Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, is renowned for his wisdom, wealth, and the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem. However, his reign is also marked by a significant spiritual decline, particularly through his involvement in idolatry, which is detailed in the biblical narrative.

Background and Context

Solomon's reign began with great promise. He was chosen by God to succeed his father David and was blessed with unparalleled wisdom. Under his leadership, Israel experienced a period of unprecedented peace and prosperity. Solomon's most notable achievement was the building of the Temple in Jerusalem, a central place of worship for the Israelites and a symbol of God's presence among His people.

The Influence of Foreign Wives

Despite his early devotion, Solomon's heart gradually turned away from the Lord. This shift is attributed to his marriages to foreign women, which were politically motivated alliances. According to 1 Kings 11:1-2 , "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, 'You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.' Yet Solomon clung to these women in love."

Solomon's marriages to these women led him to accommodate their religious practices, which included the worship of foreign deities. This was in direct violation of God's commandments, which prohibited idolatry and the worship of other gods.

Construction of Idolatrous Temples

As Solomon's heart turned away from the Lord, he began to build high places and temples for the gods of his foreign wives. 1 Kings 11:4-8 states, "For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been. Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD; unlike his father David, he did not follow the LORD completely. At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods."

These actions were a direct affront to the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The construction of these idolatrous temples not only led Solomon astray but also set a precedent for future generations, contributing to the spiritual decline of the nation.

Divine Judgment

The Lord's response to Solomon's idolatry was one of anger and disappointment. Despite appearing to Solomon twice and commanding him to remain faithful, Solomon's disobedience led to severe consequences. 1 Kings 11:11-13 records God's judgment: "Then the LORD said to Solomon, 'Since you have done this and have not kept My covenant and statutes, which I commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. Nevertheless, for the sake of your father David, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom away from him; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.'"

This divine judgment foretold the division of the united kingdom of Israel after Solomon's death, leading to the formation of the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah.

Legacy

Solomon's construction of idolatrous temples serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromising one's faith and the consequences of disobedience to God's commands. Despite his wisdom and achievements, Solomon's legacy is marred by his failure to remain faithful to the Lord, illustrating the importance of wholehearted devotion to God.1 Kings 11:1-8
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:
Nave's Topical Index

2 Kings 23:13
And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.
Nave's Topical Index

The Flight into Egypt and St. John the Baptist in the Desert
... had a temple which they likened to Solomon's temple, but ... JOSEPH BUILDS A PLACE FOR
JEWISH PRAYER ... They carried on a revolting idolatrous worship, which consisted ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xvi the flight into egypt.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... And darkness was upon the face of the deep (v 2). The Deep here, might be a type
of the heart of man before conversion; and so Solomon seems to intimate. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

Who are the daughters of Jerusalem in Song of Solomon? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Testament of Solomon? | GotQuestions.org

Why does Solomon refer to his wife as his sister (Song of Solomon 4:9)? | GotQuestions.org

Solomon: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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