| Ask anyone in the street what they can tell you | | | | Yes, there is an old, old story about two women |
| about King Solomon, and almost everyone will | | | | who were disputing the parentage of a baby. This |
| reply that he was noted for his wisdom. Most | | | | tale was at least a thousand years old before the |
| people will also agree that Solomon is presented in | | | | Biblical historian got hold of it. And it is of course |
| the Bible not only as a wise king, but a good king. | | | | more than possible that Solomon knew this tale |
| Where do these common misbeliefs originate? | | | | and applied it to a real circumstance. But in any |
| Was King Solomon really a prince of wisdom? | | | | case, the insertion of the tale at this point [3 |
| Was he truly an upright, worthy person? Does he | | | | Kings 3:16-28] does nothing to prove that |
| actually deserve his stature in popular imagination? | | | | Solomon was wise. All it proves is that Solomon |
| The Bible chroniclers, in fact, try to portray | | | | was an astute opportunist who had a good |
| Solomon both ways. According to the Bible, | | | | memory. |
| Solomon was both wise and foolish. He is also | | | | The rest of the lengthy Biblical account of |
| portrayed as both an admirable figure and one | | | | Solomon's reign is mostly taken up with totally |
| completely lacking in honor and rectitude. One of | | | | extraneous bragging about how wealthy Solomon |
| the first signs of this dual approach occurs early in | | | | was, and how many wives he had, and how he |
| the Biblical account of Solomon's reign. In the Old | | | | ordered the construction of God's Temple and his |
| Testament Book of Kings, the historian notes that | | | | Palace and filled both with the most luxurious of |
| Solomon had scarcely ascended to the throne | | | | appointments (most especially those in the Palace). |
| when his mother, Bathsheba, came to visit him. | | | | The only hint of wisdom is provided in a brief |
| She has a request. Solomon answers, "Ask | | | | account of the way Solomon pulled a fast one on |
| anything of me, mother, for I'll not refuse you!" | | | | King Hiram of Tyre by selling him "twenty towns |
| So she does. And what does Solomon do? He not | | | | in Galilee" for "one hundred and twenty talents of |
| only rejects his mother's request, but does the | | | | gold." The "towns" were actually a collection of |
| exact opposite! She asks that Solomon's brother | | | | worthless hovels. Hiram was so unhappy that he |
| be permitted to marry a certain handmaiden. But | | | | changed the name of the towns to Sterile! |
| Solomon has eyes on the girl himself. So he | | | | Towards the end of the Biblical account, the |
| orders that his brother be immediately put to | | | | chronicler's grovelling attitude towards Solomon |
| death! [3 Kings 2:20-25 LXX]. | | | | undergoes an abrupt change. Suddenly Solomon is |
| Soon afterwards, the Bible rhapsodizes that "the | | | | no longer God's favored one but His enemy for |
| wisdom of Solomon abounded exceedingly. | | | | "Solomon did that which is evil in the sight of the |
| Solomon's wisdom went way beyond the wisdom | | | | Lord." And what was this evil? The fact that he |
| of all the ancient prophets and philosophers, and | | | | didn't follow in the hideously bloodthirsty footsteps |
| even beyond the collected wisdom of all the wise | | | | of his father, King David. [3 Kings 11:8]. |
| men who ever lived in Egypt!" [3 Kings 3:1]. | | | | So rather being portrayed as unreservedly wise |
| It's one thing to make a statement, quite another | | | | and good, the Bible also depicts Solomon as a |
| thing to prove it. What does the Bible offer by | | | | stupid, callous, evil, opportunistic, self-indulgent, |
| way of proof of Solomon's abundant wisdom? | | | | hedonistic tyrant. |
| Answer: Nothing! | | | | |