King
David died and was buried in Jerusalem. His son Solomon ruled
over Israel.
Solomon
was a wise king. He knew what was right and what was wrong. In Jerusalem he built himself a
palace, and he also built a house for God – the temple. There he brought the
Ark of the Covenant. On the day when the temple was consecrated Solomon
prayed: O lord, my God! You have promised that you will be near to us in this
temple. Hear my prayer. Hear all those who call upon you in this house. Hear
us and forgive us our guilt!
Solomon
did not need to wage any wars as his father David had done. He made treaties
with other nations. He engaged in trade and sent out ships across the sea. He
brought foreign workers into his country and married foreign women. The
foreigners whom Solomon had brought into the country wanted to worship their
own gods. Solomon allowed them to build altars for their gods in the land of Israel. Solomon even prayed to
the gods of the foreigners and worshipped them. Thus he betrayed the one God.
He broke the Covenant.