Solomon was the successor to the throne of King David. He was born to Bathsheba and was brought up in the fear of the Lord by her as revealed by the proverbs and Psalms and songs attributed to him. While there was serious competition for David’s throne quite early, Bathsheba succeeded in winning it for her son based on the promise David had given her earlier. This would also pave the way for Solomon to fulfill the task of building a temple for the Lord, which was a deep-rooted desire of his father.

His reign was a time of perfect peace (Shalom!) for Israel and a conducive environment existed for Solomon to build the Temple as well as his own palace (House of the Forest of Lebanon) with the best of the material he could gather from the corners of the world. He had the best workmen brought from foreign lands and his best friend and trade partner Hiram, king of Tyre (a busy trading harbor) was with him throughout his venture – about twenty years. The ships of Tarshish brought luxury goods – gold, silver, sandalwood, ivory – also apes and peacocks that were not native to Israel. The cedar from Lebanon and gold from Ophir decorated the extravagant structures.

The goods mentioned in the context of Solomon building the first Jewish temple and his palace have a sure Indian connection. It took three years for the ships to travel back and forth to this place from Ezion Geber. Sandalwood was native to the Malabar coast. Peacock and elephant (ivory) are native to the western (Gujarat) and southern (Tamil Nadu) regions of India and Ophir is the suburb Sophir / Supara in Mumbai (which gets mentioned along with Kalyan in “Bombay and Western India” – Vol 1, pp 20-21, James Douglas).

Solomon was the wisest person on earth – nothing on earth escaped his purview. God gave him this wisdom when he preferred this to riches. God gave him riches too. Wisdom and riches are a deadly combination! He was also wise in the Egyptian sciences. Occult?

The Freemasonry movement of the present day seems to have links to Solomon. The secret society has prayers and oaths that contain Solomon’s name and the term Temple mentioned frequently. Freemasonry is completely satanic in nature but unfortunately, many religious Christians (not believers) are proud to be affiliated with these “lodges”.

Solomon married the daughter of the Pharaoh and built his palace for her. But his favorite wife (among other wives who he married to establish strategic political alliances, all of whom were non-Israelites) was Naamah whose son Rehoboam became king soon after the kingdom divided into two after Solomon’s death.

When Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. – 1Kgs 11:4. He fell into sexual immorality, idolatry, and polytheism – sins that God termed abominable. How could such a wise man fall into sin (and into disgrace in the end?) Did Solomon repent of his sins as His father David did? Only eternity will tell!
Each man is responsible for his own soul and is duty-bound to guard his heart diligently. Thankfully, we of the NT times have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us who reproves the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. – John 16:8. He also strengthens the believer to resist sin – Eph 3:16. We also have our Lord seated at the right hand of God pleading for us as our advocate – Rom 8:34. The key is “repentance”. – 1 John 1:9; Matt 18:22. And, we can find His grace to help in time of need, especially, to resist temptation.

While Satan might have succeeded in his attempt to trap his target, he could not foil the purpose and plan of God. The advent of the Saviour and the Conqueror was on track and waiting in the line of Rehoboam. (There was also another line in Nathan, the elder brother of King Solomon).

King Solomon wrote most of the Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, and the Ecclesiastes which are included in the cannon of Scriptures. His prayer at the dedication of the Temple recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel is considered a great plea to God who is the only One who is worthy of all worship. Could what he wrote still be considered inspired? All scripture is given by inspiration of God – 2 Tim 3:16.

While the human agents used their style of writing, also in their historical and cultural set-up, God did use their scholarliness in some cases (some had little or no significant education, though), every word is inspired by God. Paul clarifies this in his letter to the Galatians when he deals with the word “Seed” and “seeds”. – Gal 3:16. Even the difference in the singular and plural (probably a jot or a tittle in Hebrew!) is significant and could have proved a great differentiator contradicting the Purpose of God (which is explained throughout in His-story and dealt with in ABHOT).

God used men as His instruments to write His word. The falling away from faith of such a person later in life (who was previously used by God to even write Scripture), is still a possibility. We have many examples in modern history too who were mightily used by God for the extension of His Kingdom but who themselves fell into sin and died without repenting.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews subscribes to this “falling away” when he mentions that though the Israelites came out of Egypt they failed to enter the promised land – Heb 3:19 and about the back-sliders: For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. – Heb 6:4-6. Again, for if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses's law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongs unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. – Heb 10:26-31.