showed that it was hollow and impolitic. </p> <p> Tyre. The alliance with the Phoenician king rested on a, somewhat, different footing. It had been a part of David's policy, from the beginning of his reign. Hiram had been "ever a lover of David." As soon as he heard of Solomon's accession, he sent ambassadors to salute him. A correspondence passed between the two kings, which ended in a treaty of commerce. </p> <p> The opening of [[Joppa]] as a port created a new coasting-trade, and the materials from Tyre were conveyed to that city on floats, and, thence, to Jerusalem. &nbsp;2 Chronicles 2:16. In return for these exports, the Phoenicians were only too glad to receive the corn and oil of Solomon's territory. The results of the alliance did not end here. Now, for the first time in the history of the Jews, they entered on a career as a commercial people. </p> <p> The foregoing were the two most important to [[Babylon]] alliances. The absence of any reference to Babylon and Assyria, and the fact that the Euphrates was recognized as the boundary of Solomon's kingdom, &nbsp;2 Chronicles 9:26, suggests the inference that the Mesopotamian monarchies were, at this time, comparatively feeble. Other neighboring nations were content to pay annual tribute in the form of gifts. &nbsp;2 Chronicles 9:28. </p> <p> The survey of the influence exercised by Solomon on surrounding nations would be incomplete, if we were to pass over that which was more directly personal; the fame of his glory and his wisdom. Wherever the ships of Tarshish went, they carried with them the report, losing nothing in its passage, of what their crews had seen and heard. The journey of the queen of Sheba, though from its circumstances, the most conspicuous, did not stand alone. </p> <p> '''V. ''' '''Internal history.''' - The first prominent scene, in Solomon's reign, is one which presents his character in its noblest aspect. God, in a vision, having offered him the choice of good things he would have, he chose "wisdom," in preference to riches or honor or long life. The wisdom asked for was given in large measure, and took a varied range. The wide world of nature, animate and inanimate, the lives and characters of men, lay before him, and he took cognizance of all, but the highest wisdom was that wanted for the highest work, for governing and guiding, and the historian hastens to give an illustration of it. The pattern-instance is, in all its circumstances, thoroughly Oriental. &nbsp;1 Kings 3:16-28. </p> <p> In reference to the king's finances, the first impression of the facts given us is that of abounding plenty. Large quantities of the precious metals were imported from Ophir and Tarshish. &nbsp;1 Kings 9:28. All the kings and princes of the subject provinces paid tribute in the form of gifts, in money and in kind, "at a fixed rate year by year." &nbsp;1 Kings 10:25. Monopolies of trade contributed to the king's treasury. &nbsp;1 Kings 10:28-29. The total amount, thus brought into the treasury in gold, exclusive of all payments in kind, amounted to 666 talents. &nbsp;1 Kings 10:14. It was hardly possible, however, that any financial system could bear the strain of the king's passion for magnificence. </p> <p> The cost of the Temple was, it is true, provided for by David's savings and the offerings of the people; but even while that was building, yet more when it was finished, one structure followed on another with ruinous rapidity. All the equipment of his court, the "apparel" of his servants was on the same scale. A body-guard attended him, "threescore valiant men," tallest and handsomest of the sons of Israel. Forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen made up the measure of his magnificence. &nbsp;1 Kings 4:26. As the treasury became empty, taxes multiplied and monopolies became more irksome. </p> <p> A description of the Temple erected by Solomon is given elsewhere. After seven years, and the work was completed, and the day came to which all Israelites looked back as the culminating glory of their nation. We cannot ignore the fact that, even now, there were some darker shades in the picture. He reduced the "strangers" in the land, the remnant of the [[Canaanite]] races, to the state of helots, and made their life "bitter with all hard bondage." One hundred and fifty-three thousand, with wives and children in proportion, were torn from their homes and sent off to the quarries and the forests of Lebanon. &nbsp;1 Kings 5:15; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 2:17-18. </p> <p> And the king soon fell from the loftiest height of his religious life to the lowest depth. Before long, the priests and prophets had to grieve over rival temples to Molech, Chemosh, [[Ashtaroth]] and forms of ritua, l not idolatrous only, but cruel, dark, impure. This evil came as the penalty of another. &nbsp;1 Kings 11:1-8. He gave himself to "strange women." He found himself involved in a fascination, which led to the worship of strange gods. Something there was perhaps in his very "largeness of heart," so far in advance of the traditional knowledge of his age, rising to higher and wider thoughts of God, which predisposed him to it. </p> <p> In recognizing what was tru, in other forms of faith, he might lose his horror at what was false. With thi, s there may have mingled political motives. He may have hoped, by a policy of toleration, to conciliate neighboring princes, to attract larger traffic. But, probably also, there was another influence less commonly taken into account. The widespread belief of the East in the magic arts of Solomon is not, it is believed, without its foundation of truth. Disasters followed, before long, as the natural consequence of what was politically a blunder as well as religiously a sin. </p> <p> '''VI. ''' '''His literary works.''' - Little remains out of the songs, proverbs, treatises, of which the historian speaks. &nbsp;1 Kings 4:32-33. ''Excerpts'' only are given from the three thousand proverbs. Of the thousand and five songs, we know absolutely nothing. His books represent the three stages of his life. The Song of Songs brings before us, the brightness of his youth. Then comes in the book of Proverbs, the stage of practical, prudential thought. The poet has become the philosopher, the mystic has passed into the moralist; but the man passed through both stages, without being, permanently, the better for either. They were to him, but phases of his life, which he had known, and exhausted, &nbsp;Ecclesiastes 1:1; &nbsp;Ecclesiastes 2:1, and, therefore, there came, its in the confessions of the preacher, the great retribution. </p>

<p> God’s choice to succeed David as king over Israel was Solomon, the son born to David and Bathsheba after their first (and illegitimate) son had died (&nbsp;2 Samuel 12:24-25; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 28:5). He was anointed as king before his father died, in order to overthrow the attempts of his brother Adonijah to seize the throne for himself (&nbsp;1 Kings 1:5-53). </p> <p> '''Establishing his authority''' </p> <p> Once David was dead, Solomon quickly dealt with Adonijah and the two leaders who had supported him. He interpreted a request from Adonijah as treason and executed him (&nbsp;1 Kings 2:13-25). He also executed the commander-in-chief of the army, Joab (&nbsp;1 Kings 2:28-34), and sent the priest Abiathar into exile (&nbsp;1 Kings 2:26-27). After this he executed Shimei, a relative of Saul who had always been hostile to the house of David (&nbsp;1 Kings 2:36-46; cf. &nbsp;2 Samuel 16:5-14). </p> <p> By marrying the daughter of the king of Egypt, Solomon entered into a treaty with Egypt that guaranteed peace between the two nations (&nbsp;1 Kings 3:1). The formal treaty probably involved paying respect to foreign gods, a practice that was a repeated temptation to Solomon and brought him increasing trouble (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:1-8). </p> <p> Solomon’s love for lavish religious ceremony also led him into trouble (&nbsp;1 Kings 3:3-4), but his request for wisdom won God’s approval (&nbsp;1 Kings 3:5-14). He soon proved his wisdom when he had to give a decision over which of two women was the mother of a disputed baby (&nbsp;1 Kings 3:16-28). His fame grew rapidly, and people came from countries far and near to hear his wisdom (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:29-34; &nbsp;1 Kings 10:1-13; &nbsp;Matthew 12:42). People made collections of his proverbs and songs, and some of these are preserved in the Bible (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:32; Psalms 72; Psalms 127; &nbsp;Proverbs 1:1; &nbsp;Proverbs 10:1; &nbsp;Proverbs 25:1; Song of &nbsp;Song of Solomon 1:1). (For further details of Solomon’s writings see PROVERBS.) </p> <p> Under Solomon there was a large increase in the numbers of officials in the royal court, the national administration and the armed forces. To maintain all these people, Solomon revised the taxation system. He divided Israel into twelve zones, each of which had to maintain the government for one month of the year (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:7). Neighbouring nations within the [[Israelite]] empire also paid taxes (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:21). </p> <p> '''Development, trade and wealth''' </p> <p> David had prepared plans, finances and materials for Solomon to build God a temple in Jerusalem (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 22:2-16; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 28:11; &nbsp;Acts 7:45-47). Solomon’s plans, however, far exceeded David’s. His temple would be more lavish than anything David had in mind, and his extensive building program would make Jerusalem a showpiece to the world. </p> <p> Solomon bought costly building materials from Hiram, king of Tyre, and paid for them with produce taken from Israel’s hard-working farmers (&nbsp;1 Kings 5:1-11). He also made all Israel’s working men give three months work to the king each year, which provided a year-round workforce of 30,000 men. An additional 150,000, mainly Canaanites, were made full-time slaves (&nbsp;1 Kings 5:13-18). The temple was a richly ornamented building that took seven years to build (&nbsp;1 Kings 6:38; see [[Temple]] ). </p> <p> This temple was only part of a much larger building program that Solomon had planned. He built a magnificent palace, which took a further thirteen years (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:1; &nbsp;1 Kings 9:10), a military headquarters called the House of the [[Forest]] of Lebanon (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:2; &nbsp;1 Kings 10:17), an auditorium called the Hall of [[Pillars]] (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:6), a central law court called the Hall of [[Judgment]] (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:7) and a separate palace for his Egyptian queen (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:8). All these buildings, including the temple, were made of costly stone and best quality timber, and were enclosed in an area known as the Great Court (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:9-12). </p> <p> Solomon also greatly strengthened Jerusalem’s defences (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:15). In the country regions he rebuilt ruined cities, established army bases, and set up cities to store the farm produce that maintained his government (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:16-19). </p> <p> To help finance his construction programs, Solomon borrowed huge amounts of gold from Hiram (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:14). Unable to repay his debts, Solomon decided to cut off twenty cities in northern Israel and give them to Hiram (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:10-11). This only increased the resentment that the people of northern Israel, and especially the farmers, felt towards Solomon and his showpiece city in the south. In spite of the hardship of the common people (&nbsp;1 Kings 12:4), Solomon spent extravagantly on himself (&nbsp;1 Kings 10:16-21; &nbsp;1 Kings 10:25; &nbsp;1 Kings 10:27; Song of &nbsp;Song of Solomon 3:7-10; cf. &nbsp;Matthew 6:29). </p> <p> David’s power had come through military conquest, but Solomon’s came through political and commercial treaties with neighbouring countries. One profitable operation was a sea-land trading partnership he established with Hiram of Phoenicia. [[Goods]] from the Mediterranean were collected at Hiram’s port of Tyre, carried overland to Israel’s Red Sea port of Ezion-geber, then shipped east (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:26-28; &nbsp;1 Kings 10:22; for map see [[Phoenicia]] ). </p> <p> Solomon gained additional income by taxing all goods that passed through Israel on the international trade routes (&nbsp;1 Kings 10:14-15). He further enriched himself by becoming the middleman in a profitable international horse and chariot trade (&nbsp;1 Kings 10:28-29). </p> <p> '''A splendid kingdom lost''' </p> <p> Although he taught wisdom to others, Solomon did not follow that wisdom himself. He ignored the instructions that God had given concerning the conduct of an Israelite king (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 17:15-17), and in particular earned God’s wrath through worshipping the gods of the many foreign women whom he had taken as wives and concubines (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:1-10; &nbsp;1 Kings 11:33; &nbsp;Nehemiah 13:26). </p> <p> All the time that Solomon was developing his magnificent kingdom, he was preparing his own punishment. He had exploited the people in order to fulfil his ambitious plans, and now the people hated him. Soon they rebelled against him openly. The ten tribes to the north broke away from the Davidic rule, though for the sake of David, God withheld the inevitable judgment until after Solomon’s death (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:11-13). </p> <p> The rebellion against Solomon was led by a young man from the north, Jeroboam. Solomon had recognized Jeroboam’s abilities earlier, and put him in charge of a large portion of the workforce from the northern tribes (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:28). When Solomon felt that Jeroboam was gaining support among the northerners, he tried to kill him, but Jeroboam escaped to the safety of Egypt (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:29-32; &nbsp;1 Kings 11:40). After Solomon’s death, Jeroboam returned to Israel and successfully lead a breakaway rebellion (&nbsp;1 Kings 12:2-4; &nbsp;1 Kings 12:16-20). </p>

<p> or SALOMON, son of David and Bathsheba, was born A.M. 2971. The Lord loved him, and sent Nathan to David to give Solomon the name of Jedidiah, or, "beloved of the Lord," &nbsp;2 Samuel 12:24-25 . This was probably when Nathan assured David that his son should succeed him, and that he should inherit those promises which had been made to him some years before, when he had conceived the design of building a temple to the Lord; for then God declared, by the prophet Nathan, that the honour of building a temple should be reserved for his son, &nbsp;2 Samuel 7:5 , &c. Solomon, being confirmed in his kingdom, contracted an alliance with Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and married his daughter, A.M. 2291. He brought her to Jerusalem, and had apartments for her in the city of David, till he should build her a palace, which he did some years afterward, when he had finished the temple. It is thought that on occasion of this marriage, Solomon composed the Canticles, which are a kind of epithalamium. The Scripture speaks of the daughter of Pharaoh, as contributing to pervert Solomon, &nbsp;1 Kings 11:1-2; &nbsp;Nehemiah 13:26; and it is very likely, that if at first this princess might seem converted to the Lord, she afterward might retain her private disposition to idolatry, and might engage her husband in it. </p> <p> Solomon, accompanied by his troops and all Israel, went up to Gibeon, where was then the brazen altar, upon which he offered a thousand burnt- offerings. The night following, God appeared to him in a dream, and said, "Ask of me what thou wilt." Solomon begged of God a wise and understanding heart, and such qualities as were necessary for the government of the people committed to him. This request pleased the Lord, and was fully granted by him. Solomon returned to Jerusalem, where he offered a great number of sacrifices on the altar before the ark of the Lord, and made a great feast for his servants. He enjoyed a profound peace throughout his dominions; Judah and Israel lived in security; and his neighbours either paid him tribute, or were his allies; he ruled over all the countries and kingdoms from the Euphrates to the Nile, and his dominions extended even beyond the former; he had abundance of horses and chariots of war; he exceeded the orientals, and all the Egyptians, in wisdom and prudence; he was the wisest of mankind, and his reputation was spread through all nations. He composed or collected, three thousand proverbs, and one thousand and five canticles. He knew the nature of plants and trees, from the cedar on [[Libanus]] to the hyssop on the wall; also of beasts, of birds, of reptiles, of fishes. There was a concourse of strangers from all countries to hear his wisdom, and ambassadors from the most remote princes. </p> <p> When Hiram, king of Tyre, knew that Solomon was made king of Israel, he sent ambassadors to congratulate him on his accession to the crown. Some time afterward, Solomon desired him to supply wood and workmen, to assist in building a temple to the Lord. Hiram gladly undertook this service, and Solomon, on his part, obliged himself to give twenty thousand measures of wheat, and twenty thousand measures of oil. The [[Hebrew]] and the [[Vulgate]] have only twenty measures of oil; but the reading ought no doubt to be twenty thousand. Solomon began to build the temple in the fourth year of his reign, and the second after the death of David; four hundred and eighty years after the exodus from Egypt. He employed in this great work seventy thousand proselytes, descendants of the ancient Canaanites, in carrying burdens, fourscore thousand in cutting stones out of the quarries, and three thousand six hundred overseers of the works; besides thirty thousand Israelites in the quarries of Libanus. </p> <p> The temple was completed in the eleventh year of Solomon, so that he was but seven years in performing this vast work. The dedication was made the year following, A.M. 3001. To make this ceremony the more August, Solomon chose for it the eighth day of the seventh month of the holy year, which was the first of the civil year, and answered to our October. The ceremony of the dedication lasted seven days, at the end of which began the feast of tabernacles, which continued seven days longer; so that the people continued at Jerusalem fourteen or fifteen days, from the eighth to the twenty-second of the seventh month. When the ark was placed in the sanctuary, while the priests and Levites were celebrating the praises of the Lord, the temple was filled with a miraculous cloud, so that the priests could no longer stand to perform the functions of their ministry. Then Solomon, being on his throne, prostrated himself with his face to the ground; and rising up, and turning toward the sanctuary, he addressed his prayer to God, and besought him that the house which he had built might be acceptable to him, that he would bless and sanctify it, and hear the prayers of those who should address him from this holy place. He besought him also to fulfil the promises he had made to David his servant in favour of his family, and of the kings his successors. Then turning himself to the people, he solemnly blessed them. Fire coming down from heaven consumed the victims and burnt sacrifices on the altar, and the glory of the Lord filled the whole temple. On this day the king caused to be sacrificed twenty-two thousand oxen, and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep for peace-offerings. And because the altar of burnt-offerings was not sufficient for all these victims, the king consecrated the court of the people. </p> <p> Solomon afterward built a palace for himself, and another for his queen, the king of Egypt's daughter. He was thirteen years in finishing these buildings, and employed in them whatever the most exquisite art, or the most profuse riches, could furnish. The palace in which he generally resided was called the house of the forest of Lebanon; probably because of the great quantity of cedar used in it. Solomon also built the walls of Jerusalem, and the place called Millo in this city; he repaired and fortified Hazor, Megiddo, Gezer, the two Bethhorons, Upper and Lower, Baal-ath, and Palmyra, in the desert of Syria. He also fortified the cities where he had magazines of corn, wine, and oil; and those where his horses and chariots were kept. He brought under his government the Hittites, the Hivites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, which remained in the land of Israel. He made them tributaries, and compelled them to work at the public works. He fitted out a fleet at Ezion-Geber, and at Elath, on the Red Sea, to go to Ophir. Hiram, king of Tyre, furnished him with mariners, who instructed the subjects of Solomon. They performed this voyage in three years, and brought back gold, ivory, ebony, precious wood, peacocks, apes, and other curiosities. In one voyage they brought Solomon four hundred and fifty talents of gold, &nbsp;2 Chronicles 9:21 . About the same time, the queen of Sheba came to Jerusalem, attracted by the great fame of the king. She brought rich presents of gold, spices, and precious stones; and proposed several enigmas and hard questions, to which Solomon gave her such satisfactory answers, that she owned what had been told her of his wisdom and magnificence was far short of what she had found. The king, on his part, made her rich presents in return. </p> <p> Solomon was one of the richest, if not the very richest, of all princes that have ever lived; and the Scripture expressly tells us he exceeded in riches and wisdom all the kings of the earth. His annual revenues were six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, without reckoning tributes from kings and nations, or paid by Israelites, or sums received for customs. The bucklers of his guards, and the throne he sat on, were overlaid with gold. All the vessels of his table, and the utensils of his palaces, were of gold. From all parts he received presents, vessels of gold and silver, precious stuffs, spices, arms, horses, and mules; and the whole earth desired to see his face, and to hear the wisdom which God had put into his heart. But the latter actions of his life disgraced his character. Beside Pharaoh's daughter, he married wives from among the Moabites, Ammonites, Idumeans, Sidonians, and Hittites. He had seven hundred wives, who were so many queens, beside three hundred concubines. These women perverted his heart in his declining age, so that he worshipped Ashtoreth, goddess of the Sidonians, Moloch, idol of the Ammonites, and Chemosh, god of the Moabites. To these he built temples on the Mount of Olives, over against and east of Jerusalem, and thus insulted openly the [[Majesty]] he had adored. </p> <p> Solomon died after he had reigned forty years, A.M. 3029. He might be about fifty-eight years of age; for he was about eighteen when he began to reign. Josephus makes him to have reigned eighty years, and to have lived ninety-four years; but this is a manifest error. The history of this prince was written by the prophets Nathan, Ahijah, and Iddo. He was buried in the city of David; and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead. Of all the ingenious works composed by Solomon, we have nothing remaining but his Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Canticles; that is, every literary monument respecting him has perished, except those written under inspiration—the inspired history which registers his apostasy, and his own inspired works, which, in all the principles they contain, condemn his vices. Some have ascribed to him the book of Wisdom, and Ecclesiasticus; but these were written by [[Hellenistic]] Jews. </p>

&nbsp;2 Samuel 12&nbsp;1 Chronicles 22:5&nbsp;29:1&nbsp;2 Samuel 12:24,25&nbsp;1 Kings 1-11&nbsp; 2 Chronicles 1-9&nbsp;1 Kings 1:5-40&nbsp;1 Kings 11:1-8&nbsp;14:21,31 <p> Before his death David gave parting instructions to his son (&nbsp;1 Kings 2:1-9; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 22:7-16; &nbsp;28 ). As soon as he had settled himself in his kingdom, and arranged the affairs of his extensive empire, he entered into an alliance with Egypt by the marriage of the daughter of Pharaoh (&nbsp;1 Kings 3:1 ), of whom, however, nothing further is recorded. He surrounded himself with all the luxuries and the external grandeur of an Eastern monarch, and his government prospered. He entered into an alliance with Hiram, king of Tyre, who in many ways greatly assisted him in his numerous undertakings. (See Hiram .) </p> <p> For some years before his death David was engaged in the active work of collecting materials (&nbsp; 1 Chronicles 29:6-9; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 2:3-7 ) for building a temple in Jerusalem as a permanent abode for the ark of the covenant. He was not permitted to build the house of God (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 22:8 ); that honour was reserved to his son Solomon. (See Temple .) </p> <p> After the completion of the temple, Solomon engaged in the erection of many other buildings of importance in Jerusalem and in other parts of his kingdom. For the long space of thirteen years he was engaged in the erection of a royal palace on [[Ophel]] (&nbsp; 1 Kings 7:1-12 ). It was 100 cubits long, 50 broad, and 30 high. Its lofty roof was supported by forty-five cedar pillars, so that the hall was like a forest of cedar wood, and hence probably it received the name of "The House of the Forest of Lebanon." In front of this "house" was another building, which was called the [[Porch]] of Pillars, and in front of this again was the "Hall of Judgment," or Throne-room (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:7; &nbsp;10:18-20; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 9:17-19 ), "the King's Gate," where he administered justice and gave audience to his people. This palace was a building of great magnificence and beauty. A portion of it was set apart as the residence of the queen consort, the daughter of Pharaoh. From the palace there was a private staircase of red and scented sandal wood which led up to the temple. </p> <p> Solomon also constructed great works for the purpose of securing a plentiful supply of water for the city (&nbsp;Ecclesiastes 2:4-6 ). He then built Millo (LXX., "Acra") for the defence of the city, completing a line of ramparts around it (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:15,24; &nbsp;11:27 ). He erected also many other fortifications for the defence of his kingdom at various points where it was exposed to the assault of enemies (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:15-19; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 8:2-6 ). Among his great undertakings must also be mentioned the building of Tadmor (q.v.) in the wilderness as a commercial depot, as well as a military outpost. </p> <p> During his reign Palestine enjoyed great commercial prosperity. Extensive traffic was carried on by land with Tyre and Egypt and Arabia, and by sea with Spain and India and the coasts of Africa, by which Solomon accumulated vast stores of wealth and of the produce of all nations (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:26-28; &nbsp;10:11,12; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 8:17,18; &nbsp;9:21 ). This was the "golden age" of Israel. The royal magnificence and splendour of Solomon's court were unrivalled. He had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, an evidence at once of his pride, his wealth, and his sensuality. The maintenance of his household involved immense expenditure. The provision required for one day was "thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal, ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallow-deer, and fatted fowl" (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:22,23 ). </p> <p> Solomon's reign was not only a period of great material prosperity, but was equally remarkable for its intellectual activity. He was the leader of his people also in this uprising amongst them of new intellectual life. "He spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. 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" (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:32,33 ). </p> <p> His fame was spread abroad through all lands, and men came from far and near "to hear the wisdom of Solomon." Among others thus attracted to Jerusalem was "the queen of the south" (&nbsp;Matthew 12:42 ), the queen of Sheba, a country in Arabia Felix. "Deep, indeed, must have been her yearning, and great his fame, which induced a secluded [[Arabian]] queen to break through the immemorial custom of her dreamy land, and to put forth the energy required for braving the burdens and perils of so long a journey across a wilderness. Yet this she undertook, and carried it out with safety." (&nbsp;1 Kings 10:1-13; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 9:1-12 .) She was filled with amazement by all she saw and heard: "there was no more spirit in her." After an interchange of presents she returned to her native land. </p> <p> But that golden age of Jewish history passed away. The bright day of Solomon's glory ended in clouds and darkness. His decline and fall from his high estate is a sad record. Chief among the causes of his decline were his polygamy and his great wealth. "As he grew older he spent more of his time among his favourites. The idle king living among these idle women, for 1,000 women, with all their idle and mischievous attendants, filled the palaces and pleasure-houses which he had built (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:3 ), learned first to tolerate and then to imitate their heathenish ways. He did not, indeed, cease to believe in the God of Israel with his mind. He did not cease to offer the usual sacrifices in the temple at the great feasts. But his heart was not right with God; his worship became merely formal; his soul, left empty by the dying out of true religious fervour, sought to be filled with any religious excitement which offered itself. Now for the first time a worship was publicly set up amongst the people of the Lord which was not simply irregular or forbidden, like that of [[Gideon]] (&nbsp;Judges 8:27 ), or the [[Danites]] (&nbsp;Judges 18:30,31 ), but was downright idolatrous." (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:7; &nbsp;2 Kings 23:13 .) </p> <p> This brought upon him the divine displeasure. His enemies prevailed against him (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:14-22,23-25,26-40 ), and one judgment after another fell upon the land. And now the end of all came, and he died, after a reign of forty years, and was buried in the city of David, and "with him was buried the short-lived glory and unity of Israel." "He leaves behind him but one weak and worthless son, to dismember his kingdom and disgrace his name." </p> <p> "The kingdom of Solomon," says Rawlinson, "is one of the most striking facts in the Biblical history. A petty nation, which for hundreds of years has with difficulty maintained a separate existence in the midst of warlike tribes, each of which has in turn exercised dominion over it and oppressed it, is suddenly raised by the genius of a soldier-monarch to glory and greatness. An empire is established which extends from the Euphrates to the borders of Egypt, a distance of 450 miles; and this empire, rapidly constructed, enters almost immediately on a period of peace which lasts for half a century. Wealth, grandeur, architectural magnificence, artistic excellence, commercial enterprise, a position of dignity among the great nations of the earth, are enjoyed during this space, at the end of which there is a sudden collapse. The ruling nation is split in twain, the subject-races fall off, the pre-eminence lately gained being wholly lost, the scene of struggle, strife, oppression, recovery, inglorious submission, and desperate effort, re-commences.", [[Historical]] Illustrations. </p>

<p> Old [[Testament]] Solomon was born to David and Bathsheba after the death of their first son (&nbsp;2 Samuel 12:24 ). Although not the oldest living son of David, he was crowned king after his mother and Nathan the prophet intervened with David and secured David's decision to have Solomon succeed him (&nbsp;1 Kings 1-2 ). Solomon is remembered most for his wisdom, his building program, and his wealth generated through trade and administrative reorganization. </p> <p> Solomon was remembered as having three thousand proverbs and a thousand and five songs in his repertoire (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:32 ). Thus, it is not surprising that Proverbs and Song of Solomon in the Bible are attributed to Solomon. (&nbsp;Proverbs 1:1; Song of &nbsp;Song of Solomon 1:1 ) as are several apocryphal and pseudepigraphal books. See &nbsp;1 Kings 3:16 ) and by the visit of the queen of Sheba (&nbsp;1 Kings 10:1 ). </p> <p> While Solomon's Temple was the most famous of his building projects (&nbsp;1 Kings 5-8 ), it was by no means the only one. Solomon fortified a number of cities that helped provide protection to Jerusalem, built “store-cities” for stockpiling the materials required in his kingdom, and established military bases for contingents of charioteers (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:15-19 ). The Temple complex in Jerusalem was composed of several buildings including Solomon's palace, the “house of the forest of Lebanon,” the “hall or porch of pillars,” the “hall or porch of the throne,” and a palace for one of his wives, the daughter of the pharaoh of Egypt (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:1 ). See Archaeology; Gezer; Hazor; [[Megiddo]]; Temple. </p> <p> Solomon divided the country into administrative districts that did not correspond to the old tribal boundaries (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:7-19 ) and had the districts provide provisions for the central government. This system, combined with control of vital north/south trade routes between the Red Sea and what was later known as Asia Minor, made it possible for Solomon to accumulate vast wealth. This wealth was supplemented both from trading in horses and chariots and from trade carried on by a fleet of ships (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:26-28; &nbsp;1 Kings 10:26-29 ). See Eloth; [[Ezion-Geber]] . </p> <p> The Bible clearly notes that Solomon had faults as well as elements of greatness. The “seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines” came from many of the kingdoms with which Solomon had treaties (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:1 ). He apparently allowed his wives to worship their native gods and even had altars to these gods constructed in Jerusalem (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:7-8 ). This kind of compromise indicated to the historian a weakness in Solomon not found in David. Rebellions led by the king of Edom, Rezon of Damascus, and Jeroboam, one of Solomon's own officers, indicates that Solomon's long reign was not without its turmoil. </p> <p> New Testament Solomon was an ancestor of Jesus (&nbsp;Matthew 1:6-7 ) and is mentioned in Jesus' teaching about anxiety (&nbsp;Matthew 6:29; &nbsp;Luke 12:27 ). Jesus noted that the queen of Sheba came a long way to see Solomon and that “something greater than Solomon is here” (&nbsp;Matthew 12:42; &nbsp;Luke 11:31 ). Jesus walked in “Solomon's porch,” a part of the Temple area (&nbsp;John 10:23; compare &nbsp;Acts 3:11; &nbsp;Acts 5:12 ). [[Stephen]] noted that though David sought to find a place for God, it was Solomon who “built a house for him” (&nbsp;Acts 7:47 ). </p> <p> Joe O. Lewis </p>

<p> Son of David and Bathsheba. [Bath-sheba] He reigned forty years over the united kingdom from B.C. 1015 to 975. David when near his death appointed Solomon his son, whom God had chosen to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Jehovah, to be his successor, and he began his reign by executing righteous judgement, as Christ will when He comes to reign, followed by a reign of peace. He put to death Adonijah who had usurped the throne, and Joab who had shed innocent blood; and he cast Abiathar out of the priesthood. His marriage with the daughter of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is symbolical of Christ having the church (mainly Gentiles) with Him when He comes to reign. </p> <p> Solomon loved the Lord, and worshipped Him at the altar at Gibeon, and there the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said, "Ask what I shall give thee." Solomon asked for an understanding heart to judge the people wisely. The choice pleased God, and He gave him wisdom such as no king before nor since has had, and added to it both riches and honour beyond all others. If he would be obedient God would lengthen his days. His wisdom soon became apparent by his judgement in the case of the two women with the living and dead child. And people came from all the kings of the earth to hear his wisdom. The queen of Sheba came also. This is again symbolical of the reign of Christ during the millennium. It is further exemplified by all dwelling in safety, "every man under his vine and under his fig tree . . . . all the days of Solomon." </p> <p> He was occupied for seven years in building the temple, for which David had made preparation. He built also his own house and one for Pharaoh's daughter. When the temple was dedicated, Solomon sacrificed and prayed to Jehovah. In answer to which Jehovah appeared to him a second time, and said, He had hallowed the house, had put His name there, and His heart should be there perpetually. God would continue to bless him and establish his house in Israel, on the condition that Solomon was obedient, and turned not to other gods. </p> <p> Everything for a time was ordered wisely. The riches of Solomon increased so much that silver was of little value in his days. He had his navy of ships, which brought him riches, and he increased his chariots and his horsemen, and brought horses out of Egypt (an act that had been forbidden in the law, &nbsp;Deuteronomy 17:16 ). He tells us that he had tried everything under the sun, but had to declare that all was vanity and vexation of spirit. The Lord declared that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed as a simple lily of the field. His fall, alas, followed, for he loved many strange women, which turned his heart away, and he went after their gods, and built high places for them. </p> <p> God then stirred up adversaries against Solomon, and by the prophet Ahijah He foretold that Jeroboam would reign over ten of the tribes. He would reserve two to keep in memorial before Him the name of David. Still Solomon did not repent, but sought the life of Jeroboam. God did not prolong Solomon's days, for he died at about the age of 58. </p> <p> We read of Solomon that he spake three thousand proverbs, and his songs were a thousand and five. He was the writer of the books of the Proverbs, the Ecclesiastes, and the Canticles. His reign is given in &nbsp;1 Kings 1 - &nbsp; 1 Kings 12; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 1 - &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 9 . </p>

<p> Son of David, king of Israel: his name is derived from Shalem, peaceable. His history we have at large in the first book of the Kings. But the greatest improvement we can make of the view of Solomon, is to consider him in those features of his character which were typical of the Lord Jesus Christ. I shall beg to detain the reader for a few moments on this account respecting Solomon, as it is striking. </p> <p> As Solomon was the son of David after the flesh, so Christ in his human nature is expressly, marked for the comfort of the faithful, as of the same stock. "Remember (saint Paul to Timothy) that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel." (&nbsp;2 Timothy 2:8) Hence when Christ "whose son he was, they answered, the son of David." (&nbsp;Matthew 22:42) And it is remarkable that the Lord should have sent by the hand of Nathan, at the birth of Solomon, and called him Jedidiah, that is, beloved of the Lord. (&nbsp;2 Samuel 12:24-25) And we need not be told how the Lord, by a voice from heaven, proclaimed Christ to be his"beloved Son in whom he was well pleased."Add to these, Solomon king of Israel typified Christ as a king and as a preacher in Jerusalem; and also in his wisdom, in the riches, magnitude; peaceableness, and glory of his kingdom, and in the building of the temple, which was a beautiful type of the Lord Jesus; who is not only the builder of the temple, which is his church, but the foundation of it, the substance, and the glory of it; for he and he alone, as the Lord said by the prophet, was the only one fit to build the temple of the Lord, and he alone "could only bear the glory." (&nbsp;Zechariah 6:13) </p> <p> But when we have looked at Solomon, king of Israel, as in those and the like instances, as becoming a lively type of the ever-blessed Jesus, and see in our Lord Jesus Christ a greater than Solomon in every one, I would request the reader to detach from the person and character of David's son all that belongs not to him in those Scriptures, and particularly in the book of the Psalms, which are as if directed to him and spoken of him, but certainly with him have nothing to do. I mean such as &nbsp;Psalms 20:1-9; &nbsp;Psalms 21:1-13 and &nbsp;Psalms 72:1-20. I know that some commentators have supposed that what is there said is said first of Solomon, king of Israel, and secondly in an higher sense of the Lord Jesus Christ. But oh, what a degradation of the subject is it thus to suppose! Oh, what indignity is thereby offered to the Lord Jesus Christ! I have said so much on this point in my Poor Man's [[Commentary]] on the Book of the Psalms, that I think it unnecessary in this place to enlarge; but I could not suffer the subject even in this little work, while speaking of Solomon, to pass by without remarking the great perversion of the Scripture to suppose that there is in those things the least reference to Solomon, king of Israel. </p>

<p> Peaceful, the son and successor of David, born of Bathsheba, B. C. 1033. The prophet Nathan called him Jedidiah, "beloved of the Lord," &nbsp;2 Samuel 12:25 and he was a child of promise, &nbsp; 1 Chronicles 22:9,10 . At the age of eighteen he received from David the throne which his brother Adonijah had endeavored to usurp. Scripture records his earnest and pious petition for wisdom from above, that he might govern that great people well; and the bestowal of the wisdom, with numerous other blessings in its train, &nbsp;Matthew 6:33 . His unequalled learning and sagacity soon became renowned throughout the East, and continue so even to this day. In every kind of temporal prosperity he was preeminently favored. His unquestioned dominion extended from the Euphrates to the "river of Egypt;" Palmyra in the desert and Eziongeber on the Red Sea were in his possession. </p> <p> He accomplished David's purpose by erecting a temple for Jehovah with the utmost magnificence. Many other important public and private works were executed during his reign. He established a lucrative commerce with Tyre, Egypt, Arabia, India, and Babylon, by the fruits of which he himself first and chiefly, and indirectly the whole land, were greatly enriched. He was the wisest, wealthiest, most honored, and fortunate of men. But through the temptation connected with this flood of prosperity, he became luxurious, proud, and forgetful of God; plunged into every kind of self-indulgence; allowed his wives, and at length assisted them, in their abominable idolatries; and forfeited the favor of God. Yet divine grace did not forsake him; he was reclaimed, and has given us the proofs of his repentance and the fruits of his experience in his inspired writings. </p> <p> His reign continued forty years, B. C. 1015-975, and was uniformly peaceful, and favorable to the people, if we except the evils of a corrupt example and an excessive taxation. His history is less fully recorded than David's is by the sacred historians, &nbsp;1 Kings 1:11 &nbsp; 1 Chronicles 1:19-31; but we may learn much respecting him from his writings, especially from the book of Ecclesiastes. Nothing could more emphatically teach us the weakness of human nature, even when accompanied with the utmost learning and sagacity, the perils of prosperity, or the insufficiency of all possible earthy good to satisfy the wants of man. </p> <p> The writings of Solomon covered a wide range in the natural sciences as well as in philosophy and morals. "He spake three thousand proverbs; and his songs were a thousand and five: and he spake of trees-of beasts, and of foul, and of creeping things, and of fishes," &nbsp;1 Kings 4:32,33 . </p>

<p> [[Solomon]] (''Sŏl'O-Mon'' ), ''Pacific.'' The son of David by Bathsheba, and the third king of Israel. &nbsp;2 Samuel 12:24; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 22:9; &nbsp;Matthew 1:6; &nbsp;1 Kings 2:12. He was also called the wisest of men, and Jedidiah = friend of Jehovah. &nbsp;2 Samuel 12:24-25; &nbsp;1 Kings 4:29-30; &nbsp;1 Kings 7:51; &nbsp;1 Kings 10:1; &nbsp;1 Kings 11:41-43; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 9:1-31. David voluntarily resigned the government to Solomon, giving him at the same time a solemn charge respecting the administration of it. &nbsp;1 Kings 2:1-11. Solomon was celebrated for his wealth, splendor, and wisdom. The great event of his reign, however, was the erection of the temple at Jerusalem. &nbsp;1 Kings 5:1-18. Solomon also established a navy of snips at the port of Ezion-geber, on the Red Sea. &nbsp;1 Kings 9:26-28. Jerusalem, the capital of his vast dominions, became renowned for wealth and splendor. &nbsp;Matthew 6:29; &nbsp;Matthew 12:42; &nbsp;Acts 7:47. His arbitrary exercise of the royal power, however, his numerous harem, the introduction of cavalry, the expenditure of the royal house, and his toleration of idolatry in the land of Jehovah, led him into weak and sinful indulgences. &nbsp;1 Kings 11:1-11; &nbsp;1 Kings 12:1-4. The prosperity of his reign was interrupted by disquiets in Edom and Syria; and he was foretold of the revolt of the ten tribes. Solomon died b.c. 975, after a reign of 40 years; and, notwithstanding his glory, was little lamented. &nbsp;1 Kings 11:11-43; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 9:31. He is said to have written 3000 proverbs, 1005 Songs, and much on natural history. &nbsp;1 Kings 4:32-33. Some of his proverbs and songs probably exist in the Book of Proverbs, in Song of Solomon, and in the Psalms. The Acts of Solomon appears to have been a full history of his reign. &nbsp;1 Kings 11:41; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 9:29. </p>

<p> <b> SOLOMON. </b> —Jesus makes two references to Solomon, speaking on one occasion of his ‘glory,’ and on another of his ‘wisdom.’ In &nbsp;Matthew 6:29 = &nbsp;Luke 12:27 He places the pure natural beauty of the lilies above the consummate type of artificial splendour, and uses the contrast to point the lesson of trustful dependence upon God, the [[Giver]] of all that is necessary for the body as well as for the spirit. In &nbsp;Matthew 12:42 = &nbsp;Luke 11:31 the eagerness of Solomon’s contemporaries to hear his words of worldly wisdom is contrasted with the indifference and spiritual blindness of the men of Jesus’ own day, who failed to understand and appreciate the truer wisdom of a greater teacher. </p> <p> For ‘Solomon’s Porch’ see Temple. </p> <p> C. H. Thomson. </p>

<p> Solomon (pacific). The reign of Solomon over all Israel, although second in importance only to that of David, has so little variety of incident as to occupy a far less space in the Bible narrative. In the declining age of David, his eldest surviving son, Adonijah, endeavored to place himself on the throne, by the aid of Joab the chief captain, and Abiathar one of the chief priests, both of whom had been associated with David's early sufferings under the persecution of Saul. The aged monarch did not for a moment give way to the formidable usurpation, but at the remonstrance of his favorite, Bathsheba, resolved forthwith to raise her son Solomon to the throne. To Joab he was able to oppose the celebrated name of Benaiah; to Abiathar his colleague Zadok and the aged prophet Nathan. The plot of Adonijah was at once defeated by this decisive measure; and Solomon, being anointed by Nathan, was solemnly acknowledged as king. The date of this event is, as nearly as can be ascertained, B.C. 1015. The death of David would seem to have followed very quick upon these transactions. At least, no public measures in the interval are recorded, except Solomon's verbal forgiveness of Adonijah. But after the removal of David, the first events of which we hear are the destruction of Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei son of Gera, with the degradation of Abiathar. </p> <p> After this the history enters upon a general narrative of the reign of Solomon; but we have very few notices of time, and cannot attempt to fix the order of any of the events. All the information, however, which we have concerning him may be consolidated under the following heads: (1) his traffic and wealth; (2) his buildings; (3) his ecclesiastical arrangements; (4) his general administration; (5) his seraglio; (6) his enemies. </p> <p> (1.) The overflowing wealth in which he is so vividly depicted is not easy to reduce to a modern financial estimate; partly because the numbers are so often treacherous, and partly because it is uncertain what items of expenditure fell on the general funds of the government. But abandoning all attempt at numerical estimates, it cannot be doubted that the wealth of Solomon was very great. </p> <p> The profound peace which the nation enjoyed as a fruit of David's victories stimulated the industry of all Israel. The tribes beyond the Jordan had become rich by the plunder of the Hagarenes, and had a wide district where their cattle might multiply to an indefinite extent. The agricultural tribes enjoyed a soil and climate in some parts eminently fruitful, and in all richly rewarding the toil of irrigation; so that, in the security of peace, nothing more was wanted to develop the resources of the nation than markets for its various produce. In food for men and cattle, in timber and fruit trees, in stone, and probably in the useful metals, the land supplied of itself all the first wants of its people in abundance. For exportation, it is distinctly stated that wheat, barley, oil, and wine, were in chief demand; to which we may conjecturally add, wool, hides, and other raw materials. The king undoubtedly had large districts and extensive herds of his own; but besides this, he received presents in kind from his own people and from the subject nations. He was himself at once monarch and merchant. By his intimate commercial union with the Tyrians he was put into the most favorable of all positions for disposing of his goods; and by the aid of their enterprise and experience carried on a lucrative trade with various countries. </p> <p> The visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon, although not strictly commercial, rose out of commercial intercourse, and may perhaps be here noticed. The territory of Sheba, according to Strabo, reached so far north as to meet that of the Nabathaeans, although its proper seat was at the southernmost angle of Arabia. The very rich presents made by the queen show the extreme value of her commerce with the Hebrew monarch; and this early interchange of hospitality derives a peculiar interest from the fact, that in much later ages—those of the Maccabees and downwards—the intercourse of the Jews with Sheba became so intimate, and their influence, and even power, so great. Jewish circumcision took root there, and princes held sway who were called Jewish. </p> <p> (2.) Besides the great work which has rendered the name of Solomon so famous—the Temple at Jerusalem—we are informed of the palaces which he built, viz., his own palace, the queen's palace, and the house of the forest of Lebanon, his porch (or piazza) for no specified object, and his porch of judgment, or law court. He also added to the walls of Jerusalem, and fortified Millo ('in the city of David,' ), and many other strongholds. In all these works he had the aid of the Tyrians, whose skill in hewing timber and in carving stone, and in the application of machines for conveying heavy masses, was of the first importance. </p> <p> (3.) The ecclesiastical arrangements of Solomon were of the most magnificent description, and for a time he zealously worshipped and faithfully served the God of his fathers. But, after the death of Nathan and Zadok, those faithful friends of David, 'his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not perfect with the Lord as was the heart of David his father' . Side by side with the worship of Jehovah foreign idolatries were established; and the disgust which this inspired in the prophets of Jehovah is clearly seen in the address of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam, so manifestly exciting him to rebel against the son of David . </p> <p> (4.) [[Concerning]] his general administration little is recorded beyond the names of various high officers. But it is probable that Solomon's peculiar talents and taste led him to perform one function which is always looked for in Oriental royalty, viz., to act personally as Judge in cases of oppression. His award between the two contending mothers cannot be regarded as an isolated fact: and 'the porch of judgment' which he built for himself may imply that he devoted fixed portions of time to the judicial duties (see , of Jotham). The celebrity which Solomon gained for wisdom, although founded mainly perhaps on his political and commercial sagacity must have received great popular impetus from his administration of law, and from his readiness in seeing through the entanglements of affairs which arise in commercial transactions. </p> <p> (5.) For the harem of Solomon—consisting of 700 wives and 300 concubines—no other apology can be made, than the fact, that in countries where polygamy is not disreputable, an unlimited indulgence as to the number of wives is looked upon as the chief luxury of wealth, and the most appropriate appendage to royalty. </p> <p> The commercial union of Tyre with Egypt, in spite of the vast diversity of genius between the two nations, was in those days very close; and it appears highly probable that the affinity to Pharaoh was sought by Solomon as a means of aiding his commercial projects. Although his possession of the Edomite ports on the gulf of Aqabah made him to a certain extent independent of Egypt, the friendship of that power must have been of extreme importance to him in the dangerous navigation of the Red Sea; and was perhaps a chief cause of his brilliant success in so new an enterprise. That Pharaoh continued for some time on good terms with him, appears from a singular present which the Egyptian king made him : 'Pharaoh had gone up and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon's wife;' in consequence of which Solomon rebuilt and fortified the town. In his declining years a very different spirit is manifested towards him by Shishak, the new Egyptian king; whether after the death of the princess who had been the link between the two kingdoms, or from a different view of policy in the new king, is unknown. </p> <p> (6.) The enemies especially named as rising against him in his later years, are Jeroboam, Hadad the Edomite, and Rezon of Damascus. The first is described as having had no treasonable intentions, until Solomon sought to kill him on learning the prophecy made to him by Ahijah. Jeroboam was received and fostered by Shishak, king of Egypt, and ultimately became the providential instrument of punishing Solomon's iniquity, though not without heavy guilt of his own. As for Hadad, his enmity to Israel began from the times of David, and is ascribed to the savage butchery perpetrated by Joab on his people. He also, when a mere child, was warmly received in Egypt, apparently by the father-in-law of Solomon; but this does not seem to have been prompted by hostility to David. Having married the sister of Pharaoh's queen, he must have been in very high station in Egypt; still, upon the death of David, he begged leave to depart into Edom, and during the earlier part of Solomon's reign was probably forming his party in secret, and preparing for that dangerous border warfare which he carried on somewhat later. Rezon, on the contrary, seems to have had no personal cause against the Hebrew monarchy; but having become powerful at Damascus and on its frontier, sought, not in vain, to aggrandize himself at its expense. The revenues which would have maintained it were spent on a thousand royal wives: the king himself was unwarlike; and a petty foe, if energetic, was very formidable. Such were the vexations which darkened the setting splendors of the greatest [[Israelitish]] king. But from within also his prosperity was unsound. Deep discontent pervaded his own people, when the dazzle of his grandeur had become familiar; when it had become clear, that the royal wealth, instead of denoting national well being, was really sucked out of the nation's vitals. Having no constitutional organ to express their discontent, they waited sullenly, until the recognition of a successor to the crown should give them the opportunity of extorting a removal of burdens which could not permanently be endured. </p>

<p> King of Israel from 1015 to 977 B.C., second son of David and Bathsheba, and David's successor; in high repute far and wide for his love of wisdom and the glory of his reign; he had a truly Oriental passion for magnificence, and the buildings he erected in Jerusalem, including the Temple and a palace on Mount Zion, he raised regardless of an expense which the nation resented after he was gone; the burden of which it would seem had fallen upon them, for when his successor, following in his courses, ascended the throne, ten of the tribes revolted, to the final rupture of the community, and the fall of first the one section and then the other under alien sway. </p>