Wisdom · Temple · Glory · Decline
"The Wisest King Who Ever Lived"
"And God gave Solomon exceeding great wisdom and understanding, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the lip of the sea."— 1 Kings 4:29 (KJ3)
And David comforted his wife Bath-sheba. And he went in to her, and lay with her. And she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And Jehovah loved him, and sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and called his name Jedidiah, because of Jehovah.
Your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you; your throne shall be established forever.
God's covenant with David, ultimately fulfilled through Solomon and Christ.
~990 BC
Born to David and Bathsheba in Jerusalem. Named Solomon ("Peaceful") by David, and Jedidiah ("Beloved of Jehovah") by God through Nathan the prophet.
~970 BC
Anointed king while David still lives, thwarting Adonijah's attempt to seize the throne. David gives him charge to walk in God's ways and keep His commandments.
~970 BC
God appears in a dream offering anything. Solomon asks for wisdom to judge God's people. God grants wisdom plus riches and honor no king before or after would match.
~966 BC (4th year of reign)
In the 480th year after the Exodus, Solomon begins building the Temple with help from Hiram king of Tyre. No sound of hammer or tool was heard during construction.
~959 BC (7 years later)
The Temple is finished. At the dedication, fire falls from heaven and God's glory fills the house so powerfully that the priests cannot enter.
~950 BC
The queen travels from Arabia to test Solomon's wisdom. She is overwhelmed by his wisdom and wealth, declaring "the half had not been told me."
~940-930 BC (old age)
Solomon's foreign wives turn his heart after other gods. He builds high places for Chemosh, Molech, and Ashtoreth, doing evil in the sight of the Lord.
~930 BC (after 40 years)
Solomon dies after 40 years of reign. His son Rehoboam's foolishness causes the kingdom to split—10 tribes to Jeroboam, only Judah and Benjamin remaining in the Davidic line.
Jehovah appeared to Solomon in Gibeon in a dream of the night. And God said, Ask. What shall I give to you?
I am a little boy; I do not know to go out and to come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a numerous people that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude. Also give to Your servant an understanding heart, to judge Your people to discern between good and evil.
Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself many days, and not asked riches for yourself, and not asked the life of your enemies, and have asked for discernment for yourself, to understand judgment, behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given to you a wise and understanding heart, so that there was none like you before you, and after you none shall rise up like you.
And the king said, Divide the living child into two, and give the half to the one, and the half to the other one.
The famous test revealing the true mother by her compassion. All Israel feared the king when they saw God's wisdom was in him to do judgment.
And God gave Solomon exceeding great wisdom and understanding, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the lip of the sea. And Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the sons of the east, and than all the wisdom of Egypt.
And there came some from all the people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.
Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. He spoke of trees, beasts, birds, creeping things, and fish.
"The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
"Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
"Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life."
"Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise."
"A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger."
"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
And it happened in the four hundred and eightieth year from the going out of the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt, in the fourth year, in the month of Zif, it is the second month, in the reigning of Solomon over Israel he built the house for Jehovah. As to the house that King Solomon built for Jehovah, its length was sixty cubits, its breadth twenty, and its height thirty cubits.
And the house, when it was being built, was built with complete stone brought there; and hammers and the axe and any iron tool were not heard in the house while it was being built.
All stones were perfectly cut at the quarry. No sound of hammer or tool was heard during construction on the holy site.
And when Solomon finished praying, then the fire came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of Jehovah filled the house; and the priests were not able to go into the house of Jehovah, because the glory of Jehovah had filled the house of Jehovah.
And My people, on whom My name is called, shall be humbled, and shall pray, and shall seek My face, and shall turn back from their evil ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
God's famous conditional promise given at the Temple dedication.
| Temple Comparison | Solomon's Temple | Tabernacle |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Time | 7 years | ~9 months |
| Primary Material | Stone & Cedar (overlaid with gold) | Acacia wood & linen |
| Location | Fixed (Mount Moriah, Jerusalem) | Portable |
| Holy Place Size | 40 × 20 cubits | 20 × 10 cubits |
| Holy of Holies | 20 × 20 × 20 cubits (cube) | 10 × 10 × 10 cubits (cube) |
| Lampstands | 10 golden lampstands | 1 golden menorah |
| Years of Use | ~374 years (959-586 BC) | ~485 years (wilderness to Solomon) |
And Judah and Israel lived securely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree; from Dan even to Beer-sheba all the days of Solomon.
The golden age of Israel—complete peace and security throughout the land.
And the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty six talents of gold.
Not counting revenue from merchants, traders, and subject kings. Silver was considered nothing in Solomon's days.
And she said to the king, The word which I heard in my land was true, concerning your matters and concerning your wisdom. And I did not believe the words until I came, and my eyes have seen. And, behold, the half was not told to me. You have added wisdom and goodness to the report which I heard.
And all the kings of the earth sought the face of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.
Kings from every nation came to hear Solomon's wisdom and brought tribute.
And it happened, at the time Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods. And his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, like the heart of his father David.
And Solomon went after Ashtoreth, goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites... Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem; and for Molech the abomination of the sons of Ammon.
And Jehovah was angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from Jehovah the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep that which Jehovah commanded.
And Jehovah said to Solomon, Because this has been with you, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes which I commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant. Only, I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son.
מִשְׁלֵי (Mishlei)
Theme: Practical Wisdom for Daily Living
A collection of wise sayings covering every area of life—relationships, work, speech, money, morality, and the fear of the Lord. Proverbs teaches skill in living according to God's design.
קֹהֶלֶת (Qoheleth)
Theme: The Vanity of Life Without God
Written late in life, Solomon reflects on the meaninglessness of life "under the sun"—apart from God. He tested everything: wisdom, pleasure, work, wealth—and found it all empty without the fear of God.
שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים (Shir HaShirim)
Theme: The Beauty of Marital Love
A poetic celebration of romantic love between husband and wife. Viewed both as literal marital love and as an allegory of Christ's love for His Church. The most sublime of Solomon's 1,005 songs.
A Psalm for Solomon
Theme: The Righteous King's Reign
A messianic psalm describing the reign of the ideal king—ultimately Christ. It speaks of justice, prosperity, worldwide dominion, and eternal blessing. Written by or for Solomon at the start of his reign.
A Song of Ascents for Solomon
Theme: God's Blessing on Home & Work
A short wisdom psalm teaching that all human effort is futile without the Lord's blessing. Whether building a house (like the Temple) or raising children, success comes from God alone.
What did Solomon ask God for in his dream at Gibeon?