Solomon (2 Samuel 12:24–25; 1 Kings 1:32–53; 1 Kings 2:1–12; 1 Kings 3:5–15; 1 Kings 3:16–28; 1 Kings 4:29–34; 1 Kings 5:1–12; 1 Kings 6:11–14; 1 Kings 8:22–30; 1 Kings 8:63–66; 1 Kings 9:1–9; 1 Kings 10:1–13; 1 Kings 11:1–13; 1 Kings 11:41–43; 1 Chronicles 22:6–10; Nehemiah 13:26; Matthew 6:29; Matthew 12:42; Acts 7:47)

Son of David, King of Wisdom

Son of David and Bath-sheba, called Jedidiah for the LORD's sake, who was anointed king at Gihon while Adonijah exalted himself, asked at Gibeon for an understanding heart, judged between two women, built the house of the LORD, and in his old age had his heart turned after other gods by his wives.

Second Samuel gives his birth: David “went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon. And Jehovah loved him” (2 Samuel 12:24). By Nathan the prophet he was also called Jedidiah, “for Jehovah’s sake” (2 Samuel 12:25). When David was old and Adonijah said “I will be king” (1 Kings 1:5), David swore that “Solomon thy son shall reign after me” (1 Kings 1:30), and Zadok and Nathan anointed him at Gihon (1 Kings 1:45). After David's charge and death, “Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly” (1 Kings 2:12).

At Gibeon the LORD said, “Ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kings 3:5), and Solomon asked for “an understanding heart to judge thy people” (1 Kings 3:9). He is shown judging between two women who claimed one child, and “they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do justice” (1 Kings 3:28). “God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much” (1 Kings 4:29), and Judah and Israel “dwelt safely” (1 Kings 4:25). With timber from Hiram of Tyre he built the house of the LORD, brought the ark into it, and prayed at its dedication. The queen of Sheba came to prove him with hard questions. Titles name him in Psalms 72 and 127, and the books of Proverbs and the Song of Songs bear his name in their headings (Proverbs 1:1; Song of Solomon 1:1).

The text tells the end of his reign without softening it: “king Solomon loved many foreign women” (1 Kings 11:1), “his wives turned away his heart” (1 Kings 11:3), and “Jehovah was angry with Solomon” (1 Kings 11:9). The kingdom was to be rent out of the hand of his son, and after forty years in Jerusalem “Solomon slept with his fathers” (1 Kings 11:43); the account does not say that he turned back. Nehemiah later recalls him: “yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin” (Nehemiah 13:26). In the New Testament he stands in the line of Jesus (Matthew 1:6-7); Jesus says that “even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these” (Matthew 6:29) and that “a greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 12:42); and Stephen says, “Solomon built him a house” (Acts 7:47).

Strengths

• An understanding heart
• Asked for wisdom, not long life or riches
• Loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David
• Wisdom to do justice
• Built the house, and finished it
• Prayer at the dedication

Weaknesses

• Sacrificed in the high places
• Loved many foreign women
• His heart turned after other gods
• Built high places for Chemosh and Molech

Themes

• Wisdom
• The house of the LORD
• David's throne
• Peace and prosperity
• Wives and other gods
• The kingdom rent

Born to Bath-sheba and named Jedidiah (2 Samuel 12:24–25)

David comforts Bath-sheba his wife; she bears Solomon, the LORD loves him, and by the hand of Nathan the prophet he is named Jedidiah.

Anointed at Gihon (1 Kings 1:5–53)

While Adonijah exalts himself and feasts with Joab and Abiathar, Nathan and Bath-sheba go to David, who has Solomon set on his mule and anointed; Adonijah's guests scatter and Solomon sends him home.

Anointed at Gihon

“Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king” (1 Kings 1:5). He conferred with Joab and Abiathar the priest, and called his brethren to a feast, “but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not” (1 Kings 1:10).

David called Bath-sheba and swore: “verily as I sware unto thee by Jehovah, the God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; verily so will I do this day” (1 Kings 1:30). He told Zadok, Nathan and Benaiah to “cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon” (1 Kings 1:33). “And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the Tent, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, Long live king Solomon” (1 Kings 1:39).

Adonijah and his guests heard it, “and all the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way” (1 Kings 1:49). Adonijah caught hold on the horns of the altar. Solomon said, “If he shall show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die” (1 Kings 1:52). “And Solomon said unto him, Go to thy house” (1 Kings 1:53).

David's charge and the kingdom established (1 Kings 2:1–46)

David charges Solomon to keep the charge of the LORD and dies; Adonijah asks for Abishag and is put to death, Abiathar is thrust out of the priesthood, and Joab and Shimei are slain by Benaiah, and the kingdom is established in Solomon's hand.

The dream at Gibeon (1 Kings 3:1–15)

Solomon loves the LORD yet sacrifices in the high places; at Gibeon the LORD appears to him in a dream, and he asks for an understanding heart and receives wisdom, riches and honor.

The dream at Gibeon

“And Solomon loved Jehovah, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places” (1 Kings 3:3). He went to Gibeon, “the great high place” (1 Kings 3:4), and offered a thousand burnt-offerings. “In Gibeon Jehovah appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kings 3:5).

Solomon spoke of David and then of himself: “I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in” (1 Kings 3:7). “Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?” (1 Kings 3:9).

God answered that he had not asked “long life, neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies” (1 Kings 3:11), and gave him “a wise and an understanding heart” (1 Kings 3:12), and “both riches and honor” (1 Kings 3:13). A condition followed: “And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days” (1 Kings 3:14).

The judgment between two women (1 Kings 3:16–28)

Two women bring one living child and one dead before the king; he calls for a sword, the true mother yields, and Israel sees the wisdom of God in him.

The judgment between two women

Two women who were harlots came before him, each claiming the living child. “And the king said, Fetch me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other” (1 Kings 3:24-25).

“Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, It shall be neither mine nor thine; divide it” (1 Kings 3:26).

“Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do justice” (1 Kings 3:27-28).

Peace, provision and wisdom (1 Kings 4:20–34)

Solomon rules from the River to the border of Egypt, Judah and Israel dwell safely, and God gives him wisdom, three thousand proverbs and a thousand and five songs, so that kings come to hear him.

Hiram's timber and the building of the house (1 Kings 5:1–12; 1 Kings 6:1–2; 1 Kings 6:11–14)

Hiram of Tyre sends cedar and fir in return for wheat and oil, and Solomon builds the house of the LORD; the word of the LORD comes to him with a condition, and he finishes the house.

Dedication of the house (1 Kings 8:1–66; 1 Kings 9:1–9)

The ark is brought into the house and the glory of the LORD fills it; Solomon spreads his hands toward heaven and prays, blesses Israel, offers vast sacrifices, and sends the people home glad after a fourteen-day feast; afterward the LORD appears to him a second time, says he has hallowed the house, and sets the condition of walking as David did.

Dedication of the house

When the priests came out of the holy place, “the cloud filled the house of Jehovah, so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of Jehovah filled the house of Jehovah” (1 Kings 8:10-11). Then Solomon said, “I have surely built thee a house of habitation, a place for thee to dwell in for ever” (1 Kings 8:13).

“And Solomon stood before the altar of Jehovah in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven” (1 Kings 8:22). In his prayer he said, “But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded!” (1 Kings 8:27).

He blessed the assembly: “Let your heart therefore be perfect with Jehovah our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day” (1 Kings 8:61). “So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of Jehovah” (1 Kings 8:63). On the eighth day he sent the people away, and “they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart” (1 Kings 8:66).

When Solomon had finished the house of the LORD and the king's house, the LORD appeared to him the second time (1 Kings 9:1-2) and said, “I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever” (1 Kings 9:3), and “if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness” (1 Kings 9:4), the throne would be established; but if they served other gods, “this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight” (1 Kings 9:7).

The queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1–13)

The queen of Sheba comes to prove him with hard questions, sees his wisdom and the house, says the half was not told her, blesses the LORD, and gives gold and spices.

His heart turned away (1 Kings 11:1–13)

Solomon loves many foreign women, his wives turn his heart after other gods, he builds high places for Chemosh and Molech, and the LORD is angry and says he will rend the kingdom, though not in Solomon's days.

His heart turned away

“Now king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites” (1 Kings 11:1). The LORD had told Israel not to go among those nations, “for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love” (1 Kings 11:2). “And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart” (1 Kings 11:3).

“For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as was the heart of David his father” (1 Kings 11:4). “And Solomon did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and went not fully after Jehovah, as did David his father” (1 Kings 11:6). “Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, in the mount that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon” (1 Kings 11:7).

“And Jehovah was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice” (1 Kings 11:9). The LORD said, “I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it, for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son” (1 Kings 11:11-12).

Adversaries, Jeroboam, and his death (1 Kings 11:14–43)

The LORD raises up Hadad and Rezon as adversaries, Ahijah tears a garment and promises ten tribes to Jeroboam, Solomon seeks to kill Jeroboam, and after forty years Solomon sleeps with his fathers and Rehoboam reigns.

David (1 Kings 1:28–30; 1 Kings 2:1–4; 1 Chronicles 22:6–10)

His father, who charged him to build the house of the LORD, swore that he should reign after him, and at his death charged him to keep the charge of the LORD.

Bath-sheba (2 Samuel 12:24; 1 Kings 1:11–31; 1 Kings 2:19–22)

His mother, who bore him to David, appealed to David for his throne, and later spoke to him for Adonijah.

Adonijah (1 Kings 1:5–10; 1 Kings 1:50–53; 1 Kings 2:13–25)

His elder brother, who exalted himself to be king, was spared at the horns of the altar, and was put to death after asking for Abishag.

Nathan the prophet (2 Samuel 12:25; 1 Kings 1:11–14; 1 Kings 1:38–45)

Brought the name Jedidiah, counseled Bath-sheba, and with Zadok anointed Solomon at Gihon.

Benaiah son of Jehoiada (1 Kings 1:38; 1 Kings 2:25; 1 Kings 2:34–35; 1 Kings 2:46)

Went down with Solomon to Gihon, carried out the king's orders against Adonijah, Joab and Shimei, and was set over the host.

Hiram king of Tyre (1 Kings 5:1–12; 1 Kings 9:10–14)

Sent timber of cedar and fir for the house in return for wheat and oil, and the two made a league together.

The queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1–13; Matthew 12:42)

Came to prove him with hard questions, and said that the half of his wisdom and prosperity had not been told her.

Jeroboam son of Nebat (1 Kings 11:26–40)

A servant of Solomon who lifted up his hand against the king and was promised ten tribes; Solomon sought to kill him, and he fled to Egypt.

Rehoboam (1 Kings 11:12; 1 Kings 11:43)

His son, who reigned in his stead; the kingdom was to be rent out of his hand.

The LORD (2 Samuel 12:24; 1 Kings 3:5–14; 1 Kings 9:1–9; 1 Kings 11:9–13)

Loved him, appeared to him at Gibeon and a second time, set the condition of walking as David did, and was angry when his heart turned away.

Major sections

• 2 Samuel 12:24–25
• 1 Kings 1–11
• 1 Chronicles 22–29
• 2 Chronicles 1–9

More illuminations · Harbinger's Lamp