Day 168: 1 Kings; King Solomon, son of King David and Bathsheba.
King David has already overpowered Israel’s enemies, so when Solomon became king, he had a fairly peaceful reign. It was a prosperous time for about 40 years. He builds a permanent worship center, or temple, in Jerusalem, makes the cities easier to defend by strengthening them. His biggest claim to fame is his wisdom (yet, he marries 1,000 women…), but many of his wives lead him into sin by worshipping their idols — punishable by God. Solomon will only have one tribe, Judah. Still, he is accredited to writing 3,000 proverbs. He has contributed to Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.
Solomon’s son taxes the people harshly after Solomon dies. (Solomon foolishly gives in to worshipping idols before he dies.) In revolt, the Northern tribes form their own country, Israel. The Southern side takes the name of Judah. No matter where they live, they are still all God’s Chosen and He expects obedience from both side. True to THJEM, they don’t obey. Two of the worst were Ahab and his wife, Jezebel. Yes, THEE Jezebel, the Phoenician princess.
Jezebel is a propjet killer. She is trying to wipe out the whole Jewish religion by killing their prophets. The Jewish people are already doping the wrong thing by worshipping some of the worst pagan gods, some who demand the sacrifices of children. Ball was one of them that she reveres. (To this day, many people believe abortion is still sacrificing babies to Baal.)
Elijah was a Jewish prophet. He was able to prove the pagan prophets were fakes by challenging them to bring fire down from Heaven. Evidently, this was supposed to be an easy thing for their rain god, Baal. They couldn’t do it, of course. Elijah claimed victory over 850 of the false prophets that Jezebel gathered up.
Long story short, Ahab and Jezebel continue to worship their gods and so do many Jewish people. God makes a statement through Elijah that he is going to destroy all of their family, and the members that die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and the ones who die in the fields, will be eaten by vultures. 1 King 21:22, 24.
Probably, the most famous story about King Solomon and his wisdom is the story of two mothers who are making a claim to a bay boy, each says belongs to her. King Solomon wisely finds out the real mother by saying he will cut the baby in half, and give half to each woman. Of course, the real mother is horrified and says “no” willing to let go of her baby so that it may live. The baby lives and is given to his rightful mother.
