Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba
and the third king of Israel.
His name is related to
the Hebrew word for “peace.”
God gave him extraordinary
wisdom, wealth, and honor,
and he built the first temple in Jerusalem.
Though he began with a heart that sought the Lord,
his later years were marked by compromise and decline.
Solomon represents both the height of Israel’s earthly glory and the danger of a heart that turns away from God. Early in his reign he asked for wisdom rather than long life or riches, and God granted him wisdom along with unmatched prosperity. He built the temple, organized the kingdom, and became famous among the nations. Yet his many foreign wives led him into idolatry, and the kingdom was divided after his death. Solomon’s life shows that great wisdom and blessing are no safeguard against spiritual decline when the heart is not kept fully for the Lord. He is also a partial type of the greater Son of David, Jesus, whose wisdom and kingdom are perfect and everlasting.
- God appeared to Solomon twice — once at the beginning of his reign and once after the temple was built.
- His request for a “hearing heart” to govern God’s people pleased the Lord and became the foundation of his early success.
- The temple he built was the central place of worship for Israel and the fulfillment of God’s promise to David.
- Solomon’s wisdom was displayed in judicial decisions, proverbs, songs, and knowledge of the natural world.
- His wealth, military strength, and international reputation made Israel the envy of surrounding nations.
- The same king who prayed the magnificent temple dedication prayer later built high places for foreign gods.
- His failure demonstrates that outward success and even divine gifting cannot replace lifelong obedience and a soft heart toward God.
- Birth & Naming (2 Samuel 12) – Born to David and Bathsheba; the Lord loved him and sent word through Nathan to name him Jedidiah (“beloved of the Lord”).
- Accession to the Throne (1 Kings 1–2) – Anointed king while David was still alive; secured the kingdom by dealing with rivals.
- Request for Wisdom (1 Kings 3) – At Gibeon God appears to him in a dream; Solomon asks for wisdom and receives it along with riches and honor.
- Building of the Temple (1 Kings 5–8) – Constructs the temple in seven years; dedicates it with a great prayer and sacrifice.
- Building Projects & Wealth (1 Kings 9–10) – Builds his palace, fortifies cities, and amasses extraordinary wealth; visited by the Queen of Sheba.
- Foreign Wives & Idolatry (1 Kings 11) – Loves many foreign women who turn his heart after other gods; builds high places for Chemosh and Molech.
- Divine Judgment (1 Kings 11) – God raises up adversaries and declares that the kingdom will be torn from his son, leaving only one tribe for David’s sake.
- Death (1 Kings 11) – Reigns forty years and is buried in the city of David; succeeded by his son Rehoboam.
- 1 Kings 3:9-12 – Solomon asks for a hearing heart; God grants him wisdom greater than any before or after him.
- 1 Kings 4:29-34 – God gives Solomon wisdom, understanding, and breadth of mind; he speaks 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs.
- 1 Kings 8:22-53 – Solomon’s prayer of dedication at the temple.
- 1 Kings 10:1-9 – The Queen of Sheba comes to test Solomon and blesses the Lord who delighted in him.
- 1 Kings 11:1-4 – His foreign wives turn his heart after other gods.
- 1 Kings 11:11-13 – God declares the kingdom will be torn away, yet one tribe will remain for David’s sake.
- Matthew 12:42 – Jesus declares that “something greater than Solomon is here.”
- 2 Chronicles 1–9 – Parallel account of Solomon’s reign, wisdom, and temple building.
Solomon’s life is a powerful mixture of glory and warning. He shows what God can do when a ruler seeks wisdom and builds for His name, yet he also shows how quickly a heart can drift when compromise is tolerated. The temple he built pointed forward to a greater dwelling of God with His people, and his famous wisdom pointed forward to the One who is Wisdom itself. In the end, Solomon’s kingdom was divided, but the promise made to David endured — and finds its perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the true King whose reign will never fade.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.