Solomon
Call him the Bill Gates of the tenth century B.C. King Solomon was the wealthiest man in the world. But he didn't get there on his own. Early in his reign, God said to him in a dream, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you" (1 Kings 3:5). The young king asked for wisdom to rule Israel. Since Solomon had chosen well, God said he would also give him wealth and, if he kept God's commands, long life.

God fulfilled his promises to Solomon, whose wisdom and wealth are still legendary. But Solomon did not follow through on his end. The king married foreign wives who led him to worship idols. Consequently, God told Solomon that the kingdom would be torn from Solomon's successor; however, for the sake of his promise to David, God would leave one tribe under the successor's authority. Later the kingdom of Israel divided into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah.

Solomon is traditionally credited with primary authorship of the book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. In Ecclesiastes he bemoans the fruitlessness of life apart from God, declaring that wealth, wisdom and impressive acts of service are meaningless without God.

Solomon, son of King David and his wife Bathsheba, is God's choice to succeed David and build God's temple.
2 Samuel 12:24-25
1 Kings 1:5-39
1 Chronicles 22:5-19; 28:1-29
God promises Solomon great wisdom and wealth, which leads to his international renown.
1 Kings 3:5-28; 4:21-34; 10:1-29
2 Chronicles 1:7-17; 8:1-28
Solomon constructs and dedicates the temple.
1 Kings 5:1--6:38; 7:13--8:66
2 Chronicles 2:1--7:10
Solomon's many foreign wives entice him to worship false gods. As a result, God states that he will tear a majority of the kingdom away from Solomon's successor.
1 Kings 11:1-13,29-39
Solomon is believed to have written Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs.
Proverbs 1:1
Ecclesiastes 1:1
Song of Songs 1:1