What is King Solomon known for?

Answer 1

The Bible tells us that King Solomon embarked on a program of public building, including the first Jerusalem Temple, a palace in Jerusalem and many magnificent buildings throughout Israel.

Until recently, when archaeologists found remains that fitted the biblical narrative, such as the casement walls or 'stables' at Megiddo, they automatically assigned them to the Solomonic period. In just the last few years, some archaeologists have begun to question those assignments because they are anomalous when compared to similar finds elsewhere in the ancient Near East. Some archaeologists now attribute the prosperous and expansive 'Solomonic' era to the time of Kings Omri and Ahab.

Based on the latest archaeological research, it may be hard to find any evidence from the time of Solomon. If this is confirmed, Solomon can be considered a minor local chieftain, who accomplished nothing of lasting value.

Answer 2

King Solomon, a biblical figure, is known for his wisdom and wealth. He is also credited with overseeing the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem. Additionally, he is known for his reputation as a fair and just ruler.

Answer 3

A Christian Opinion:

According to biblical traditions, Solomon was a spectacular king. His court becomes a center of wisdom and learning. Solomon was so wise that the biblical tradition attributes to him wisdom literature. He was also responsible for building the magnificent Jerusalem Temple.

Answer 4

King Solomon was a very famous king in the Old Testament, he wrote three books The book of songs, Proverbs and Escalates.So wise was he that even queen Sheba visited him to find out the truth.

Answer 5

A:The greatest single achievement attributed in the Bible to Solomon was the construction of his Temple, which took seven years to build.

The defining legend of Solomon was his great wisdom, gifted to him by God. However, finding specific biblical examples of his wisdom proves difficult.

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 biblical example of his great wisdom. Solomon, with his profound wisdom, just knew that only one woman would be willing to give up her claim to the child rather than have it killed. Whether the insight this passage describes was really wise can be a matter for our own judgement.

According to the Bible, Solomon demonstrated no political wisdom, nor even sufficient common sense to govern wisely in the interests of his own son's succession to the throne of the United Monarchy. The Bible tells us that Solomon's reckless spending and swingeing taxes, maintained by his son, were the cause of the breakup of the United Monarchy. In spite of his supposedly personal knowledge of God, 1 Kings chapter 11 says that he unwisely began to worship other gods.

The biblical evidence shows Solomon not to have been a wise ruler, either before or after the gift of wisdom, but Jewish tradition has built up an image of Solomon as a great and wise ruler. Psalms that show any evidence of wisdom have been attributed to him, as have the wisdom books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. The Jewish people needed a glorious past, with both great and wise rulers. Solomon became part of that past. So, although not actually a wise ruler on the biblical evidence, he was a wise ruler in tradition.

Answer 6

A:

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. However, the story of Solomon does not mention any wise sayings, and even finding specific biblical examples of his wisdom proves difficult.

In fact, the story of the two mothers is the only biblical account that purports to show Solomon's 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 reader is expected to agree with Solomon when he knew that only one woman would be willing to give up her claim to the child rather than have it killed, and that woman could only have been the birth mother.

The Jewish people needed a glorious past, with both great and wise rulers, and Solomon became part of that past. So, although not actually a wise ruler on the biblical evidence, he was a wise ruler in tradition. To support this tradition, the Books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and even some Psalms were eventually attributed to King Solomon, although scholars can readily prove that they were actually compiled after the Babylonian Exile.

Answer 7

Although we really know little about the historical Solomon, he is traditionally known for his great wisdom, the opulence of his lifestyle and his dalliance with the Queen of Sheba. He is also known for undertaking the construction of the temple in Jerusalem.

The story of the two mothers is the only biblical account that purports to show Solomon's 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 reader is expected to agree with Solomon when he knew that only one woman would be willing to give up her claim to the child rather than have it killed, and that woman could only have been the birth mother. On the other hand, according to the Bible, Solomon showed much more evidence of a lack of wisdom, including in the way he overtaxed the people of Israel to support his sumptuous lifestyle, resulting in the Israelites ceding from his kingdom when Solomon's son and successor, Rehoboam, refused to reduce the tax burden.

Archaeologists are puzzled by biblical accounts of Solomon's opulent lifestyle, saying that Judah was too small and impoverished in the tenth century BCE to support such a lifestyle. Scholars say that the story of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba was a late addition to the record and only dates from the time of the Babylonian Exile.

Answer 8

Building the First Temple (1 Kings ch.6-8), and vast wisdom (1 Kings ch.3).

See also:

http://judaism.answers.com/hebrew/does-archaeology-support-the-hebrew-bible

http://religion.answers.com/theory/debunking-the-jepd-documentary-hypothesis

Answer 9

Many would point to his gift of wisdom in earthly matters and his voracious lust for women - having some 700 wives/princesses and 300 concubines (see 1 Kings 11:3) which turned him away from God. In his writing of Ecclesiastes, it appears he finds the 'vanity' of this 'epicurean' lifestyle and comes back home to God.

Answer 10

King Solomon was known for his peace and prosority to his people(i think). A lot of people hated Soloman, but he kept peace to his people