King Solomon,

a Man of Wealth and Wisdom

Lesson #21

I Kings 1-11; I Chronicles 28 & 29;II Chronicles 1-9; Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon

     King David proclaimed his son Solomon to succeed him as king. Solomon loved the Lord. One night the Lord appeared to King Solomon and said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

     Solomon did not ask to have great riches or to conquer his enemies. He asked for wisdom to judge the nation of Israel He wanted to be able to discern between good and evil.

     Solomon’s request pleased the Lord. He said since Solomon had not asked for long life, nor riches, nor for the conquest of his enemies, but had asked for understanding to discern justice, He w ould make him the wisest man ever to live. In addition God said He would give Solomon riches and honor so that there was not anyone like him among the kings all his days. The Lord also promised Solomon a long life if he would be faithful and obedient to the Lord.

     Solomon’s great wisdom was needed when two women came to him, each claiming to be the mother of the same baby. Solomon called for his sword. He commanded that the child be divided in two, and to give half to one woman and half to the other. The mother of the child spoke to the king, for she was full of compassion for her child, and she said, “O my lord, give her the child, and by no means kill him!” The other woman, however, said “Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him.” So the king answered and said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him; she is his mother.”

     King Solomon built the beautiful temple in Jerusalem. He built his own house and many other beautiful buildings.

     All Israel could see the king’s great wisdom. News of his wisdom and wealth reached far and wide. The Queen of Sheba came to visit. She was so impressed with King Solomon’s knowledge and possessions that she said, “… the half was not told me.” The king’s wisdom and prosperity exceeded the fame the queen had heard.

     The Lord had said to the Israelites, “Do not marry foreign people who will turn your hearts from the Lord to idol gods.” Solomon was wise about a lot of things, but in his choice of women he made mistakes. He married many women who were not believers in God, and they turned his heart to other gods. Solomon was not loyal to God.

     Solomon reigned over Israel forty years. Many of the wise things he said are written in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Another book, The Song of Solomon, is a romantic story of a young woman he once loved.