Solomon
Israelite / Jew Hebrew, tribe of Judah · United Kingdom · Old Testament
- Also called
- Jedidiah
- Name means
- Peaceable
- Role
- King of Israel; builder of the temple
- When
- c. 970-930 BC (traditional)
What they did
Asked God for an understanding heart and was given wisdom, riches and honour. He built the temple in Jerusalem, but in old age his many foreign wives turned his heart after other gods.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
His prayer at the temple asked God to hear the stranger from a far country (1 Kings 8:41-43), and nations came to hear his wisdom. Jesus said 'a greater than Solomon is here.'
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. 1 Kings 4:29 (KJV)
Bible references
And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him. And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD. 2 Samuel 12:24-25 (KJV)
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. 1 Kings 3:9-12 (KJV)
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 1 Kings 4:29-30 (KJV)
Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name’s sake; (For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house; Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name. 1 Kings 8:41-43 (KJV)
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 the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 1 Kings 11:4 (KJV)
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. Matthew 12:42 (KJV)
Family
- Father
- David
- Mother
- Bathsheba
- Spouse(s)
- Pharaoh's daughter, Naamah the Ammonitess, and many others
- Children
- Rehoboam; daughters Taphath and Basmath
- Brothers / sisters
- Shimea, Shobab, Nathan; half-brothers Amnon, Absalom, Adonijah and others; half-sister Tamar
Had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:3). Reigned forty years (1 Kings 11:42).
A fuller character study, with strengths, failures, lessons and a relationship diagram:
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