King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's  daughter -- Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after other gods." Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three...  Read More

Each year Solomon received about 25 tons of gold. This did not include the additional revenue he received from merchants and traders, all the kings of Arabia, and the governors of the land.King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold, each weighing more than fifteen pounds. He also made 300 smaller shields of hammered gold, each weighing nearly four pounds. The king placed these shields in...  Read More

When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the LORD, she came to test Solomon with hard questions. Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan -- with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones . . . Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to  explain to her. When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom...  Read More

When Solomon had finished building the temple of the LORD . . . the LORD appeared to him a second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. The LORD said to him:"I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there."As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with...  Read More

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven and said:"LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below -- you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept your promise to your servant David my father: with your mouth you hav...  Read More

Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel . . . to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant from Zion, the City of David . . .and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted. The priests then brought the ark of the LORD's covenant t...  Read More