Reading 'Verbatim', the Books of the Old Testament - 'Introduction - Ecclesiastes'; Bi-Monthly, T/Thurs, Post B-AM, May 28, 2020

My friends, 

​Before we start our next Old Testament Book - Ecclesiastes, this week May 26-28, 2020, let's look at some important information about the 'writer' and his times - King Solomon. Then when we have concluded with the 'biographical' information, consisting of 3 posts each day, we will jump right into the Book of Ecclesiastes.  Afterwards, we will take a break and follow with the posts for the Book, the 'Song of Solomon', also written by King Solomon. audio-bible/bible.html 

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Biblical account of the life of Solomon is primarily described in 2 Samuel, 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. His two names mean "peaceful" and "friend of God", both considered "predictive of the character of his reign".

Thank you for returning today for our final series, but of only 2-Posts of the 'biographical information'.  We shall begin the 'verbatim' posts of the Book of Ecclesiastes, as the Lord wills, on MWF, June 1-3-5, 2020.  Amen. Amen. ​

​Solomon greatly expanded his military strength, especially the cavalry and chariot arms. He founded numerous colonies, some of which doubled as trading posts and military outposts.

Trade relationships were a focus of his administration. In particular he continued his father's very profitable relationship with the Phoenician king Hiram I of Tyre , leading to the amassing of great 'wealth' and prestige in his era. He and the Phoenician kind sent out joint expeditions to the lands of Tarshish and Ophir to engage in the trade of luxury products, importing gold, silver, sandalwood, pearls, ivory, apes and peacocks. Solomon is considered the most wealthy of the Israelite kings named in the Bible.

On Solomon's Wisdom audio-bible/bible.html 

God promises Solomon wisdom. Solomon was the biblical king most famous for his wisdom. In 1 Kings he sacrificed to God, and God later appeared to him in a dream, [1 Kings 3:3-15] asking what Solomon wanted from God. Solomon asked for wisdom. Pleased, God personally answered Solomon's prayer, promising him great wisdom because he did not ask for self-serving rewards like long life or the death of his enemies.

Perhaps the best known story of his wisdom is the 'Judgment of Solomon' in which two women each lay claim to being the mother of the same child. Solomon easily resolved the dispute by commanding the child to be cut in half and shared between the two. One woman promptly renounced her claim, proving that she would rather give the child up than see it killed. Solomon declared the woman who showed compassion to be the true mother, entitled to the whole child.[1 Kings 3:16-28] audio-bible/bible.html 

As stated earlier, Solomon is traditionally considered the author of several biblical books, including not only the collections of Proverbs, but also of Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon. audio-bible/bible.html 

Solomon marries foreign women, and these women turn Solomon to other gods. According to 1 Kings 11:4 Solomon's "wives turned his heart after other gods", their own national deities, to whom Solomon built temples, thus incurring divine anger and retribution in the form of the division of the kingdom after Solomon's death (1 Kings 11:9–13). Solomon was said to have "sinned" by acquiring these many foreign wives. Solomon's descent into idolatry, according to 1 Kings 11:30–34 and 1 Kings 11:9–13, was because of these sins that the Lord punishes Solomon by removing most of the Tribes of Israel from rule by Solomon's house.
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​​1 Kings 11 describes Solomon's descent into idolatry, particularly his turning after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites. In Deuteronomy 17:16–17, a king is commanded not to multiply horses or wives, neither greatly multiply to himself gold or silver. Solomon sins in all three of these areas. Solomon collects 666 talents of gold each year [1 Kings 10:14], a huge amount of money for a small nation like Israel. Solomon gathers a large number of horses and chariots and even brings in horses from Egypt. Just as Deuteronomy 17 warns, collecting horses and chariots takes Israel back to Egypt.  audio-bible/bible.html 

And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lord commanded. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, "Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.' [1 Kings 11] audio-bible/bible.html 

Thank you for returning this afternoon for our final 'introduction' and 'overview' of the 'man' 'Solomon'.  Amen.  Amen.