Old-Testament Survey:the Reign of Solomon

The third and final king of the United Kingdom

David’s Last Years

• Problems associated with anointing a new king faced the nation as David’s reign was ending.

• Adonijah (David’s fourth son) plotted to be the next king.

• He gained the support of Joab (captain of the host) and Abiathar (the high priest). (1 Kings 1:5-9)

• Nathan went to Bathsheba to have her influence David to publicly proclaim Solomon as the next king. (1 Kings 1:10-40)

• David commands Solomon to build a house for the Lord. (1 Kings 2:1-4)

• Solomon receives instructions for constructing the house.

• Solomon gets some “unfinished business” to take care of:– Kill Joab, (for the murder of Amasa and Abner)– Avenge the cursing of Shemei.– Treat the family of Barzilli with kindness.

(2 Kings 2:5-9)

David’s Last Words

The New King• Adonijah asked Bathsheba to speak to

Solomon to ask if Abishag could become his wife—Adonijah was executed. (1 Kings 2:13-25)

• Solomon banished Abiathar and appointed Zadok as High Priest. (1 Kings 2:26,27)

• Joab fled to the Tabernacle in Gibeon to take hold of the horns of the altar. Solomon had him killed. (1 Kings 2:28-35)

• Shemei was confined to Jerusalem and told he would die if he left. Three years later, he left to retrieve his slaves, and Solomon had him put to death. (1 Kings 2:36-46)

The New King’s Request

• Solomon went to the Tent of Meeting and offered 1000 burnt offerings. (1 Kings 3:3,4)

• God appeared to Solomon in a dream asking him what he desired. (1 Kings 3:5)

• Solomon requested an “understanding heart” to guide the people. (1 Kings 3:6-10)

• Because Solomon did not ask for personal benefits, God gave him great wisdom like none before or after him. (1 Kings 3:11-15)

Solomon Displays His Wisdom

• Two harlots disputed over a dead child. (1 Kings 3:16-22)

• Solomon ordered the living child to be cut in half! (1 Kings 3:23-25)

• The real mother would not allow the child to die. (1 Kings 3:26-27)

• Israel observed Solomon’s wisdom and judgment and feared him. (1 Kings 3:28)

Solomon’s Court

• Solomon’s court was extensive. The land was divided into twelve sections, each led by a governor. (1 Kings 4:7)

• Each section supplied food for Solomon and his household during one month of the year.– 30 measures of flour– 60 measure of meal– 10 fatted oxen– 20 pastured oxen– 100 sheep– Other assorted animals (1 Kings 4:22,23)

Solomon’s Wealth

• Solomon had chariots.– 40,000 stalls of horses– 12,000 horsemen (1 Kings 4:26)

• Solomon’s navy sailed from Ezion-geber to Ophir on a trade route; they sailed with other ships sailing the Mediterranean to Tarshish.

Solomon’s Building Projects

• The Temple took seven years to build. (1 Kings 5—6:1-38)

• Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent craftsmen. (1 Kings 5:1-12)

• The workers used so much gold, silver, and bronze in the construction, they stopped counting it!

• The ark of covenant was brought in, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. Solomon asked that it be considered a special place of prayer. (1 Kings 8:10,11)

Solomon’s Building Projects

• It took 13 years to build the royal palace. (1 Kings 7)

• Walls for Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.

• As pay for providing supplies for the projects, Hiram was given 20 cities in Galilee.

• The heavy tax burdens to build these massive projects fell on the people of Israel. (1 Kings 8)

The Queen of Sheba Visits

• In the South, the Queen of Sheba had heard of Solomon’s wisdom. She came bringing hard questions and bearing gifts. (1 Kings 10)

• Solomon answered all of her questions.• “Then she said to the king: ‘It was a true report

which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard.’” (1 Kings 10:6,7)

The Influence of Solomon’s Wives

• Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. (1 Kings 11:1-3)

• The majority of his marriages were political in nature, to women from other countries.

• With them, these women brought their pagan idolatry and persuaded Solomon to build them altars for their gods (i.e., Chemosh and Molech). (1 Kings 11:4-8)

• Such idolatry caused God to reject Solomon’s descendants as kings over Israel.

The Cost of Idolatry

• Because of God’s covenant with David, Solomon’s son would rule over only one tribe. Ten tribes would be given to another. (1 Kings 11:9-13)

• The prophet Ahijah sought out Jeroboam, overseer of Solomon’s labor force, and appointed him king over ten of the tribes. (1 Kings 11:14ff)

• When Solomon heard this, he sought to kill Jeroboam, who fled to Egypt. (1 Kings 11:29-40)

• After ruling 40 years, Solomon died. (1 Kings 11:41-43)

• He wrote Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Songs of Solomon.