Studies in Old Testament History

by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut

Sixth Study.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF ISRAEL.

The reign of Solomon (B. C. 1015-975) may be regarded as the culminating period in the history of Israel. But, strictly speaking, the latter part of David's reign and only the former part of Solomon's constitute "the golden age of Israel;" for Solomon's later years manifested a decline, which after his death rapidly grew to a fall.

I. THE REIGN OF SOLOMON.

1. His claim to the throne. He was one of the youngest of David's sons, the second child of Bath-sheba, born during the culmination of David's reign (1 Chron. 22. 7-9). He obtained the throne by the decree of David, by the choice of God, as the one among David's children best fitted to reign (1 Chron. 28. 5, 6). The principle of primogeniture, or the special right of the eldest son, was not fixed in those times.

2. His accession was marked by the execution of three men, Adonijah (1 Kings 2. 24, 25), Joab (1 Kings 2. 28-34), and Shimei (1 Kings 2. 36-46). Two of these had conspired against him, and the third was the last survivor of the house of Saul, and a possible rival for the throne. Their death was dictated by policy, and probably by justice. His throne would not be secure while these men lived.

3. His empire embraced all the lands from the Red Sea to the Euphrates, and from the Mediterranean to the Syrian desert, except Phenicia, which was isolated by the Lebanon Mountains. 1.) Besides Palestine he ruled over Edom, Moab, Ammon, Syria (here referring to the district having Damascus as its capital), Zobah, and Hamath. 2.) On the Gulf of Akaba, Ezion-geber was his southern port (1 Kings 9. 26); on the Mediterranean, Gaza (Azzah) was his limit; in the extreme north, Tiphsah, by the Euphrates (1 Kings 4. 24); in the desert, Tadmor, afterward Palmyra (1 Kings 9. 18).

4. His foreign relations were extensive, for the first and only time in the history of Israel. 1.) His earliest treaty was with Tyre (Phenicia), whose king had been his father's friend (1 Kings 5. 1). What this alliance brought to Solomon (1 Kings 5. 6-10; 2 Chron. 2. 3-14). 2.) His relations with Egypt; in commerce (1 Kings 10. 28, 29); in marriage, a bold departure from Israelite customs (1 Kings 3. 1). Probably Psalm 45 was written upon this event. 3.) With Arabia, the land bordering on the southern end of the Red Sea (1 Kings 10. 1-10, 14, 15). 4.) With India, which is probably referred to in 1 Kings 9. 26-28. 5.) With Spain, probably meant in 1 Kings 10. 22.

5. His buildings. 1.) Of these the greatest, the most costly, and the most famous was the temple (1 Kings 6. 1). With this building notice: (a) The courts and open square, with an inner court inside for the priests only (2 Chron 4. 9). (b) The porch (2 Chron 3. 4). (c) The holy place (2 Chron. 3. 8; 1 Kings 6. 17). (d) The holy of holies (1 Kings 6. 19, 20). (e) The chambers for the priests (1 Kings 6. 5, 6). 2.) His own palace, situated south of the temple precincts, in the district called Ophel. Its name derived from its columned entrance (1 Kings 7. 1, 2). 3.) His fortified cities (1 Kings 9. 17-19). 4.) His aqueducts, some of which may still be seen (Eccl. 2. 4-6). No King of Israel ever built so many public works as did Solomon.

6. But all was not bright in the reign of Solomon. We must notice also his sins, for they wrought great results of evil in the after years. 1.) That which led to all his other sins was foreign marriages (1 Kings 11. 1-4). These were the natural and inevitable result of his foreign relations, and were probably effected for political reasons as well as to add to the splendor of his court. 2.) His toleration of idolatry, perhaps actual participation in it (1 Kings 11. 5-8). We cannot over-estimate the harm of Solomon's influence in this direction. At once it allied him with the lower and evil elements in the nation, and lost to him the sympathy of all the earnest souls.[H] 3.) Another of Solomon's sins, not named in Scripture, but referred to in many legends of the East, was his devotion to magical arts. He appears in Oriental traditions as the great master of forces in the invisible world, engaging in practices forbidden by the law of Moses (Lev. 19. 31; Deut. 18. 10, 11).

II. GENERAL ASPECTS OF ISRAEL IN THE REIGN OF SOLOMON.

1. It was a period of peace. For sixty years there were no wars. This gave opportunity for development, for wealth, and for culture.

2. It was a period of strong government. The age of individual and tribal energy was ended, and now all the life of the nation was gathered around the throne. All the tribes were held under one strong hand; tribal lines were ignored in the government of the empire (1 Kings 4. 7-19); every department was organized.

3. It was a period of wide empire. It was Israel's opportunity for power in the East; for the old Chaldean empire had broken up, the new Assyrian empire had not arisen, and Egypt was passing through a change of rulers and was weak. For one generation Israel held the supremacy in the Oriental world.

4. It was a period of abundant wealth. (1 Kings 3. 12, 13; 4. 20; 10. 23, 27.) The sources of this wealth were: 1.) The conquests of David, who had plundered many nations and left his accumulated riches to Solomon (1 Chron. 22. 14-16). 2.) The tribute of the subject kingdoms, doubtless heavy (1 Kings 10. 25). 3.) Commerce with foreign countries, Egypt, Arabia, Tarshish, and Ophir, in ancient times was not carried on by private enterprise, but by the government. The trade of the East from Egypt and Tyre passed through Solomon's dominions, enriching the land. 4.) There were also taxes laid upon the people (1 Kings 4. 7; 12. 4). 5.) The erection of public buildings must have enriched many private citizens and made money plenty.

5. It was a period of literary activity. The books written during this epoch were Samuel, Psalms (in part), Proverbs (in part), and perhaps Ecclesiastes and Solomon's Song. Not all the writings of Solomon have been preserved (1 Kings 4. 32, 33).

III. DANGERS OF THE PERIOD. There was an Arabian tradition that in Solomon's staff, on which he leaned, there was a worm secretly gnawing it asunder. So there were elements of destruction under all the splendor of Solomon's throne.

1. The absolute power of the king. David had maintained the theocratic constitution of the state; Solomon set it aside and ruled with absolute power in all departments. He assumed priestly functions (1 Kings 8. 22, 54, 64); he abolished tribal boundaries in his administration (1 Kings 4. 7-19); he ignored both priests and prophets, and concentrated all rule in his own person.

2. The formal character of the worship. There was a magnificent temple and a gorgeous ritual, but none of the warmth and personal devotion which characterized the worship of David. The fervor of the Davidic psalms is wanting in the literature of Solomon's age.

3. Luxury and corruption of morals. These are the inevitable results of abundant riches and worldly association. We do not need the warnings in Prov. 2. 16-19; 5. 3-6, etc., to know that a flood of immorality swept over Jerusalem and Israel.

4. The burden of taxation. With a splendid court, an immense harem, and a wealthy nobility came high prices and high taxes; the rich growing richer rapidly, the poor becoming poorer. The events of the next reign show how heavy and unendurable these burdens grew.

5. Heathen customs. With the foreign peoples came the toleration of idolatry, its encouragement, and all the abominations connected with it. Jeroboam could not have established his new religion (1 Kings 12. 28) if Solomon had not already patronized idol-worship.

6. Underlying all was the old tribal jealousy of Ephraim and Judah, fostered by an able leader (1 Kings 11. 26), ready to break out in due time, and to destroy the empire.

After all, it is uncertain whether the reign of Solomon was a golden or only a gilded age.

Blackboard Outline.

I. Rei. Sol. 1. Cl. thr. 2. Acc. 3. Emp. [Lands. Cities] 4. For. rel. 1.) Ty. 2.) Eg. 3.) Ar. 4.) Ind. 5.) Sp. 5. Buil. 1.) Tem. 2.) Pal. 3.) For. cit. 4.) Aque. 6. Sins 1.) For. mar. 2.) Tol. idol. 3.) Mag.

II. Gen. Asp. Isr. 1. Pea. 2. Str. gov. 3. Abun. weal. 1.) Conq. 2.) Trib. 3.) Com. 4.) Tax. 5). Pub. build. 5. Lit. art.

III. Dan. Per. 1. Abs. pow. 2. For. wor. 3. Lux. cor. mor. 4. Bur. tax. 5. Hea. cus. 6. Tri. jeal.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW.

What is meant by the Golden Age of Israel?
Who was Solomon?
How did Solomon obtain the throne?
What events marked his accession?
What lands were included in his empire?
What were the frontier cities of the empire?
With what foreign countries did Solomon have relations?
What resulted from his alliance with Tyre?
What innovation came from Egypt?
Who visited Solomon from Arabia?
What were the early names of Spain and India?
What four classes of buildings were erected by Solomon?
What were the different parts of his temple?
What was the name given to Solomon's palace?
Name some of the cities which he built and fortified.
What other public works did he build?
What three kinds of sin did Solomon commit?
What was his motive in seeking foreign marriages?
Name five general aspects of Israel in Solomon's reign.
What were the benefits of the peace at that time?
What was the characteristic of Solomon's administration?
What opportunity did the age give to a great empire for Israel?
What were the sources of the wealth in Solomon's age?
How was it a period of literary activity?
What ancient legend illustrates the dangers of Solomon's age?
What were some of these dangers?
Wherein did Solomon set aside the Israelite constitution?
What was the defect in the religion of Solomon's time?
What evils resulted from the wealth of that time?
What caused heavy taxation?
What heathen customs were introduced?
What showed that tribal jealousy was still existing?

Subjects for Special Papers.

The Character of Solomon.
Was an Empire for Israel Desirable?
The Writings of Solomon.
Tarshish and Ophir.
The Temple of Solomon.
Solomon in Oriental Legends.