SOLOMON (Hebr. Shelomo, Salomon, Salomo. Sulehmin, derived from shalom peace =peaceful, like Germ. Friedrich), the second son of David and Bathsheba; successor of the former on the throne of the Ismelitish empire for 40 years (1015-975 n.c.*). Noth ing is known of his youth except that he was probably educated by Nathan (or Jehiel). Equally uncertain is the age at which he succeeded to the crown of his father. That lie was older than 12 or 14 years, as some traditions tell us, seems certain. The way in which his succession to the throne during the lifetime of his father was brought about, to the exclusion of his elder brother Adonijah, is not undeserving of the name of coop (Fetal, which has been bestowed upon it (see the Scripture narrative). Having, by the execution of Adonijah and the leaders of his faction, secured his dominion against internal 'foes, lie, with complete disregard of the Mosaic law, set himself to seek foreign alliances, and with this view married as his principal wife dm of Pharaoh, probably of Psuseties (Vaphres?), of the twenty-first dynasty. Besides, her, however, he had a vast number of wives-700 "princesses," and 300 "concubines"—the graatest part of whom were recruited from nations with whom an alliance had been strictly prohibited. Having inherited fabulous wealth, and further adding to it enormously from his own multifarious revenuea, so that "silver was nothing accounted of in his days," it became necessary that a new organization corresponding to this unheard-of splendor shout" be introduced. Aceording1T, we hear of " princes," i. c., great officers of state, not before heard of. The two counselors of David's time disappear, in order probably to make room for a whole body of legal advisers; the prophets are no longer to lie found among the digni taries of state, hut new military charges are created instead. Time immense accmnifation of treasure also allowed the execution of a number of public works in .Jerusalem, which now first asanined the magnificence and station of a capital. A new wall with fortified
towers was erected around it; and the queen's palace—" the house of the forest of Leba non "—with a long ball joined to it by a cedar porch, call the "tower of David," outside of which a thousand goblet] shields were suspended. and within whieli the king sat, in all his imperial splendor, to pass judgment, were lmilt minder his immediate orders. His banquets, at • which all the were of gold; his tables, with their four (or forty) thousand stalls; his gardens and parks and summer retreats. were such as to dazzle even eastern fancy. Twelye CIIIIIMiStiarieg, distributed in the different provinces, had each in his turn to furnish the means of sustaining this prodigious household. The dominion of Solomon extended from Thapsactis, on the Euphrates, to Gaza on the Mediterranean. The (-wintry was in the profoundest state of peace; the treasures accumulated by David appeared inexhanstilite; and the popularity of the king, who listened to the meanest. of his subjects: and gave jinlainent according to that wisdom, for which he lied asked in his vision at Gibeon, in preference to any other gift. and which has remained proverbial from his day to ours, naturally at first very great. Everything, moreover, was done to develop and increase the national wealth and welfare. The rich internal resources were developed, and commercial relations of the most extensive nature established.
Through the port established at Ezion•Geber, at the head of the gulf of Elath, an out let was gained to the Indian ocean; and the alliance with Phonicia, then under the sway of iliral», gave an energetic impulse to these foreign expeditions.. Manned with Tyrian sailors, the Israelite fleets went to "Ophir," and brought back, in exchange fin their own exportations, "gold anl silver apes and peacocks, ivory and Ppiees;" and rho rest of the strange and precious produce of India, Africa, Spain, and other regions, pos sibly even our own coasts.