Appendix A – Chronological Timeline of Solomon’s Life
| Approx. Year BCE | Estimated Age | Major Event | Scriptural Reference | Spiritual Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 990 | Birth | Solomon born to David and Bathsheba; named Jedidiah (“Beloved of the Lord”). | 2 Sam 12 : 24–25 | Birth from repentance → life of grace. |
| c. 970 | ~20 yrs | Becomes king after David’s death. | 1 Kgs 2 : 12 | Humble beginning → dependent prayer. |
| c. 968 | 21 yrs | Dream at Gibeon – divine bestowal of wisdom. | 1 Kgs 3 : 5–14 | Wisdom as divine gift. |
| c. 966–959 | 24–31 yrs | Builds the Temple of Yahweh (7 years). | 1 Kgs 6 : 1–38 | Worship institutionalised. |
| c. 959–946 | 31–44 yrs | Builds royal palace and fortifications. | 1 Kgs 7 : 1–12 | Kingdom prosperity. |
| c. 950 | 40–45 yrs | Visit of the Queen of Sheba. | 1 Kgs 10 : 1–10 | International fame. |
| c. 945–940 | 50–55 yrs | Accumulation of wealth, wives, and idols. | 1 Kgs 11 : 1–8 | Moral decline. |
| c. 935–930 | 55–60 yrs | Prophetic warning and adversaries arise. | 1 Kgs 11 : 9–25 | Discipline begins. |
| c. 930 | ~60 yrs | Death – “rested with his fathers.” | 1 Kgs 11 : 43 | Life ends in reflection and repentance. |
Appendix B – Languages in Solomon’s Kingdom
| Sphere | Primary Language(s) | Script/Alphabet | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government & Worship | Hebrew (Early Classical) | Proto-Phoenician | Legal decrees, psalms, temple liturgy | Sacred and administrative tongue. |
| Trade & Diplomacy | Phoenician, Aramaic, Egyptian | Phoenician & Hieratic | Commerce, treaties, correspondence | Aramaic emerging as lingua franca. |
| Foreign Wives’ Courts | Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian | Regional variants | Domestic & cultural exchange | Source of linguistic diversity and syncretism. |
| Scholarship & Literature | Hebrew | Early alphabetic | Proverbs, Songs, Ecclesiastes | Literary canonisation of wisdom. |
Interpretation:
Solomon’s multilingual environment enriched culture yet introduced religious pluralism, proving that diversity without spiritual discernment can destabilise identity.
Appendix C – Comparison: Solomon’s Wisdom vs Modern Knowledge
| Category | Solomon’s Wisdom (c. 10th cent. BCE) | Modern Knowledge (21st cent. CE) | Theological Reflection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source | Revelation from God (1 Kgs 3 : 12) | Empirical observation & technology | Knowledge without revelation risks moral blindness. |
| Scope | Moral, judicial, natural, poetic | Scientific, technological, global | Modern breadth > Solomon; spiritual depth < Solomon. |
| Purpose | Justice, worship, covenant fidelity | Progress, innovation, control | True wisdom seeks alignment, not domination. |
| Outcome | Peace, then decline through pride | Advancement, yet anxiety & fragmentation | Both require humility before Creator. |
| Model of Fulfilment | Foreshadows Christ as perfect wisdom | Fulfilled in Christ (1 Cor 1 : 24) | All wisdom finds completion in divine truth. |
Appendix D – Summary of Solomon’s Biblical Books
| Canonical Book | Traditional Authorship | Core Theme | Selected Key Verses | Theological Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proverbs | Solomon and later sages | Practical wisdom and moral discipline | Prov 1 : 7; 3 : 5–6 | Fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom. |
| Ecclesiastes | Solomon / Qoheleth | Meaning of life, mortality, reverence | Eccl 1 : 2; 12 : 13–14 | Repentance and humility before God. |
| Song of Songs | Solomon | Divine love symbolised in human affection | Song 2 : 16; 8 : 6–7 | Covenant love as analogy for divine union. |
Together these works embody the full spectrum of biblical wisdom—from instruction (Proverbs), through introspection (Ecclesiastes), to inspiration (Song of Songs).
Appendix E – Archaeological and Historical Context
| Site | Possible Association with Solomon | Key Findings | Scholarly View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerusalem (Ophel & Temple Mount) | Temple & palace complex | Massive retaining walls, monumental architecture | Remains debated but consistent with 10th-century expansion (Mazar 2010). |
| Hazor, Megiddo, Gezer | Fortified cities “built by Solomon” (1 Kgs 9 : 15) | Six-chambered gates, casemate walls | Chronology disputed; likely royal building programme (Dever 2020). |
| Ezion-Geber (modern ʿAqaba) | Red Sea port for trade | Industrial copper-smelting site | Confirms extensive trade networks. |
These data situate Solomon within the Iron Age II emergence of the Israelite state, validating the biblical picture of an internationally connected, administratively complex monarchy.
Appendix F – Thematic Summary: The Arc of Solomon’s Life
| Phase | Description | Spiritual Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Grace Received | Birth after David’s repentance. | God redeems broken beginnings. |
| Wisdom Granted | Humble request at Gibeon. | True wisdom is received, not earned. |
| Glory Manifested | Golden age of peace, art, and learning. | Divine blessing at its peak. |
| Compromise Begun | Foreign alliances and idolatry. | Disalignment through comfort. |
| Judgement Declared | Prophets foretell division. | Discipline reveals divine justice. |
| Repentance Voiced | Ecclesiastes and rediscovered reverence. | Restoration through humility. |
| Legacy Endures | Wisdom literature and messianic line. | Grace outlasts failure. |
Appendix G – Selected Bibliography
Primary Texts
- The Holy Bible, New International Version (2011). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
- Septuagint (LXX): Rahlfs-Hanhart Edition (2006). Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.
Secondary Sources
- Augustine (1998) The City of God against the Pagans, trans. R. W. Dyson. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Brueggemann, W. (2000) 1 & 2 Kings. Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys.
- Dever, W. G. (2020) Beyond the Texts: An Archaeological Portrait of Ancient Israel and Judah. Atlanta: SBL Press.
- Fox, M. V. (1999) A Time to Tear Down and a Time to Build Up: A Rereading of Ecclesiastes. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
- Hallo, W. W. and Younger, K. L. (eds.) (2003) The Context of Scripture, Vol. 1. Leiden: Brill.
- Longman, T. III (2016) Ecclesiastes. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
- Mazar, A. (2010) Archaeology of the Land of the Bible 10,000–586 B.C.E. New Haven: Yale University Press.
- Wright, N. T. (2018) The Day the Revolution Began. London: SPCK.
Appendix H – Summary Diagram: The Life Curve of Solomon
Grace → Wisdom → Glory → Compromise → Judgement → Repentance → Restoration
(Visual representation: an ascending arc of grace rising through wisdom, peaking in glory, descending through compromise and judgement, and curving upward again in repentance and grace.)
Concluding Reflection
Solomon’s narrative remains a timeless mirror of the human journey.
He was chosen, gifted, tested, fallen, and restored.
His life warns the powerful, comforts the penitent, and educates the wise.
Across languages, centuries, and cultures, the essence of his story still whispers:
“Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Eccl 12 : 13)