Please read my study questions on I Kings and then as much as you can of I Kings for next Tuesday. Please read especially closely the chapters on Solomon. Does it seems to you that the I Kings account of Solomon has in it the makings of a good tragedy? Or is the I kings account better viewed as history, biography, or prophecy rather than as tragedy? Cite below any passages/verses you think particularly support your view.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
I Kings
Please read my study questions on I Kings and then as much as you can of I Kings for next Tuesday. Please read especially closely the chapters on Solomon. Does it seems to you that the I Kings account of Solomon has in it the makings of a good tragedy? Or is the I kings account better viewed as history, biography, or prophecy rather than as tragedy? Cite below any passages/verses you think particularly support your view.
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I could see Solomon as a tragedy. It did many great things. He built the temple. He was wise, and not after personal wealth... at least in the beginning.
ReplyDeleteBut he did have a lot of wives. And it was the wives that seemed to be his fall. It was his flaw. The thinking and believing that his wives were good.
I think the part where he asks for wisdom instead of anything else shows his good side. And what happens later shows the rest.
I would say it is more of a history. It basically just describes the life of Solomon, how he came to power, what he did during his reign, how long it lasted, and then his death. His death didnt seem tragic either, it basically just says he died. As I was reading through it, it sounded like it was tragedy in the making as Solomon had everything he needed like wealth, power, and wives. However, since he started following his other wives' religions, he made God mad and God raised adversaries against him. I thought that might lead to Solomon's tragic downfall, but it really didnt so my vote is for history.
ReplyDeleteR. Casey Oberle
I could see how the story of Solomon could be viewed as a tragedy. It starts off with Solomon being given the kingdom by his father David, creating a peaceful transition. Then it goes on to show how the Lord promised to bless Solomon with wisdom power and wealth. Afterwards it seems like Solomon is on the right track. He builds the temple, dedicates it to the Lord, prays for his people and his heard, etc. But the story then goes on to show Solomon's major flaw. He follows the same mistake his father David did by having too many wives, but takes a whole lot farther. The writer of the story tells us that these wives, from countries that God specifically told the Israelites not to intermarry with, eventually turned Solomon's heart away from God. So you see this young king, given everything he could ever want, blessed by God like no one else ever has been, and he throws it all away by not being able to control his lust. After reading this many people would realize what all the wives did to him and what not following God's command did and would hopefully remind them to do what is right.
ReplyDeleteJohn Rawerts
I don't view Solomon as a tragedy, but more of a history. It has some of the elements that make a great tragedy, but not all. Solomon is character of magnitude, evidenced by his accomplishments. His flaw, that he has too many wives causing him to fall out of God's favor, is also a somewhat universal problem/repeated theme. But there is really no catharsis. For awhile, we think there might be, especially in Solomon 11:11 when God specifically tells Solomon that his servant will be given the kingdom. When his servant, Jeroboam, enters the picture and flees (Solomon 11:40), I really thought there would be more to the story. But Solomon's death is reported in a way that the reader feels neither sorrow or joy. I felt mixed feelings when Saul died, because it meant David wouldn't have to worry, but I also felt pity for Saul (similar to the feeling when I read about Brutus in Julius Caesar). When I read that Saul died, I had pretty much the same reaction as when I read about a foreign leader dying. I don't like hearing about the death, but there aren't any personal emotions tied to the sadness. It's more of a story that would be in a History textbook in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think that the story of Solomon definitely has the making of a tragedy. You have this great larger than life character with one vital flaw. While he knows he needs wisdom and he has a relationship with God, his one flaw is his downfall. He specifically went against what God said about marrying foreign women. Solomon's wives got him to worship other gods. I think this total failure makes Solomon's story a tragedy.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of the elements of a great tragedy I'm not sure that the story of Solomon would meet all of the criteria, but in my opinion it is a tragedy. Solomon was a great king and it was known that God loved him even though he was born out of a relationship that was sinful. God said that he would be greater than any king in his lifetime and wiser too. I see such admirable traits in Solomon when he asked God for a discerning heart, "So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" (3:9) Solomon also prays over and over again to God asking that when his people turn away that God would hear their pleas when they turn back to him. He has a heart for the people of Israel. He goes through great lengths as well to honor the name of God by building the temple, but then we see his downfall.(11:1-2) "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter - Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, 'You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.' Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love." Surely enough this was true and Solomon built areas of worship for the other gods of his wives. Solomon dies and his kingdom is divided, but God does let the line of David hold on to fulfill future prophecy. So in my opinion I think Solomon's story holds elements of a tragedy. This book definitely contains prophecy, history, and biography too though so yet again it isn't any one thing in particular.
ReplyDeleteThe story of Solomon seems most like a biography, as it is a linear story of how Solomon became king, what he did as king, and then later died. There are chapters for the sole purpose of giving facts of how he had the temple built, who worked for him, and so on. It is also in some ways a tragedy, because things are going so well for Solomon and you think he will be the one to follow God until his end, but then he ends up worshiping the gods of his MANY wives just as God told him not to.
ReplyDeleteLooking at Solomon's life in I Kings, I think it is safe to say that it has the makings of a good tragedy. It sounds so dramatic, the rightful king finally taking his place after David passes the crown to him. He's able to ask God for pretty much anything, he asks for wisdom to rule his people. He starts out longing to follow God and be like his father following God's commands. But then it starts to go badly... It just seems to show that no matter how well things start out, doesn't meant hey will end well. It seems pretty clear that Solomon has a greater weakness than his father when it comes to the ladies, with 700 wives and concubines... Leading his heart astray. How could his life have been had he only had one wife? And not gone to the people God warned them against marrying? I think it might of gone better for him...
ReplyDeleteOut of I Kings though, my favorite verses aren't relating to Solomon. I find the stories of Elijah to be my favorites... I especially love the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel."Maybe your gods are away, busy, journeying, etc. Maybe if you yell louder they will hear you and respond..." And then God responds when the other gods proved to be false! Oh my, it's so exciting!!
I think that the story of Solomon in I Kings has some element of tragedy but for the most part it just seems like a pretty straight forward history of Solomon's life. He becomes king by David's word, and during his reign he builds a temple to worship in. Then after forty years as king he dies and the next king comes in.
ReplyDeletethe story of how solomon became king has all the elements of a tragedy. solomon becomes king, spares the life of those who tried to steal it from him, builds his temple for those to worship. and then he dies.
ReplyDeletejason s.
The writings of Solomon in the chapters of first Kings is a pretty good historical writing. More than just Solomon's life is being discussed - foreign matters and attacks are recorded along with the division of Judah and Israel and the fluctuating powers therein. I would consider Solomon's Proverbs to be more prophecy-like of human relations and the do's and don't of life, but first Kings I read for the knowledge of what was going on around the area and also Solomon's life in general. It helps to know a little about the person when reading what they personally think of life and what they view as most important to achieve (or what not to achieve). The first book of Kings is good for knowledge of the risky treaties and agreements with questionable outside powers (of different areas) and to see the outcome of what these dicisions were. They lend wisdom in themselves of how a country should be run and what to look out for even to this day. For these reasons this first book of the Kings testimonies are a great historical source along with great biographical information.
ReplyDeleteThe story of Solomon definately has elements of a tragedy. Any tragedy i have ever read generally has a great man and hero, who has one or two vital flaws of which tend to in the end get him in rough situations. the book is basically a chronological biography of his life.
ReplyDeleteObvious tragedy. Solomon was a magnificent ruler and he brought Israel great wealth and influence, but at a cost. His many wives were indeed a terrible burden. One wife would want a temple for her gods and another a temple for hers. This devalued Judaism and created rifts in the kingdom.
ReplyDeleteI believe Solomon story was a prophecy, and reason for this is when he asked the Lord for wisdom and the Lord gave it so him by saying in verses of I Kings 3:11-14, and if Solomon was to continue Gods ways he will be prosperous. He showed this when he had to use his wisdom to solve the two women problem of the living child, and was seen by the people that Solomon had the wisdom of God. While this was being shown he was also following the commandants of God by building the Temple for God, but as he was praising and giving to the Lord and Solomon receiving his prosperity from this, he began to have problems from the people so he prayed to the Lord and on the Lord's second visit to Solomon, the Lord said in verses I Kings 9:4-7. As Solomon prayed to the Lord he himself started to have issues because of his prosperity and wealth by having many wives and starting to build other temples and burn incense for other gods, which God told him not to do because if he did this said in I Kings 9:6-7. God then gave Solomon adversaries and struggles for the rest of his days because he stopped following the ways of God and had a rebellion against him and forced a revolt to his son Rehoboam after his death.
ReplyDelete