Solomon (The name is related to shalom "peace/welfare"). The son of David and Bathsheba, and the third king of Israel, Solomon was renowned for his wisdom, wealth and building projects. Under Solomon Israel enjoyed an era of security, prosperity and international political and economic importance.
Solomon (also named Jedidiah "beloved of the Lord", II Sam 12:25) was anointed king when his older brother Adonijah, who would have been first in line for the throne, rashly tried to proclaim himself as ruler while his father was still alive (I Kings 1:5).
Solomon's mother, Bathsheba, and the prophet Nathan, with the backing of others, succeeded in convincing the aged and feeble King David that his younger son should wear the crown (I Kings 1:11).
Solomon's 40-year reign began about 967 B.C. while his father David was still alive but infirm, their coregency thus lasting only a short while. Apparently Solomon's first act as king was the pardon of Adonijah, who had fled for refuge to the altar. But soon thereafter Adonijah was executed for seeking to marry David's nurse Abishag, a request that could be seen as a prelude to insurrection (I Kings 2:22 and II Samuel 16:20). Adonijah's supporters were also removed: Abiathar the priest was banished, Joab the commander of the army, was slain as he clung to the horns of the altar; and Shimei was placed under house arrest and killed three years later (I Kings 2:13-46).
With the political opposition eliminated Solomon could turn to ruling his kingdom. Thanks to the conquests of David, Solomon's domain, including the conquered territories and vassal kingdoms, stretched from Tipshah on the Euphrates River to Gaza, the border of the Egyptian territory.
The weakness of both Assyria and Egypt during this period enabled Solomon to maintain hegemony over most of this area without recourse to serious military action. Nevertheless, upon hearing of the deaths of David and Joab, Hadad of Edom proclaimed his country's independence of Israelite rule. rezon of Damascus likewise defied Solomon's overlordship over Syria. Solomon apparently did not attempt to win these territories back, although II Chronicles 8:3-4 indicates that he added the city of Hamath Zobah to his kingdom.
For the most part, Solomon's foreign policy seems to have rested upon diplomacy rather than force of arms. in particular, he entered into numerous political marriages (I Kings 3:1;11:1). The most important of these was his marriage to the daughter of Pharaoh (probably Siamun), a rare event which testifies to Solomon's power. Pharaoh may have tried to conquer Philistia from the young Israelite king; upon failing, he was forced to make peace, offering his daughter in marriage, with Gezer as her dowry (I Kings 9:16).
Solomon also established economic ties with surrounding nations, a profitable move both politically and financially. He apparently reached a trade agreement with the wealthy South Arabian state of Sheba (I Kings chap. 10) and conducted joint business ventures with Hiram of Tyre (I Kings 9:26-28).
With Phoenician help, Solomon built and manned a fleet of ocean-going vessels at Ezion Geber which returned once every three years from Ophir laden with cargoes of gold and other valuables (I Kings 10:28-29). Solomon's income also included tribute from vassal states (I Kings 4:21). In addition, he controlled all the important trade routes in the region, including the Way of the Sea and the King's Highway, from which he could therefore draw revenue (I Kings 10:15). Supervision of these routes permitted him to dominate the lucrative trade in Egyptian chariots and in horses from Keveh (Cilicia) as indicated in I Kings 10:28-29).
Much of Solomon's revenue from these enterprises was used in various building projects. The most significant of these was the temple, constructed over a seven-year period with the help of materials and craftsmen which Solomon received from Phoenicia in exchange for annual shipments of wheat and oil. The Temple's splendor is described in I Kings, chapter 6;7:15). The even larger palace (I Kings 7:1-12) took 13 years to construct. In addition, Solomon built a palace for Pharaoh's daughter (I Kings 7:8) and shrines for other foreign wives (I Kings 11:7-8).
Solomon's building activities also included military construction. His imposing fortifications in the key cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer, with their characteristic six-chambered gates and casement walls, have now been partially excavated. Solomon also fortified Jerusalem, Lower and Upper Beth Horon (II Chron 8:5), Tamar (II Chron 8:4 Tadmor) and Baalath, as well as other towns not mentioned in the Bible. A series of fortresses and settlements discovered in the central Negeb highlands may well be Solomonic.
Solomon also strentghened and modernized his army by the introduction of cavalry and chariotry. According to II Chronicles 9:25, he built 4,000 stalls for chariot horses, although the stable-like structures found at Megiddo have now been assigned to the period of Omri.
Solomon's extensive construction projects drained his kingdom's resources to such anextent that he was forced to defray his debt to Hiram of Phoenicia, by ceding 20 Galilean cities. Moreover, Solomon imposed heavy taxes and forced labor on his subjects (I Kings 4:7-19, 27-28).
Laborers were taken from the remaining Canaanite population (I Kings 9:20-22), but native Israelites were also required to spend one month in three in forced labor (I Kings 5:13-14;11:28).
In order to administer the kingdom and collect taxes efficiently, Solomon divided the country into 12 districts not identical to the traditional tribal
territories. Many scholars believe this to have been a deliberate attempt to stregthen central government at the expense of established tribal hierarchy.
Resentment of Solomon's policies built up during his reign and led, upon his death, to dissolution of the kingdom into the independent states of Israel and Judah. Even during his lifetime an attempted rebellion was led by Jeroboam, then taskmaster over the house of Joseph. It failed, and Jeroboam fled to Egypt, where he remained untilSolomon's death (I Kings 11:26-40; 12:2).
Solomon's proverbial wisdom is his most celebrated characteristic. I Kings 3:4-15 tells how God appeared to Solomon in a dream while he wished, and granted Solomon his request: wisdom to rule his people. But Solomon is also credited with other sorts of sagacity. He was a master of wise sayings. According to the writer of I Kings chapter 4, Solomon authored 3,000 proverbs (as well as 1005 songs). He discoursed upon nature (I Kings 4:33), and in general excelled in the oriental wisdom of his day (I Kings 4:29-34). It was with the stated aim of putting the king's wisdom to the test with various conundrums, that the Queen of Sheba visited Jerusalem (I Kings chapter 10).
In the spiritual realm, Solomon is said to have followed the Lord (I Kings 3:3). He built the Temple, perhaps before constructing his own palace (I Kings 9:10; but in any case he devoted more time to the latter). Solomon experienced revelations from God while he was at Gibeon and upon the completion of the Temple. His reputation for piety may be seen in the large number of sacrifices which he offered at Gibeon and at the dedication of the Temple.
Nevertheless, Solomon took many foreign women as wives- 700 wives and 300 concubines- which the scripture indicates caused Solomon to turn his heart away from the Lord in his old age (I Kings 11:49). Certainly, though, Solomon's marriages, and his concessions to his wives must be seen as at least partially politically motivated.
In spite of the enormity of his harem, only three children of Solomon are named: his successor Rehoboam, and the daughters of Basemath and Taphath, mentioned because their husbands were district governors.
Some of Solomon's many sayings are doubtless contained in the Book of Proverbs (1:1; 10:1; 25;1). The Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) is ascribed to him (1:1) and Ecclesiastes 1:1 is often understood to refer to Solomon. However, the late language of these works makes most scholars view their Solomonic authorship with skepticism. Likewise, the headings of Psalms 72 and 127, which mention Solomon, are probably late additions. The Apocryphal Wisdom of Solomon was composed in Greek long after Solomon's day.
Solomon is cited in Nehemiah 13:26 as an example of the dangers of foreign women, but in general the trend was rather to magnify his wisdom and accomplishments. In the New Testament he appears as an example of wealth (Matt 6:29) and wisdom (Matt 12:42). A portico in Herod's temple was named for solomon (John 10:23).
