So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
So king Solomon exceeded every king on earth in riches and for wisdom, so that his reign was more exalted and glorious than any other and astonished the world. This eminence was God's own gift of a wise and understanding heart, given because in his youth Solomon trusted God for guidance and asked for wisdom to judge Israel instead of long life, earthly riches, honor, or the life of his enemies. With that wisdom God added riches, honor, blessing, and power that he had not asked. At first he prized wisdom above the gold of Ophir.
God promised to be with Solomon as with David and to establish his throne upon Israel forever if he walked before God in integrity of heart and uprightness and kept His statutes and judgments. His God-given wisdom appeared for many years in many proverbs and songs, in devotion to God with uprightness, firm principle and strict obedience, in directing every important enterprise and managing the business matters of the kingdom with greatest wisdom, and in faithfully building the temple unmatched for richness, beauty and costly design. His fame spread among the nations everywhere, all nations acknowledged and marveled at his superior knowledge and wisdom, excellence of character and greatness of power, and many came from all parts of the world to behold his power and to be instructed how to conduct difficult matters.
Later Solomon gave in to lust in his uncontrolled love of women, his many wives led him into idolatry, and as he turned from God, the source of his strength, he lost wisdom and firmness of character. His fall shows that even great wisdom and power cannot preserve one who abandons principle and that watchfulness and strength from God are needed throughout life to the very end. Under bondage to Rome, the Jews held Solomon's reign up as the highest standard of national glory and boasted to their Roman oppressors that they would not be oppressed long, for their own reign under the Messiah would soon begin and would be still more exalted and glorious than even Solomon's. They expected the Coming One to establish a temporal kingdom by force of arms that would subdue the Romans and exalt themselves with authority and power to reign over them.
So king Solomon exceeded every king on earth in riches and for wisdom, so that his reign was more exalted and glorious than any other and astonished the world. This eminence was God's own gift of a wise and understanding heart, given because in his youth Solomon trusted God for guidance and asked for wisdom to judge Israel instead of long life, earthly riches, honor, or the life of his enemies. With that wisdom God added riches, honor, blessing, and power that he had not asked. At first he prized wisdom above the gold of Ophir.
God promised to be with Solomon as with David and to establish his throne upon Israel forever if he walked before God in integrity of heart and uprightness and kept His statutes and judgments. His God-given wisdom appeared for many years in many proverbs and songs, in devotion to God with uprightness, firm principle and strict obedience, in directing every important enterprise and managing the business matters of the kingdom with greatest wisdom, and in faithfully building the temple unmatched for richness, beauty and costly design. His fame spread among the nations everywhere, all nations acknowledged and marveled at his superior knowledge and wisdom, excellence of character and greatness of power, and many came from all parts of the world to behold his power and to be instructed how to conduct difficult matters.
Later Solomon gave in to lust in his uncontrolled love of women, his many wives led him into idolatry, and as he turned from God, the source of his strength, he lost wisdom and firmness of character. His fall shows that even great wisdom and power cannot preserve one who abandons principle and that watchfulness and strength from God are needed throughout life to the very end. Under bondage to Rome, the Jews held Solomon's reign up as the highest standard of national glory and boasted to their Roman oppressors that they would not be oppressed long, for their own reign under the Messiah would soon begin and would be still more exalted and glorious than even Solomon's. They expected the Coming One to establish a temporal kingdom by force of arms that would subdue the Romans and exalt themselves with authority and power to reign over them.