1. Name and Meaning
• Name: Solomon (Hebrew: שְׁלֹמֹה, Šĕlōmōh)
• Meaning: “Peaceful,” from the Hebrew root shālôm meaning “peace” or “wholeness”
• Alternate Name: Jedidiah (“Beloved of the Lord”) given by the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 12:25)

2. Genealogical Placement and Lineage Role
• Position: Thirty-fourth generation from Adam; twenty-fourth generation after the flood in the Messianic line
• Father: David – King of Israel and recipient of the Davidic covenant
• Son: Rehoboam – continues the royal line in Judah
• Lineage Role: First successor to David’s throne; chosen heir to the Davidic covenantal promise

3. Life Summary and Historical Setting
• Became king after David’s death; reigned during Israel’s golden age of peace and prosperity (1 Kings 1–11)
• Known for exceptional wisdom (1 Kings 3), wealth, and expansive building projects—including the construction of the first temple in Jerusalem
• Initially walked faithfully with God, but later fell into idolatry through foreign alliances and marriages (1 Kings 11)
• Lifespan and reign: Reigned 40 years (1 Kings 11:42); died around age 60

4. Theological and Christological Significance
• Typologically prefigures Christ as the builder of God’s house and a king of peace (cf. Hebrews 3:3–6; Matthew 12:42)
• The temple Solomon built foreshadowed Christ as the new temple and mediator of God’s presence
• His rise and fall mirror the limits of human kingship, pointing to the need for a greater, sinless King—fulfilled in Jesus

5. Legacy and Interpretive Reflections
• Associated with the authorship of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs
• Remembered for both divine wisdom and tragic compromise; a complex figure in biblical theology
• Despite his failures, God preserved the Davidic line through him in fulfilment of His covenant
• Mentioned in both genealogies of Christ (Matthew 1:6–7; omitted in Luke, which follows David’s son Nathan)

6. Summary Insight
• Solomon, the wise king and temple builder, illustrates both the glory and limits of human kingship—prefiguring Christ, the eternal Prince of Peace and true builder of God’s kingdom.

7. Biblical References
• 2 Samuel 12:24–25
• 1 Kings 1–11
• 1 Chronicles 28–29; 2 Chronicles 1–9
• Matthew 1:6–7
• Ecclesiastes; Proverbs; Song of Songs (traditionally attributed)
• Luke 11:31