The Rise And Fall Of King Solomon

Solomon came to power via a series of behind-the-scenes subterfuges, and held onto it through political machinations not uncommon to modern politics. According to the Biblical narrative in 2 Samuel 11 (posted at Bible Gateway) Israel's then-king, David, had an adulterous relationship with a woman named Bathsheba. She was another man's wife, a man whom David indirectly had killed. David conceived multiple children with Bathsheba, the first of whom (who wasn't named) died, purportedly as punishment for David's sins. After God forgave David, the king married Bathsheba. The pair produced Solomon and an unknown number of other children.

Some of the more outré writings about Solomon, catalogued in the Jewish Encyclopedia, have been excluded from sanctioned versions of theological literature. Aggadah, the Apocrypha, the Pseudepigrapha, and various occult and mystical writings relate stories of demonic conversations, djinn, ritual magic, astrology, and spirit journeys.

Not uncommon for a man of his time and culture, Solomon had a staggering number of wives. Unfortunately, according to the Bible, his propensity for taking wives cost his kingdom dearly after his reign. This is the story of Solomon and the massive number of wives he had.

King Solomon, revered as a prophet by the three Abrahamic faiths — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — is renowned for many things, but he is above all considered wise. In 1 Kings 3 Solomon, having succeeded his father David as ruler of Israel, offers 1,000 burnt offerings to God, who then declares, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." Solomon replies, "Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong." Pleased at his humility, God grants Solomon wisdom, promising there would never be another man like him, and offers that which a lesser king would have requested, riches and glory. A famous story of Solomon's later wisdom sees him telling two women who both claim parentage of a child that the only solution is to carve the child in half; the woman who retracts her claim, to spare the child's life, is determined to be the true mother.

If all you know about Solomon is he once threatened to cut a baby in half and the most uncomfortably sexy book of the Bible is named after him, you've got a lot to learn. Climb up the robot lion steps of Solomon's mechanical throne to the splendiferous wealth of the untold truth of King Solomon.