Theory question 103
Solomon and the Divided Kingdom(a) Identify the actions taken by King Solomon which are commended as marks of his wisdom
(b) State two unwise decisions taken by King Solomon.
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(a) At Gibeon he humbly asked God for an understanding mind to govern rather than riches or long life (1 Kings 3:5-12).
He judged wisely between the two harlots by ordering the child to be divided, revealing the real mother (1 Kings 3:16-28).
He organised the kingdom with officials and twelve district governors (1 Kings 4:1-19).
He spoke 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs and taught about plants and animals; kings came to hear his wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34).
He made a treaty with Hiram for materials and built the temple and dedicated it with prayer (1 Kings 5–8).
He answered all the hard questions of the queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1-9).
(b) Any two: marrying many foreign wives who turned his heart to other gods (1 Kings 11:1-8); building high places for foreign gods; imposing heavy taxes and forced labour (1 Kings 5:13; 12:4); giving away twenty cities of Galilee to Hiram (1 Kings 9:11); extravagant spending.
List actions showing wisdom with references, then two unwise decisions.