Solomon is one clever, clever man. He gets under people’s skin and understands what makes them tick He makes brilliant political judgements and raises Israel to the status of a world power. His people love it!
Solomon’s judgement
1 Kings 3:16-28
Hadad’s response to David’s death
1 Kings 11:21-22
Solomon’s court
1 Kings 4:1-19
His daily provision
1 Kings 4:22-23, 27-28
His agreement with Hiram
1 Kings 5:1-12, 7:13,14, 2 Chronicles 2:1,3-16
His workmen
1 Kings 5:13-18, 2 Chronicles 2:2,17-18
So we hear about Solomon’s legendary judgement. He cuts to the heart of two women’s dispute over a baby, and politically he is astute. There’s a telling verse in 1 Kings 4: “The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy.” (v20) This is it then, Promise fulfilled. Tick. Rewind the clock all the way back to Abraham, and this is what God promised. It’s taken a thousand years, but God has delivered.
Kings goes on to list how much food Solomon’s court gets through in a day. This reminds me of Samuel’s warning to the people when they decided they wanted a king: “He will take a tenth of your fields and your vineyards and give it to his courtiers.” Right now, though, I think the Israelites reckon it was a good price. They are loving it. Israel has arrived. they are a world power.
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