What did King Solomon have to do with magic?

Answer 1

Like all religious Jews, King Solomon was bound by the commandments and prohibitions in the Torah. Since these forbid sorcery (Deuteronomy ch.18), he certainly obeyed them. The Hebrew Bible does not hide Solomon's errors, and delving into magic is not mentioned as one of them. Any supernatural doings would have had to be accomplished through permitted means, such as prophecy.

Answer 2

This is a difference between the character of Solomon as portrayed in the Jewish and Christian Traditions, primarily as a wise monarch who maintained Israelite Law, and Solomon as portrayed in the Islamic Tradition, primarily as a prophet and a sorcerer who enslaved and controlled demons. In the Jewish conception, as explained by Expert Dan Galilee, magic and sorcery are prohibited for the Israelites and The Bible does not support any claim that Solomon used magic (even though numerous other sins of his are directly stated). Since the Christian view of Old Testament figures is largely colored by the Jewish conception, it is much the same analysis.

In Islam, the Qur'an argues that Solomon had the ability to speak to animals as well as compel the jinn (a demon in Islam) to work for him. In order to restrain a jinn and put it to use, a basic knowledge of magic and sufficient wisdom are required to trick it into submission. As a result, magic would have been useful to Solomon and would likely have been prized by him.

Answer 3

Nothing that the Torah forbids. It is said that he was able to command the shades to do his bidding, but he did not use magic for this. See also:

About King Solomon