Short Biography of King Solomon? | Updated 202 + Short Summary

The son and successor of David, who became the third king of the Hebrews, Solomon was born on January 1, 970 BC. He died on January 1, 931 BC.

Nationality: Israeli
Born in..: Jerusalem, 970 BC
Died in..: Jerusalem, 931 BC

Brief biography of Solomon – Solomon is a character from the Bible. He is a prophet, king of Israel, a descendant of David and Bathsheba.

Renowned for his wisdom and wealth, he reigned from 970 to 931 BC following his father as the third king of the Hebrews.

Solomon managed to thwart the intrigues of his half-brother Adonijah and his followers who were trying to seize the throne.

Solomon’s reign was a time of peace and prosperity, with many buildings built such as Solomon’s Temple, the royal palace, and the Jerusalem fortifications.

Tradition attributes to Solomon several writings integrated into the canon of the Bible, including the Song of Songs.

The Queen of Sheba also came to visit him from her distant Arabia, fascinated by his reputation. Solomon is also considered one of the prophets of Islam.

He appears in the Qur’an as a prophet king, son of Daoud and king of jinn. It is for the latter that Solomon built rich and imposing buildings.

the great magician

In addition, he has the power to control the jinn through a talisman (Solomon’s seal) in whose center the name of Allah is engraved.

The most famous episode of Solomon the prophet-king recorded in the Qur’an is his meeting with the Queen of Sheba, who according to tradition is also a magician.

His reign marks the golden age of the Jewish kingdom, but he is best known for his wisdom that is praised in many passages in the Bible.

The most famous of them is the Judgment of Solomon: two women fight over the same child. Solomon orders the child to be cut in half so that each woman can have one half.

Then one of the women gives up her son, preferring that he be alive rather than by her side. This is how the king discovers the truth and returns the child to this woman, the real mother. However, despite his wisdom, Solomon allows himself to be corrupted by his harem at the end of his life (consisting of 700 wives and 300 concubines according to legend).

Idolatry resurfaces, subjects are taxed, and revolt prepares to break out at their death: this is the partition of the kingdom of Israel in 931 BC.

The temple

The existence of Solomon’s Temple and his palace in Jerusalem cannot be proven by archaeological research due to the impossibility of carrying out excavations on the site where they are supposed to be (the esplanade of the mosques, which is one of the holy places of Islam).

It is likely that a king named Solomon ruled the region where the kingdom of Judah was formed, a small and sparsely populated kingdom in the Southern Highlands around a small city called Jerusalem.

According to archaeological investigations, at the time of King Solomon, the city of Jerusalem was only a small town of a few hundred inhabitants.

It was the capital of a kingdom made up of a dozen small towns inhabited by a few thousand people (according to estimates from archaeological research, the area around Jerusalem would have had 5,000 people at the beginning of the 10th century BC and 35,000 inhabitants around the year 800 BC).

Therefore, one should not overestimate the wealth available for the construction of the Temple.

It is possible that at the same time another rival, richer and more populous Hebrew kingdom, which would become the kingdom of Israel, existed in the northern highlands.

Some current historians interpret the results of numerous archaeological investigations in this sense.

The Bible further indicates that since the death of Solomon the Hebrews divided into two kingdoms.

Solomon’s successors on the throne of the kingdom of Judah would have embellished the image of his reign because they undertook conquests to dominate all the territory that had been populated by the Hebrews.

10 curiosities of King Solomon

Here are 10 fun facts about this famous biblical king that will surely surprise you.

Meaningful name: The name Solomon means «peaceable» in Hebrew. This name was chosen by King David, father of Solomon, as a symbol of his hope that his son could bring peace and stability to Israel.Legendary Wisdom: Solomon’s wisdom is legendary. It is said that when God offered to grant him whatever he desired, Solomon asked for wisdom instead of wealth or power. God granted his wish, and Solomon became one of the wisest men who ever lived.prosperous kingdom: During Solomon’s reign, the kingdom of Israel reached its height in terms of wealth and power. Solomon established trade relations with many nations, and his court was known for its luxury and splendor.Monumental constructions: Solomon is known for his construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which became the center of Israel’s religious and cultural life for centuries. He also built a series of palaces and fortifications throughout the kingdom.Great diplomatic ability: Solomon was known for his diplomatic skill and his ability to settle disputes between nations. It is said that the Queen of Sheba visited his court to seek his advice and knowledge.Love disputes: Despite his wisdom, Solomon had problems in his love life. He married many women, many of them foreigners, which led to religious and political conflict within the kingdom.poetic versatility: Solomon is known as one of the foremost poets of the Old Testament. Several books of the Bible are attributed to him, including the book of Proverbs, which contains many of his wise teachings.mysterious death: Although Solomon ruled for many years, the cause of his death remains a mystery. Some say that he died of natural causes, while others claim that he was poisoned or murdered.Religious legacy: Solomon’s religious legacy remains important in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The Jerusalem Temple that he built became a sacred place for all three religions, and his wisdom continues to be an example to many believers.cultural icon: Throughout history, Solomon has been an important cultural icon. He has been portrayed in literature, art, and music, and his legacy continues to be the subject of fascination and debate for many scholars and believers.

King Solomon is one of the most fascinating characters in the Old Testament. his wisdom,

The reign of King Solomon

According to biblical and archaeological sources, this was a prosperous time for Israel. Solomon was, indeed, more of a man of peace than his father David’s.

He transformed Jerusalem, his capital, causing many gigantic buildings for the time to be built there: the Temple of Jerusalem, a royal palace, a wall that surrounds the city, of which some remains still remain.

The famous Jerusalem Temple took more than 7 years to build.

The end of Solomon’s reign was less happy than his youth. The Book of Kings tells us that Solomon, having taken no less than 700 wives, in addition to many concubines, allowed himself to be led in less wise ways.

In particular, he collected heavy taxes that, after his death, sparked riots throughout the kingdom of Israel. He is credited with «authoring» three books of the Bible: the famous Song of Songs, the Book of Ecclesiastes, and the Book of Proverbs.

Wisdom

Some time later, two women went to see Solomon. We both live in the same house,» explained one of them.

I had a son, and two days later she also had a son. But one night her son died. So she took my son who was next to me and put hers in her place. When I woke up and looked at the dead baby, he was not mine.

Then the other woman said, «That’s not true! But the first woman kept saying, ‘No, her son is the one who died.’ They argued like this before the king. What did Solomon do?

The king asked for a sword and said: «Cut the living child in half and give half to one and half to the other.»

«No!» the real mother screamed, «Don’t kill the baby!» But the other woman said, «Don’t give it to any of us. Cut it in half!

Then the king said: «Give the child to the first woman.» She is the real mother. Solomon was not wrong: the real mother loved her baby so much that she was willing to give it to the other woman rather than watch it die.

When the people heard of Solomon’s judgment, they were glad to have such a king at their head.

During Solomon’s reign, God blessed the people by giving them abundance. The country produced a profusion of grain and fruit. His people wore fine clothes and lived in beautiful houses. It was prosperity for all.

Solomon Islands: key dates

968 BC: Solomon succeeds his father, David

Solomon ascended to the throne of the land of Canaan, which then stretched from the Euphrates to Gaza. He will improve the trade relations of his people with the surrounding land and will divide the territory into twelve districts.

In this way, he managed to unify his empire with the main goal of the prosperity of Jerusalem.

He will build the First Temple, surrounded by high walls and housing the Tables of the Law, received by Moses. Upon his death, his radiant empire will be divided: the kingdom of Israel will extend to the north while the kingdom of Judea will occupy the south.

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