King Solomon

King Solomon was born around 990 BCE in Jerusalem, the son of King David and Bathsheba. He was anointed king around 970 BCE, succeeding his father after a period of political tension.

From the beginning of his reign, King Solomon was renowned for his wisdom. One of the most famous accounts describes two women who claimed to be the mother of the same child. King Solomon ordered that the infant be divided, revealing the true mother when she offered to give up her claim to save the child. This judgment exemplified his discernment and authority.

King Solomon undertook monumental building projects.

He constructed the First Temple in Jerusalem, a sanctuary for the Divine Presence, completed in seven years. In parallel, he built a royal palace, administrative buildings, and fortified cities to strengthen the Jewish kingdom.

King Solomon’s fame extended beyond Israel.

The Queen of Sheba traveled from a distant land to witness his wisdom, wealth, and the prosperity of his realm. She brought gifts and posed questions and riddles, leaving impressed by the scale and order of King Solomon’s rule.

King Solomon was also a writer. In the Bible, he authored Proverbs (Mishlei), which provides practical guidance for daily life; Ecclesiastes (Kohelet), reflecting on the meaning of life and the search for purpose; and Song of Songs (Shir HaShirim), a poetic celebration of love, often understood as symbolizing the relationship between God and Israel. These works reflect both his intellect and the spiritual depth of his reign.

During his rule, King Solomon maintained peace, expanded trade, and organized the kingdom into administrative districts for taxation and governance. In later years, heavy taxation and forced labor caused discontent, and the influence of his many foreign wives introduced religious and political challenges.

King Solomon died around 931 BCE in Jerusalem after nearly forty years on the throne.

His son Rehoboam succeeded him, and the kingdom eventually split into Judah in the south and Israel in the north.

King Solomon is remembered as a ruler of extraordinary wisdom, a builder of the Temple, a writer, and a figure whose reign shaped the destiny of Israel.