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The Story of King Solomon – The Man Who Had 1000 Women(M4A_128K) · truthunedited

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Speaker 1: What if I told you there was once a king
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who owned more gold than entire nations, built a temple
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so magnificent that visitors feinted at its beauty and was
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personally visited by God not once, but twice. This same
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king made silver as common as rocks, and his wisdom
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was legendary across continents. But here's the shocking twist. He
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also had one thousand women in his life, seven hundred
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wives and three hundred concubinas, and this very blessing became
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his ultimate curse. How does divine favor turn into divine judgment?
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How does the wisest man in history make the most
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foolish decisions? To day, we uncover the incredible true story
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of King Solomon, where unlimited power, unmatched wisdom, and uncontrolled
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desires collide. In the most dramatic Biblical tale ever told.
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King David lay dying in his bed, his once mighty
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body now weak and cold. The greatest king is I
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had ever known was about to pass from this world.
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But first he had crucial words for his son. As
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recorded in First Kings Chapter two, David called Solomon to
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his side and spoke with the authority of a man
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who had walked with God for decades. Be strong and
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show yourself a man, David told his son. And keep
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the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in
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his ways, to keep his statutes, his commandments, his judgments,
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and his testimonies. Is it is written in the law
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of Moses that you may prosper in all that you
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do and wherever you turn. The old king's voice grew
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more serious as he continued with specific instructions about enemies
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who still posed threats to the kingdom. David knew that
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Solomon would need to deal with Joab the Commander, who
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had murdered innocent men, and with she Mah, who had
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cursed David during Absalom's rebellion. These weren't words of revenge,
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but of wi wisdom from a king who understood that
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mercy without justice could destroy a kingdom. But while David
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gave his final counsel, trouble was already brewing in the
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royal palace. Adoneja, Solomon's older half brother, had decided he
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should be king instead. This handsome prince had been gathering
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supporters for months, hosting feasts and winning over important people
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like Joab the Commander and Abiathar the priest. The palace
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was divided with whispered conversations and secret meetings as two
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camps formed around the rival brothers. After the crisis of
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succession was settled and Solomon sat firmly on Israel's throne,
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the young king knew he faced an impossible task. How
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could any one rule God's chosen people. The responsibility felt crushing,
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and Solomon understood he needed more than human wisdom to succeed.
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So he made a pilgrimage to Gibeon, the great high
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place where peace people came to worship the Lord. As
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First King's Chapter three tells us, this was no small journey.
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Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar, showing
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his deep desire to honor God. That night at Gibeon,
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something extraordinary happened. As Solomon slept, God appeared to him
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in a dream that would change the course of history.
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The creator of the universe spoke directly to the young
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king with words that would make anyone's heart race. Ask
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what shall I give you? Imagine that moment, the Almighty
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offering to grant you anything your heart desired. Most people
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would immediately think of wealth, long life, or power over
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their enemies. The temptation to ask for personal gain must
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have been overwhelming, but Solomon's response revealed something beautiful about
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his heart. Now, O Lord, my God, you have made
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your servant king instead of my father David. But I
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am but a little child. I do not know how
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to go out or come in, Solomon prayed with genuine humility.
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And your servant is in the midst of your people,
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whom you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to
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be numbered or counted. Therefore, give to your servant an
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understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern
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between good and evil, For who is able to judge
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this great people of yours. This wasn't false modesty. This
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was a young man who truly grasped the weight of
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leadership and his own desperate need for divine help. God
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was so pleased with Solomon's selfless request that he not
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only granted wisdom, but promised riches and honor beyond any
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king before or after him. Soon, Solomon would face a
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test that proved to everyone that something supernatural had happened
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to their ruler. Two women came before the king with
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a problem that seemed impossible to solve. Both lived in
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the same house, both had given birth to sons around
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the same time, and both claimed that the living child
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was theirs. The first woman told her heart breaking story,
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as recorded in First Kings, Chapter three. This woman and
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I dwell in the same house, and I gave birth
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while she was in the house. She began. Then it
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happened the third day after I had given birth, that
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this woman also gave birth, and we were together. No
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one was with us in the house except the two
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of us. Her voice broke as she continued, and this
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woman's son died in the night because she lay on him.
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So she arose in the middle of the night and
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took my son from my side while your maid servant slept,
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and laid him at her breast, and laid her dead
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child at my breast. The second woman immediately protested, insisting
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that the living child was definitely hers and the dead
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baby belonged to the first woman. Back and forth they argued,
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each absolutely certain she was telling the truth, each desperately
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wanting the living child. The court watched in fascination as
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the two mothers presented their cases. Here was a situation
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with no witnesses, no evidence, just two broken hearted women
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and one precious living baby. Then Solomon did something that
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shocked every one present. Bring me a sword, the king commanded.
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When the weapon was placed before him, Solomon gave an
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order that made the entire court gasp in horror. Divide
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the living child in two, and give half to one
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and half to the other. The room fell deathly silent.
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Surely the wise king couldn't seriously be planning to kill
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an innocent baby to solve this dispute. But this was
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exactly the test Solomon had designed to reveal truth through
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the power of a mother's love. The woman who was
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the true mother immediately cried out in anguish, her heart,
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unable to bear the thought of her child being harmed,
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even if it meant losing him forever. O, my Lord,
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give her the living child, and by no means kill him,
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she pleaded desperately. The other woman, revealing her cold and
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selfish heart, responded with chilling words, let him be neither
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mine nor your's, but divide him. In that moment of truth,
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every one in the court room knew who the real
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mother was. Solomon immediately declared, give the first woman the
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living child, and by no means kill him. She is
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his mother. The wisdom of this judgment was breathtaking. Without
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any evidence except human nature itself, the king had revealed
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the truth and saved an innocent life. Word of this
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incredible decision spread like wildfire throughout Israel, and the people
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realized their young king possessed wisdom that could only come
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from Heaven itself. This famous judgment established Solomon's authority in
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a way that no military victory could have accomplished. The
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respect and reverence for his wisdom began to grow among
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all his subjects, from the highest nobles to the simplest farmers.
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People understood that their king could see into human hearts
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and discern truth in ways that seemed almost miraculous. This
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wasn't just clever thinking. This was divine insight that set
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Solomon apart from every other ruler on earth. But Solomon
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knew that wisdom alone wouldn't be enough to secure his
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kingdom permanently. There were still dangerous people who had opposed
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his rule and could threaten Israel's stability in the future.
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As First King's Chapter two records, he systematically dealt with
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those who posed risks to his reign, including his half
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brother Adonija, who continued to plot for the throne even
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after David's death. With his throne secure, Solomon turned his
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brilliant mind and to creating something no King of Israel
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had ever attempted before, a government system that could efficiently
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manage an entire kingdom. He understood that ruling from Jerusalem
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alone wasn't sufficient for a nation that was growing larger
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and more complex every day. The old tribal system that
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had worked for smaller populations was no longer adequate for
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the prosperous, expanding kingdom Israel was becoming. Solomon's solution was revolutionary,
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as described in First Kings, Chapter four. He divided Israel
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into twelve administrative districts, each one carefully designed and each
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responsible for providing food and supplies for the royal household
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for one month of the year. This wasn't arbitrary division.
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Each district was organized to be roughly equal in resources
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and population, insuring fairness and efficiency throughout the kingdom. The
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The king appointed twelve officers to govern these districts, and
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their names are recorded in scripture Ben Hur in the
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Mountains of Ephraim, Ben Dekker in Makas, and Shalbim ben
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hesseed in Arabbath, and nine others, each carefully chosen for
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their ability and loyalty. These weren't just tax collectors. They
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were regional governors, responsible for maintaining order, insuring justice, and
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organizing the resources their districts would contribute to the kingdom's prosperity.
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This system was brilliant in its simplicity and effectiveness. Instead
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of the chaos and confusion that had often marked Israel's
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earlier history, with different tribes doing whatever they wanted, Solomon
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created order and efficiency that made the entire kingdom stronger.
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Each district knew exactly what was expected of them, and
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each had leadership that answered directly to the king in Jerusalem.
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The administrative system Solomon created allowed to build military strength
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unlike anything Israel had ever possessed. As first Kings, Chapter
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four describes Solomon had forty thousand stalls for his horses
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and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen stationed throughout the kingdom.
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This wasn't just about having a big army. It was
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about creating the kind of military power that would make
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other nations think twice before attacking Israel. But Solomon was
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incredibly smart about how he used this military strength. Instead
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of constantly fighting wars like his father David had been
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forced to do, Solomon preferred to make alliances and treaties
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that would prevent wars from happening in the first place.
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He built fortified cities in strategic locations throughout his kingdom,
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not just to prepare for war, but to demonstrate to
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potential enemies that Israel was now too powerful and well
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organized to attack successfully. One of solom Woman's most important
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strategic moves was his marriage alliance with Egypt. As First
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King's Chapter three mentions, Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter, bringing her
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to live in the city of David until he could
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build a proper palace for her. This wasn't just a
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personal relationship. It was a diplomatic master stroke that secured
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Israel's southern border and opened up incredible new possibilities for
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trade and co operation with the most powerful nation in Africa.
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The marriage to Pharaoh's daughter sent a clear message to
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the entire ancient world. Israel was no longer a small,
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struggling kingdom that could be bullied or ignored. Now even
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mighty Egypt wanted to be Israel's ally rather than their enemy.
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This alliance brought peace to Israel's borders and respect from
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nations far and wide, showing that Solomon's wisdom extended far
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beyond domestic affairs into the complex world of international diplomacy.
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The peace and stability that Solomon's wisdom had created throughout
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Israel and beyond its borders allowed something remarkable to happen.
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The Kingdom became incredibly wealthy. Trade routes that had been
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dangerous during the constant wars of David's reign were now
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safe for merchants to travel. Money flowed into the royal
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treasury from taxes, tribute payments from other nations, and profits
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from the expanding trade networks that connected Israel to distant lands.
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As first Kings, Chapter four beautifully describes the prosperity of
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this golden age. Judah and Israel were as numerous as
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the sand by the sea, in multitude, eating and drinking
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and rejoicing. This wasn't just the royal court living in
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luxury while common people suffered. This was genuine prosperity reaching
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throughout the entire kingdom. The Bible tells us that the
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kingdom's secure borders stretched from Dan to Beersheba, meaning from
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the far north to the deep South, and everyone lived
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in safety. The symbol of this incredible peace and prosperity
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was that every person could sit under his vine and
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his fig tree without fear of attack or invasion. This
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phrase painted a picture of agricultural abundance and personal security
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that would have seemed like an impossible dream during the
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chaotic years before Solomon's reign. People could plant crops knowing
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they would be able to harvest them, build homes knowing
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they wouldn't be destroyed by war, and raised children knowing
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they would grow up in safety. Kings and rulers from
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distant nations began sending ambassadors to Jerusalem, not because they
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were forced to, but because they wanted to establish good
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relationships with this obviously blessed kingdom. They brought gifts and
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tribute payments, recognizing that Solomon's Israel had become a major
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power that deserved respect and careful diplomacy rather than hostility
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or indifference. With peace established throughout his kingdom and prosperity
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flowing to all his people, Solomon's God given wisdom began
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to express itself in ways that would make his name
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famous for thousands of years to come. As First King's
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Chapter four records he spoke three thousand proverbs, and his
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songs were one thousand and five. These weren't just clever
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sayings or entertaining songs. They were profound insights into life,
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human nature, and God's ways that people could use to
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live wiser, better, more successful lives. Solomon's incredible knowledge wasn't
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limited to spiritual or philosophical matters either. The Bible tells
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us that he spoke of trees from the cedar tree
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of Lebanon, even to the hissop that springs out of
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the wall. He spoke also of animals, of birds, of
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creeping things, and of fish. This king was a scientist
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and naturalist, a philosopher, and a poet, all combined into
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one amazing person. His mind, sharpened and expanded by God's
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supernatural gift of wisdom, explored every aspect of creation with
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curiosity and understanding that amazed everyone who heard him speak.
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Word of Solomon's extraordinary knowledge and wisdom spread to the
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most distant lands, and people began making long, difficult journeys
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just to hear him teach and answer their most challenging questions.
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Kings sent their wisest advisers and scholars to Jerusalem to
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learn from Solomon and bring back reports of what they
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had discovered. Israel's capital city was transformed from a regional
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center into something like a great university, where the smartest
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people in the known world gathered to exchange ideas and
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learn from each other. The young king this was a
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calling that went far beyond anyth accords. David had all
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already received detailed plans for the temple directly from God.
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All this, David told Solomon, the Lord made me understand
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in writing by his hand upon me all the works
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of these plans. These weren't human architectural drawings. These were
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divine blueprints that showed exactly how God wanted his house
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to be built. Solomon's job was to take these sacred
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plans and turn them into reality. Solomon knew he couldn't
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build the Temple using only Israel's resources. The finest materials
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in the world came from other lands, and no one
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was better at working with cedar wood than the craftsmen
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of Lebanon. So Solomon reached out to King Hiram of Tire,
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a man who had been David's friend and ally for
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many years. This would be one of the most important
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diplomatic relationships in Solomon's entire reign. As First Kings Chapter
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five tells us, Solomon sent messengers to Hiram with a
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proposal that would benefit both kingdoms. You know how my
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father David could not build a house for the name
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of the Lord his God, because of the wars which
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were fought against him on every side, until the Lord
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put his foes under the soles of his feet, Solomon explained,
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But now the Lord my God has given me rest
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on every side, there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence.
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And behold, I proposed to build a house for the
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name of the Lord my God. As the Lord spoke
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to my father David. Solomon's request was specific and generous.
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He asked Hiram to command his servants to cut cedar
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trees from Lebanon, promising that his own workers would help
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and that he would pay whatever wages Hiram set for
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the Lebanese workers, for you know there is none among
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us who has skilled to cut timberlet people. Hiram agreed
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immediately to provide all the cedar and cyprus wood Solomon needed.
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This wasn't just a business deal. It was the beginning
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of a friendship between two kingdoms that would last for decades.
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The terms they worked out were perfect for both nations.
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Hiram would provide the timber and skilled craftsmen, while Solomon
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would pay with wheat and oil twenty thousand cores of
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wheat and twenty cores of pressed oil every year. This
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trade agreement meant that Lebanon got food for their people,
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while Israel got the finest building materials in the world.
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Both kings understood that this partnership would make both of
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their kingdoms stronger and more prosperous. Building God's Temple required
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the largest construction project anyone in Israel had ever imagined.
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Solomon knew he needed thousands of workers, and he organized
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them with the same systematic brilliance he had used to
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organize his kingdom's government as First Kings, Chapter five describes
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Solomon raised up a labor force of thirty thousand men
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from all Israel, but he was wise about how he
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used them. Instead of forcing them to work constantly away
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from their homes and families, he sent them to Lebanon
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in shifts of ten thousand men each month, so they
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would work one month in Lebanon and then spend two
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months at home. This rotating system showed Solomon's wisdom and
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compassion as a leader. He understood that families needed their
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fathers and that farms needed their workers. By organizing the
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labor in shifts, he made sure the temple got built
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without destroying the lives of his people. Adoram was put
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in charge of this enormous workforce, making sure the rotation
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system worked smoothly and that the work in Lebanon continued
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without interruption. But the Lebanese workers were just part of
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the massive project. Solomon also had seventy thousand men who
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carried burdens and eighty thousand who were stonecutters in the
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mountains of Israel. These weren't foreigners. These were people from
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the nations that had lived in the land before Israel,
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and now they were contributing them skills to build God's house.
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First Kings Chapter five tells us that besides the chief officers,
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Solomon had three thousand, three hundred who ruled over the
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people who labored in the work. The organization required to
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coordinate all these workers was incredible. Think about it. Over
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one hundred and eighty thousand people working on a single project,
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with materials coming from Lebanon, stones being cut in the mountains,
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and everything having to arrive in Jerusalem at exactly the
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right time. This wasn't just construction. This was like organizing
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a small army, except instead of fighting a war, they
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were building something beautiful for God. The stone work alone
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was a marvel of planning and skill, as First King's
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Chapter six records, and the temple when it was being
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built was built with stone finished at the quarry, so
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that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was
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heard in the temple while it was being build built.
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Every stone was cut and shaped perfectly at the quarry,
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then brought to Jerusalem and fitted into place without any
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noise or disturbance. The temple sight itself remained peaceful and
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reverent even during the massive construction project. The temple Solomon
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built followed the exact specifications God had given to David,
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but on a scale that took everyone's breath away. As
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described in First Kings Chapter six, the temple was sixty
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cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high, roughly
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ninety feet long, thirty feet wide, and forty five feet tall.
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These weren't just random measurements. Every dimension had been specified
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by God himself and carried deep spiritual meaning. The materials
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Solomon used were the finest available anywhere in the ancient world.
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The walls were covered with cedar wood, carved with gourds
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and open flowers, and then overlaid with pure gold. First
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Kings Chapter six tells us that the whole temple he
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overlaid with gold until he had finished all the temple. Also,
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he overlaid with gold the entire altar that was by
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the inner sanctuary. The amount of gold used was so
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enormous that it's hard to imagine. The entire interior of
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the temple gleamed like the sun. In the inner sanctuary,
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called the Most Holy Place, Solomon placed two cherubim made
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of olive wood, each ten cubits high. These weren't small decorations.
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They were massive sculptures with wings that stretched from wall
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to wall. As the Bible describes, one wing of the
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cherub was five cubits and the other wing of the
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cherub five cubits. Ten cubits From the tip of one
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wing to the tip of the other These golden cherubim
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stood guard over the place where God's presence would dwell.
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The temple's entrance was flanked by two bronze pillars that
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became famous throughout the ancient world. As First King's Chapter
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seven records, Solomon made these pillars eighteen cubits high, each
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with capitals that were five cubits high, decorated with network
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and chain work, with pomegranates carved all around. He called
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the right pillar Jackin and the left pillar Boaz, names
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that meant He establishes and in him is strength. These
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pillars weren't just decorative, they were declarations that God was
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the foundation and strength of Israel. But the temple was
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more than just beautiful architecture. Every detail had meaning. The
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carved pomegranates represented fruitfulness and blessing. The palm trees carved
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on the walls symbolized victory and eternal life. The open
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flowers spoke of beauty and the glory of God's creation.
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Walking into this temple wasn't just entering a building, It
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was stepping into a physical representation of Heaven itself. After
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seven years of construction, the moment finally came when God's
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house was complete and ready for its most sacred occupant.
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The Ark of the Covenant, which had been kept in
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a tent since the days of Moses, would finally have
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a permanent home. As First King's Chapter eight describes, Solomon
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called together all the elders of Israel, all the heads
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of the tribes, and the chief fathers of the children
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of Israel, to bring up the Ark from the city
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of David. The procession that brought the Ark to the
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Temple was unlike anything Israel had ever seen. King Solomon
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and all the congregation of Israel who had assembled with
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him were before, and now they rested in the most
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sacred place on earth. When the priests came out of
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the Holy Place, something amazing happened. The Bible tells us
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that the cloud filled the House of the Lord. Cloud
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for the glory of the Lord filled the House of
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the Lord. God himself had come to live in the Temple.
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Solomon had built the preserves his words, Lord, God of Israel,
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there is no God in heaven above or on earth
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below like you, who keep your covenant and mercy with
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your servants who walked before you with all their hearts.
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Solomon's prayer acknowledged that even this magnificent temple couldn't contain
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the infinite God. Yet he asked that God would hear
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the prayers of his people when they prayed toward this place.
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After Solomon finished his prayer and the dedication ceremonies ended,
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God responded in a way that confirmed everything Solomon had
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hoped for. As recorded in First King's Chapter nine, the
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Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, just as he
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had appeared to him at Gibeon years earlier. This wasn't
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a dream this time. This was a direct encounter between
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the king and the creator of the universe. God's message
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was both encouraging and sobering. I have heard your prayer
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and your supplication that you have made before me, the
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Lord said, I have consecrated this house which you have built,
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to put my name there forever, and my eyes and
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my heart will be there perpetually. This was exactly what
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Solomon had prayed for God's promise that his presents would
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remain in the temple and that he would hear the
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prayers of his people when they turned toward this sacred place.
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But God's second appearance also came with serious conditions. The
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Lord made it clear that his blessings depended on continued obedience. Now,
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if you walk before me as your father David walked,
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in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according
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to all that I have commanded you, And if you
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keep my statutes and my judgments, then I will establish
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the throne of your kingdom over Israel for ever, as
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I promised David, your father. The warning that followed was
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stark and unmistakable. But if you or your sons, that
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could be removed. If Israel turned away from him, this
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second divine appearance established a covenant that would govern Israel's
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relationship whip with God for centuries to come. The temple
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wasn't just a beautiful building. It was the physical center
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of a spiritual agreement between God and his chosen people.
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As long as they remained faithful, God would bless them
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beyond measure. But if they broke the covenant by worshiping
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other gods, even this glorious temple would become a ruin.
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Word of Solomon's incredible wisdom and the magnificence of his
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kingdom began to spread to the farthest corners of the
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known world. Kings and rulers heard amazing stories about this
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young king of Israel, who possessed supernatural knowledge and had
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built a temple so beautiful that visitors were left speechless.
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But one ruler decided she had to see for herself
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whether these reports could possibly be true. The Queen of
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Sheba ruled a wealthy kingdom far to the south, probably
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in what is now Ethiopia or Yemen. She was powerful, intelligent,
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and used to dealing with the greatest rulers of her time.
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But the stories she heard about Solomon were so extraordinary
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that she couldn't ignore them. As First King's Chapter ten records,
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when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of
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Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to
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test him with hard questions. The Queen of Sheba's journey
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to Jerusalem wasn't a simple diplomatic visit. It was a
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serious investigation. She brought with her the hardest questions she
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could think of, the kind of puzzles that would stump
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even the wisest scholars in her own kingdom. She wanted
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to know if this Hebrew king really was as brilliant
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as people claimed, or if the stories had been exaggerated
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by enthusiastic admirers. When the queen arrived in Jerusalem with
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her enormous caravan, Solomon received her with all the honor
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due to a visiting monarch. She came with a very
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great retinue, with camel that bore spices, very much gold
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and precious stones. This wasn't just a courtesy visit. She
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brought gifts that demonstrated the wealth and power of her
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own kingdom, showing that she came as an equal, not
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as someone seeking favors. The Bible tells us that Solomon
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answered all her questions. There was nothing so difficult for
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the king that he could not explain it to her.
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Every puzzle she presented, every complex problem she posed, every
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challenging question she asked, Solomon had answers that amazed and
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satisfied her brilliant mind. This wasn't just showing off. This
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was the demonstration of wisdom that could only come from
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God himself. But the Queen of Sheba was impressed by
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more than just Solomon's answers to her questions. Purse King's
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chapter ten describes her amazement at everything she saw. When
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the Queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon,
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the house that he had built, the food on his table,
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the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters
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and their apparel, his cup bearers, and his entryway by
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which he went up to the house of the Lord.
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There was no more spirit in her. The Queen of
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Sheba's reaction to Solomon's court reveals just how magnificent his
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kingdom had become. She told the King, honestly, it was
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a true report which I heard in my own land,
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about your words and your wisdom. However, I did not
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believe the words until I came and saw with my
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own eyes, And indeed the half was not told me.
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Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard.
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The daily operations of Solomon's court were on a scale
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that seemed almost impossible to believe. As First King's Chapter
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four records, Solomon's provision for one day was thirty cores
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of fine flower, sixty cores of meal, ten fatted oxen,
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twenty oxen from the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks,
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and fatted fowl. This wasn't just feeding the royal family.
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This was providing meals for thousands of officials, servants, guards,
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and visitors who came to Jerusalem every single day. The
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throne Solomon sat on became legendary throughout the ancient world.
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As described in First Kings, Chapter ten, It was made
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of ivory and overlaid with the finest gold. The throne
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had six steps, and the top of the throne was round.
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At the back. There were armrests on either side of
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the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside
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the armrests. Twelve lions stood there, one on each side
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of the six steps. Nothing like this had been made
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for any other kingdom. These twelve lions weren't just decorations.
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They represented the twelve tribes of Israel, showing that Solomon
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ruled over all of God's people. Every time the king
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climbed the steps to his throne, he passed between these
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symbols of the nation he governed. Foreign visitors understood immediately
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that they were in the presence of a ruler whose
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bower and authority were unlike anything they had ever encountered.
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The wealth that flowed through Solomon's kingdom was so enormous
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that silver became as common as stones in Jerusalem. First Kings,
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Chapter ten tells us that the king made silver as
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common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as
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abundant as the sycamores which are in the Lowland. This
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wasn't just royal wealth concentrated in the palace. This was
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prosperity that reached throughout the entire kingdom. Solomon's fleet of
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ships brought treasures from distant lands that most people had
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never even heard of, For the king had merchant ships
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at sea with the fleet of Hireum. Once every three years,
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the merchant ships came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.
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These exotic imp showed that Solomon's influence reached to the
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ends of the earth, and that even the most distant
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kingdoms wanted to trade with Israel. The reputation of Solomon's
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kingdom became so great that rulers from every nation sent
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ambassadors with gifts and tribute. So King Solomon surpassed all
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the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. The
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Bible records now all the earth sought the presence of
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Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had put in
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his heart. Each man present articles of silver, and gold
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garments that threatened to take