Solomon

Definition and Meaning

Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba and succeeded David as king of Israel. His name is understood to be related to the Hebrew shalom ("peace"). The prophet Nathan gave him the name Jedidiah, meaning "beloved of the LORD" (2 Samuel 12:25).

Biblical and Historical Background

Solomon's life is recorded chiefly in 1 Kings 1–11 and 2 Chronicles 1–9. After offering sacrifices at Gibeon, he asked God in a dream not for riches or long life but for "an understanding heart to judge thy people" (1 Kings 3:9). The "judgment of Solomon" (1 Kings 3:16–28), in which he settled a dispute between two women over one infant, is the best-known illustration of his wisdom. He built the Temple in Jerusalem over seven years and dedicated it (1 Kings 6–8), and the Queen of Sheba visited him after hearing of his wisdom (1 Kings 10).

The Books of Kings also record Solomon's later years. He took many foreign women as wives and permitted the worship of their gods, for which God rebuked him (1 Kings 11). Heavy taxation and forced labor contributed to the division of the kingdom into Judah in the south and Israel in the north after his death. Chronicles largely passes over these failures and focuses on his role as builder of the Temple.

Traditionally, much of Proverbs, as well as Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon, has been attributed to Solomon, and his name also appears in the superscriptions of Psalms 72 and 127. Conservative scholars generally accept these traditional attributions, while other scholars hold that some of these books were written later under his name. Archaeologists also continue to debate the actual extent of the united kingdom. In the New Testament, Jesus referred to him in the words "even Solomon in all his glory" (Matthew 6:29) and "a greater than Solomon" (Matthew 12:42).

Practice in the Korean Church

In Korean churches of all denominations, Solomon is frequently presented in sermons as a model of prayer for wisdom. In particular, 1 Kings 3 is often cited in prayers for students preparing for examinations and for those newly appointed to church office. The account of the Temple's construction also serves as a sermon text ahead of church building projects or dedications.

Some churches practice what is called the "thousand burnt offerings" offering, modeled on the "thousand burnt offerings" of 1 Kings 3:4, in which worship is offered and offerings are given on a thousand separate occasions. Some regard this as a spiritual discipline expressing wholehearted devotion. Others criticize it, arguing that the passage describes a single occasion on which many sacrifices were offered and therefore offers little basis for repeated giving, and that the practice may lead people to treat giving as a condition for receiving blessing. Sermons also present Solomon's later years as a warning against spiritual decline after success.