The Glories of the Reign of Solomon -- By: Howard F. Vos

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 110:440 (Oct 1953)
Article: The Glories of the Reign of Solomon
Author: Howard F. Vos


The Glories of the Reign of Solomon

Howard F. Vos

For almost three millennia Solomon has been renowned for his wisdom and splendor. To the Jews his name speaks of the zenith of their history; to the believer it is at once a name which spells achievement under the blessing of God and which symbolizes practices to be avoided in one’s personal life. To the destructive higher critic the Scriptural account of his glory is to be taken with three grains of salt; to the fundamentalist it is true.

The Scripture points out that Solomon carried on extensive building projects: “And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer” (1 Kings 9:15). His navy plied the high seas: “And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion-geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom” (1 Kings 9:26). With his income (“Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold”—1 Kings 10:14) he supported such programs as the establishment of strong defenses: “And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen; and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem” (1 Kings 10:26).

The Extent of the Kingdom

“Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life” (1 Kings 4:21). The territory delineated in this verse is roughly eight hundred miles from north to south. Such a fact poses a problem, for the Syro-Palestine area had long resounded with the hoof beats of horses and the tramping of soldiers both of Egyptian and Mesopotamian powers,

the two great world empires of that day, as they sought to make it a buffer state.

Could Solomon in 950 B.C. have ruled such a large area? A study of archaeology and ancient history provides the answer. The Egyptian Empire was in a period of decline, which began about 1150 B.C. During succeeding centuries her previous glory faded, and most of the revivals of power in that nation were accomplished by foreign rulers. However, not even one of these did much for Egypt until the days of Shishak I (or Sheshonk I), approximately 935-915 B.C. In Assyria, afte...

You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe
visitor : : uid: ()