ABSTRACT
King of ancient Israel known for his great wisdom and credited in the Hebrew Bible with building the first Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Solomon guided Israel to a golden age of wealth and influence, gaining widespread fame and becoming the subject of many legends. Despite the brilliance of his reign, Solomon was the last monarch to rule over a united Jewish kingdom. Following his death, the Hebrew nation split into two states: the Kingdom of Israel in what is now northern Israel and Syria, and the Kingdom of Judah, in southern Israel.
