King Solomon was the son of David and the third king of Israel. The Queen of Sheba heard of Solomons fame and visited him to test his wisdom with hard questions. School Portal NG is Africas leading online learning and one of the worlds fastest-growing elearning websites. He collected all sorts of treasures and surrounded himself with luxury. Social prejudices/discrimination racism/tribalism destroys the unity of humanity. The crowning achievement of Solomon's reign is the building of the Temple which his father, King David, had dreamt about. The Bible says that Solomon consolidated his position by liquidating his opponents ruthlessly as soon as he acceded to the throne. He described world pleasures as vanity. It was predominantly a nature religion related to forces of nature e.g. King Solomon ( "Shlomo Hamelech" in Hebrew) was the third king of Israel. He had 550 officials in charge of labour force. David gets comfortable in his successes. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. What Was Solomon's Request From God? He ruled Israel for forty years, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity for his people. The nature gods proved more relevant than Yahweh (The God of the desert.). He gave King Hiram of Tyre an area of Israels land to pay off his debts thus treating the nations land as his own personal property. King Solomon achieved a whole lot for Israel. This was because he allowed his wives to worship their gods, build temples and altars for them. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. achievements of King Solomon He built a Temple for God in Jerusalem as a fulfillment of God's promises to David. 1:1 - 5) As God had promised, Abrahams descendants were blessing the world (Gen. 12:13). What was King Solomon's greatest achievement? 6. Solomon was the third and final king of the unified nation of Israel, succeeding King Saul and King David. (vii) Failure of King Solomon to keep the Covenant with God not to worship foreign gods. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 2) Solomon constructed his palace for 13 years. She brought him gifts, but Solomon gave her even more (9:112). They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. But the other woman said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Required fields are marked *. It then tells of Solomon's great accomplishments (2:1310:29) and finally of his fall (chapter 11). 4 What are the achievements of King David in the Bible? 11. The Queen of Sheba 5 the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants and cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away. He defeated Goliath, married King Saul's daughter and became a hero in Saul's army ( 1 Sam 16:1-13; 17:1-58; 18:20-30). Solomon also reinforced his position through military strength. Now lets begin learning about who King Solomon was. He was also the second (after his father, David) and last king of a unified Israel, which was at the height of its power during his reign. Biblical legend makes much of a romance between the Queen and Solomon, and his granting her all that she desired, whatever she asked (1 Kings 10:13) has been interpreted to include a child. He was born in B. C. 1033. He built a magnificent temple for God in line with Gods promise to David. 2) He was a good trader and a successful merchant. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The country was divided into 12 major districts, with each district providing for the kings court during one month each year. See I Kings 10 for a sample of his greatness.) We will look more closely at the . They asked Solomon to determine which of the two of them should keep the newborn. Diplomatic relations by marrying daughters of foreign kings. Now the Israelites see their king marrying the daughter of _____, king of Egypt., When Solomon became king and realized how hard it would be to rule well, he asked God for one thing, the gift of _____. Like his father, Solomon reigned for 40 years, probably from around 970-931 BC. His early period on the throne was marked with several sound reforms and socio-economic developments. Introduction: Building and dedication of the temple (1 Kings 58). His aim was the control of a great overland trading route. This means the value of what he got each year was between $1,092,906,000 and $1,165,766,400 U.S. dollars! 5) He used forced labour. He traded in copper, horses, timber, silver and gold. Solomon overextended himself economically by keeping many wives whom he had to support in luxury. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. (NIV). (2021, December 6). Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Thank you so much. Even as a baby, Solomon was loved by God. He built high places of worship/temples for the gods of his wives. He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines; his wives had a powerful influence over him. To guard against the temptations to turn to the worship of the Canaanite gods, Yahweh through Moses had forewarned the Israelites that when they enter Canaan, they were supposed to destroy all the worshipping places e.g. Press ESC to cancel. King Saul became jealous of David's success. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The 2nd commandment Ex. 1:1 5). When Christians marry an unbeliever, they can also expect trouble. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Solomon divided the kingdom into administrative districts in order to exploit the resources effectively. He established international trade with the neighboring countries. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. His alternative name was Jedidiah, meaning "beloved of the Lord." This led to introduction of idolatry in Israel. However, he did not take any Israelites for slaves (vv. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. What were three major accomplishments of King Solomon? To take the kingship, Solomon had to kill Adonijah and Joab, David's general. The inevitable happened: They lured King Solomon away from Yahweh into the worship of false gods and idols. All the Jewish Religious festivals/feasts such as. The trumpeting stone fell during the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, cracking the pavement stones of the first-century street below. King Solomon achieved a whole lot for Israel. 8:1718). The Israelites failure to effect Gods commands to destroy all the cultic objects and temple used in the worship of Canaanite gods. David, (flourished c. 1000 bce), second king of ancient Israel. Through these marriages, idol worship started in Israel. 4) Solomon lived lavishly, and expensively. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. He is known for stories told in the Bible about his wisdom. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. He also composed songs like Song of Solomon and Song of Songs and poems in Ecclesiastes. Solomon divided the kingdom into administrative districts in order to exploit the resources effectively. David, (flourished c. 1000 bce), second king of ancient Israel. It was one of Davids greatest accomplishments as king and one of the first actions he took as ruler of Israel. Each god and goddess played a specific role in the community e.g. True wisdom is to fear the Lord and keep his commandments. Solomon 's Strengths And Weaknesses. He promoted trade with neighboring countries/ had a navy of merchant ship. Solomon ruled with wisdom over Israel for 40 years, securing stability through treaties with foreign powers. After the death of King Solomon, his son Rehoboam succeeded him. Solomon inherited the Kingdom from his father David. He established and developed trade links with other countries which led to economic prosperity in Israel/ He was a successful merchant. In the latter view, the kingdom of Solomon was far from the vast empire that the biblical narrative describes. Solomon was succeeded by his son Rehoboam, who continued the harsh policies of his father toward the northern tribes of Israel. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. They were a means of maintaining the ordered harmony of nature and the life of the community/it was cyclic they repeated seasons. Anytime people ask; Who was King Solomon?, the first thought is about wisdom, Yes,wisdom. What miracles did Solomon perform? Israel had not had any experience with shipping and sea commerce, but Hiram of Tyre was one of the Phoenicians, whose expertise was in shipping and sea travel. In terms of money and wealth; our modern-day billionaires such as Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, etc, are no match. Although David was anointed king in Hebron (2 Samuels 5:3), he established the walled city of Jerusalem as the capital of his kingdom. Six wives plus concubines. Perhaps Solomon's most famous achievement was building . It was a place for pilgrimage for the Jews living in Palestine and the Jews of the Diaspora. The images of these gods would be kept in the places of worship where the worshipers went to ask for whatever needs they had. They believe it can solve all their problems. King Solomon Hill is the name assigned to a blues singer and guitarist who recorded a handful of songs in 1932. He produced manuals on botany, describing every kind of plant, from the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows on walls. For example, he traded with Tyre in cedar and pine logs. You may follow the richest men in history here. Answer: Off the top of my head, here's a few that we know of: -During his lifetime, the Temple in Jerusalem was constructed. She asked her husband, Ahab to build high places for the idols. One particularly celebrated episode in the reign of Solomon is the visit of the Queen of Sheba, whose wealthy southern Arabian kingdom lay along the Red Sea route into the Indian Ocean. Rehoboams failure to heed to the elders wise counsel to rule the Israelites less harshly. Son of David and Bathsheba, Solomon lived a colorful life, whose crowning achievement was building the Temple. Davids Achievements David is said to have written the Psalms, unified the tribes of Israel and made Jerusalem the capital of the Israeli nation. Emeritus Professor of Hebraic and Near East Studies; Director, Center for Ebla Research, New York University, New York City. 1 Answer. Solomon notoriously oppressed his subjects through hard labor in order to build the temple and royal complex. 5) He is remembered for his amazing administrative skills. Solomons reign shows us that God is not opposed to richly blessing His people. He practiced nepotism by exempting his own people from taxation and forced labour i.e. Scientific discoveries. Samuel the fifteenth Judge of Israel anoints Saul 1 Samuel 10:1-27. Palestine was destined to be an important centre because of its strategic location for trade by land and sea. More answers. when Jeroboam became the King of Israel. Achievements 1) He made Israel rich by establishing trade with other countries 2) He was a good trader and a successful merchant. Bathsheba and David: Biblical Romance and Tragedy, Abigail and David - Abigail Was King David's Wisest Wife, Meet Isaac in the Bible: Abraham's Miracle Son, Meet King Pharaoh: Arrogant Egyptian Ruler, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. What are some of Solomon's accomplishments? (I Kings 5, 6) He collected and composed thousands of proverbs and songs which were used in teaching and worship (3,000 Proverbs 1,005 songs) (Prov. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. 6 She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your words and wisdom is true. With School Portal NG, students have no need to buy study materials such as textbooks, or pay for lesson teachers and school fees; all materials and resources are offered for free. Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant to the Temple of Jerusalem which represented Gods presence among his people (I Kings 8). SOLOMON is a teen-ager when he becomes king. He established friendly ties with his neighbours. ), The death of Solomon and the Division of the Kingdom It was a commercial centre and housed the Jewish treasury where currencies were exchanged and animals for sacrifices sold. He could not control his lust. The Queen of Sheba (modern-day Yemen) came to test his wisdom and see the glory of his kingdom. In one biblical episode,two women came to him with a dispute. Zavada, Jack. Solomon initiated an ambitious building programme in which he fortified Jerusalem and other cities. King Charles made a decision over Harry and Meghan's home (Image: AFP/Getty Images). Updates? 4) He was a builder. God was so pleased with the request that he granted it, along with great riches, honor, and longevity (1 Kings 3:11-15, NIV). Practice polytheism /worship of many gods. Zavada, Jack. God loved Solomon and Solomon loved God. (I Kings 16:29 34) 3 What were the main achievements in Solomons life? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Although great riches and fame are not guaranteed to Gods people, neither are they inherently incompatible with faithful service to Him. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that [is] on the sea-shore. (1 Kings 4:29). After seeing with her own eyes all that Solomon had built in Jerusalem, and hearing his wisdom, the queen blessed the God of Israel, saying: Solomon,a prolific writer, poet, and scientist, is credited with writing much of the book of Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, the book of Ecclesiastes, and two psalms. In addition to infantry, he had at his disposal impressive chariotry and cavalry. He hired the skills of pagan craftsmen in the construction of the Temple and his palace. 10) He was extravagant. In this article: He is remembered for his amazing administrative skills. This was the same as enslaving the Israelites. Solomon had many foreign wives who brought with them the worship of foreign gods to Israel. Solomon wrote notable books in the Bible. 1) He married women from many foreign countries. His unique guitar and voice combine to create some of the most haunting blues ever recorded. Where did Solomon die in the Old Testament? The 6 Day War in 1967 was one of the greatest military operations in history. 7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Rehoboams acceptance of the foolish advice given by the youth to rule the people more harshly than his father had angered the people. . This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Solomon had it all. 3.He established international trade with the neighboring countries. 0:00. He married many foreign wives who brought with them the worship of foreign gods to Israel. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 11 The Wisdom of King Solomon Will Change Your Life. When we worship possessions and fame over God, we are headed for a fall. Solomons many wives led him to worship idols. Judah and Israel. It was a dwelling place for God. In another case, King Solomon might be a stranger, fortunately for you we have compiled all you need to know about King Solomon's biography-wiki, his personal life, today's net worth as of 2023, height, weight, career, professional life, and more facts. It was used as a law court where social and religious issues could be solved by the Sanhedrin/council of Jewish religious leader. Far from the vast empire that the biblical narrative describes used as a baby Solomon. Gods proved more relevant than Yahweh ( the God of the first-century street below hard labor in order to the. The Sanhedrin/council of Jewish religious leader in which he fortified Jerusalem and other cities to David in the e.g. Nor you shall have him in charge of labour force you also have the option to opt-out of these may. Anoints Saul 1 samuel 10:1-27 the youth to rule the people more harshly his... Cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin king David the third king of the haunting! 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