King living at the time of United Monarchy

Solomon

2 Samuel 12:24–25; 1 Kings 1–11; 1 Kings 1–11; 2 Chronicles 1–9

David and Bathsheba’s son and David’s successor, “Yahweh loved him” (2 Samuel 12:24). At Gibeon God appeared to him and told him to ask for whatever he liked; he answered, “I am just a little child,” and asked for “an understanding heart to judge your people.” God gave him wisdom, riches, and honor, so that there was no one like him before or after (1 Kings 3:5–14). His wisdom and his three thousand proverbs were known abroad, and the queen of Sheba came to test him (1 Kings 4:29–34; 10:1–13). Jesus, answering his critics, said “someone greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 12:42).

In the fourth year of his reign, the 480th after the exodus, he began to build the temple, which he dedicated with a great prayer (1 Kings 6:1; 8). Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon are attributed to him (Proverbs 1:1; Ecclesiastes 1:1; Song 1:1). But he loved many foreign women, seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, and in his old age they turned his heart to other gods, so that the kingdom was torn from his son (1 Kings 11:1–13). He reigned forty years (1 Kings 11:42).

Son of David and Bathsheba; builder of the temple; reigned 40 years (1 Kings 11:42). Scripture doesn't give his age at death. Both ends of this bar are Ussher's dates (born 1034 BC, died 975 BC).

Scripture’s verdict: A mixed record (1 Kings 11:6).

Began wisely and built the temple; in old age his wives turned his heart to other gods.

Family

Father

David

Mother

Bathsheba

Wives

Daughter of Pharaoh, Naamah, A wife of Solomon

Children

Taphath, Basemath, Rehoboam

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