Solomon

Solomon, also called Jedidiah, was a king of ancient Israel according to the Hebrew Bible. He was the son of King David and ruled the united Twelve Tribes of Israel. He became king around 970 BCE and ruled until about 931 BCE. During his time, the country grew wealthy through trade and friendly agreements with other lands.

Solomon was famous for his wisdom, wealth, and power. He built a well-known temple for Yahweh, also called God. This temple was very important to the people. Many stories about wisdom come from traditions that say he wrote books such as Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

People sometimes wonder if Solomon really lived and just how powerful his kingdom was. Some think the tales about his wealth might be more like stories than true facts. Even so, Solomon is still respected in Christianity, Islam, and other traditions. In Christianity, he is mentioned in the New Testament as a wise teacher, and in Islam, he is one of the important prophets. Over time, he also became famous in tales about magic and wise decisions.

Biblical account

The life of Solomon is told in the books of 2 Samuel, 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. His names mean "peaceful" and "friend of God." He was the son of King David and Bathsheba.

Solomon became king after his father David. He was known for his great wisdom. When God appeared to him in a dream and asked what he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom to lead his people better. God was pleased and gave him wisdom, along with wealth and a long life.

One famous story of his wisdom is when two women both claimed to be the mother of the same child. Solomon suggested cutting the child in half. One woman agreed to this, but the other wanted to give up her rights. Solomon gave the child to the woman who showed compassion, as she was the true mother.

Solomon built many grand structures, including a temple in Jerusalem as a home for Yahweh and the Ark of the Covenant. He also built a royal palace and other important buildings. His reign brought great wealth and prosperity to Israel.

Solomon had many wives and concubines from different lands. His later years saw challenges from enemies. His son Rehoboam became king, but the kingdom divided into two parts.

Apocryphal or deuterocanonical texts

Some old books and stories say Solomon wrote the Book of Wisdom. This book is part of special collections used by some churches. In these stories, Solomon studied the stars.

There are also poems and songs called the Odes of Solomon and the Psalms of Solomon that use his name. A writer named Eupolemus, who lived around 157 BCE, wrote about letters sent between Solomon and the rulers of Egypt and Tyre.

Some very old tales tell of Solomon sending out helpers to find someone who had run away from him. Another story, the Testament of Solomon, describes Solomon having control over helpers who do his bidding.

Historicity

See also: David: Historicity and United Monarchy: Historicity

Historians are not sure if Solomon, the king who ruled after his father David, really existed. Some think he did, but believe the Bible may have made his story and kingdom sound richer and bigger than they truly were.

Experts who study old ruins and objects say there isn’t a lot of proof that Solomon was a very powerful king with a large empire. They note that the city of Jerusalem was very small during his time, and the Bible may have made his stories sound better to show a time of great faith. Others say there is some proof, like old seals and silver treasures, that support parts of Solomon’s story. Still, many think the Bible probably made Solomon’s wealth and buildings sound more amazing than they really were.

Religious views

Judaism

King Solomon made a mistake by marrying many women from other countries and getting many horses. He thought he knew why the rules existed and didn’t need to follow them. When he married the Pharaoh's daughter, it led to changes that helped create Rome. Rome later destroyed Herod's Temple. Over time, Solomon lost some of his special status, but he is still seen as a good king for building the Temple.

Some believe Solomon was wise in managing his kingdom by following traditions without fully believing in them. However, this set a bad example for his people.

Christianity

Most Christians believe Solomon really lived, though some modern scholars question if he wrote all the parts of the Bible that are said to be his. Different Christian groups have different views on this.

Jesus mentioned Solomon when teaching people not to worry too much about what to wear. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Solomon is honored as a saint, remembered each year on a special Sunday before Christmas.

Islam

In Islam, Solomon is known as Sulaimān and is seen as a prophet and a messenger of God. He was a wise king who could understand the language of birds and had special powers given by God, like controlling the wind.

The Quran tells stories of Solomon’s amazing abilities, such as talking to ants and having strong winds at his command.

Baháʼí Faith

In the Baháʼí Faith, Solomon is viewed as one of the important prophets sent by God. Writers in this faith have discussed Solomon’s life and teachings.

Druze faith

In the Druze faith, Solomon could talk to animals and plants. When he died, legend says that all the trees lost their leaves except the olive tree, which kept its fruit as a sign of respect for Solomon.

Legends

One Thousand and One Nights

A famous story from the book One Thousand and One Nights tells of a genie who upset King Solomon. The genie was trapped inside a bottle and thrown into the sea. Many years later, a fisherman found the bottle and freed the genie. In other stories, people who had to leave their homes found signs that Solomon had been there before them. Sometimes, they found words from Solomon meant to help those who were lost.

Angels and magic

According to Rabbinic literature, Solomon asked for wisdom more than anything else. Because of this, he was given great riches and a wonderful kingdom. His kingdom included people, animals, birds, and even spirits. These spirits and animals helped Solomon and brought him wonderful things. His many wives and companions prepared beautiful meals for him every day.

Seal of Solomon

Main article: Seal of Solomon

The Seal of Solomon was a special ring linked to Solomon in old stories. It appeared in Jewish, Islamic, and Western mystery traditions. People thought the ring gave Solomon the power to control magical forces and talk to animals. Because Solomon was known for his wisdom, the ring became a symbol of protection and magic in many old stories.

Solomon and Asmodeus

One story tells how Solomon asked a powerful spirit named Asmodeus what could make evil spirits strong over people. Asmodeus asked to be freed and given Solomon’s ring to show how. Solomon agreed, but Asmodeus threw the ring into the sea, where a fish swallowed it. Asmodeus then took over Solomon’s body. Solomon was thrown far away and had to wander until he reached a city ruled by the Ammonite people. There, he was given a job in the kitchen. Later, he was asked to prepare a special meal for the king. The king liked it so much that he promoted Solomon. The king’s daughter, Naamah, fell in love with Solomon. Because her family thought Solomon was not good enough for her, they decided to send both of them into the desert. As they traveled, they found and ate a fish that had swallowed Solomon’s ring. With the ring back in his possession, Solomon regained his throne and sent Asmodeus away.

In another version of this story, Asmodeus hides and tells travelers that they can take Solomon’s throne if they retrieve the ring from the sea.

Artifacts

Other magical items linked to Solomon include his key and his Table. The Table was said to be kept in Toledo in Visigothic Spain. The key appears in a book called The Lesser Key of Solomon, which tells a story of Solomon using his ring to capture evil spirits and making them talk.

Angels

Stories say that angels helped Solomon build his temple, though they did not want to. The temple was built in a magical way, with stones moving into place by themselves. Some tales say Solomon used a special worm called a shamir to cut the stones. This worm was very hard to find and was guarded by a bird.

In the Kabbalah

Followers of the Kabbalah believed Solomon could fly through the air on a throne made of light. This throne was carried by an eagle and could take him close to heaven and to places where fallen angels were kept.

The palace without entrance

One story says Solomon found a wonderful palace with no doors. He sent spirits to check inside, and they found only an eagle that had lived for 700 years. An older eagle, 1,300 years old, finally told them where a hidden door was. Inside, Solomon found a statue with a message inside it.

Throne

Main article: Throne of Solomon

Solomon’s throne was described in old stories. It had twelve golden lions and eagles on its steps. There were six levels to the throne, each with pairs of animals like lions and oxen, wolves and sheep, and more. At the very top was a dove holding a bird in its claws, showing Israel’s rule over other people. When Solomon sat on the throne, it moved wherever he wanted to go. Eagles lifted him into his seat, and a dove gave him a scroll of laws. The throne also scared people who might tell lies, as animals and birds made loud noises when Solomon sat to judge people. After Solomon died, the throne was taken to Egypt and later moved through many lands, finally coming into the hands of different kings and rulers over time.

Freemasonry

Masonic rituals often mention King Solomon and the building of his Temple. Masonic Temples, where a Masonic Lodge meets, are inspired by King Solomon's Temple as a symbol.

Places

The Solomon Islands are a group of islands in Melanesia. They were named after King Solomon. A Spanish explorer named Álvaro de Mendaña was the first European to see these islands in 1568.

In literature, art, and music

Literature

King Solomon appears in many books and stories. In King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard, adventurers explore places linked to Solomon. Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy shows Solomon’s spirit among wise people. In The Physicists by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, a scientist learns about inventions from Solomon. Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories also includes Solomon. In Neal Stephenson’s books, Solomon creates special gold and appears as a wise character.

Film

Movies about Solomon include Solomon and Sheba (1959) and Solomon & Sheba (1995). There are also films like Solomon (1997) and modern stories such as Brooklyn Babylon (2001).

Music

Music inspired by Solomon includes albums and songs by artists like Popol Vuh, Handel, and Kate Bush. Songs such as "Song of Solomon" and "King Solomon's Marbles" explore tales and legends connected to the king.