The Rise and Fall of Solomon

The Rise and Fall of Solomon

"What have I become, My sweetest friend? Everyone I know, goes away in the end. / And you could have it all, my empire of dirt, I will let you down, I will make you hurt." (Trent Reznor, "Hurt") The philosopher king, Solomon, is one of the wisest men to ever live. He presided over Israel at its military and economic height. Solomon's Temple was one of the wonders of the world. He was the primary compiler of the book of Proverbs, along with Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes. Perhaps no figure in the Old Testament accomplished more. And yet... his story is told in the book of Kings. 1-2 Kings is the Old Testament narrative about the failure of the monarchy and how the people of God found themselves in exile. Solomon's story, for all its accomplishments, is the beginning of this tragic tale.