Old-Testament Survey: the Reign of Solomon

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Old-Testament Surveythe Reign of Solomon

• The third and final king of the United Kingdom

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Davids Last Years

• Problems associated with anointing a new king
  faced the nation as Davids reign was ending.
• Adonijah (Davids 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
  15-9)
• Nathan went to Bathsheba to have her influence
  David to publicly proclaim Solomon as the next
  king. (1 Kings 110-40)

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Davids Last Words

• David commands Solomon to build a house for the
  Lord. (1 Kings 21-4)
• 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 25-9)

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The New King

• Adonijah asked Bathsheba to speak to Solomon to
  ask if Abishag could become his wifeAdonijah was
  executed. (1 Kings 213-25)
• Solomon banished Abiathar and appointed Zadok as
  High Priest. (1 Kings 226,27)
• Joab fled to the Tabernacle in Gibeon to take
  hold of the horns of the altar. Solomon had him
  killed. (1 Kings 228-35)
• 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 236-46)

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The New Kings Request

• Solomon went to the Tent of Meeting and offered
  1000 burnt offerings. (1 Kings 33,4)
• God appeared to Solomon in a dream asking him
  what he desired. (1 Kings 35)
• Solomon requested an understanding heart to
  guide the people. (1 Kings 36-10)
• Because Solomon did not ask for personal
  benefits, God gave him great wisdom like none
  before or after him. (1 Kings 311-15)

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Solomon Displays His Wisdom

• Two harlots disputed over a dead child. (1 Kings
  316-22)
• Solomon ordered the living child to be cut in
  half! (1 Kings 323-25)
• The real mother would not allow the child to die.
  (1 Kings 326-27)
• Israel observed Solomons wisdom and judgment and
  feared him. (1 Kings 328)

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Solomons Court

• Solomons court was extensive. The land was
  divided into twelve sections, each led by a
  governor. (1 Kings 47)
• 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 422,23)

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Solomons Wealth

• Solomon had chariots.
• 40,000 stalls of horses
• 12,000 horsemen (1 Kings 426)
• Solomons navy sailed from Ezion-geber to Ophir
  on a trade route they sailed with other ships
  traveling the Mediterranean to Tarshish.

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Solomons Building Projects

• It took seven years to build the Temple. (1
  Kings 561-38)
• Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent craftsmen. (1
  Kings 51-12)
• The workers used so much gold, silver, and bronze
  in the construction, they stopped counting it!
• When they brought in the Ark of the Covenant, the
  Lords glory filled the temple. Solomon asked
  that it be considered a special place of prayer.
  (1 Kings 810,11)

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Solomons 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 received 20 cities in Galilee.
• The heavy tax burdens for building these massive
  projects fell on the people of Israel. (1 Kings
  8)

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The Queen of Sheba Visits

• In the South, the Queen of Sheba had heard of
  Solomons wisdom. She came asking difficult
  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 106,7)

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The Influence of Solomons Wives

• Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. (1
  Kings 111-3)
• 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 altars
  for their gods (i.e., Chemosh and Molech). (1
  Kings 114-8)
• Such idolatry caused God to reject Solomons
  descendants as kings over Israel.

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The Cost of Idolatry

• Because of Gods covenant with David, Solomons
  son would rule over only one tribe. Ten tribes
  would be given to another. (1 Kings 119-13)
• The prophet Ahijah sought out Jeroboam, overseer
  of Solomons labor force, and appointed him king
  over the ten tribes. (1 Kings 1114ff)
• When Solomon heard this, he sought to kill
  Jeroboam, who fled to Egypt. (1 Kings 1129-40)
• After ruling 40 years, Solomon died. (1 Kings
  1141-43)
• He wrote Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of
  Solomon.