Solomon
Completed the Temple in Jerusalem and was renowned for his wise judgments.
Life
Succession at court
Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba. He won the throne in a court succession struggle with the support of his mother and the prophet Nathan, coming to power when the united kingdom of Israel was in a relatively stable phase after David's late expansion.
Temple and Wisdom
During his reign he spent seven years building the Temple in Jerusalem, housing the Ark of the Covenant there as the national religious center. He also cooperated with Hiram I of Tyre in maritime trade, made marriage alliances with Egypt and other states, and undertook major construction of palaces and city fortifications. The Bible records that his wisdom in judging a case by proposing to "split the child in two" won wide acclaim.
Golden Age and Division
The actual size of the Temple and the real extent of Solomon's kingdom are likewise points of contention between "maximalist" and "minimalist" scholars, and excavations in Jerusalem have yet to find remains of the Temple itself that can be firmly dated to Solomon's time. Soon after his death the kingdom split into Israel in the north and Judah in the south, which also suggests that the united monarchy's foundations were never very firm.
Legacy
In all three monotheistic traditions Solomon is the embodiment of the wise king, and Islam honors him as the prophet Sulayman. The Bible portrays his reign as Israel's Golden Age, but heavy forced labor and taxation also sowed the seeds of disaffection among the northern tribes, and the kingdom split in two after his death. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs are traditionally attributed to him, but most modern scholars believe they were written later and by many hands.
Major works & achievements
- Built the First Temple in Jerusalem
- Partnered with Tyre in maritime trade
- The wise tale of "the Judgment of Solomon"
- Traditionally regarded as the author of Proverbs and other books
Did you know? The Bible records that the Queen of Sheba, drawn by his fame, came to visit bearing spices and gold; the Ethiopian royal family later claimed descent from the two of them.
Key dates
- 970 BCEBecame King of Israel
- 966 BCEBegan building the Temple in Jerusalem
- 957 BCEDedicated the completed Temple with sacrifices
- 950 BCETrade and marriage ties with Tyre and Egypt
- 931 BCEDied; the kingdom soon split apart