Two prostitutes approached Solomon. They both gave birth to a child but the one prostitute’s child died and was now childless. While the other woman still had her baby. The one prostitute told Solomon that the other woman killed her baby and that the woman then switched her dead baby for the live one. Now she claims it is her child. The woman who supposedly switched the babies claims she did not do it and it really is her live baby. Solomon ordered for the baby to be cut in half and each side would be given to each prostitute. Solomon’s plan was successful to find the true mother because as soon has he was going to cut the baby the real mother pleaded for him to stop. She begged for him to just give the baby to the other woman and spare the child. Solomon knew she was the real mother and gave the baby to the one who pleaded for the child’s well being.
Solomon divided the lands into 12 new districts and he provided each district with an officer. He also formed an elite group of administrators. He introduced labor. He started taxation to supply the palace, the government officials, and building projects. The Syrians in the north were often Solomon’s adversaries.
Even today in Central and South America people are being exploited. They are being exploited by corrupt governments, wealthy landowners, and foreign investors. During the time of Solomon wealth was made the same way, by oppressing people in the same ways. Farmers supplied Solomon’s palace with their own crops and herds.
Solomon was visited by Queen Sheba. She wanted to see if his wisdom was in fact great. She was astonished by his wisdom and was found” breathless”
Solomon starts to get greedy with his wealth and begins to worship other gods .He forgets about what God has given him,
After forty years God takes away Solomon's throne. Solomon orders Jeroboam killed because God promised him the throne. Jerusalem was no longer great.
Israel is oppressed by taxes and forced labor, but the worst is idolatry. Idolatry was the worst burden that the nation has inherited from his golden ruler. Israel has relied on God but was led to worship false gods.
Israel wanted to become one and united. They wanted to be lead by a strong leader and obtain stability. There were evils like wealth, power, betrayal, and honor becoming a nation. They began turning away from God , the one who gave him all their happiness in the first place. David would repent to God and ask for forgiveness, but Solomon never repented. The people realized that it was not God who broke the Covenant but the kings like Solomon.
We chose this song because it explains how King Solomon felt when he was chosen to be king even though he was the younger son.