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 over the united Twelve Tribes of Israel. His time as king is thought to have been from about 970 to 931 BCE. During his rule, the country grew rich through trade and friendly agreements with other lands.

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

People have debated whether Solomon really lived and exactly how powerful his kingdom was. Some believe the stories about his wealth might be more imagination than fact. Even so, Solomon remains a respected figure 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 stories about magic and wise rulings.

Biblical account

The life of Solomon is mainly found in the books of 2 Samuel, 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. His names mean "peaceful" and "friend of God," showing the nature of his rule. 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 better lead his people. God was pleased and gave him wisdom, along with wealth and long life, though Solomon did not ask for these.

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. Though his wisdom was praised, his later years saw challenges from enemies and issues that led to the kingdom splitting after his death. 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 of writings used by some churches. In these stories, Solomon is shown as someone who 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 that he said were sent between Solomon and the rulers of Egypt and Tyre.

Some very old tales, like the Apocalypse of Adam, 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 debate whether Solomon, the king who ruled after his father David, truly existed. Some believe he did, but think the Bible may have made his story and kingdom seem richer and bigger than they really were.

Scholars who study old ruins and objects say there isn’t much proof that Solomon was a powerful king with a huge empire. They point out that the city of Jerusalem was very small during his time, and the Bible may have made his stories bigger to show a golden age of faith. Others say there is some proof, like old seals and silver treasures, that support parts of Solomon’s story. Still, many agree that the Bible likely made Solomon’s wealth and buildings seem more impressive than they actually were.

Religious views

Judaism

King Solomon made a mistake by marrying many foreign women and getting many horses. He thought he understood why the rules existed and didn’t apply to him. When he married the Pharaoh's daughter, it led to changes that eventually helped form Rome, the nation that later destroyed Herod's Temple. Over time, Solomon lost some of his special status but is still seen as a good king, especially for building the Temple.

Some believe Solomon was very wise in managing his kingdom by going along with certain traditions without truly 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 and working with magical beings.

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. As punishment, the genie was trapped inside a bottle and thrown into the sea. The genie stayed trapped until a fisherman found the bottle many years later and freed him. In other stories from the book, people who had to leave their homes and travel to unknown places found signs that Solomon had been there before them. Sometimes, they even found words from Solomon meant to help those who were lost in dangerous and empty places.

Angels and magic

According to Rabbinic literature, Solomon asked for wisdom above all else. Because of this, he was given great riches and a wonderful kingdom. His kingdom included not just people, but also 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 harm both of them by sending 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 detail 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 talk about 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, a group of islands in Melanesia, were named after King Solomon. A Spanish explorer named Álvaro de Mendaña was the first European to see these islands in the year 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, like his famous road and hidden mines. Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy shows Solomon’s spirit in a place of wise people. In The Physicists by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, a scientist says Solomon teaches him about inventions. Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories also includes Solomon. In Neal Stephenson’s books, Solomon creates special gold and appears as a wise character through history.

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), which retells Solomon’s tale in a new setting.

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.