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Solomon

Solomon, also called Jedidiah, was the son of David and Bathsheba who succeeded his father as king of Israel and was renowned for his wisdom, wealth, and the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem.

The name Solomon means “peaceable; perfect; one who recompenses”

MaleKingTribe of JudahUnited Monarchy eraOld & New Testaments15 books443 verses

Summary

A king of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2 Samuel 5:14; referred to as Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה), Jedidiah (יְדִידְיָה), or Solomon (Σολομών, Σαλωμών); son of David and Bathsheba; a brother of Shammua, Shobab and Nathan; half-brother of: Amnon, Chileab, Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatiah, Ithream, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, Eliphelet, Tamar, Elpelet, Nogah and Jerimoth; husband of Pharaoh's daughter and Naamah; father of Taphath, Basemath and Rehoboam.

Profile

Solomon was the third king of Israel and the second son of David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:13–25). He ruled for forty years, from 971 to 931 BC. When Solomon first became king he had strong faith in God. But, he ended his life worshiping idols, which led to the destruction of his kingdom.

As King David neared death, his son Adonijah tried to make himself king with support from the priest Abiathar and the general Joab (1 Kings 1:1–53). However, the kingdom was promised to Solomon (1 Kings 1:17; see 2 Samuel 12:24–25; 1 Chronicles 28:4–7). So, Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan told David about Adonijah’s plans. David quickly arranged for Solomon to be officially declared king. Then David advised Solomon to follow God faithfully (1 Kings 2:1–9).

Solomon loved God and asked for his help. God offered him a gift, and Solomon chose wisdom over long life, riches, or fame. As a result, God granted Solomon all of these:

Rabbis (Jewish teachers) said these books reflect three stages of his life: “When a man is young he composes songs; when he grows older he makes sententious remarks; and when he becomes an old man he speaks of the vanity of things” (Midrash Rabbah). He also built the temple in Jerusalem and his palace. He expanded trade and increased Israel's wealth and security. His wisdom and wealth were famous. The queen of Sheba visited Jerusalem to see him herself (1 Kings 10:1–29).

Solomon made many foreign alliances and married many foreign women, starting with the daughter of Egypt’s pharaoh (1 Kings 3:1). His foreign wives led him away from God and toward idols. Later in life, Solomon, once wise, became very foolish under their influence. He worshiped false gods and treated his people badly. As a result, God used Jeroboam to take away a large part of Solomon's kingdom.

Even so, the New Testament remembers Solomon’s wisdom and glory as the example by which others are judged. Jesus is the incarnation of God's wisdom (or God's wisdom in human form), which greatly exceeds Solomon's (Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31).

Passages for Further Study

2 Samuel 12:24–25; 1 Kings 1:1–11:43; 2 Chronicles 1:1–9:31; Psalms 72:1–20; 127:1–5; Proverbs 1:1; Matthew 6:28–30; 12:42; Luke 11:31; 12:27

Events

Glossary entries

Solomon (Person) Jedidiah

Family members

Father

David

Mother

Bathsheba

Spouse

Naamah Pharaoh's daughter Solomon's wife

Siblings

Absalom Adonijah Amnon Chileab Eliada Eliphelet Elishama Elishua Elpelet Ibhar Ithream Japhia Jerimoth Nathan Nepheg Nogah Shammua Shephatiah Shobab Tamar

Children

Basemath Rehoboam Taphath

Family tree

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Alternative names

Mentions

443 verses

Includes 171 verses that refer to Solomon without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.

  1. Proverbs 6:3Referred to, not named
    …then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor.
  2. Proverbs 6:20Referred to, not named
    My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
  3. Proverbs 7:1Referred to, not named
    My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.
  4. Proverbs 7:2Referred to, not named
    Keep my commandments and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
  5. Proverbs 7:6Referred to, not named
    For at the window of my house I looked through the lattice.
  6. Proverbs 7:7Referred to, not named
    I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment,
  7. Proverbs 7:24Referred to, not named
    Now, my sons, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
  8. Proverbs 10:1שְׁלֹמֹה · Solomon
    The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
  9. Proverbs 19:27Referred to, not named
    If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
  10. Proverbs 22:17Referred to, not named
    Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge—
  11. Proverbs 22:19Referred to, not named
    So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.
  12. Proverbs 22:20Referred to, not named
    Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,
  13. Proverbs 22:21Referred to, not named
    …to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?
  14. Proverbs 23:15Referred to, not named
    My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
  15. Proverbs 23:16Referred to, not named
    My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
  16. Proverbs 23:19Referred to, not named
    Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
  17. Proverbs 23:26Referred to, not named
    My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
  18. Proverbs 24:13Referred to, not named
    Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
  19. Proverbs 24:21Referred to, not named
    My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
  20. Proverbs 24:30Referred to, not named
    I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.
  21. Proverbs 24:32Referred to, not named
    I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:
  22. Proverbs 25:1שְׁלֹמֹה · Solomon
    These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
  23. Proverbs 27:11Referred to, not named
    Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
  24. Song of Solomon 1:1שְׁלֹמֹה · Solomon
    This is Solomon’s Song of Songs.
  25. Song of Solomon 1:2Referred to, not named
    Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine.
  26. Song of Solomon 1:3Referred to, not named
    The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.
  27. Song of Solomon 1:4Referred to, not named
    Take me away with you—let us hurry! May the king bring me to his chambers. We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. It is only right that they adore you.
  28. Song of Solomon 1:5שְׁלֹמֹה · Solomon
    I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
  29. Song of Solomon 3:7שְׁלֹמֹה · Solomon
    Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel.
  30. Song of Solomon 3:9שְׁלֹמֹה · Solomon
    King Solomon has made his carriage out of the timber of Lebanon.
  31. Song of Solomon 3:11שְׁלֹמֹה · Solomon
    Come out, O daughters of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, wearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding—the day of his heart’s rejoicing.
  32. Song of Solomon 8:11שְׁלֹמֹה · Solomon
    Solomon had a vineyard in Baal-hamon. He leased it to the tenants. For its fruit, each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver.
  33. Song of Solomon 8:12שְׁלֹמֹה · Solomon
    But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.
  34. Song of Solomon 8:13Referred to, not named
    You who dwell in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice. Let me hear it!
  35. Jeremiah 52:20שְׁלֹמֹה · Solomon
    As for the two pillars, the Sea, the twelve bronze bulls under it, and the movable stands that King Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the weight of the bronze from all these articles was beyond measure.
  36. Matthew 1:6Σολομών, Σαλωμών · Solomon
    …and Jesse the father of David the king. Next: David was the father of Solomon by Uriah’s wife,
  37. Matthew 1:7Σολομών, Σαλωμών · Solomon
    Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa.
  38. Matthew 6:29Σολομών, Σαλωμών · Solomon
    Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.
  39. Matthew 12:42Σολομών, Σαλωμών · Solomon
    The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
  40. Luke 11:31Σολομών, Σαλωμών · Solomon
    The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
  41. Luke 12:27Σολομών, Σαλωμών · Solomon
    Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.
  42. John 10:23Σολομών, Σαλωμών · Solomon
    …and Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon’s Colonnade.
  43. Acts 7:47Σολομών, Σαλωμών · Solomon
    But it was Solomon who built the house for Him.