By all accounts , King Solomon was the wisest
and wealthest man of his era , a master of proverbial love , and an insightful problem - solver .
Solomon's name means peaceable , he ruled in 970 -930 B.C. Despite his famed sagacity , he was often discouraged
and lead astray by others , he made a number of compromises , and eventually his heart grew cold to God . Such contradictions make it difficult for those seeking to study the reputed wisdom of Solomon .
Solomon succeeded to
the throne of Israel in an unprecedented manner : unlike Saul or David , he did not have the triumphant military war record or the charismatic personality to be anointed king . Instead he had
the political pull of Bathsheba , his mother and David 's favorite wife . Although others were in line ahead of him for the throne , Solomon won the kingship through the influence that his mother and Nathan the prophet wielded over David . To solidify his hold on power , Solomon
had his half - brother and potential usurper Adonijah killed , while he himself entered into many political marriages . Later , Solomon's faith would be eroded by the influence of the religions of his many foreign wives - among them were Hittites , Moabites , Edomites , Sidonians , ans Ammonites .
Early in Solomon's reign , he received a vision of God while preforming a sacrifice . When God asked
the young king what gift he wanted , Solomon asked for wisdom to " discern between good and evil " so that he might be a better
ruler of God's people .The request so pleased God that he bestowed a blessing of wealth and prosperity on the king . The famous decision in which Solomon resolved a dispute over an infant served to demonstrate that God had granted Solomon's request . Two women claimed custody of
the same small child , and the king determined which was the true mother by ordering the child cut in half and divided between the women . When one of them insisted on giving
the child up in order to let it live , Solomon ruled that she must be the child's parent .
Solomon established a strong centralized monarchy and an even tax system for his people . He divided the nation into 12 regions , each of which was responsible for provisioning the court for one month of the year . He established
strong trading alliances with other nations that quickly made him fabulously wealthy . He also undertook extensive building projects , dedicating seven years to building the temple his father had dreamed of and almost twice that long to erecting his own palace . Foreign slaves were
used in the building projects , but he also conscripted Israelite laborers .
Between the heavy taxes and the enforced building projects , Solomon's accomplishments placed a crushing burden on his subjects .
Solomon's other main interest
was women . He reportedly had an astounding 700 wives and 300 concubines . Many of the marriages were calculated to foster internal political alliances or international relations or to increase Solomon's world - famous wealth , and
the great king's downfall is attributed to these pursuits . Although he clearly accomplished much in a material sense , he let go of the ways of God in pursuing these ends and brought
the nation and himself to strife . To accommodate the demands of many of his foreign wives , Solomon freely allowed pagan worship in a variety of forms and so lost God's favor . In punishment , Solomon's peaceful reign was disrupted toward the end of his life by threats of violence from outside
the nation . More importantly , the heavy burdens he placed on his people prompted the kingdom to be torn in two shortly after his death ; ten of Israel's tribes broke away to form the northern kingdom , while only two , Judah and Benjamin , remained
loyal to the house of David .
Solomon was a prolific writer and is credited with having authored some 3000 proverbs , 1000 songs and several books of the Bible . Some of his writings indicate that Solomon was keenly aware that the material accomplishments of his reign meant nothing next to the spiritual decay of his life . Despite
all his women , wealth , and fame , his words sometimes convey a deep cynicism and lack of joy . In the book of Ecclesiastes , Solomon warns of focusing one's effects on self instead of on God . " I saw all the deeds that wind ; From his failures and pain , and with the wisdom of hindsight , he concluded , "Remember your creator in the days of your youth .... Fear God ,
and keep his commandments ; for that is the whole duty of everyone . For God will bring every deed into judgement , including every secret thing , whether good or evil ."
