1.2 Buildings and other works

He surrounded himself with all the luxuries and the external grandeur of an Eastern monarch, and his government prospered. He entered into an alliance with Hiram IHiram I was king of Tyre from 969 BC to 936 BC. During his reign, Tyre grew out from a satellite to the more important city of Sidon to the most important of the Phoenician cities and the holder of a large trading empire. Hiram allied himself with king So, king of TyreTyre (native Phoenician ur Akkadian urru Hebrew or , Greek Tyros Arabic as-Sur is an ancient Phoenician city in Lebanon on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, about 23 miles, in a direct line, north of Acre, and 20 south of Sidon. Sidon was the oldest Pho, who in many ways greatly assisted him in his numerous undertakings. For some years before his death David was engaged in the active work of collecting materials for building a temple in JerusalemSolomon's Temple was the first temple in Jerusalem which functioned as a religious focal point for worship and the sacrifices known as the korbanot''. Before his death David had provided materials in great abundance for the building of the temple on the s as a permanent abode for the Ark of the CovenantArk of the Covenant A late 19th-century artist's conception, employing a Renaissance cassone for the Ark and cherubim as Christian angels ) The Ark of the Covenant is described in the Hebrew Bible as a sacred container built at the command of Moses, in wh.

After the completion of the temple, Solomon erected of many other buildings of importance in Jerusalem and in other parts of his kingdom. For the long space of thirteen years he was engaged in the erection of a royal palace on Ophel. Solomon also constructed great works for the purpose of securing a plentiful supply of water for the city, Millo ( Septuagint, "Acra") for the defence of the city, and Tadmor in the wilderness as a commercial depot as well as a military outpost.

During his reign Israel enjoyed great commercial prosperity. Extensive traffic was carried on by land with Tyre and Egypt and Arabia, and by sea with Spain and South India and the coasts of Africa. The royal magnificence and splendour of Solomon's court are unrivaled. Solomon was known for his wisdom and proverbs. People came from far and near "to hear the wisdom of Solomon", including queen Makedah of Sheba, (identified with a country in Arabia Felix. Their son Menelik I, according to Ethipian tradition, would become the first emperor of Ethiopia. His thoughts are enshrined in storytelling, though probably, not all the clever thinking in the stories originates with the one man.

1.3 Decline and fall

Blamed for his decline and fall from his high estate were his polygamy and his great wealth, causing him to become decadent and involved in various forms of idol worship which are contrary to the religious law. Because of this idol worship, a prophet visits Solomon and tells him that after his death his kingdom would be split in two ( Israel and Judah) and that his son, Rehoboam, would suffer because of his sin. He died, after a reign of forty years, and was buried in Jerusalem.

Solomon also appears in the Qur'an, whererin he is called Sulayman (see Similarities between the Bible and the Qur'an).

2 George Rawlinson's Evaluation

"The kingdom of Solomon," says George Rawlinson, "is one of the most striking facts in the Biblical history. A petty nation, which for hundreds of years has with difficulty maintained a separate existence in the midst of warlike tribes, each of which has in turn exercised dominion over it and oppressed it, is suddenly raised by the genius of a soldier-monarch to glory and greatness."

Rawlinson continues, "an empire is established which extends from the Euphrates to the borders of Egypt, a distance of 450 miles; and this empire, rapidly constructed, enters almost immediately on a period of peace which lasts for half a century. Wealth, grandeur, architectural magnificence, artistic excellence, commercial enterprise, a position of dignity among the great nations of the earth, are enjoyed during this space, at the end of which there is a sudden collapse."

Rawlinson concludes, "the ruling nation is split in twain, the subject-races fall off, the pre-eminence lately gained beingali is ssgayene of struggle, strife, oppression, recovery, inglorious submission, and desperate effort, re-commences."

3 Later legend

To Solomon are attributed by rabbinical tradition but not internally, the Biblical books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. Then comes the Wisdom of Solomon, probably written in the 2nd century BC where Solomon is portrayed as an astrologer. Other books of wisdom poetry attributed to Solomon are the " Odes of Solomon " and the " Psalms of Solomon ".

The Jewish historian Eupolemus, who wrote about 157 BC, included copies of apocryphal letters exchanged between Solomon and the kings of Egypt and Tyre.

The Gnostic Apocalypse of Adam which may date to the 1st or 2nd century refers to a legend in which Solomon sends out an army of demons to seek a virgin who had fled from him, perhaps the earliest suviving mention of the later common tale that Solomon controlled demons and made them his slaves. This tradition of Solomon's control over demons appears fully elaborated in the early Christian work called the " Testament of Solomon" with its elaborate and grotesque demonology.

Solomon's mastery of demons is a common element in later Jewish and Arabic legends, and is often attributed to possession of a magic ring called the " Seal of Solomon".

The ancient Imperial legend of Ethiopia, as told in the Kibre Negest maintains that the Queen of Sheba returned to her realm from her Biblical visit to Solomon, pregnant with his child. This child would eventually inherit her throne with the new rank and title of Menelik I, Emperor of Ethiopia. The dynasty he would establish would reign in Ethiopia with few interuptions until the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974.

4 Solomon in non-Biblical Fiction

The Toni Morrison novel Song of Solomon makes allusions to Solomon.

The episode "Requiem for Methuselah" indicated that Solomon was an immortal man named Flint, born in Mesopotamia in the year 3834 BC. His wealth, power, and knowledge were the result of centuries of acquistion. Other identities included Leonardo Da Vinci, Merlin, Lazarus, and Johannes Brahms. Flint was portrayed in the episode by actor James Daly.

Preceded by: David

King of united Israel

Succeeded by: Rehoboam and Jeroboam

Kings of ancient Israel Bible stories

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