Solomon’s Death and Legacy
After ruling for forty years, King Solomon passed away and was buried in the city of David, a part of Jerusalem named after his father, King David. After Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam became the new king. However, the strong and united kingdom that Solomon had inherited and ruled over began to break apart very quickly.
During his reign, Solomon achieved many impressive things. He was known for his great wisdom, which people from far and wide came to witness. He oversaw the construction of the magnificent temple in Jerusalem, a sacred place where the people worshipped God. He also helped Israel grow in power and influence across the region.
But despite all of these accomplishments, Solomon made a crucial mistake. Toward the end of his life, he turned away from God and started worshipping other gods, influenced by the foreign wives he had married. Because of this unfaithfulness, God allowed the kingdom to lose its unity. What had once been a strong, united nation under one king began to split apart soon after Solomon’s death, just as God had warned would happen (1 Kings 11:43).