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1000 - 900 BCE

King Solomon

As the reign of King David came to an end, his son Solomon was appointed king in his stead. Solomon was deeply aware of the great responsibility that befell him. In a heartfelt prayer to G-d, Solomon did not ask for power or wealth, but for wisdom and knowledge to lead God’s great nation. 

Not only did God grant him wisdom, but Solomon became the wisest man to have ever lived. Due to his noble and humble request, he was also granted wealth, prosperity, and the expansion of the Kingdom beyond anyone before or after him. 

His kingship was known throughout the four corners of the ancient world and many kings, queens, and dignitaries travelled from far and wide to meet (with) him.
King Solomon, famously known for his wise judgments, sharp intuition and discernment, left a rich legacy of wisdom and guidance in writings like the Book of Proverbs and the Songs of Solomon that are still relevant and applicable today. Even the very pensive Book of Ecclesiastes is ascribed to King Solomon.

City of David Megalim Institute

City of David Megalim Institute, Courtesy of  George Blumenthal and the Gol Family

Solomon Is Anointed King c. 970 BCE

1 Kings 1:33-34, 45
The king (David) said to them, "Take my loyal soldiers, and have my son Solomon ride on my mule and bring him down to Gihon. Let the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan anoint him there king over Israel, whereupon you shall sound the horn and shout, Long live King Solomon!"

"... and the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan anointed him (Solomon) king at Gihon. Then they came up from there making merry, and the city went into an uproar. That’s the noise you heard.” 

Kingship in ancient times was a highly pursued and coveted position and jealous ambitious aspirants from within the court constantly devised plans to supplant the king and even kill off his descendants. 

Absalom, one of King David’s sons, tried in a failed attempt to take the kingship from his father. So when Nathan the prophet and Batsheva  (Solomon’s mother) heard that Adoniyah, King David’s eldest son was planning to do the same, they reminded King David of his promise that Solomon was to inherit the throne. 

Watch the Megallim Video courtesy of George Blumenthal and the Gol Family showing the suspenseful events that led to ensuring Solomon’s place on the throne. 

The Israelite Temple of 
King Solomon c.960 BCE

Because G-d refused David the task of building the Temple, due to the bloodshed during his battles in securing the land, the honour of the task fell on Solomon.

Solomon asked King Hiram of Tyre, who helped King David build his palace, to also partner with him in the building of the Temple as Tyre was not only known for its majestic Lebanon cedar trees but also their skillful stone masons. 

The City of David Archives

The Veil of Purple In King 
Solomon’s Temple

2 Chronicles 3:14
The Temple Construction
“He made the curtain of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, 
and he worked cherubim into it.” 


In this picture by the Israel Antiquities Authority, you can see royal purple fabric found in Israel in 2021, dating to the time of King Solomon.      

2 Chronicles 3:14 
“He made the curtain of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, and he worked cherubim into it.”

Royal purple fabric found in Israel in 2021, dating to the time of King Solomon.  
Israel Antiquities Authority 

The Walls of Solomon

1 Kings 9:15
This was the purpose of the forced labor which Solomon imposed: It was to build the House of the L-RD, his own palace, the Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and to fortify Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.

A section of an ancient city wall of Jerusalem possibly built by King Solomon in the 10th century BCE has been revealed in archaeological excavations directed by archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar. The city wall is at the eastern end of the Ophel area in a high, strategic location atop the western slope of the Kidron Valley.

1 Kings 9:15
And this is the account of the levy which King Solomon raised; to build the house of the L-RD, and his own house, and the Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.

Solomon’s Wall in Jerusalem, Discovered in 2010 by Eilat Mazar,
 Israel Antiquities Authority

King Solomon’s Wealth

1 Kings 10:14-16

"The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents…”

“King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of gold went into each shield.” 

The Fame of King Solomon’s wealth reached far and wide. The Bible relates in 1 Kings 10:14-16:

"The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents…”

“King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of gold went into each shield.”

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Solomon's Kingdom is Divided into the Northern Kingdom of Ten Tribes of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judea and Benjamin

1 Kings 11:31
Prophet Ahijah of Shilo said:  “…for this is what the L-RD, the G-d of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I will give you (Jeroboam I) ten tribes (leaving the tribes of Judea and Benjamin to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon).”  

1 Kings 11:31
Prophet Ahijah of Shilo said:  “…for this is what the L-RD,
the G-d of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I will give you (Jeroboam) ten tribes” (leaving the tribes of Judea and Benjamin to
Rehoboam, the son of Solomon).

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Wikipedia

Jeroboam's Idolatry 

1 Kings 12:28-29
The king (Jeroboam I) made two golden calves… 

One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan.

Shortly after the death of Solomon, political catastrophe struck the country, tearing it apart. The northern tribes revolted against the Davidic dynasty, centred in Jerusalem, and now represented by Solomon’s weak and arrogant son, Rehoboam. They succeeded, setting up their own state which they called Israel. Jeroboam set up two centres of idol worship by placing two golden calves; one in Bethel and one in Dan, preventing the House of Israel to worship in Jerusalem.

1 Kings 12: 30
The people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves…

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Bronze Bull from Samaria, 12th Century BCE
Israel Museum / Israel Antiquities Authority