445 – Israel Under the Reign of Solomon

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: BIBLE SURVEY III LESSON # 45

ISRAEL UNDER THE REIGN OF SOLOMON

INTRODUCTION:

1. Israel’s period of great prosperity was under Solomon, son of David and Bath-sheba. Let us notice his reign as to time, accomplishment, failure and its result.

I. THE TIME ELEMENT OF SOLOMON’S REIGN

There is some question over the exact B.C. dating, but some dates we can be sure of.

1. He began to reign 476 years after Israel came out of Egypt. (I Kings 6:1

)
2. He began to build the temple four years after his reign began. (I Kings 6:1

)
3. This places the start of his reign, from about 971 B.C. to about 968 B.C. and its end from about 931 B.C. to about 928 B.C., forty years later.
4. The temple was begun somewhere between 967 and 964 B.C. and was 7 years in completion.
5. Israel had been a nation 476 years before Solomon began to reign, it would:

i. Live as a unified nation only a few years after his death.
ii. Go, in majority, into captivity in only 214 years after his death.
iii. Finally fall, in its totality, only about 350 years after his death.

II. THE PEACE AND LUXURY OF SOLOMON’S KINGDOM

1. David was a man of war, and his ministry over Israel was one of conquering her enemies.
2. Solomon’s reign was one of unprecedented peace, (I Kings 5:1-4

) however, this was largely an overriding benefit of David’s reign.
3. Under this atmosphere of peace, there came the greatest time of prosperity ever known. (I Kings 4:20-34

)
4. It was in this time of splendor and prosperity that the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon’s kingdom and made her famous observation. (I Kings 10:1-13

)

III. THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE

1. Solomon’s temple has been called one of the wonders of the world.
2. It was built to replace the tabernacle which was constructed under the leadership of Moses. (II Sam. 7:1-13

)
3. The essence of its purpose was to house the Ark of the Covenant. (II Sam. 7:2

)
4. It was not the size of the temple which made it spectacular. It was only about ninety feet long, by thirty feet wide, by forty-five feet high (using the figure of an eighteen inch cubit). (I Kings 6:2

)
5. It was the splendor of the temple, which made it so famous. Read I Kings chapters 5 and 6:

i. In the quality of its construction.
ii. In the expensive nature of its construction.

COMMENT: There has been much speculation about the cost of this temple, but even the best estimate is probably no more than a guess. It was financially astronomical.

IV. SOLOMON’S FAILURE AND ISRAEL’S FALL

I Kings 2:12-10:29 gives a most glorious account of Solomon’s success and splendor, but I Kings 11 begins to relate sin, tragedy and future destruction.

1. He loved many strange (non-Israelitish) women. Note particularly I Kings 11:1-2

.
2. The result of this sinful union was more sinful conduct. (I Kings 11:3-8

)
3. God even admonished him, after the fact. (I Kings 11:9-11

)
4. He then pronounced impending judgment upon the house of Solomon and upon his kingdom. (I Kings 11:11-13

)
5. This was even revealed to Jeroboam, the future insurrectionist, by God’s prophet Ahijah. (I Kings 11:26-39

)
6. Solomon thus sought to kill Jeroboam (I Kings 11:40

). Is it not sad that he did not remember God’s promise to him in II Chron. 7:14

Berean Baptist Church