Illustration created for this project.
Solomon — the wise
The son of David and Bathsheba, granted wisdom by God; he built the Temple in Jerusalem but was led astray in old age.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Archaeology — physical evidence · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Life, role & deeds
Ian Scott — CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
ArchaeologyMonumental six-chambered gates at Megiddo, Hazor and Gezer have been attributed by many to Solomon's building works.
1 Kings 9:15; six-chambered gates at Megiddo, Hazor and Gezer, Solomonic attribution proposed by Y. Yadin, 'Solomon's City Wall and Gate at Gezer', Israel Exploration Journal 8 (1958); redating (10th vs. 9th c.) contested by I. Finkelstein's Low Chronology (Levant 28, 1996)
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Megiddo
Death & legacy
ScholarlyThe dating of 'Solomonic' architecture and the extent of his kingdom are actively debated.
Scholarly debate (high vs low chronology)
Where in scripture
2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahPsalmsProverbsSong of SolomonJeremiahMatthewNow there was long war between Saul’s house and David’s house. David grew stronger and stronger, but Saul’s house grew weaker and weaker.
2 Samuel 3:1
These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
2 Samuel 5:14
David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2 Samuel 6:1
The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
2 Samuel 12:2
David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her. She bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Yahweh loved him;
2 Samuel 12:24
and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he named him Jedidiah, for Yahweh’s sake.
2 Samuel 12:25
The king said to Joab, “Behold now, I have done this thing. Go therefore, and bring the young man Absalom back.”
2 Samuel 14:21
When he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year’s end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it); he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king’s weight.
2 Samuel 14:26
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
2 Samuel 3:12 Samuel 5:142 Samuel 6:12 Samuel 12:22 Samuel 12:242 Samuel 12:252 Samuel 14:212 Samuel 14:261 Kings 3:91 Kings 6:11 Kings 11:42 Kings 21:72 Kings 23:132 Kings 24:132 Kings 25:161 Chronicles 2:11 Chronicles 3:11 Chronicles 3:31 Chronicles 3:51 Chronicles 3:101 Chronicles 4:111 Chronicles 5:11 Chronicles 6:11 Chronicles 6:10
…and 39 more mentions
Family
In their own words — 32 recorded sayings
“And Solomon said, If he is seen to be a man of good faith, not a hair of him will be touched; but if any wrongdoing is seen in him, he is to be put to death. So King Solomon sent, and they took him down from the altar. And he came and gave honour to King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, Go to your house.” — 1 Kings 1:52-53
“Then she said, I have one small request to make to you; do not say, No, to me. And the king said, Say on, my mother, for I will not say, No, to you.” — 1 Kings 2:20
“Then King Solomon made answer and said to his mother, Why are you requesting me to give Abishag the Shunammite to Adonijah? Take the kingdom for him in addition, for he is my older brother, and Abiathar the priest and Joab, the son of Zeruiah, are on his side. Then King Solomon took an oath by the Lord, saying, May God's punishment be on me if Adonijah does not give payment for these words with his life. Now by the living Lord, who has given me my place on the seat of David my father, and made me one of a line of kings, as he gave me his word, truly Adonijah will be put to death this day.” — 1 Kings 2:22-24
“And to Abiathar the priest the king said, Go to Anathoth, to your fields; for death would be your right reward; but I will not put you to death now, because you took up the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and you were with him in all his troubles.” — 1 Kings 2:26
“And they said to King Solomon, Joab has gone in flight to the Tent of the Lord and is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, make an attack on him.” — 1 Kings 2:29
“And the king said, Do as he has said and make an attack on him there, and put his body into the earth; so that you may take away from me and from my family the blood of one put to death by Joab without cause. And the Lord will send back his blood on his head, because of the attack he made on two men more upright and better than himself, putting them to the sword without my father's knowledge; even Abner, the son of Ner, captain of the army of Israel, and Amasa, the son of Jether, captain of the army of Judah. So their blood will be on the head of Joab, and on the head of his seed for ever;…” — 1 Kings 2:31-33
“Then the king sent for Shimei, and said to him, Make a house for yourself in Jerusalem and keep there and go to no other place. For be certain that on the day when you go out and go over the stream Kidron, death will overtake you: and your blood will be on your head.” — 1 Kings 2:36-37
“Then the king sent for Shimei, and said to him, Did I not make you take an oath by the Lord, protesting to you and saying, Be certain that on the day when you go out from here, wherever you go, death will overtake you? and you said to me, Very well! Why then have you not kept the oath of the Lord and the order which I gave you? And the king said to Shimei, You have knowledge of all the evil which you did to David my father; and now the Lord has sent back your evil on yourself. But a blessing will be on King Solomon, and the kingdom of David will keep its place before the Lord for ever.” — 1 Kings 2:42-45
…and 24 more recorded sayings.
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Events
Places in their life
Photo: Godot13 — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
In art
