The Descent of Solomon

Even though we find less narrative about that life of Solomon that we do about the lives of his predecessors, this does not subtract from the interesting character who is the last to hold the throne of the united kingdoms of Israel.

When thinking of Solomon, many think of Solomon’s request for wisdom and his uses of it. Rightfully so, but often forget that, while he was a wise and  he was still a king under the same standards as his father.

Deuteronomy 17:14-20, lays out the guidelines by which a king in Israel was to conduct himself. These rules, though they were not many, they were straight forward.

Firstly, he is to be one that is chosen by the Lord (Deut. 17:14), which is the case in Solomon’s rule. Hamilton shows that there were even seen some similarities between the choosing of Solomon and the choosing of Joshua. He states, “Joshua will complete Moses’ unfinished work. David is disqualified from building the temple… so Solomon will complete David’s unfinished work”. (Hamilton p. 409).

Secondly, a king must be one of the children of Israel (Duet. 17:15). This we see that he also passes with flying colors, as he is the son of King David, and of the tribe of Judah.

The third point is where we see Solomon start to stray, is stated in verse 16. A king is not to acquire many horses form themselves, because this would require them to return to Egypt. 

Solomon seemingly skirts around this by having everything delivered to him through, “ships at sea bringing their valuable cargo to Solomon (v. 22), and his numerous chariots and horses (vv. 26–29)” (Hamilton p. 402). It’s almost as if he is ‘ignoring the fine print’ and getting what he wants without blatantly disobeying the command of God.

The fourth point is where Solomon goes ‘all in’. The scriptures tell us that kings were not to have many wives, because this would turn their hearts away from Jehovah (Duet. 17:17).

Hamilton states that it is here that we see Solomon, “In clear defiance of Deut. 17:17 (“he [the king] must not acquire many wives for himself”), Solomon violates the biblical principle for all peoples (not just the king) of one man for one woman, and one woman for one man”. (Hamilton p. 403)

When we are looking at the factors in the conclusions of Solomon’s life, we find the potential for a good king according to Duet. 17. 

Solomon, even in all his wisdom lacked one thing, and that was a heart fully towards Jehovah God.

Hamilton notes the contrast between him, and someone fully given to a walk with God. He states that we can, “Notice the difference in results between a wholehearted walk with God and a partial walk with God. Because of Caleb’s wholehearted following of God, “his descendants shall possess the land” (Num. 14:24b). Because of Solomon’s failure to follow Yahweh wholeheartedly, his kingdom shall be torn from him and only a portion of it left for his descendants”. (Hamilton p. 404)

When we come to Solomon with the microscope of Duet. 17, we find ourselves a “good-ish’ king. We find a man with a lot of potential to follow God completely, but instead decided to skirt the edges of the commands of God. 

The good news in this narrative of Solomon is that there was a descendant coming who would follow every jot and tittle of the law, perfectly, and He would do this wholeheartedly following the will of His Father.