Solomon and Wisdom

Literary and cultural traditions have long associated Solomon with wisdom. This connection with wisdom begins in 1 Kgs 3:4–15, when Solomon meets Yahweh in a dream. When Yahweh asks what He should give Solomon, Solomon responds that he is overwhelmed by the responsibilities of his kingship, and asks for God to give him “an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil” (1 Kgs 3:9 NRSV). Yahweh, pleased with this response, gives Solomon a “wise and discerning mind” (וְנָבוֹן, wenavon; חָכָם לֵב, chakham lev) along with great riches and power.

In the next passage, Solomon demonstrates his newly granted wisdom. First Kings 3:16–28 recounts the story of two women who ask Solomon to settle their dispute. Both were mothers of babies, one of whom had died in the night. Both claimed to be the mother of the living child. Solomon proposed cutting the baby in half and giving half to each mother. When one of the women offered to give the baby to the other woman rather than have it killed, Solomon recognized her as the true mother. This judgment became famous throughout Israel, with the people recognizing that the “wisdom of God (חָכְמַת אֱלֹהִים, chokhmath elohim) was in him” (1 Kgs 3:28).

Solomon’s reputation for wisdom is noted again in 1 Kgs 4:29, 34; 5:12; 10:23, along with 2 Chr 9:22. This reputation spread far enough that the Queen of Sheba heard of it. When she came to test Solomon’s wisdom, he was able to answer all of her questions (1 Kgs 10:1–4). This brief episode was the subject of embellishment by later rabbinical writings. It is also included in the Qur’an (27:22–44; Elias, “Prophecy, Power and Propriety,” 57).