Solomon

Portrait of Solomon

Solomon, the son of King David and Bathsheba, succeeded his father as ruler of Israel around 970 BCE and initially reigned with remarkable justice and discernment. When offered any gift from God, he requested wisdom to govern well, resulting in unparalleled insight that drew international visitors such as the Queen of Sheba and produced key biblical writings including much of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. His most enduring achievement was overseeing construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem, which centralized Israelite worship, housed the Ark of the Covenant, and fulfilled David's unfulfilled desire to create a permanent dwelling for God's presence. This development marked the height of Israel's united kingdom and underscored the scriptural theme that godly wisdom and obedience bring national blessing, even as Solomon's later foreign marriages introduced idolatry that contributed to the kingdom's eventual division.

0:00

Videos from BibleProject

Play Video: Ecclesiastes Overview

Ecclesiastes Overview

Solomon explores the meaning of life and finds that apart from God, everything is fleeting.

Play Video: Proverbs Overview

Proverbs Overview

Solomon's wisdom for living well with skill and reverence for God.

BibleProject is the author and owner of this content. To find more BibleProject resources, visit bibleproject.com. Bible Navigator is not affiliated with BibleProject.

Biography

Born
c. 990 BC, Jerusalem
Died
c. 931 BC, Jerusalem
Occupation
King, Sage, Author
Tribe
Judah
Father
David
Mother
Bathsheba
Spouse
Many, including Pharaoh's daughter
Children
Rehoboam, and others
Era
United Kingdom (c. 970-931 BC)
Nationality
Israelite
Also Known As
Jedidiah

Family

Parents
David Bathsheba
โ†“
Solomon โšญ Many, including Pharaoh's daughter
โ†“
Children
Rehoboam, and others
Old Testament United Kingdom King 1 Kings

Did You Know?

1

Solomon conscripted 30,000 Israelite men for monthly rotations of forced labor in Lebanon to harvest cedar and cypress timber for the temple, while assigning an additional 150,000 Canaanite laborers to quarry and transport stone, reflecting the ancient Near Eastern practice of corvรฉe labor systems.

2

Biblical tradition attributes 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs to Solomon, along with expertise in botany and zoology covering everything from cedar trees to hyssop and from livestock to birds, fish, and reptiles, yet only fragments survive in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs.

3

Solomon's throne, overlaid with gold and ivory, featured six steps flanked by twelve lions symbolizing the tribes of Israel and incorporated a calf-shaped seat back, making it a unique artifact unmatched by any other royal throne of the era.

4

The Queen of Sheba traveled roughly 1,200 miles from her Arabian kingdom with a caravan of camels carrying spices, gold, and stones to test Solomon's wisdom with riddles, then exchanged lavish gifts including 120 talents of gold that funded further temple adornments.

5

Despite completing the temple, Solomon later built shrines to foreign deities like Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Molech on the Mount of Olives for his 700 wives and 300 concubines, directly contributing to the kingdom's division after his death.

Key Passages

Solomon Asks for Wisdom

1 Kings 3:5-14

When offered anything by God, Solomon asks for wisdom to lead - and God grants both wisdom and the wealth he didn't request. This reveals that seeking God's priorities first brings unexpected abundance.

I5n Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. 8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 9 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? 10 And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 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; 12 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. 13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. 14 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.

Read full chapter: 1 Kings 3 โ†’

Building the Temple

1 Kings 6:1-14

Solomon fulfills his father David's dream by constructing God's dwelling place in Jerusalem - the physical center of Israel's worship and the symbol of God's presence among His people.

A1nd it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomonโ€™s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.

2 And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits. 3 And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house. 4 And for the house he made windows of narrow lights. 5 And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about: 6 The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house. 7 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. 8 The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third. 9 So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar. 10 And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar. 11 And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, 12 Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: 13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. 14 So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

Read full chapter: 1 Kings 6 โ†’

Dedication of the Temple

1 Kings 8:22-30

Solomon's prayer acknowledges that no building can contain God, yet asks Him to hear prayers directed toward this place - balancing God's transcendence with His accessibility.

A22nd Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:

23 And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: 24 Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. 25 Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me. 26 And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father. 27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? 28 Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day: 29 That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place. 30 And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.

Read full chapter: 1 Kings 8 โ†’

Related

Characters

Places

Timeline Events

Prayers

Dreams & Visions

Feasts & Festivals

Sacred Objects

Tribes

Themes