Solomon was a great ruler and his 40-year reign over Israel helped the nation grow and make their mark in the middle east. It’s been nearly 3 years since Solomon ruled over Israel, as their most extravagant wisest king. He enhanced his empire by beginning it from the Euphrates river and …show more content…
He was no more than youth when he inherited his father’s throne, so he asked for wisdom. “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.” When God bestows Solomon with unlimited wisdom, he uses it to violate the Torah. He takes on too many wives to form alliances and lets the Israelites worship foreign gods. In fact, he takes on 700 wives and 300 concubines. ”He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.” Solomon also heavily taxed his citizens to help build the glorious temple, also known as The First …show more content…
He composed the Song of Songs, the book of Ecclesiastes and many Proverbs that people look back on and learn from routinely, Most of his works had to do with Wisdom (as he was the wisest man ever). For example, “The wise in heart accepts commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.” Also, “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.” People adored Solomon, his wisdom, and his handsomeness. The women were very attracted to him and his wealth given his 700 wives. Many people understood that Solomon was veering off the path to God when he acquired these wives and starting worshiping false gods and idols. He still was an effective and magnificent king, though he was allowing the Israelites to worship foreign gods and disobey the Torah and God. The Israelites and everyone since then have viewed him as the best King of Israel and a gift from God and helped Israel reach and exceed their goals economically and glory.
Solomon’s actions were sometimes made out of greed, or sometimes out of the love of God, but overall, everything he did was to improve his kingdom and home, like having many wives to create alliances and overtaxing his citizens to create a great temple. It seemed to many that throughout his life, Solomon had two sides, the caring, devoted jew, and a greedy man who misused power. Which will you