Stories about King Solomon. King Solomon

Appearance of Solomon

The legendary ruler of the united kingdom of Israel was born from King David and his beloved wife Bathsheba (Bat Sheva). The future king was named Shlomo (Solomon), which translated from Hebrew means “peacemaker” (“shalom” - “peace”, “not war”, and “shalem” - “perfect”, “whole”).

The reign of Solomon from 965 to 928 BC. called the era of the heyday of the monarchy and Jewish power. During his 40-year reign, Solomon became famous as the wisest and most dispassionate ruler in the whole world; many legends and fairy tales were written about his talent for foresight and sensitivity. It was Solomon who built the main shrine of Judaism - the Temple of Jerusalem on Mount Zion, which his father David planned to build during his lifetime.

Solomon and David are also known as righteous, faithful kings who, with their devotion and innate wisdom, deserved to be the favorites of the Most High. When Solomon was a little less than a year old, the king’s close associate, the prophet Nathan, gave him the name Edidya (“God’s favorite” - Shmuel I 12, 25). After this, some are convinced that "Solomon" was just a nickname.

Meanwhile, Solomon was the youngest son of David. Two brothers, Amnon and Abshalom, died before reaching maturity, and the 4th son, Adonijah, became the eldest, and therefore formalities required that he become the successor to the Israeli throne. David promised Bathsheba that he would make Solomon his successor, who would continue his dynasty and rule the entire state. Distressed by his father's injustice, Adonijah found support in the military commander Joav and the high priest Evyatar, who also believed that Adonijah had a greater right to the throne than Solomon. At the same time, Solomon's supporters argued that Adonijah was not the firstborn son of David, and therefore the king had the power to judge his sons according to his own will.

Without waiting for David's death, the brothers began to fight. Adonijah, wanting to attract the people with a royally magnificent feast, surrounded himself with a large retinue of horsemen, brought chariots and fifty walkers. On the appointed day and hour, he gathered his entourage and organized a bright celebration outside the city in honor of declaring himself the new king of the Israeli state. Solomon's mother found out about this and, with the help of the prophet Nathan, she managed to convince David not to hesitate and appoint Solomon as his successor that same day. Together with the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, Bnayahu and a large detachment of the royal bodyguards, everyone went to the Gihon spring, where the priest anointed Solomon as king. After the ceremony was completed, the sounds of a horn were heard, the people shouted: “Long live the king!” Everyone who was present at the ceremony, or at least knew about it, perceived the will of the dying David as the will of the Almighty, and therefore hastened to accompany the new King Solomon to the palace with music and jubilant shouts.

Having learned about the anointing of his brother to the kingdom, Adonijah was afraid of Solomon’s revenge and took refuge in the sanctuary, “grasping the horns of the altar.” Solomon came to him and promised that he would not touch him if from now on he behaved with dignity.

After the death of David, Solomon did not delay in order to justify and strengthen his authority - every action of the king aroused only admiration for his intelligence and insight. Meanwhile, Adonijah tried to achieve his goal: he asked the mother queen for blessings for his marriage with Abishag, Solomon’s concubine. In the popular mind, such a gesture could be a reasonable basis for proclaiming him king, since Adonijah was not only Solomon’s brother and confidant, but also possessed his woman. Without any passion or jealousy, and, as he himself believed, keeping his promise to execute his brother in case of bad behavior, Solomon ordered Adonijah to be hanged. After this execution, Solomon decided to once and for all get rid of the remaining “well-wishers” - the adherent of Adonijah Yoav and the long-time enemy of the Davidic dynasty Shimi, a relative of Shaulai. Yoava immediately tried to take refuge in the sanctuary, but Bnayahu quickly found and killed him.

The new government of King Solomon consisted of three high priests, the commander of the troops, the minister of taxation, the head of the royal administration and the head of 12 governors, as well as several court chroniclers. As already mentioned, Solomon was not subject to a blind thirst for revenge, and in history there are practically no documents confirming the use of the death penalty by the king. In relation to Yoav and Shimi, Solomon only fulfilled David's will. Solomon made Bnayahu the new commander of the troops, after which, feeling completely confident, he began to solve strategic problems.

Foreign policy

The United Kingdom of Israel (Israel and Judah) occupied a fairly large territory, being a significant and influential state in Asia. Solomon decided to begin the development strategy of the state by establishing and strengthening friendly relations with its neighbors. Thus, powerful Egypt could promise to secure Israel's southern border. By marrying the daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh, Solomon not only ended the half-thousand-year enmity of the Jews and Egyptians, but also received from the pharaoh the Canaanite Gezer, which he had previously conquered, as a dowry.
Next, Solomon set about renewing relations with David’s longtime friend, the Phoenician king Hiram, the northern neighbor of the kingdom of Israel. It was rumored that it was precisely in order to get closer to neighboring peoples and strengthen his power that Solomon took as wives Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites who belonged to the noble families of these peoples.

Kings of different countries brought Solomon gifts of gold, silver, clothing, weapons and cattle. Solomon's wealth was so great that “he made the silver in Jerusalem equal to stones, and made cedars equal to sycamore trees” (Mlahim I 2:10, 27). But most of all, the king loved horses; he even introduced cavalry and chariots into the Jewish army - the first in the history of the state.

Despite the improvement in foreign policy, the population of the kingdom of Israel remained dissatisfied with Solomon's polygamy, mainly because women introduced the pagan cultures of their states into the royal house, and the king, they say, was tolerant of this. For example, when Solomon built a temple on the Mount of Olives for the Moabite god Kmosh and the Ammonite god Moloch, rumors began to circulate among the prophets and people faithful to the God of Israel that the king was getting old, allowing idolatry in his state. They also said that luxury and an idle lifestyle corrupted Solomon’s heart, and he followed the lead of his concubines. The king is doubly condemned for distancing himself from the Israeli God because, according to the Torah, the Almighty honored Solomon with divine revelation two whole times. The first time, even before the construction of the Temple, on the night before the ritual of sacrifice in Givon, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and offered to ask him for whatever his soul desired. Solomon could have taken the opportunity to ask for at least longevity or victory over enemies, not to mention wealth, but he asked only for wisdom and the ability to govern his people. The generous God promised him wisdom, wealth and glory, and if he fulfills the commandments, then longevity. After the completion of the Temple, God visited Solomon again, saying that he had heeded his prayer for the illumination of the Temple, and that he would protect the dynasty of David only if all his sons remained faithful to Him. Otherwise, the Temple will be rejected and the people expelled from the country.

When Solomon, intoxicated by his many wives, moved away from the Most High and “took the path of idolatry,” God took away the power over Israel from the king’s son, leaving him only power over Judah.

Just and wise king

Many still consider Solomon to be the personification of wisdom, that there is even a saying: “He who sees Solomon in a dream can hope to become wise” (Berachot 57 b). When resolving any issues, the king did not need to interrogate witnesses, since with one look at the conflicting parties he understood who was right and who was wrong. His wisdom was also manifested in the fact that Solomon, wanting to spread the Torah throughout the country, built synagogues and schools. However, the king was not distinguished by arrogance: when it was necessary to determine a leap year, he invited 7 learned elders, “in whose presence he remained silent” (Shemot Rabba, 15, 20).

The famous legends about Solomon also serve as an indicator of his foresight and intelligence. Once, two women came to the king for trial, who could not divide the baby between them - both said that it was her child. Solomon, without hesitation, ordered the baby to be cut in half so that each woman would get a piece. The first said: “Chop it, and let no one get it,” to which the second exclaimed, “It’s better to give it to her, but just don’t kill him!” Solomon decided the court in favor of the second woman, giving the child to her, because... she was his mother.

The equally famous legend of Solomon's ring is interpreted in different ways. One day the king turned to the court sage for help. Solomon complained that his life was restless, the passions boiling around him distracted him from politics, he lacked composure, and wisdom did not always help him cope with anger and frustration. The court sage gave the king a ring engraved with the phrase “This shall pass,” and told him that the next time he felt an uncontrollable influx of emotions, he should look at the ring and feel better. The king was delighted with the philosophical gift, but soon the day came when, after reading the inscription “Everything will pass,” he could not calm down. The ruler took the ring off his finger and was about to throw it away, but then on the back of the ring he saw another inscription “This too shall pass.”

The second version of the legend tells that one day Solomon, sitting in his palace, saw on the street a man dressed from head to toe in gold. The king called him over and asked him what he was doing and how he could afford such luxurious clothes. The man proudly replied that he was a jeweler and made quite good money from his trade. The king grinned and gave the jeweler a task: in three days he would forge for him a gold ring that would bring joy to sad people, and sadness to joyful people. And if he does not complete the task, he will be executed. Three days later, the young jeweler, shaking with fear, entered Solomon's palace and met the king's son Rahabam. The jeweler thought, “The son of a sage is half a sage,” and dared to ask Rahavam for advice. Rahavam just grinned, took a nail and scratched three Hebrew letters on three sides of the ring: “gimel”, “zayin” and “yud”.

Turning the ring, Solomon immediately understood the meaning of the letters; the abbreviation גם זו יעבור is interpreted as “This too shall pass.” The king imagined that now he was sitting in his palace, surrounded by all the blessings that one could wish for, and tomorrow everything could change. This thought made Solomon sad. When Ashmodai threw him to the ends of the world, and Solomon had to wander for three years, looking at the ring, he understood that this too would pass, and this understanding gave him strength.

The Greatness and Splendor of Solomon's Reign

Legends say that during the entire reign of David’s son Shlomo, the moon’s disk in the sky did not decrease, so that good always prevailed over evil. Solomon was so smart, powerful and great that he was able to subjugate all animals, birds, angels and demons. Precious stones were delivered to Solomon's palace by demons, and angels guarded them. With the help of a magical ring on which the name of the God of Israel was engraved, Solomon learned many secrets about the world from the angels. Solomon also knew the language of beasts and animals: they all submitted to his authority. Peacocks and various exotic birds walked freely around the palace.

The throne of King Solomon deserves special attention. In the Second Targum to the Book of Esther (1. p.) it is said that 12 golden lions and the same number of golden eagles sat opposite each other on the steps of the throne of the king of Israel. On top of the throne is a golden image of a dove with a dovecote in its claws as a symbol of Israel's superiority over the pagans. There was also a golden candlestick with fourteen candle cups, seven of which were engraved with the names of the saints: Adam, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Job, and on the other seven the names of Levi, Kehat, Amram, Moshe, Aaron, Eldad and Hur. Twenty-four vines attached above the throne created a shadow over Solomon's head. As stated in the Targum, when the king ascended the throne, the lions, using a mechanical device, extended their paws so that Solomon could lean on them. In addition, the throne itself moved at the request of the king. When Solomon, ascending to the throne, reached the last step, the eagles lifted him up and seated him on a chair.

Solomon was helped in all his affairs by angels, demons, animals, birds, and the Almighty himself. He was never alone, and could always rely not only on his wisdom, but also on otherworldly forces. For example, angels helped the king during the construction of the Temple - legends tell how, miraculously, heavy stones themselves rose to the top and lay in the right place.

According to most sources, Solomon reigned for about 37 years and died at the age of 52, overseeing the construction of a new altar. Those close to the king did not immediately bury him in the hope that the ruler simply fell into a lethargic sleep. When the worms began to sharpen the royal staff, Solomon was finally declared dead and buried with full honors.

Even during his lifetime, the God of Israel was angry with Solomon for involvement in pagan cultures and identifying idolatry with the Almighty, promising his people many troubles and deprivations. After the death of the king, part of the conquered peoples organized a violent uprising, as a result of which the united Israeli state broke up into 2 parts - the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

“Let the one who goes there follow the path indicated on the map and ascend through the snows that lie on the left breast of the Queen of Sheba.
On its northern slope begins the great road laid Solomon, from where it’s three days’ journey to the royal possessions...”

The Legend of King Solomon's Mines

Solomon - this legendary biblical king has always aroused great interest not only due to the legends about the Mines of King Solomon. Even in the biblical stories, Solomon appears as a controversial figure.

Having appointed Solomon as his successor, King David bypassed his eldest son, Adonijah. Having learned about this, Adonijah plotted against Solomon, but the plot was discovered. David, upset by the discord between his sons, did not punish Adonijah, but only took an oath from him that in the future he would not plot against Solomon; He made Solomon swear that he would not cause his elder brother any harm if he did not claim the throne. Soon David died and Solomon became king.

Adonijah seemed resigned to his fate. But one day he came to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and began to ask her to help him marry Abishag the Shunammite, one of the concubines of the late King David. Bathsheba did not see anything reprehensible in this request and passed it on to Solomon. However, Solomon, hearing about his brother’s intention, became very angry. The fact is that, according to custom, the harem of the late king could only go to his direct heir, and Solomon regarded Adonijah’s desire to marry Abishag as the first step towards further claims to the throne. By order of Solomon, Adonijah was killed.

However, despite his outbursts of anger, Solomon was a peaceful ruler. Having inherited a large and strong state from his father (David), he reigned for forty years (972-932 BC). During this time he did not wage a single major war. He did not even deal with the Aramaic Razon, who expelled the Israeli garrison from Damascus and declared himself king. This seemed at the time an incident of minor importance, and Solomon's mistake was that he failed to foresee what a serious threat to Israel the new Aramean kingdom would eventually become.

Solomon was a good administrator, diplomat, builder and trader. Solomon's historical merit was that he transformed a poor agricultural country with a patriarchal-tribal system into a single, economically and militarily strong state that enjoyed great authority in the international arena.

In his time, Israel was famous for the splendor of its capital and the unprecedented luxury of the royal court. Proof of Solomon's power and influence was also his monstrously large harem, the excessive splendor with which he surrounded himself, and the unusually domineering manner in which he treated his subjects, whom he treated as slaves.

With all these shortcomings, one cannot deny, however, the positive aspects of Solomon's reign. After all, it was he who magnificently rebuilt Jerusalem and made it a real capital. The temple he erected became the only center and symbol of the Jewish religion. His merits in increasing the country's defense capability are undeniable - remember the construction of a system of fortified cities and the reorganization of the army by introducing war chariots.

Solomon also tried to develop crafts and maritime trade in Israel, bringing specialists from Phenicia for this purpose. The clear functioning of the state administration was ensured by an bureaucratic hierarchy built on Phoenician, Syrian and Egyptian models. Solomon was also a consummate diplomat. His greatest achievements in this field were his marriage to the daughter of Pharaoh and cooperation with King Hiram, without whose help he would not have been able to achieve his goals.

Thanks to Solomon's business savvy, Israel was a prosperous country. The Third Book of Kings says on this matter (chapter 10, verse 27): “And the king made the silver in Jerusalem equal in value to simple stones, and the cedars, because of their abundance, made them equal to the sycamore trees that grow in low places.” This, of course, is a hyperbole characteristic of the Eastern style, but we have data proving that to a certain extent it corresponds to reality. It is known that annual income Solomon, consisting of trade profits, taxes and tribute from Arab vassals, amounted to six hundred and sixty-six talents (about twenty-two thousand eight hundred and twenty-five kilograms of gold), not counting supplies in kind collected from the Israeli population.

The flourishing of agriculture in Israel is evidenced by the fact that Solomon annually supplied Hiram with twenty thousand measures of wheat and twenty thousand measures of vegetable oil. Of course, farmers were subjected to severe exploitation, but still such colossal supplies of agricultural products are possible only in conditions of prosperity.

Archaeological finds have introduced us to many aspects of life of that time. In particular, they indicate a fairly high standard of living. Countless expensive bowls for cosmetics made of alabaster and ivory, bottles of various shapes, tweezers, mirrors and hairpins prove that Israeli women of that era cared about their appearance. They used perfumes, blush, creams, myrrh, henna, balsam oil, cypress bark powder, red paint for nails and blue paint for eyelids. Most of these drugs were imported from abroad, and such imports are typical of a rich country. In addition, archaeologists have confirmed the rapid process of urban growth, which Yahwist conservatives fought so fiercely against back in the time of David.

Agriculture was still the leading branch of the national economy, but landowners lived mainly in cities. Since all the Canaanite cities were surrounded by fortified walls, they became increasingly overpopulated. Houses, mostly two-story, were built on every free piece of land along narrow and cramped streets.

The main part of the Israelite dwelling was a large room on the ground floor. Women prepared food and baked bread there, and the whole family gathered there for joint meals. There was no furniture. Even wealthy people ate and slept on mats. The rooms on the upper floor were accessed by stone steps or wooden ladders. In the summer they slept on the roofs, where a refreshing breeze blew. They ate a lot of onions and garlic. The main food product was fried and boiled wheat, various cereals, lentils, cucumbers, beans, fruits and honey. Meat was eaten only on holidays. They drank mainly sheep's and cow's milk, but consumed wine very moderately.

From what sources did King Solomon draw his wealth?

For a long time, scientists questioned everything said about this in the Bible - it was very fantastic and vague. In the Third Book of Kings (chapter 10, verses 28, 29) we read: “And the king’s horses Solomon brought from Egypt and from Kuva; royal merchants bought them from Kuva for money. The chariot from Egypt was received and delivered for six hundred shekels of silver, and the horse for one hundred and fifty. In the same way they delivered all this with their own hands to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Aramaes.”

It only says that King Solomon bought horses and chariots, but nothing is said that he also sold them. Meanwhile, as a result of archaeological research, it has been precisely established that he was involved in mediation in trade between Egypt and Asia, trading in horses and chariots.

In 1925, an American archaeological expedition discovered the ruins of the city of Megiddo in the historical Ezreel Valley (Yes, yes, gentlemen, this is the same Biblical Armageddon, the place where the last battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil should take place). This city was of great strategic importance: it protected the northern borders of the valley, and the trade route from Asia to Egypt passed through it. David and Solomon turned Megiddo into a strong fortress, although the city itself existed already in the third millennium BC. It was there that the secret of Solomon was revealed. Among the ruins, stables built by him for four hundred and fifty horses were discovered. They were located around a large area where horses must have been ridden and watered and where horse fairs may have taken place. The size and location of these stables on the main trade route prove that Megiddo was the main base for the horse trade between Asia and Egypt. Solomon bought horses in Cilicia and sold them, in all likelihood, to Egypt, from where he in turn exported chariots, selling them in Mesopotamian markets.
As the Bible reports, Solomon, with the help of Phoenician specialists and sailors, built a merchant fleet that stood in the port of Ezion-Geber in the Gulf of Aqaba and traveled to the country of Ophir every three years, bringing gold and exotic goods from there.

Bible students were interested in two questions:

1) where was the mysterious country of Ophir?

2) what could such an agricultural country as Canaan export to Ophir?

There is still debate about which country is named Ophir in the Bible. They call it India, Arabia, Madagascar. The famous American orientalist Albright came to the conclusion that we are talking about Somalia. Other scientists pay attention to the frescoes in one of the Theban temples. It depicts a dark-skinned queen from a certain country of Punt. The signature under the fresco states that Egyptian ships were brought from this country
gold, silver, ebony and mahogany, tiger skins, live monkeys and black slaves. The assumption was born that Punt and the biblical Ophir are one and the same.

The answer to the second question was given by archeology. In 1937, archaeologist Nelson Gluck came across a copper mine in the desert valley of Wadi al-Arab. The ruins of the stone barracks in which the miners lived, and a wall to protect against attacks from the bandit tribes of the desert, convinced Gluck that this was Solomon's mine. Near the Gulf of Aqaba, where the ruins of the port of Ezion Geber had already been discovered under a layer of sand, Gluck made an even more important discovery. On a vast site surrounded by a fortress wall, there were a large number of copper smelting furnaces. The chimneys had their openings facing north, from where constant sea winds blew. In this ingenious way, it was possible to easily maintain the temperature required for melting.

Thanks to these discoveries, we learned that Solomon was not only a shrewd horse trader, but also an industrialist. In all likelihood, he held a monopoly on the production of copper, which allowed him to dictate prices and make those huge profits described in the Bible.

The glory of Solomon's wisdom, his wealth and the luxury of his court spread throughout the world. Ambassadors from various countries arrived in Jerusalem to conclude treaties of friendship and trade agreements. Almost every day, residents of the capital greeted motorcades of exotic guests bringing generous gifts to the Tsar. And they were undoubtedly proud that their hometown had become such a large commercial and diplomatic center.

One day, a rumor spread about the arrival of a caravan of the Queen of Sheba from distant Arabia. The people took to the streets and enthusiastically greeted the queen, who was riding accompanied by a large crowd of courtiers and slaves. At the end of the procession was a long row of camels laden with luxurious gifts for Solomon.

Who was this legendary queen, the heroine of one of the most exciting biblical tales?

This is now known, and the story of this discovery is so curious that it is worth telling.

In Muslim legends, the name of the Queen of Sheba is Bilqis. It is known that her father served, in today's terms, as prime minister in the mysterious kingdom of Ophir. Most likely, Bilqis received the powers of the queen only for the duration of her trip to Israel.

Back in the nineteenth century, southern Arabia, the birthplace of spices and incense, which the ancient Romans called Happy Arabia (Arabia felix), was closed to Europeans. The “unfaithful dogs” who dared to set foot in the land of Muhammad were threatened with death. And yet there were brave souls in whom curiosity and thirst for adventure were stronger than fear. The Frenchman E. Halévy and the Austrian Dr. E. Glaser dressed as Arabs and went to the forbidden country. After many adventures and difficulties, they came across the ruins of a huge city in the desert, which, as it later turned out, was called Merib. There, in particular, they discovered and brought to Europe a number of mysterious inscriptions.

The sensational discovery aroused enormous interest in scientific circles. Arab merchants, sensing the situation, began a brisk trade in Meribian inscriptions. Thus, in the hands of scientists there were several thousand stone fragments covered with writings based on the Palestinian alphabetic system. Among the fragmentary information about gods, tribes and cities, the names of four South Arabian states were also read: Minea, Hadhramaut, Qataban and Sawa.

Mention of the country of Sava is also found in Assyrian documents of the eighth century BC. It says that Mesopotamia conducted a lively trade with this country, buying there mainly spices and incense. The Sheba kings bore the title “mukarrib”, which means “priest-prince”. Their residence was the city of Merib, the ruins of which were found in the south of the Arabian Peninsula (in today's Yemen). The city was located in the mountains, at an altitude of two thousand meters above the level of the Red Sea. Among the countless columns and walls, the old legendary temple of Haram Bilqis, near Merib, stood out for its splendor. It was an oval structure with a beautiful portal, to which stone steps lined with bronze led. Numerous columns and pilasters, as well as fountains in the vast courtyard, give a complete picture of the former splendor of the temple. From the inscriptions we learn that it was erected in honor of the Arab god Ilumkug.

As a result of careful research, it was possible to establish what were the sources of prosperity of the Sheba kingdom. A huge dam, twenty meters high, raised the level of the Adganaf River, from where an extensive network of irrigation canals led. Thanks to irrigation, Sava was a land of extraordinary fertility. Residents were mainly engaged in growing various kinds of spices, which were exported to a number of countries. This continued until 542 AD, when the dam collapsed due to constant raids and wars. The blooming garden was swallowed up by the desert sands.

One can guess why the Queen of Sheba gathered to visit Solomon. The trade route, called the Road of Incense, along which the inhabitants of the Sheba kingdom exported their goods to Egypt, Syria and Phenicia, ran along the Red Sea and crossed the territories subject to Israel. Therefore, the safe progress of the caravans depended on the goodwill of Solomon. The Queen of Sheba came with a purely practical purpose: generous gifts and a promise of a share in the profits to persuade the Israeli king to conclude a treaty of friendship.

But popular imagination passed over the nature of the visit in silence and gave everything a romantic tint. Solomon, supposedly struck by the queen’s bright beauty, became inflamed with passion for her and had a son by her. The Abyssinians to this day claim that it is from him that the Negus dynasty descends.

An interesting story is described in one of the books of the Talmud - Midrash. According to the beliefs of the ancient Semites, one of the characteristic features of the devil is goat hooves. Solomon He feared that under the guise of a beautiful woman, the devil was hiding in his guest. To check if this was so, he built a pavilion with a glass floor, put fish there and invited Bilquis to go through this hall. The illusion of a real pool was so strong that the Queen of Sheba, having crossed the threshold of the pavilion, did what any woman instinctively does when entering the water - she lifted her dress. Just for a moment. But Solomon managed to see what was carefully hidden: the queen’s legs were human, but not very attractive - they were covered with thick hair.
Instead of remaining silent, Solomon exclaimed loudly: he did not expect that such a beautiful woman could have such a flaw. This story is also found in Muslim sources.

It is worth citing one more legend associated with Solomon.
In the treasury of the temple in Axum, the former capital of Abyssinia, the Ark of the Covenant is supposedly kept. How did he get there? Tradition says that he was kidnapped from the temple Solomon his son and the Queen of Sheba, leaving a counterfeit in Jerusalem. Thus, the original Mosaic Ark of the Covenant is supposedly located in Axum. It is the greatest shrine of the Abyssinians, and no one living has the right to see it. During the Muscovite holiday, in honor of the end of the rainy season, a copy of the ark is put on public display.

Solomon became the embodiment of wisdom for subsequent generations of the Jewish people. And this is not surprising. The years of his reign were the period of the highest economic and political prosperity of Israel, the only period of power, peace and prosperity in the history of the country.

True, only the bright sides of the reign have been preserved in the memory of generations Solomon, the shadow ones are consigned to oblivion. And between
There were a lot of these shadow sides, and they need to be remembered in order to recreate a true picture of that era. We know what enormous profits trade and copper production brought to Solomon. And yet he cannot be called a zealous and far-sighted owner. His extravagance and craving for oriental luxury led to the fact that he was unable to return one hundred and twenty talents to Hiram and was forced to transfer twenty Galilean cities to the Tyrian king in payment of the debt. This was the step of a bankrupt who found himself in a financial impasse.
As follows from biblical legends, the entire burden of expenses for construction, armament and maintenance of the royal court fell primarily on the shoulders of the Canaanite population. Suffice it to remember that more than two hundred thousand people were forced annually into forced labor in Lebanese forests, in quarries on the banks of the Jordan and on construction sites. This monstrous system of slave labor was no different from the system of the pharaohs during the construction of the great pyramids. If we take into account that, according to the census conducted by David, there were one million two hundred thousand men in Israel and Judah at that time, then it is not difficult to imagine what a huge percentage of his subjects the king exploited in forced labor. Such economic coercion could not but entail profound social changes. Every year the gap between the rich and the powerless poor, exhausted by taxes and labor obligations, widened. Discontent grew among the lower classes and fermentation began. Even the priests, who in David's time were allies of the king, had reason to grumble.

Subsequent generations, remembering the greats merits of Solomon, they forgave him for idolatry, which he practiced openly even in the courtyard of the Jerusalem Temple. But of course this outraged the priests of his day. The king's huge harem contained women of all races and religions. There were Hittite women, Moabites, Edomites, Ammonites, Egyptians, Philistines, Canaanites, etc. Along with their customs, they brought their gods to the palace. Solomon, especially in the last years of his life, remained under the strong influence of his favorites and, succumbing to their persuasion, established various idolatrous cults.
It is known, for example, that in the courtyard of the temple they practiced the cult of Baal, Astarte and Moloch. And since the masses, especially in the north of the country, treated the Canaanite gods very favorably, the example of the king did not at all contribute to the strengthening of Yahwism.

David and Solomon True, they united all the tribes in a single state, but they never achieved spiritual unity. Political and racial antagonism continued to exist between the tribes of northern and southern Canaan. Even David was fully aware of the alienation between both groups of the population and on his deathbed he said about Solomon: “To him I have commanded to be the leader of Israel and Judah” (1 Kings,
chapter 1, verse 36). In this regard, Solomon made a fatal mistake, unforgivable for a major statesman. He divided his country into twelve tax districts, obliged to supply a certain amount of agricultural products for the needs of the royal court and army.

It is striking that the list of districts does not include the territory of Judah. From this we can conclude that Judah, the tribe of David and Solomon, was exempt from taxes. Such a privilege was bound to embitter the other tribes, especially the proud tribe of Ephraim, which constantly vied with Judah for priority in Israel. Already during the reign of David, menacing cracks appeared on the building of state power. The revolt of Absalom and Ziba was, in essence, a rebellion of the northern tribes against the hegemony of Judah. These tribes supported Ishbosheth and Adonijah as contenders for the throne against David and Solomon, which proves the strength of internal conflicts that ultimately led to a split in the state.

Solomon's biggest mistake was that he never cared about strengthening the foundations of his state. Because of his shortsightedness and selfishness, he thoughtlessly exacerbated the dangerous antagonism between the tribes, which after his death led to disaster. The first dangerous signs were revealed during the life of Solomon, when a rebellion broke out among the tribe of Ephraim under the leadership of Jeroboam. Jeroboam was defeated, but he managed to escape to Egypt, where Pharaoh Shusakim greeted him very cordially. This was the second warning, since it proved that Egypt harbors some hostile intentions towards the kingdom of Israel and therefore supports everyone who contributes to its weakening and split. And indeed, five years later after the death of Solomon Shusakim invaded Judea and barbarously plundered the Temple of Jerusalem (about 926 BC).

Solomon’s powerlessness in relation to Razon, who, even during the reign of David, declared himself king of Damascus, also had serious historical consequences. Despite the fact that the usurper constantly ravaged the northern borders of Israel, Solomon never dared to give him a decisive rebuff. After the split between Israel and Judah, the Aramean kingdom of Damascus gained great power and fought with Israel for many years. This made it easier for Assyria to conquer Syria in the eighth century BC and, in 722 BC, to conquer Israel and drive the ten tribes of Israel into Babylonian slavery.
After the fall of Assyria, a struggle broke out between the Neo-Babylonian kingdom and Egypt for Syria and Canaan, ending in 586 with the conquest of Judea and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans.

Based on these facts, it must be said that the reign of Solomon, with all its splendor and apparent wealth, was not prosperous. As a result of the disastrous policies and despotism of the king, Israel, shaken by internal social conflicts, was steadily heading towards destruction. It is not surprising that immediately after the death of the king, the power that David had created with such difficulty fell apart into two separate weak states engaged in constant internecine wars.

Today the only remaining treasure of all the wealth Solomon is a 43mm Solomon's Garnet, which King Solomon gave to the High Priest of the First Temple on the opening day of the sanctuary. Pomegranate is considered a symbol of prosperity and prosperity in Israel. From the temple itself, destroyed in 587 BC. Nebuchadnezzar II, nothing remained, and today only a fragment of the Second Temple, erected on the site of the first - the Western Wall of Jerusalem, 18 meters high - reminds us of the Jerusalem Temple. Massive stones, weighing up to 700 tons, are held together only by the force of their own weight.

Well, perhaps it’s time to return directly to the Biblical narrative. So.

The real name of King Solomon (Shlomo) is Yedidiah (Beloved of God). He received the nickname Solomon - the Peaceful - because, unlike his father, King David, he practically did not fight.

The Holy Scripture says that Solomon was born in the capital of the Kingdom of Israel - Jerusalem.

King David had many wives. According to the Bible, Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:3). However, polygamy played a role a cruel joke on Solomon. Solomon's spouses were idolaters, and, indulging them, the king built numerous pagan sanctuaries for them, which he himself regularly visited. For this, he was predicted that after his death his kingdom would disintegrate.

Having heard about wisdom and the fabulous wealth of King Solomon, the legendary Queen of Sheba visited him to test his wisdom and make sure of his wealth (according to other sources, Solomon himself ordered her to come to him, having heard about the wonderful and rich country of Saba). The queen brought with her numerous gifts.

The state of Saba actually existed on Arabian Peninsula(there are mentions of it in Assyrian manuscripts of the 8th century BC).

The most profitable His marriage was to the daughter of Pharaoh, the ruler of powerful Egypt. It is believed that Solomon ended half a thousand years of hostility between the Jews and the Egyptians by taking the daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh as his first wife (Third Book of Kings, 9:16).

Traditionally it is believed that Solomon was the author three biblical books. In his youth, he wrote a love poem - “Song of Songs” (Shir Ha-Shirim), in maturity - a moralizing collection of “Proverbs” (Mishlei), and in old age - a sad book “Ecclesiastes” (Qoheleth), beginning with the words: “Vanity of vanities - everything is vanity."

In the Orthodox and Catholic churches he is considered the author of the deuterocanonical Book Wisdom of Solomon.

At the decisive moment in the struggle for power, Solomon was supported by the high priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, and most importantly, the commander of the capital's guard, Vanya. According to different chronologies m, dates of reign date back to the beginning of the 10th century BC. e., 972-932 BC e., 960s - approx. 930 BC e., 967-928 BC e., according to traditional Jewish chronology ca. 874-796 BC e.

Kingdom of Israel under Solomon

Solomon was the wisest and richest king of his time. The Bible describes how God appeared to him in a dream, at the moment when Solomon began to reign, and said: “Ask what you want.” Solomon asked himself for wisdom to rule the people, and the Lord said: “Because you did not ask for wealth and glory, but asked for wisdom and understanding, then wisdom and wealth are given to you, which no king had.”

Given from above "wisdom, artist of everything", allowed Solomon “to know the structure of the world and the action of the elements, the beginning, the end and the middle of times, the changing turns and changes of times, the circles of years and the position of the stars, the nature of animals and the properties of animals, the aspirations of the winds and the thoughts of people, the differences in plants and the strength of roots”

Solomon's son Rehoboam did not inherit his father's wisdom. He did not find a common language with his subjects. As a result 10 out of 12 knees separated from Jerusalem and created a separate kingdom of Israel.

Today the only surviving treasure of all Solomon's wealth is the 43 mm Solomon's garnet, which King Solomon gave to the high priest of the First Temple on the day the sanctuary opened.

King Solomon was a peaceful ruler and during his reign (he ruled for 40 years) there was not a single major war.

Solomon He also tried to develop crafts and maritime trade in Israel, bringing specialists from Phenicia for this purpose.

In the kingdom of Solomon there was so much wealth, that silver depreciated and became equivalent to a simple stone. The Third Book of Kings says on this matter (chapter 10, verse 27): “And the king made the silver in Jerusalem equal in value to simple stones, and the cedars, because of their abundance, made them equal to the sycamore trees that grow in low places.”

The flourishing of agriculture in Israel is evidenced by the fact that Solomon annually supplied Hiram with twenty thousand measures of wheat and twenty thousand measures of vegetable oil. Of course, farmers were subjected to brutal exploitation, but still such colossal supplies of agricultural products are possible only in conditions of prosperity.

Archaeological finds introduced us to many aspects of life of that time. In particular, they indicate a fairly high standard of living. Countless expensive bowls for cosmetics made of alabaster and ivory, bottles of various shapes, tweezers, mirrors and hairpins prove that Israeli women of that era cared about their appearance.

They used perfumes, blush, creams, myrrh, henna, balsam oil, cypress bark powder, red paint for nails and blue paint for eyelids. Most of these drugs were imported from abroad, and such imports are typical of a rich country.

Solomon wrote three thousand parables, of which only 513 were included in the book of Proverbs of Solomon. (1 Kings 4:32), Themes and main content of the Book of Proverbs.

The book of Proverbs has a number of important themes that can be divided into three parts:

Man's relationship to God;
A person's attitude towards himself;
His attitude towards others.

The most important thing that King Solomon did in his life- It was the Temple of Jerusalem that was built.

Building materials were supplied from Lebanon: sandstone, cypresses, cedars. The stones were cut by the stonemasons of both Hiram and Solomon. The copper needed for utensils and temple columns was mined in the copper mines of Idumea, in the south of the Israelite Highlands. Almost 200 thousand workers were involved in construction.

Grandiose construction and rapid economic development required labor, “and King Solomon imposed a duty on all Israel; the duty consisted of thirty thousand people.” Solomon divided the country into 12 tax districts, obliging them to support the royal court and army.

Tribe of Judah from which Solomon and David came, was exempt from taxes, which caused discontent among representatives of the remaining tribes of Israel. Solomon's extravagance and craving for luxury led to the fact that he was unable to pay off King Hiram, with whom he entered into an agreement during the construction of the Temple, and was forced to give him several of his cities as debt.

The priests also had reasons for dissatisfaction. King Solomon had many wives of different races and religions, and they brought their deities with them.

Solomon built temples for them where they could worship their gods, and at the end of his life he himself began to participate in pagan cults.

After the death of King Solomon, his kingdom split into two weak states, Israeli and Jewish, waging constant internecine wars.

The death of King Solomon occurred in 928 BC. e in the fourth decade of his reign. Those close to him, not believing the death of the old man, did not bury the deceased until the worms began to eat his staff.

A selection of facts: website

Proverbs Solomon

It is difficult to find at least one ruler or simply significant historical figure whose life would be shrouded in so many legends and secrets as the life of King Solomon. His name became synonymous with wisdom throughout the centuries, and the period of his reign became the “Golden Age,” the heyday of the Kingdom of Israel.

Solomon was born in 1011 BC. in Jerusalem. His parents were the powerful King of Israel David and the beautiful Bathsheba. The only source in which one can find confirmation of the real existence of the legendary ruler of the united kingdom of Israel is the Torah. Therefore, from a scientific point of view, to this day it is difficult to say for sure whether Solomon is a historical figure.

Here is what the Holy Scripture tells about the story of the birth of the future King Solomon: “One evening, David, getting out of bed, was walking on the roof of the king’s house and saw a woman bathing from the roof; and that woman was very beautiful. And David sent to find out who this woman was? And they said to him, This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. David sent servants to take her; and she came to him, and he slept with her.". In order to get rid of the beauty’s husband, King David ordered him to be sent on a military campaign and, so that the warrior would certainly not return home, gave instructions: “Place Uriah where the strongest battle will be and retreat from him so that he will be defeated and die.”. When Uriah died, the king was able to marry Bathsheba, and in due course they had a son.

As you know, sooner or later everything secret becomes clear, and the treacherous act of the king is no exception. A scandal broke out in Jerusalem. The prophet Nathan openly cursed the house of David, dooming it to fratricidal strife. In addition, he predicted that the baby born to Bathsheba would die. And so it happened. David then repented before the Lord, and Nathan declared that he was forgiven. Soon, the beautiful Bathsheba gave birth to a second son, who was named Solomon (Shlomo), that is, “peacemaker.” The second name was given to him at birth by the prophet Nathan: Jedidiah - “favorite of God.”

By the time Solomon was born, forty-year-old King David already had two dozen offspring from different wives. Naturally, they received the news about the appearance of another heir without delight, and they did not treat each other like brothers.

David's two eldest sons, Amnon and Absalom, died in fratricidal internecine conflicts. The next oldest was Adonijah. Formalities required that he should ascend to the throne of Israel after David, but the great ruler had already promised Bathsheba that he would make Solomon his successor. Distressed by his father's injustice, Adonijah found support in the military commander Joav and the high priest Evyatar, who also believed that Adonijah had a greater right to the throne than Solomon. Adonijah, already confident of his own victory, arranged a luxurious feast in honor of his coronation. However, Bathsheba entered the king’s chambers and reminded him of the promise given to her: “Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying: “Your son Solomon will be king after me”? Why did Adonijah reign?" And David appointed 18-year-old Solomon as his successor. Having learned of his failure and the failure of his intrigues, Adonijah ran, fearing reprisals, to the temple and grabbed the horns of the altar in the form of a bull's head - this meant that he was asking for protection from G-d. Solomon came to Adonijah and promised that he would not kill him if he behaved with dignity from now on.

Soon David died, and Adonijah again tried to make his way to power. He decided to marry Abishag, King David's handmaiden at the end of his life. Solomon saw in this Adonijah’s claim to the throne, since, according to custom, the right to the throne is the one who gets the king’s wife or concubine, and ordered Adonijah to be killed.

After this execution, Solomon decided to once and for all get rid of the remaining “well-wishers” - the adherent of Adonijah Yoav and the long-time enemy of the Davidic dynasty Shimi, a relative of the first king Shaul. Solomon was not driven by a blind thirst for revenge, and there are no documents in history confirming the use of the death penalty by the king. In relation to Yoav and Shimi, Solomon only fulfilled David's will.

Solomon ruled the kingdom of Israel from 967 to 928 BC. As already mentioned, the king was unusually wise. One day, before the construction of the Temple, G-d appeared to Solomon in a dream and promised to fulfill his every desire. Solomon asks: “Give Your servant an understanding heart, to judge Your people and discern between what is good and what is evil.”

“And God said to him: because you asked for this, and did not ask for yourself a long life, did not ask for wealth, did not ask for the souls of your enemies, but asked for understanding so that you could judge, behold, I will do according to to your word: Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there was no one like you before you, and after you there will not arise one like you; and that which you did not ask I give you, both riches and glory, so that There shall be one like you among kings all your days; and if you walk in My way, keeping My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, I will also prolong your days.”(Kings).

Having decided to unite his people with a common cause, one task, King Solomon built the main shrine of Judaism - the First Temple of Jerusalem on Mount Zion. The Ark of the Covenant (aron ha-brit) was placed in this Temple - the greatest shrine, inside of which were kept the tablets received by Moses from the Lord himself.

David also wanted to build a worthy container for the Ark, but did not have time. Solomon continued the work begun by his father. He made a deal with the king of Phoenician Tire, Hiram, in whose country the Lebanese cedars, famous throughout the Middle East, grew.
According to the agreement, in exchange for cedar wood, Solomon agreed to supply Hiram with large quantities of oil, meat and grain every year. 30 thousand people were sent to Tire to harvest wood; another 150 thousand residents of Israel mined stones in the mountains and transported them to Jerusalem. Almost all healthy men were forced to build the temple. The construction lasted 7 years, and a famous legend is associated with it about the chief mason, whose name was Hiram according to some sources, and Adoniram according to others. He refused to reveal the secrets of his craft, and for this he was killed. Hiram's heirs allegedly founded the brotherhood of “free masons” (Masons) to protect the secret, making its emblems a compass, a square and a plumb line.

The erected Temple was a huge building that could accommodate up to 50 thousand worshipers. In the center of the Temple was the “Holy of Holies” (Davir), where the Ark was installed on a stone pedestal, guarded by gilded statues of cherubs. The temple was destroyed in 586 BC. Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II, but before that the ark mysteriously disappeared. Mystery lovers are still looking for it.

Many still consider Solomon to be the personification of wisdom, and there is even a saying: “He who sees Solomon in a dream can hope to become wise” (Berachot 57 b).

No matter how atypical it may sound for those times, King Solomon was a peaceful ruler and, unlike his father, waged virtually no wars. At the same time, he managed to expand the territory of Israel from the Nile to the Euphrates. It was under this ruler that the Kingdom of Israel became a significant and quite influential state in Asia.

Solomon began to build the foreign policy strategy of the Kingdom of Israel by establishing and strengthening friendly relations with its neighbors. At the beginning of his reign, he put an end to the age-old enmity between the Egyptians and the Jews by marrying the daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh and thereby strengthening the southern borders of the state. Most likely, it was precisely in order to get closer to neighboring peoples and strengthen his power that Solomon took as wives Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites who belonged to the noble families of these peoples.

King Solomon was a good diplomat, builder and trader. He transformed an agricultural country into a strong, economically developed state that had great influence in the international arena. He rebuilt and strengthened Jerusalem and other cities of his kingdom, introduced cavalry and chariots into the Jewish army for the first time, built a merchant fleet, developed crafts and in every possible way supported trade with other countries.

The new government of King Solomon consisted of a high priest, a commander of the troops, a minister of taxation, the head of the royal administration and the head of 12 governors, as well as several court chroniclers.

During excavations in Jerusalem, many cups for cosmetics, mirrors, hairpins, jugs for imported incense were found - this proves that the ladies of the court vigilantly followed fashion. The king established the mining and smelting of copper, and also built a large fleet, which sailed to the country of Ophir every three years, bringing gold and valuable wood from there.

Henry Rider Haggard's book King Solomon's Mines, published in 1885, inspired many adventurers to go in search of treasure. Haggard believed that Solomon owned diamond and gold mines. Most archaeologists are confident that the king mined copper ore in his mines. In the 1930s it was suggested that the Solomon mines were located in southern Jordan. And only at the beginning of the 21st century did archaeologists find evidence that, indeed, the copper mines discovered on the territory of Jordan in the town of Khirbat en-Nahas may be the legendary mines of King Solomon. Obviously, Solomon had a monopolist in the copper production market, which gave him the opportunity to receive super-profits. Ambassadors from various countries arrived in Jerusalem to conclude peace and trade agreements with Israel, and brought rich gifts.

One of the hallmarks of Solomon's reign was extraordinary luxury everywhere: "And the king made the silver in Jerusalem equal in value to common stones". The king's throne deserves special attention. In the Second Targum to the Book of Esther it is said that 12 golden lions and the same number of golden eagles sat opposite each other on the steps of the throne of the king of Israel. On the top of the throne is a golden image of a dove. There was also a golden candlestick with fourteen candle cups, seven of which were engraved with the names of Adam, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Job, and seven others with the names of Levi, Kehat, Amram, Moshe, Aaron, Eldad and Hura. As stated in the Targum, when the king ascended the throne, the lions, using a mechanical device, extended their paws so that Solomon could lean on them. In addition, the throne itself moved at the request of the king. When Solomon, ascending to the throne, reached the last step, the eagles lifted him up and seated him on a chair.

Understanding the importance of education, realizing the influence of education on the future of the state, wanting to spread the Torah throughout the country, Solomon built synagogues and schools. However, the king was not distinguished by arrogance: when it was necessary to determine a leap year, he invited 7 learned elders to his place, "in whose presence he remained silent"(Shemot Rabbah 15, 20).

There are legends about the king's wisdom. One day Solomon turned to the court sage with a request: “Help me - a lot in this life can make me angry. I am very susceptible to passions, and this bothers me!” To which the sage replied: “I know how to help you. Put on this ring - the phrase is carved on it: “This will pass!” When strong anger or strong joy surges, look at this inscription, and it will sober you up. In this you will find salvation from passions!"

Solomon followed the advice of the sage and found peace. But the moment came when, looking, as usual, at the ring, he did not calm down, but on the contrary, he lost his temper even more. He tore the ring off his finger and wanted to throw it further into the pond, but suddenly noticed that there was some kind of inscription on the inside of the ring. He took a closer look and read: “This too shall pass...” According to another legend, the engraved ring, a source of wisdom and peace, was made for Solomon by a first-class jeweler, who faced the death penalty if the job was unsuccessful.

There is another famous story that testifies to the foresight and intelligence of the great king. Once, two women came to the king for trial, who could not divide the baby between them - both claimed that the child belonged to her. Solomon, without thinking twice, ordered the baby to be cut in half so that each woman would get a piece. When one of the women screamed in horror: “Better give it to her, but don’t kill him!” Solomon made a decision in favor of this woman - she was the mother of the child...

King Solomon's Court

Legends say that all animals and birds obeyed Solomon. Precious stones were delivered to Solomon's palace by demons, and angels guarded them. With the help of a magical ring on which the name of God was engraved, Solomon learned many secrets about the world from the angels.

Having learned about the wisdom and fabulous wealth of King Solomon, the legendary Queen of Sheba from the country of Saba in what is now Yemen visited him to test his wisdom and verify his wealth. The queen brought with her numerous gifts. The state of Saba successfully traded spices and incense with neighboring countries. Trade routes crossed the territory of Solomon's kingdom, and the passage of caravans depended on the will and disposition of the king, which was the real reason for the visit of the Queen of Sheba. There is an opinion that she was just a “delegate”, an “ambassador” of the country and was not a dynastic queen. But only someone equal in status could speak to the king, so the envoys were “assigned” temporary status for negotiations. Folk legends gave a romantic touch to this visit. Blinded by the beauty of the Queen of Sheba, Solomon was inflamed with passion for her, she reciprocated his feelings, all questions about the advancement of the caravans were settled. Returning home, the queen gave birth to a boy named Menelik. The Ethiopians claim that their imperial dynasty descends from him. In Ethiopia, the queen is considered their countrywoman.

Solomon and the Queen of Sheba in a fresco by Piero della Francesca from the Basilica of San Francesco

During his reign, Solomon also made mistakes, which became the catalyst for the collapse of the state after his death. Time passed, and the king’s income ceased to cover his expenses. Grandiose construction and rapid economic development required labor: “and King Solomon imposed duties on all Israel; the duty consisted of thirty thousand people.”

Solomon divided the country into 12 tax districts, which were required to support the royal court and army. The tribe of Yehuda, from which Solomon and David were from, was exempt from taxes, which caused discontent and increased the degree of social tension in society. Jeroboam from the tribe of Ephraim, who held a prominent position in the royal administration, rebelled, and then fled to Egypt, where he was hospitably received by Pharaoh Shusakim. Another threat was the bandit Razon, who captured Damascus and became king there, constantly attacking the northern lands of Israel.

Solomon's extravagance and craving for luxury led him to lose his solvency. Solomon was unable to pay off King Hiram, and was forced to give him about twenty of his cities as debt.

The priests also had reasons for dissatisfaction. The king had many wives of various races and religions. Solomon allowed them to worship their gods, built temples for them, and at the end of his life he himself began to participate in pagan cults.

King Solomon in old age. Engraving by Gustav Dore

King Solomon is credited with the authorship of many books and literary works. He is believed to have written the book Ecclesiastes, but scholars have found Persian and Aramaic words in it that prove the book was written centuries later. The Song of Songs (Shir Ha-shirim), a great book about love, is also credited to Solomon’s pen.

Already in the Middle Ages, many other works were attributed to Solomon - mostly occult and magical. Astrologers and alchemists, in order not to be accused of heresy, declared the king, recognized as a saint, as their patron.

At the end of his life, G-d appeared to Solomon and said: “Because this is done with you, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant; but in your days I will not do this for the sake of David your father; I will pluck him out of the hand of your son."(Kings).

According to most sources, King Solomon's reign lasted about 37 years, and he died at the age of 52 while overseeing the construction of a new altar. Those close to the king did not immediately bury him in the hope that the ruler simply fell into a lethargic sleep. When the worms began to sharpen the royal staff, Solomon was finally declared dead and buried with full honors.

After the death of King Solomon, as a result of numerous uprisings, his kingdom split into two weak states - Israel and Judah, which were mired in constant internecine wars.

Solomon himself, looking at the disappointing results of his reign, could well have uttered the sad words put into his mouth by the author of the book of Ecclesiastes: “I gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and stupidity: I learned that this too is vexation of the spirit; For in much wisdom there is much sorrow, and whoever increases knowledge increases sorrow.”

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The story of the Great King of Israel and the wisest Biblical king - Solomon

The legendary ruler of the united kingdom of Israel was born from King David and his beloved wife Bathsheba (Bat Sheva). The future king was named Shlomo (Solomon), which translated from Hebrew means “peacemaker” (“shalom” - “peace”, “not war”, and “shalem” - “perfect”, “whole”).
The reign of Solomon from 965 to 928 BC. called the era of the heyday of the monarchy and Jewish power. During his 40-year reign, Solomon became famous as the wisest and most dispassionate ruler in the whole world; many legends and fairy tales were written about his talent for foresight and sensitivity. It was Solomon who built the main shrine of Judaism - the Temple of Jerusalem, which his father David planned to build during his lifetime.
Solomon and David are also known as righteous, faithful kings who, with their devotion and innate wisdom, deserved to be the favorites of the Most High. When Solomon was a little less than a year old, the king’s close associate, the prophet Nathan, gave him the name Edidya (“God’s favorite” - Shmuel I 12, 25).
Meanwhile, Solomon was the youngest son of David. Two brothers, Amnon and Abshalom, died before reaching maturity, and the 4th son, Adonijah, became the eldest, and therefore formalities required that he become the successor to the Israeli throne. David promised Bathsheba that he would make Solomon his successor, who would continue his dynasty and rule the entire state. Distressed by his father's injustice, Adonijah found support in the military commander Joav and the high priest Evyatar, who also believed that Adonijah had a greater right to the throne than Solomon. At the same time, Solomon's supporters argued that Adonijah was not the firstborn son of David, and therefore the king had the power to judge his sons according to his own will.
Without waiting for David's death, the brothers began to fight. Adonijah, wanting to attract the people with a royally magnificent feast, surrounded himself with a large retinue of horsemen, brought chariots and fifty walkers. On the appointed day and hour, he gathered his entourage and organized a bright celebration outside the city in honor of declaring himself the new king of the Israeli state. Solomon's mother found out about this and, with the help of the prophet Nathan, she managed to convince David not to hesitate and appoint Solomon as his successor that same day. Together with the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, Bnayahu and a large detachment of the royal bodyguards, everyone went to the Gihon spring, where the priest anointed Solomon as king. After the ceremony was completed, the sounds of a horn were heard, the people shouted: “Long live the king!” Everyone who was present at the ceremony, or at least knew about it, perceived the will of the dying David as the will of the Almighty, and therefore hastened to accompany the new King Solomon to the palace with music and jubilant shouts.
Having learned about the anointing of his brother to the kingdom, Adonijah was afraid of Solomon’s revenge and took refuge in the sanctuary, “grasping the horns of the altar.” Solomon came to him and promised that he would not touch him if from now on he behaved with dignity.
After the death of David, Solomon did not delay in order to justify and strengthen his authority - every action of the king aroused only admiration for his intelligence and insight. Meanwhile, Adonijah tried to achieve his goal: he asked the mother queen for blessings for his marriage with Abishag, Solomon’s concubine. In the popular mind, such a gesture could be a reasonable basis for proclaiming him king, since Adonijah was not only Solomon’s brother and confidant, but also possessed his woman. Without any passion or jealousy, and, as he himself believed, keeping his promise to execute his brother in case of bad behavior, Solomon ordered Adonijah to be hanged. After this execution, Solomon decided to once and for all get rid of the remaining “well-wishers” - the adherent of Adonijah Yoav and the long-time enemy of the Davidic dynasty Shimi, a relative of Shaulai. Yoava immediately tried to take refuge in the sanctuary, but Bnayahu quickly found and killed him.
The new government of King Solomon consisted of three high priests, the commander of the troops, the minister of taxation, the head of the royal administration and the head of 12 governors, as well as several court chroniclers. As already mentioned, Solomon was not subject to a blind thirst for revenge, and in history there are practically no documents confirming the use of the death penalty by the king. In relation to Yoav and Shimi, Solomon only fulfilled David's will. Solomon made Bnayahu the new commander of the troops, after which, feeling completely confident, he began to solve strategic problems.
Foreign policy
The United Kingdom of Israel (Israel and Judah) occupied a fairly large territory, being a significant and influential state in Asia. Solomon decided to begin the development strategy of the state by establishing and strengthening friendly relations with its neighbors. Thus, powerful Egypt could promise to secure Israel's southern border. By marrying the daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh, Solomon not only ended the half-thousand-year enmity of the Jews and Egyptians, but also received from the pharaoh the Canaanite Gezer, which he had previously conquered, as a dowry.
Next, Solomon set about renewing relations with David’s longtime friend, the Phoenician king Hiram, the northern neighbor of the kingdom of Israel. It was rumored that it was precisely in order to get closer to neighboring peoples and strengthen his power that Solomon took as wives Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites who belonged to the noble families of these peoples.
Kings of different countries brought Solomon gifts of gold, silver, clothing, weapons and cattle. Solomon's wealth was so great that “he made the silver in Jerusalem equal to stones, and made cedars equal to sycamore trees” (Mlahim I 2:10, 27). But most of all, the king loved horses; he even introduced cavalry and chariots into the Jewish army - the first in the history of the state.
Despite the improvement in foreign policy, the population of the kingdom of Israel remained dissatisfied with Solomon's polygamy, mainly because women introduced the pagan cultures of their states into the royal house, and the king, they say, was tolerant of this. For example, when Solomon built a temple on the Mount of Olives for the Moabite god Kmosh and the Ammonite god Moloch, rumors began to circulate among the prophets and people faithful to the God of Israel that the king was getting old, allowing idolatry in his state. They also said that luxury and an idle lifestyle corrupted Solomon’s heart, and he followed the lead of his concubines. The king is doubly condemned for distancing himself from the Israeli God because, according to the Torah, the Almighty honored Solomon with divine revelation two whole times. The first time, even before the construction of the Temple, on the night before the ritual of sacrifice in Givon, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and offered to ask him for whatever his soul desired. Solomon could have taken the opportunity to ask for at least longevity or victory over enemies, not to mention wealth, but he asked only for wisdom and the ability to govern his people. The generous God promised him wisdom, wealth and glory, and if he fulfills the commandments, then longevity. After the completion of the Temple, God visited Solomon again, saying that he had heeded his prayer for the illumination of the Temple, and that he would protect the dynasty of David only if all his sons remained faithful to Him. Otherwise, the Temple will be rejected and the people expelled from the country.
When Solomon, intoxicated by his many wives, moved away from the Most High and “took the path of idolatry,” God took away the power over Israel from the king’s son, leaving him only power over Judah.
Just and wise king
Many still consider Solomon to be the personification of wisdom, that there is even a saying: “He who sees Solomon in a dream can hope to become wise” (Berachot 57 b). When resolving any issues, the king did not need to interrogate witnesses, since with one look at the conflicting parties he understood who was right and who was wrong. His wisdom was also manifested in the fact that Solomon, wanting to spread the Torah throughout the country, built synagogues and schools. However, the king was not distinguished by arrogance: when it was necessary to determine a leap year, he invited 7 learned elders, “in whose presence he remained silent” (Shemot Rabba, 15, 20).
The famous legends about Solomon also serve as an indicator of his foresight and intelligence. Once, two women came to the king for trial, who could not divide the baby between them - both said that it was her child. Solomon, without hesitation, ordered the baby to be cut in half so that each woman would get a piece. The first said: “Chop it, and let no one get it,” to which the second exclaimed, “It’s better to give it to her, but just don’t kill him!” Solomon decided the court in favor of the second woman, giving the child to her, because... she was his mother.
The equally famous legend of Solomon's ring is interpreted in different ways. One day the king turned to the court sage for help. Solomon complained that his life was restless, the passions boiling around him distracted him from politics, he lacked composure, and wisdom did not always help him cope with anger and frustration. The court sage gave the king a ring engraved with the phrase “This shall pass,” and told him that the next time he felt an uncontrollable influx of emotions, he should look at the ring and feel better. The king was delighted with the philosophical gift, but soon the day came when, after reading the inscription “Everything will pass,” he could not calm down. The ruler took the ring off his finger and was about to throw it away, but then on the back of the ring he saw another inscription “This too shall pass.”
The second version of the legend tells that one day Solomon, sitting in his palace, saw on the street a man dressed from head to toe in gold. The king called him over and asked him what he was doing and how he could afford such luxurious clothes. The man proudly replied that he was a jeweler and made quite good money from his trade. The king grinned and gave the jeweler a task: in three days he would forge for him a gold ring that would bring joy to sad people, and sadness to joyful people. And if he does not complete the task, he will be executed. Three days later, the young jeweler, shaking with fear, entered Solomon's palace and met the king's son Rahabam. The jeweler thought, “The son of a sage is half a sage,” and dared to ask Rahavam for advice. Rahavam just grinned, took a nail and scratched three Hebrew letters on three sides of the ring: “gimel”, “zayin” and “yud”.
Turning the ring, Solomon immediately understood the meaning of the letters, interpreted as “This too shall pass.” The king imagined that now he was sitting in his palace, surrounded by all the blessings that one could wish for, and tomorrow everything could change. This thought made Solomon sad. When Ashmodai threw him to the ends of the world, and Solomon had to wander for three years, looking at the ring, he understood that this too would pass, and this understanding gave him strength.
The Greatness and Splendor of Solomon's Reign
Legends say that during the entire reign of David’s son Shlomo, the moon’s disk in the sky did not decrease, so that good always prevailed over evil. Solomon was so smart, powerful and great that he was able to subjugate all animals, birds, angels and demons. Precious stones were delivered to Solomon's palace by demons, and angels guarded them. With the help of a magical ring on which the name of the God of Israel was engraved, Solomon learned many secrets about the world from the angels. Solomon also knew the language of beasts and animals: they all submitted to his authority. Peacocks and various exotic birds walked freely around the palace.
The throne of King Solomon deserves special attention. In the Second Targum to the Book of Esther (1. p.) it is said that 12 golden lions and the same number of golden eagles sat opposite each other on the steps of the throne of the king of Israel. On the top of the throne is a golden image of a dove with a dovecote in its claws as a symbol of Israel's superiority over the pagans. There was also a golden candlestick with fourteen candle cups, seven of which were engraved with the names of the saints: Adam, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Job, and on the other seven the names of Levi, Kehat, Amram, Moshe, Aaron, Eldad and Hur. Twenty-four vines attached above the throne created a shadow over Solomon's head. As stated in the Targum, when the king ascended the throne, the lions, using a mechanical device, extended their paws so that Solomon could lean on them. In addition, the throne itself moved at the request of the king. When Solomon, ascending to the throne, reached the last step, the eagles lifted him up and seated him on a chair.
Solomon was helped in all his affairs by angels, demons, animals, birds, and the Almighty himself. He was never alone, and could always rely not only on his wisdom, but also on otherworldly forces. For example, angels helped the king during the construction of the Temple - legends tell how, miraculously, heavy stones themselves rose to the top and lay in the right place.
According to most sources, Solomon reigned for about 37 years and died at the age of 52, overseeing the construction of a new altar. Those close to the king did not immediately bury him in the hope that the ruler simply fell into a lethargic sleep. When the worms began to sharpen the royal staff, Solomon was finally declared dead and buried with full honors.
Even during his lifetime, the God of Israel was angry with Solomon for involvement in pagan cultures and identifying idolatry with the Almighty, promising his people many troubles and deprivations. After the death of the king, part of the conquered peoples organized a violent uprising, as a result of which the united Israeli state broke up into 2 parts - the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.