Solomon Becomes King
1010 BC
📂 BIBLICAL
📖 About This Event
Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, became king through a dramatic succession struggle. David's aging years were marked by political intrigue, with Adonijah (David's fourth son) attempting to seize the throne. But Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan reminded David of his promise that Solomon would succeed him, and David had Solomon anointed king at Gihon while Adonijah's celebration was in full swing. Solomon's accession was secured by David's final instructions, in which he charged Solomon to walk in the ways of the Lord and to deal wisely with Joab and Shimei.
Solomon's first act as king was to establish his authority by dealing with those who had supported Adonijah's rebellion. Then God appeared to Solomon in a dream at Gibeon and said, 'Ask what I shall give you.' Instead of asking for long life, wealth, or the death of his enemies, Solomon asked for 'an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?' God was pleased that Solomon asked for wisdom rather than personal gain, and He gave him 'wisdom and understanding in abundance, and breadth of mind like the sand that is on the seashore' (1 Kings 3:12).
The Catholic Church honors Solomon as the wisest man who ever lived. His wisdom is seen as a type of Christ, who is 'the wisdom of God' (1 Corinthians 1:24). The Book of Wisdom in the deuterocanonical books personifies wisdom as present at creation, a theme that the New Testament applies to Christ. Key Scripture: 1 Kings 1-3; 1 Chronicles 28-29; Wisdom 7:7-14; 1 Corinthians 1:24; CCC 156
📜 Key Facts
Date
1010 BC
Category
Biblical
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