(a) Identify the actions taken by King Solomon which are commended as marks of his wisdom. (b) State two unwise decisions taken by King Solomon.

(a) Actions of King Solomon commended as marks of his wisdom

• His humble prayer for an understanding heart: When God appeared to him at Gibeon and offered him whatever he wished, Solomon did not ask for long life, riches or the death of his enemies, but for an understanding mind to govern the people and to discern between good and evil. This request pleased God, who granted him a wise and discerning heart, and also riches and honour (1 Kings 3:5-14).
• The judgment between the two harlots: Two women came before him disputing over a living child. Solomon ordered the child to be divided in two with a sword, knowing that the true mother would rather give up the child than see it killed. When one woman pleaded that the child be spared and given to the other, he identified her as the real mother. All Israel heard of the judgment and stood in awe, seeing that the wisdom of God was in him to render justice (1 Kings 3:16-28).
• His administration and organisation of the kingdom: Solomon organised the kingdom into administrative districts with officers, and maintained order, prosperity and peace, so that Judah and Israel dwelt in safety, every man under his vine and fig tree.
• The building of the temple and his own palace: He fulfilled the sacred task of building a magnificent temple for the Lord in Jerusalem and dedicated it with a great prayer, as well as his royal palace.
• His proverbs, songs and wide knowledge: Solomon spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke of trees, beasts, birds, reptiles and fish, so that people came from all nations to hear his wisdom.
• The visit of the Queen of Sheba: The Queen of Sheba came to test him with hard questions; he answered them all, and she confessed that his wisdom and prosperity exceeded the report she had heard.

(b) Two unwise decisions taken by King Solomon

• He married many foreign wives: Solomon loved many foreign women, including Egyptians, Moabites, Ammonites and others whom the Lord had forbidden Israel to intermarry with. They turned his heart away from the Lord.
• He turned to idolatry: In his old age his wives led him to worship other gods such as Ashtoreth, Milcom and Chemosh, and he built high places for them, so that his heart was not wholly true to the Lord. As a result God announced that the kingdom would be torn from his house.

(Another acceptable point: his heavy taxation and forced labour, which oppressed the people and later provoked the division of the kingdom.)