Before David dies, he appoints as king his son Solomon, who is 12 years old at the time, with these words:
"I go the way of all the earth. You shall be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes and His commandments and His testimonies. As it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn." (1 King 2:2-3)
This classic blessing is often quoted by fathers to their sons on the day of their Bar Mitzvah. It restates the cardinal rule that has guided the Jewish people from the time of the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai: in order to prosper keep the Torah.
Shortly after Solomon is anointed king, God appears to him in a dream in which He invites Solomon to make a request for himself. Solomon answers:
"I am but a small child ... Give therefore your servant an understanding heart to judge your people..."
His request pleases God who tells him:
"Because you have not requested riches and honor but only that which would benefit all the people, I will give you not only an understanding heart like none other before or after you ... but also riches and honor like no other king in your days." (1 Kings 3:7-13)
Born in 848 BCE, Solomon dies at age 52 in 796 BCE, ruling as king for 40 years -- the best years in all of Israel's history -- 40 years of peace and prosperity. He is known as chacham mi'kol ha'adam, "wisest of all the men." The Bible relates that kings from all over the world came to hear his wisdom, which included not only Torah wisdom, but also wisdom in secular knowledge and science. 1
His fame spread through all the surrounding nations. He composed 3,000 parables, and 1,005 poems. He discoursed about trees, from the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows from the wall. He also discoursed about animals, birds, creeping things and fish. Men of all nations came to hear Solomon's wisdom, as did all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom. (1 Kings 5:11-14)
THE TEMPLE
The crowning achievement of Solomon's reign is the building of the Temple which his father, King David, had dreamt about.
As we learned in the last installment in this series, King David brought the Ark of the Covenant up to Jerusalem's Mount Moriah -- "the gate of heaven" -- but because he had been a warrior who had blood on his hands, he was not permitted by God to erect the Temple. However, this is left for his son to accomplish, which he does.
The Bible devotes several chapters (II Kings 5-7) to the construction of this most important building to the nation of Israel -- the place of communion between the Jewish people and God. It tells that the entire Temple both inside and outside, including floors and doors were overlaid with gold. Besides this there were bronze structures such as columns, an immersion tank, and basins. The magnificent structure took seven years to build.
When it is finished, Solomon dedicates the Temple:
"Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain You; how much less this house that I have built? Yet have regard for the prayer of Your servant, and for his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer, which Your servant prays before You today; that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, 'My name shall be there,' that You may listen to the prayer ... of your people Israel ..." (1 Kings 8:27-29)
THE PINNACLE
This is the pinnacle of Jewish history. Everyone is united. Their neighbors don't bother the Jews -- in fact, they come to learn from the Jews. There is peace and prosperity.
This is as good as it gets for Israel-the closest ancient Israel gets to achieving the Messianic ideal of creating an ideal nation that is alight to the nations. This is the zenith. So why doesn't this golden age last?
Solomon makes one serious mistake. In violation of the Torah's prohibition He takes too many wives. In fact, he has 700 wives and 300 concubines.
If we go back to the Book of Deuteronomy where the idea that Jews would one day want a king is first discussed, Moses warns that the king should not have too many horses or too many wives (Deut. 17:17). The great Torah commentator Rashi tells us that this means no more than 18, and that King David had only six.
The Torah placed limits on the number of wives and wealth the king could have so that he would stay focused on his responsibilities and not be distracted and corrupted by materialism and power. Solomon was certainly aware of these prohibitions, but felt that his great wisdom and spirituality would enable to handle these challenges and be an even greater king. Unfortunately, he did not foresee the problems that some of his many foreign wives would cause. 2
The first question is why did Solomon "need" so many wives? The answer has nothing to do with love. Throughout history the overwhelming reason for marriage amongst nobility and royalty was to create political alliances.
The Middle East in Solomon's time is made up of many city-states and all the kings of these city-states want to send their daughters to marry King Solomon and in this way form an alliance with him. Solomon may also have had an additional reason-his marriages to these foreign wives were his way of bringing these nations closer to God. 3
Before we can deal with the problems some of these wives caused, we have to deal with a bigger question. King Solomon married Gentile women? Obviously not. Before they married the king they had to convert to Judaism. But that leads to another question. The Talmud states:
We (the Jewish people) will not accept converts in the Messianic Era, similarly, they did not accept converts, neither during the time of [King] David, nor during the time of [King] Solomon. (Avodah Zarah 3b)
The motivation to convert should come solely out of a love of truth and a sincere desire to join the Jewish People despite the tremendous obligations that a Jewish lifestyle entails and the external dangers that the Jewish People have always faced. In short-the prospective convert must demonstrate total commitment in spite of any difficulties or danger. The past reign's of David and Solomon and especially the future Messianic Era are unique, idyllic periods when the Jewish people enjoy peace, prosperity and a unique leadership role amongst the nations. During these periods there were (and will be) many people who wished to join the Jewish People, not out a desire for truth, but rather for benefit. Such insincere conversions were not accepted, and will not be accepted in the future.
So how did King Solomon marry foreign women? The answer is that an exception was made for the future wives of the king and a special court was set up to handle their conversions. Since many of these weddings were arranged for political reasons it is certain that some of the conversion were not entirely sincere nor did all Solomon's wives completely abandon their idolatrous practices.
As with Moses and David, we again see the incredible level of accountability that these great leaders are held to. For a wife of King Solomon, prophet, wisest of all men, King of Israel, to worship idols is an inexcusable mistake that Solomon is held directly accountable for.
In his old age, his wives turned away Solomon's heart after other gods. (1 Kings 11:4-5).
This, of course, does not mean that King Solomon became an idolater, but the Bible uses these harsh words because he did not prevent his wives from carrying on their idolatrous practices. As a king, he is held responsible for the actions of those under his influence.
One of the greatest leaders of the Jewish people, a man on his spiritual level -- who wrote the Song of Songs, the Book of Ecclesiastes, and the Book of Proverbs -- must be suffering eternal pain in heaven knowing what has been written about him in the Bible.4
Not only is criticism of Solomon harsh, but as with other great Jewish leaders, so are the consequences of his mistakes. The Bible ends Solomon's story relating that God was angry with him and told him:
"Since you are guilty of this, and you have not kept My covenant and My laws ... I will tear the kingdom away from you ... But I will not do this in your time, for the sake of your father David. Instead, I will tear it away from your son ... I will give your son one tribe for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen." (1 Kings 11:9-13)
It is clear from this how much God loved King David and how completely He had forgiven him for his faults. It is also clear that hard times are coming for the Jewish people as the kingdom of Israel is about to be torn in half.
1) See Talmud, Eruvin 21b.
2) see: Talmud-Shabbat 56b; Sanhedrin 21b.
3) see: Midrash, Shir HaShirim Rabbah I, 1:10
4) For a detailed discussion of Solomon's wives see: Talmud-Shabbat 56b; Sanhedrin 21b. The Talmud especially criticizes Solomon's marriage to the Daughter of Pharaoh Necho of Egypt. While this marriage was a major political coup for Solomon, the princess's secret idolatrous activities would sew the seeds for many problems in the future.
(51) Anonymous, January 4, 2021 3:27 PM
Question...
So he dies ad age 52 and ruled over 40
that means he started ruling at age 12?
and some say he died at age 80 which makes more sense if he did because he would have started ruling at age 40, no?
i don't understand.
which one is true? how old was Shlomo Hamelech when he started ruling?
(50) Anonymous, June 21, 2020 8:42 PM
Ten Menorahs Ten Basins
What is the theory behind Solomon building ten menorahs and ten basins per 1 Kings 7:38 and 49? Why not 12, one for each tribe? Why ten?
Thank you.
(49) Anonymous, July 6, 2018 9:06 PM
Correction
Actually vs. 13 was included but omitted was the significant phrase:
"But I shall not tear the entire kingdom away."
(48) Anonymous, July 6, 2018 8:58 PM
Criticism of Shlomo HaMelekh not Accurate
Not accurate because it is incomplete and omits an important qualifier. As a result it is cited by missionaries to imply wrongly that Shlomo HaMelekh was no longer in the messianic line because his entire kingdom was torn away. The missing verse is:
1Kings 7:13 But I shall not tear the entire kingdom away from you; one tribe I shall grant to your son for the sake of David My servant, and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen.
(47) Adelana korede, December 19, 2016 4:04 PM
Great story from a great king,i really learn a lot
(46) og, November 15, 2014 6:04 AM
Good information for wide knowledge
Anonymous, July 10, 2017 4:06 AM
a great leader full of Gods wisdom
(45) Alison N. Miah, November 3, 2014 8:52 AM
so inspirational
Those wise story of wise man are needed to teach inspirational lessons
(44) Anonymous, October 9, 2014 11:49 AM
Excellent! Thank you.
Learned a lot. Especially re th number of wives and why. Always thought it odd to have 1,000 women and only 3 children......or were there more?
(43) joy manning, September 19, 2014 3:53 AM
good
Nice to read thanks.
(42) saswata pramanick, August 12, 2014 11:45 AM
It is important our past we should know.
It is to much helpful to know our histry.
(41) conrado jamora jr, July 15, 2014 2:41 AM
the storey of solomon is well understood
so now I understand why solomon have so may wives, it is a political reasons that the king wanted an alliance during his rule, only that he was not able to control the belief of his wives that bring destruction to his regime the division of israels kingdom the north and the south jerusalem & samaria.
(40) Rev.Bipin Debbarma, December 2, 2013 2:54 PM
Good to read
It is very much informatic, thanks for that
Maduram James, July 2, 2014 2:31 AM
Very much informative
It is nice to read and get the information correctly.
(39) zaake robert, November 28, 2013 2:32 PM
well discussed
(38) Dean, November 14, 2013 7:26 PM
correction of quote
Please correct the source of one of the early quotes, "His fame spread through all the surrounding nations..." to 1 Kings 4:31-34
(37) Bradley, November 10, 2013 8:47 AM
excellent
Thank you appreciate the lesson above.
(36) Anonymous, September 2, 2013 1:42 PM
great info
this is awesome crash course.i have learned a lot from these informations..than GOD I found these site..
thank you
Julie Molina, March 6, 2014 7:27 PM
Great lesson on King Solomon. I learned things I did not know.
(35) ifereimi Qasenuku, August 15, 2013 4:28 AM
A usefull resource that is a blueprint for God's work
Toda Raba
(34) Anonymous, April 4, 2013 6:34 PM
so helpful!
thank you so much for your history crash courses! i have to do a report tracing the history of the jews from the churban until today and i was at a loss of how to do it until i found these crash courses. thank you so much for helping me with my report!
(33) jcrazar, January 26, 2013 3:23 PM
Great page
Yeah, Top page, Great reading I had a search I felt I had to do and it was just great to learn, More to read I reckon. Good post!!!
(32) Sarah Breazeale, November 30, 2012 9:38 PM
Lots of help
Thanks for your help and display of scriptures to show me where to find answers.
(31) DAVIDSHA ANCHARAZ, November 3, 2012 12:20 PM
YES
THE TORAH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOK THAT G-D GIVE US HIS PEOPLE HIS NATION.,LONG LIVE ISRAEL. DAVIDSHA
(30) odinson, October 22, 2012 4:39 PM
open
gods wisdom is all around us. its part of everything that exists. its in our history, our mythology, and in us. we have but to reach out and touch it. see it with a wide open mind.
(29) Issac, October 2, 2012 7:29 PM
Solomons age/ Issac's age
Shalom, thank you for your posting about Molech Shlomo, question how do we know that Shlomo was 12 when he became co-regent also what age was Yitzhak bar Avrham when he was to be presented as a holocoust. ie please provide documentation, Happy holidays
(28) Bonginkosi, August 20, 2012 7:39 AM
Solomon
Oh how I wish I had a drop of Solomon's wisdom.
(27) Anonymous, August 16, 2012 8:52 PM
In his old age, his wives turned away Solomon's heart after other gods. Sorry, the Bible clearly stated that Solomon has in fact committed idolatry - whether it is himself worshiping or the fact he has allowed his wives to worship foreign gods, as the King he has the responsibility to stop all this from happening. The fact that he didn't indicated that he either didn't want to or didn't care enough to do so, which implies that his desire to please God is not as great as his desire to please his wives. Also I am thinking that besides political alliance reasons, many of his marriages can be attributed to his appetite for excesses, in this case lust may very well be one of them.
(26) King Solomon, July 31, 2012 9:30 PM
Job Well done.
(25) Barbara, May 4, 2012 4:06 PM
finding lessons
Is there any way to find a specific lesson, say #40, without having to page through all those before it? I try to remember to bookmark the last page I'm on, but when I forget to do that, or when I "clean" my computer, it is no longer available. It's getting to be very inconvenient.
(24) Jonah k Birir, May 1, 2012 11:57 PM
King Saul was really a wise king!
Ruby Lockhart, July 15, 2012 4:34 AM
No he wasn't. You have your kings mixed up.
He was a very troubled king and Samuel that died in battle along with his hinchmen.
(23) Dou, April 14, 2012 8:30 AM
That was a beautiful tarse on King Solomon and his reign.
(22) Anonymous, March 2, 2012 3:59 AM
Great
It really helped me complete a research paper. U rock!
(21) Grace, February 2, 2012 4:10 PM
I was glad to read about Solomon because I was interested to know more about one of the Greatest King of Israel. Just want to say thanks for the reading
(20) Alain, June 24, 2011 3:38 PM
Israel torn in half
israel was torn in half when the house of Israel broke away from the house of Judah. Whilst Zec 14.1-2 shows that Jerusalem will be divided, I don't see the present nation of israel divided, in fact prophecy says they will go into captivity
(19) Ford, April 10, 2011 1:41 PM
Regarding Anonymous
He would have become king in his late teens and died after ruling for 40 years, making him 55-60 when he died.
(18) mary, November 10, 2010 4:33 PM
I'm confused about marriage
If manyking/men IN TE BIBLE can and did have more than ONE wife. Why would a woman want to marry, when she could be single and love the king when she/or he wanted no string attached....Even Today, I don't understand meeting the need of a man/King, when you are just a number. I WOULD Rather be alone than to be with someone that share such itimacy with every- one in the kingdom.. The man or king is community properity/woman are object of a man fancy. Yet, a woman who thinks like me would be BE SEEN AS REBELIOUS or a GREAT QUEEN. (SMILE) Who came up with one wife/one husband. ( smile )need an answer. 30 year single.
Anonymous, February 10, 2012 8:30 AM
Im assuming you didnt have much of a choice and being married to a king was more than likely a nicer life. Things werent as they are now...
(17) Anonymous, September 26, 2010 1:05 AM
His age of death was what I was after
GOD gave him more wisdom, Than all the world put together
(16) Robert, January 22, 2010 4:20 AM
Kings Solomon's importance to Jewish history.
Very helpful thanks !
(15) Nicole, August 26, 2009 2:22 AM
Great Insight
After reading the account of the visit from the Queen of Sheba, I decided to learn more about King Solomon. This site was my first stop. Thanks for getting the momentum going. Can't wait to learn more!
(14) Andrew Smith, March 12, 2009 3:54 PM
extermely useful
I loved this article because it gave the story from top to bottom. It helped me with my arts integration project. Keep up the great work.
(13) hhh, January 13, 2009 12:21 PM
very helpful with my project
(12) yasmin01, June 22, 2008 4:27 AM
king solomon is a very good man
wow it was a very interesting piece of writing i learnt so much things about King Solomon that i never knew about. this reaaaaaally helped me in my writing.
i recommend this piece of writing because it gives lots of interesting information about King Solomon and it has all the specific information that u cannot think about.
(11) Peter Huskinson, February 29, 2008 10:04 AM
Thank you
That was most precise and to the point. I just wanted to know as i am writing about him and the Queen of Sheba. Noth ing serious though!
(10) Zenoa, October 23, 2007 4:35 PM
thanks, this really gave me information.
(9) Grace Fishenfeld, September 24, 2007 9:43 AM
Shalom, Solomon
Thank you Rabbi. I now understand that it was not lust alone that made King Solomon have so many wives. Politics, made of him, a collector of gifts. High potentates from other lands, entrusted their daughters to him. The women were prized daughters given to Solomon to broaden family and political ties. Solomon had to accept. It is stated that we do everything to have peace in the family. Yes, we do much for sholom but we do not break laws. Momotheasim is the Jewish understanding of who is above us in all of creation. We trust in one God and hold fast to this belief without bowing to other demands. A good parent knows this and so must a great King.
Forty years of peace was a gift. Solomon earned it by gaining the respect of the people.He had an understanding heart,and people came from other lands to learn from him. His choices for the benefit pf his people over personal wealth was noted in his prayer to God, at an early age. He built the Temmple which stood in splendor and the people rejoyced.
It is in my heart to pray for a royacha place for Solomon, a great man who did not realize his limitation in the control over his convert wives.
(8) Menashe Kaltmann, April 24, 2007 10:44 PM
Shlomo Invokes "Rachmanus" for David's sake
Thank you so much Rabbi Spiro and aish.com for this wonderful history series! May you at aish.com all be G"Benched! (Be Blessed!)
It is very interesting to look at the record of the Dedication of The First Beit HaMikdosh (Temple) In Jerusalem.
Shlomo (Solomon) asks G-d for Divine Mercy and petition G-d for the sake of his illustrious Father King David.
G-d accepts Shlomo's prayer - on the basis of the greatness of Dovid HaMelech (Kind David)!
(7) Christie, March 31, 2007 8:02 PM
Thanks a lot for this great course. keep coming.
(6) Anonymous, February 26, 2007 6:18 PM
Helped me with History
his page really helped me unstand How Solomon's life was a great way to live!
(5) Otherwise Chindondondo, June 12, 2006 12:00 AM
If you do not obey your elevator, the higher you go the harder you fall.
Beyond all question King Solomon was made a great man by the Lord. He was a great man before he fell and after he fell he was a fallen great man. Why can`t we describe him on the basis of his ending, because he never caused his beginning. Somebody caused his beginning and he failed to obey that somebody.If he had obeyed that somebody he would have died a great man. So who is the great man THE BEGGINING AND THE END!!!
(4) Sarah Concidine, November 3, 2005 12:00 AM
like the page....
I liked the page a lot because it was very understandable and helped me a lot on my history project. Thanks!
(3) Mwasamani, January 8, 2005 12:00 AM
thank you for this site
It is astonishing and surprising to find such encient history on the internet.thanks to microsoft which has made technology from far to be very close to us.
(2) marc firestone, October 15, 2002 12:00 AM
concise, interesting, very readable.
to the point, well written and just enough sources to look into it myself.
(1) cheryl baldwin, October 21, 2001 12:00 AM
Very interesting and informative.