Solomon: Could he have been a know-it-all?

(Solomon with Temple Plans)

After all these centuries of hearing about King Solomon’s wisdom, some might be wondering whether his cohorts ever got a word in edgewise.

Solomon wasn’t always so wise.  However, he was wise enough to know what to pray for.  After becoming co-regent of what was then the United

Monarchy (the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah had not yet split) along with his then-aged father King David, King Solomon was approached in a dream by the Lord Himself. 

According to 1 Kings 3, God then stated to the young Solomon:  Ask what I shall give thee.  Rather than ask for women and song (that came later), Solomon simply requested wisdom.  He specifically asked for “an

understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad…”  1 Kings 10 tells us that “the whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.”

Two of those who “sought audience” with Solomon were women who each insisted that a certain child was hers.  In a famous incident now known as the “Judgment of Solomon,” the king responded by suggesting that this child be cut in two so that each woman could have her share.  When one of these women rushed up to him begging that the child be spared, Solomon had his answer.  He knew that she was the real mother of the child and gave the (whole) baby to her.

Solomon’s wisdom spilled over into the works that he allegedly authored – biblical works such as Proverbs,

Ecclesiastes, and the Song of [who else?] Solomon – and apocryphal works such as The Wisdom of [who

else?] Solomon.  However, it did not necessarily spill over into his relationships with (hundreds of) women.

According to Wikipedia, some of these 700 wives (and maybe even a few of his 300 concubines) led Solomon astray.  According to 1 Kings 11, the Lord punished Solomon for this by “tearing the kingdom in

two.”

Perhaps Solomon compensated for follies such as these by flaunting his wisdom at all who would  (or had to) listen.  Imagine hearing him spout one aphorism after another over dessert.  After a while, even the most poetic of these insights could become grating.  If so, his loyal subjects had only to follow these 5 Ways to Outfox a Know-It-All  that MSN Healthy Living suggests:  Master the “Yes, but…”; Present your facts in a non-threatening way; Ask about alternatives; Initiate a closing without pushing for an apology or a concession; and [listen up, this one’s really key] Realize you have a choice about how much to take.  

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon#Wisdom

http://health.msn.com/healthy-living/5-ways-to-outfox-a-know-it-all

Copyright May 20, 2012 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved