King Solomon BY W. T. THOMSON, A CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN ARTIST. + "Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had."-II. Chron., 1, 12. T HE name of Solomon has long been a synonym for wisdom; because of the Scriptural passage in which we are told that God granted him wisdom above all men. Moreover the wise king is the central figure of five of the books of the Bible. His history is told in First Kings and Second Chronicles. The Book of Proverbs is ascribed to him, and the two poetical books Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon are written in his name. Yet Solomon's wisdom was but of an earthly quality. It taught him to judge of men, but not of God. His knowledge made him see the emptiness of a worldly life, but did not give him the strength to follow a spiritual one. So that Solomon himself sank to the worshipping of idols of the flesh. Immeasurably great is the crime of the leader in that it becomes the crime of all his followers. Solomon led his people astray from the high and noble faith that David had upheld. Israel sought, as its monarch sought, its happiness in earthly prosperity and display; and the downfall of the nation began. Solomon, while he marks the climax of Israel's prosperity, marks also the commencement of decay. SECOND CHRONICLES IX-SOLOMON'S RICHES 773 loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice. 9 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon. 10 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones. 11 And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah. 12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants. 13¶Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold; 14 Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15 ¶ And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target. 16 And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. 17 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. 18 And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays: 19 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom. 20 And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon. 21 For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. 22 And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23¶And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart. 24 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and |