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King Solomon Biography
Biblical Figure
King Solomon "excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom" according to the Bible. The son of King David and Bathsheba, Solomon (in Hebrew, Shlomo) ruled Israel from about 960 to 922 B.C. and built a magnificent temple in Jerusalem which housed the Ark of the Covenant. Solomon reportedly had hundreds of wives and concubines, including the daughter of the pharaoh of Egypt. He also had a famous meeting with the Queen of Sheba who, after observing his wealth and wisdom, showered him with gifts. Solomon is historically credited with authoring the Bible's Song of Songs and book of Ecclesiastes, though many scholars believe the latter was written after his death.
Extra credit: Solomon's wisdom is usually recalled in a famous incident in which two women came before him with a baby, each claiming to be the mother. Solomon ordered the child be cut in half, and by observing each woman's reaction determined the true mother.
King Solomon joins Mickey Rooney in our loop on Serial Spouses.
Four Good Links
Solomon
Straightforward explanation from the Jewish Virtual Library
The Bible: 1 Kings
Straight to the source: the Bible's tales of King Solomon
The Queen of Sheba's Visit to King Solomon
Written for a Masonic audience, but with plenty of detail on the pair's legendary get-together
Solomon's Temple
The story of the famous site, mixing Biblical statements with modern commentary
Vital Stats
Birth
c. 10th century B.C.
Birthplace
?
Death
c. 922 B.C.
Best Known As
Builder of the Temple of Solomon