King Solomon - 9 Interesting Things You May Not Know About the Wisest Man
King Solomon: the wisest man to ever live, builder of the temple, beautiful poet and national leader--he was a man who seemed to have it all yet said it was all meaningless at the end.We may have heard stories about this great king, but there are a few things left to uncover. Here are 9 Interesting Things You Might Not Know about King Solomon.
Spiritual Life9 Interesting Things You Might Not Know about King SolomonBrittany RustUpdated Apr 23, 2021Plus : Follow topic Follow this topic Log in to your existing account or sign up today!Sign up to start following Log In Follow author Follow this author Log in to your existing account or sign up today!Sign up to start following Log In Log in to your existing account or sign up today!Sign up to start saving Log InKing Solomon: the wisest man to ever live, builder of the temple, beautiful poet and national leader--he was a man who seemed to have it all. Yet, at the end of his life, he penned these words in Ecclesiastes 2:11:“When I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”Solomon was a complex man. He had his victories and defeats, just like us. We may have heard stories about this great king, but there are a few things left to uncover.Here are 9 Interesting Things You Might Not Know about King Solomon:Photo Courtesy: Unsplash/Micah Man1. Solomon was the last son of David – not the natural first choice for succession to the King1. Solomon was the last son of David – not the natural first choice for succession to the KingSLIDE 1 OF 5It’s quite common for the eldest son to inherit the throne, both in biblical times and today, which is why for a long time, another of David’s sons, Absalom, was thought to become his successor.Absalom was the one who killed his half-brother, Amnon, the eldest son of David, because Amnon raped their sister. With the death of Amnon, Absalom became the eldest son and actually attempted to overthrow David at one point. He was unsuccessful.Solomon, the son of David’s favorite wife, Bathsheba, was chosen as the next king of Israel and was likely a teenager when he assumed the throne.2. Solomon almost didn't become kingWhen David was on his deathbed, one of his son’s, Adonijah, anointed himself king with the aid of a few priests. It was obviously underhanded – Adonijah invited royal officials, his brothers (except for Solomon), and priests to the event. He did not, however, invite David, Solomon, or Nathan the prophet.When news traveled to David, he gave instructions to Nathan on how to go about anointing Solomon as the one true king. It was done right and with David’s blessing, establishing Solomon as king, instead of Adonijah.Photo Courtesy: Unsplash/Matthew DixPrevious PageNext Page3. King Solomon was the last leader of a united Israel3. King Solomon was the last leader of a united IsraelSLIDE 2 OF 5The nation of Israel split after the death of Solomon. Rehoboam, son of Solomon, was to assume the throne, however; in his first decision as king, he rejected the people’s cry.Instead of lightening the load placed on the people by his father, he increased it:"The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions” (1 Kings 12:13-14).At this, all tribes but the tribe of Judah split. Rehoboam ruled over Judah and Jeroboam was made king over Israel. The nation never saw unity again.4. He was the wisest person to have lived in his lifetime, and was also very wealthy and powerfulIn 2 Chronicles 1, God appeared to Solomon and asked him what he wanted more than anything. While most would have asked for power or wealth, Solomon asked for wisdom. The new king wanted, more than anything, the insight to lead the nation well. It was certainly admirable.Because Solomon did not ask for things of this world, God blessed him beyond wisdom. He also granted wealth and power to the new king, wealth that no king before or after has ever amassed. These blessings made him one of the most powerful people in the world during his lifetime.Photo Courtesy: Unsplash/RawpixelPrevious PageNext Page5. Though Solomon built the temple to the Most High God, he also built temples in Israel to false gods5. Though Solomon built the temple to the Most High God, he also built temples in Israel to false godsSLIDE 3 OF 5Solomon married many foreign wives, women who worshipped false gods. It was through these relationships that Solomon’s heart was turned away from worshipping the one true God. He built temples to the idols so that he and his wives, along with others, could worship them.Thankfully, we read in Ecclesiastes that Solomon eventually turned back to serve only God and rejected the false idols, however; damage had already been done. It was because of this sin, in fact, that God split the Kingdom after Solomon’s death.Unfortunately, Solomon’s sin not only affected him, but affected the nation of Israel and all who lived in it.6. Solomon had a healthy, monogamous marriage, but by the end of his life, he had hundreds of wives and concubines.In the book, Song of Solomon, a love story is told. It’s th...