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'''Solomon''' ([[Hebrew]]: '''שְׁלמה,'''  ''Shlomo'', "''[[peace]]''") (c.1000 BC - c.930 BC) was the third King of Israel between c. 970 BC and c. 930 BC. Son of [[Bathsheba]], he succeeded after his father [[King David]].  Solomon was famed for his wisdom, as well as immense and wealth and power.  It says in the [[Bible]] that during the reign of Solomon, Israel was at its strongest. 'For he ruled all the kingdoms west of the River, from Tipshsah to [[Gaza]] and had peace on all sides' ([[I Kings]] 4:24).

'''Solomon''' ([[Hebrew]]: '''שְׁלמה,'''  ''Shlomo'', "''[[peace]]''") (c.1000 BC - c.930 BC) was the third King of Israel between c. 970 BC and c. 930 BC. Son of [[Bathsheba]], he succeeded after his father [[King David]]. Solomon wrote most of the [[Proverbs]] and the books of [[Ecclesiastes]] and [[Song of Solomon]] are also attributed to him.  Solomon was famed for his wisdom, as well as immense and wealth and power.  It says in the [[Bible]] that during the reign of Solomon, Israel was at its strongest. 'For he ruled all the kingdoms west of the River, from Tipshsah to [[Gaza]] and had peace on all sides' ([[I Kings]] 4:24).  

When Solomon's father [[King David]] was old and bed ridden, Solomon's brother [[Adonijah]] tried to set himself up as king.  With David's help proclaiming Solomon as his successor, this failed.  David then had his son close up his affairs for him, enacting justice on [[Joab]] and Shimei.

When Solomon's father [[King David]] was old and bed ridden, Solomon's brother [[Adonijah]] tried to set himself up as king.  With David's help proclaiming Solomon as his successor, this failed.  David then had his son close up his affairs for him, enacting justice on [[Joab]] and Shimei.

David could not build God's temple because he was a man of 'blood', but Solomon could and did in 960 B.C., making a monumental structure that lasted until the Babylonian captivity ended the line of Davidic kings in 586 B.C.

David could not build God's temple because he was a man of 'blood', but Solomon could and did in 960 B.C., making a monumental structure that lasted until the Babylonian captivity ended the line of Davidic kings in 586 B.C.

Solomon had 700 wives and 300 [[concubine]]s,<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20kings%2011:3&version=31 ''1 Kings 11:3'' NIV]</ref> many for political ties of the day.  Over time Solomon's wives turned him away from God.<ref>Solomon took wives from foreign nations, allowing them to worship their own gods. From the standpoint of the Hebrew historian (I Ki 11:1-13), such tolerance was a heinous sin. [http://www.tparents.org/UNews/Unws0201/dp%206,5.htm] </ref>  Solomon wrote most of the [[Proverbs]] and the books of [[Ecclesiastes]] and [[Song of Solomon]] are also attributed to him.   

Solomon had 700 wives and 300 [[concubine]]s,<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20kings%2011:3&version=31 ''1 Kings 11:3'' NIV]</ref> many for political ties of the day.  Over time Solomon's wives turned him away from God.<ref>Solomon took wives from foreign nations, allowing them to worship their own gods. From the standpoint of the Hebrew historian (I Ki 11:1-13), such tolerance was a heinous sin. [http://www.tparents.org/UNews/Unws0201/dp%206,5.htm] </ref>   

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