Solomon
Wise King of Israel
Solomon, son of David and Bathsheba, was the third king of Israel. Famous for his extraordinary wisdom given by God, he built the first Temple in Jerusalem. He wrote Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. His reign marked the peak of the kingdom of Israel.
Character Traits
Life Timeline
Solomon is born to David and Bathsheba in Jerusalem. His name means 'peace.' The Lord loves him and sends word through the prophet Nathan, giving him the name Jedidiah, meaning 'loved by the Lord.'
2SA 12:24-25As David nears death and Adonijah attempts to seize the throne, Bathsheba and Nathan intervene. David commands that Solomon be anointed king at Gihon. Solomon rides David's mule, is anointed by Zadok the priest, and the people rejoice.
1KI 1:28-40Solomon goes to Gibeon to sacrifice. God appears in a dream and offers to give Solomon whatever he asks. Solomon requests an understanding heart to govern the people and discern between good and evil.
1KI 3:4-14Two prostitutes come before Solomon, each claiming a living baby as her own. Solomon orders the child cut in two. The true mother renounces her claim to save the child. All Israel hears and sees that God's wisdom is in Solomon.
1KI 3:16-28Solomon begins building the temple in the fourth year of his reign, 480 years after the Exodus. Using cedars from Lebanon and skilled craftsmen, he constructs a magnificent house for God that takes seven years to complete.
1KI 6:1-38Solomon dedicates the temple with an extensive prayer and sacrifices. The glory of the Lord fills the temple as a cloud. God appears to Solomon again, promising to hear prayers made toward this house but warning of consequences if Israel turns away.
1KI 8:1-66, 9:1-9The Queen of Sheba travels from Arabia to test Solomon's wisdom with hard questions. She is overwhelmed by his wisdom, wealth, and the quality of his kingdom, declaring that the reports she heard were not even half the truth.
1KI 10:1-13Solomon's annual gold income is 666 talents. He makes silver as common as stones in Jerusalem and cedars as plentiful as sycamores. He has 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen. Kings from all over seek his wisdom.
1KI 10:14-29Solomon loves many foreign women despite God's warning. He has 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. His wives turn his heart to other gods. He builds high places for Chemosh, Molech, and other deities.
1KI 11:1-8God is angry with Solomon because his heart has turned away despite two divine appearances. God declares He will tear most of the kingdom from Solomon's son, leaving only one tribe for David's sake and for Jerusalem's sake.
1KI 11:9-13Solomon reigns in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years. He dies and is buried in the City of David. His son Rehoboam succeeds him, but the kingdom soon divides as God prophesied.
1KI 11:41-43Key Relationships
Father - David was Solomon's father, the great king who united Israel. Solomon inherited his father's kingdom and fulfilled David's dream of building the temple. David gave Solomon charge to keep God's ways.
Mother - Bathsheba was Solomon's mother, who secured his throne when Adonijah tried to usurp it. She advocated for Solomon before David and remained influential during Solomon's reign.
Son and Successor - Rehoboam succeeded Solomon as king. His foolish rejection of the elders' counsel led to the kingdom's division, fulfilling God's judgment on Solomon's idolatry.
Greater than Solomon - Solomon foreshadows Christ as a son of David who builds God's house and whose wisdom attracts the nations. The Queen of Sheba's visit anticipates Gentiles coming to the 'greater than Solomon' (Matthew 12:42).
Key Locations
Solomon's capital city, transformed during his reign into a magnificent royal center. He built the temple, his palace complex, and fortified the city. Jerusalem became a destination for rulers seeking wisdom.
Spiritual Lessons
Wisdom Begins with Humility
When God offered Solomon anything, he asked for wisdom, acknowledging he was like a little child who didn't know how to carry out his duties. His humble request pleased God, who gave him wisdom plus wealth and honor he hadn't asked for.
Guard Your Heart Above All Else
Solomon himself wrote, 'Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it' (Proverbs 4:23). Yet he failed to heed his own counsel, allowing foreign wives to turn his heart away from God. Head knowledge cannot protect an unguarded heart.
Small Compromises Lead to Great Falls
Solomon didn't abandon God overnight. He married foreign women 'for political alliance,' built high places 'for his wives,' and gradually his heart turned. The path from faithful to fallen is often gradual. Address drift early before it becomes departure.
Legacy Matters
Solomon's choices didn't just affect him—they divided the kingdom under his son and set Israel on a path toward exile. His personal sin had national consequences for generations. What we do ripples beyond ourselves.