How Much Do You Know About the Life of King Solomon?
By: Zoe Samuel
Image: Christian Schussele
About This Quiz
Solomon is one of the most significant figures in the Old Testament. The son of King David, he ruled over the kingdom of Israel for many decades and was blessed by the Lord with great wisdom. He was very powerful, largely thanks to intelligent trade policy which included an alliance with Hiram I, king of Phoenicia. He forged an alliance with Egypt too, which was cemented by marriage and enabled his kingdom to benefit from both ends of the Fertile Crescent - that is, the cradle of civilization formed by the three great Middle Eastern and North African rivers of the Tigris, Nile and Euphrates. Israel was bang on the arch of the crescent and a wise king could make a great deal out of this. All sorts of goods went through the kingdom of Israel during Solomon's reign, from corn to precious stones to textiles to all manner of things.
Some Biblical figures are somewhat mythical, but Solomon is definitely a real person, as solid records of his reign exist. It's quite likely there has been some embellishment and some conflation of different tales as these are events from 3,000 years ago. but broadly speaking it is possible to be pretty well-informed about the hard facts of his reign as well as the more flowery accounts. Let's see how you do!
Who was Solomon's father?
Saul
Samson
Goliath
David
Solomon was the most loved son of David by his favorite wife.
Solomon had a lot of wives, since that was the thing to be done if you had a lot of money. He clearly had a couple of favorites, though, who he loved the most.
The Queen of Sheba heard about Solomon and decided to visit and meet him. They traded presents and according to some accounts, had a love affair that resulted in a baby.
Since God blessed Solomon with wealth, he can't be blamed for greed - he just got rich! He also had lots of wives so technically that wasn't adultery, and he worked hard. He did get into some idolatry, though, which was bad for the kingdom and resulted in punishment from God.
Solomon is a real historical figure and there are solid accounts of the dates. They're not always totally precise, but they're not a million miles off.
The Talmud is a collection of Jewish civil and ceremonial law and legend consisting of the Mishnah and the Gemara. Solomon is represented in it as a prophet.
According to the Kabbalah, which angels did Solomon compel to tell him all about various mysteries?
Raphael and Michael
Uzza and Azzazel
Kabbalah is a tradition of Biblical interpretation that peaked in the Middle Ages. In some writings, Solomon is described as compelling two angels to tell him all the secrets of the world.
Which heir of David was passed over in favor of Solomon?
Ibhar
Adonijah
Technically, lots of people were passed over for Solomon, as he was not the eldest son by any stretch. However, Adonijah was the Crown Prince, meaning the first son to the first wife.
Which is the most famous story about the wisdom of Solomon?
His alliance with Tyre
The two women and the baby
Two women claimed to be mother of the same baby. Solomon said they should cut it in half to share it. One woman renounced her claim, which he knew meant she was the mother as she was willing to give up the baby rather than harm it.
His first marriage
His first military campaign where he won at a 5 to 1 disadvantage
What happened to the kingdom of Solomon after his death?
It split in two.
Solomon was a powerful and wise ruler but his heir, Rehoboam, was not. This resulted in the splitting of the kingdom and a great loss of wealth and territory.
Which city, still in existence today, was founded by Solomon as part of an aggressive military expansion?
Jersualem
Megiddo
Solomon founded Megiddo, which the Bible says is the site of the end of the world. They might have been off when it comes to the timing, though, as Megiddo and the world are still with us!