Behind the story of the divided kingdom is the fall of Solomon. He did so well at first, yet he sank to a shameful low —as two sweeping chapters describe (1Kg 10 and 11).

Solomon’ Sin and Sorrow (Part 1)

In this lesson, we look at the factors behind Solomon's sin and fall from glory. We notice his excess, his disobedience, his neglect, and his several faults —a negative approach perhaps, but very instructive.

Time: 6. Kingdom Divided
Span" 200 years
Books: 2Kings, 2Chronicles, Isaiah, Amos, Jonah, Hosea, Micah
Figures: Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah
Begins with: Rebellion of the ten tribes
Ascendant empire: Assyria

1 Solomon's Excess

• Gold and silver: Solomon accumulated enormous quantities of silver and gold (1Kg 10:14-21,27).
• Thousands of horses: Solomon's stock and trade in horses from Egypt was huge (1Kg 10:26,28-29).
• A thousand wives: Solomon had 700 wives, the daughters of foreign kings, and 300 concubines (1Kg 11:1-3).

2 Solomon's Disobedience

To link the curious facts above with Solomon's downfall, we regress to the time in the wilderness. In the law given Moses, God anticipated the desire of the future nation to have a king. God made a law for every king (Deu 17:14-20).

• "The king shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses..."
• "Neither shall he multiply wives for himself lest his heart turn away..."
• "Nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself..."
• "When the king sits on the throne... he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll... And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life... carefully observing all the words of this law... that he may not turn aside from the commandment"

Solomon did the very opposite —a warning for us to "pay closer attention to what we have heard lest we drift away" (Heb 2:1-3).

3 Solomon's Repentance

Did Solomon repent of his sins and return to the Lord later in life? One has every hope that he did. The book of Ecclesiastes was almost certainly written by Solomon "king over Israel in Jerusalem" (Ecc 1:1,12). It was written after all his works and aquisitions were accomplished. On reflection, he pronounces them "vanity and chasing after the wind" (Ecc 1:14).

Solomon recognizes that God's works and word are eternal and all that really matters (Ecc 3:14, 12:13-14). This indicates a reformed and penitent Solomon who followed again after the heart of his father David. Like David, Solomon is forgiven. The temporal consequences of his sins had to stand, but from the eternal consequences he was saved.