What did Solomon used his wisdom for?

Answer 1

The defining legend of Solomon was his great wisdom, gifted to him by God. If there ever was a King Solomon, The Bible says that he was the wisest of kings.

Solomon was certainly not wise when he first succeeded David. At 1Kings 1:52, he said that he would not harm Adonijah as long as he showed himself a worthy man. However, in chapter 2, he ordered the death of Adonijah merely because he sought Solomon's approval to marry a woman. He punished the priest Abiathar, who had previously helped Adonijah, and Joab who did not, although he later befriended him. Then he ordered Shimei, who had not been allied with Adonijah, never to leave Jerusalem. Afterwards, Shimei briefly left Jerusalem to recapture and bring back his slaves, so Solomon had him killed.

Solomon has demonstrated his lack of good judgement, as a foil for the qualities he would soon display. Shortly after this, Solomon, in a dream, asked God for wisdom.

Soon after God granted Solomon wisdom, two women asked for judgement over the ownership of a small baby. In this episode, Solomon gave his most famous judgement, the only documented example of his great wisdom. Solomon, with his profound wisdom, somehow just knew that only one woman would be willing to give up her claim to the child rather than have it killed.

Solomon did not use the wisdom that the Bible says God granted him very effectively. He went on to lead a lavish lifestyle, requiring swingeing taxes to support him. This was particularly unwise, as it was blamed for the breakup of the United Kingdom shortly after his death.

Answer 2

Maintaining justice was a responsibility not only of the courts and officers (Exodus ch.18), but also of the kings (Jeremiah 21:12). The gift of wisdom helped greatly in this effort (1 Kings ch.3).

Answer 3

The Israelite kings conducted the nation and made decisions in most national matters. The fact that the nation was so prosperous and happy in his time (1 Kings 4:20) demonstrates that Solomon fulfilled this role in a praiseworthy manner.

In addition, each Israelite king was expected to be the leading judge of his generation, as the young Solomon stated explicitly (1 Kings 3:7-9). This is why he asked God for wisdom, which God granted. The famous case narrated in that chapter of Kings is recorded because it was one of the first that Solomon adjudicated, and because the people were so impressed (1 Kings 3:28). There is no question that he went on to use his vast wisdom (1 Kings ch.5) in other cases of judgment, and the text has no need to list them, since that is not its function.

During Solomon's lifetime, there weren't any complaints. (Only after his death, the people requested that taxes be lowered because the tax had served its purpose with all of Solomon's large-scale projects now complete.)

Of course, Solomon was a human being and no human is free from sin or error (Ecclesiastes 7:20).

See also:

About King Solomon's errors

The accomplishments of King Solomon

Answer 4

*