“The two books now known as 1 and 2 Kings originally formed a single work… The book of Kings is not a ‘historical’ work according to the modern definition of that term. The compiler of the book did not write history as much as he illustrated how the hand of the Lord could be seen in the historical events of ancient Israel” (Unlocking the Old Testament. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1981, 82, 87).

“The first book of the Kings continues the narratives of the second book of Samuel. In fact, in their subtitles the books of Samuel are ‘otherwise called’ the first and second books of the kings; thus the subtitles of [First Kings] is ‘Commonly Called the Third Book of the Kings,’ and the four books are presented as a continuum.” (A Latter-Day Saint Commentary on the Old Testament. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1993, 274).

“The first half of the first book of Kings (1 Kgs.1-11) relates the transmission of the kingdom from David to his son, Solomon. It recounts Solomon’s consolidation and further expansion of the kingdom and the establishment of Jerusalem as the religious capital with a glorious new temple. It accounts for Solomon’s acquisition of wealth and fame. But then Solomon declined and fell, as did the previous two kings.” (A Latter-Day Saint Commentary on the Old Testament. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1993, 274).

“No subject could use anything that belonged to the prince [king] without forfeiting his life. As David offered Solomon to ride on his own mule, this was full evidence that he had appointed him his successor.” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible. Abridged by Ralph Earle. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1967, [Nineteenth Printing, March, 1991, 337).

“Amongst Eastern nations the wives and concubines of a deceased or dethroned king were taken by his successor (see 2 Samuel 12:8; 16:21-22); and so Adonijah’s request for Abishag was regarded as tantamount to a claim on the throne.” (A Commentary on the Holy Bible. New York: Macmillan Company, 1936, 212).

“Solomon extended the domain of Israel from the Red Sea on the south to the Euphrates River on the north… The golden age of Israel, started under King David, continued under Solomon. During the forty long years Solomon ruled as king of Israel, there was peace and unity throughout his vast domain.” (Old Testament Institute Student Manual:2 Kings-Malachi. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981, [Second Edition, 1982), 1).

“Solomon now reorganized his nation into twelve administrative districts, preserving some of the old tribal units but altering others… The officers were to collect the people’s contribution of food for the royal household.” (A Latter-Day Saint Commentary on the Old Testament. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1993, 278).

“The pattern of [the] temple, the length and breadth, and the height of the inner and outer courts, with all the fixtures thereunto appertaining, were given to Solomon by revelation, through the proper source. And why… because Solomon had never built a temple, and did not know what was necessary in the arrangement of the different apartments, any better than Moses did [know] what was needed in the [construction of the] tabernacle.” (Discourses of Brigham Young. Compiled by John A. Widtsoe. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1954, 414).

“Solomon’s Temple and the Tabernacle of the Wilderness were so near alike to be practically identical… The dimensions of the Holy of Holies, the Holy Place, and the Porch, were in the Temple exactly double those of the corresponding parts in the Tabernacle” (The House of the Lord. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1968, [Third Printing, Revised Edition, 1969], 6).

“In Solomon’s Temple a large molten sea of brass was placed on the backs of 12 brazen oxen, these oxen being symbolical of the 12 tribes of Israel (see 1 Kings 7:23-26, 44; 2 Kings 16:17; 25:13; 1 Chron.18:8). This brazen sea was used for performing baptisms for the living. There were no baptisms for the dead until after the resurrection of Christ.

“It must be remembered that all direct and plain references to baptism have been deleted from the Old Testament (B/M, 1 Nephi 13) and that the word baptize is of Greek origin. Some equivalent word, such as wash, would have been used by the Hebrew peoples. In describing the molten sea the Old Testament record says, “The sea was for the priests to wash in.’ (2 Chron. 4:2-6). This is tantamount to saying that the priests performed baptisms in it.

“In this temple building dispensation, the Brethren [Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints] have been led by the spirit of inspiration to pattern the baptismal fonts placed in [their] temples after the one in Solomon’s Temple.” (Mormon Doctrine. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966, [Second Edition, 1966], 103-104).

“Many present [on this occasion] reported seeing angels and hearing the ‘sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled the Temple, and many in the community reported ‘seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple’ (History of the Church, 2:427). The special events attending the dedication of both temples are signs of the Lord’s divine acceptance of the houses built in his name to his honor.” (Old Testament Institute Student Manual:1 Kings-Malachi. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981, [Second Edition, 1982], 7).

“Thirty-four years later, and but five years subsequent to the death of Solomon, the decline of the temple began; and this decline was soon to develop into general spoliation, and finally to become an actual desecration.” (House of the Lord. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1968, [Third Printing, Revised Edition, 1969], 6-7).

“The temple of Solomon was later destroyed, and the kingdom of Judah scattered. Zerubbabel’s temple, which Herod renovated, was later built on the same spot… [It was Herod’s Temple that] was the one standing in the Savior’s day.” (Old Testament Institute Student Manual: 1 Kings-Malachi. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981, [Second Edition, 1982], 6).

“Though Solomon’s remarkable building projects became world famous, they created serious problems in his own kingdom. He taxed the people heavily and used forced labor to complete his massive projects. The people began to complain, and a deep resentment, especially in the northern tribes, began to fester.

“The life of the common man had been disrupted. In the past, a man’s wealth had been calculated mostly by the land he owned, the number of flocks he had and the size of his family… Now wealth was calculated not by property ownership but by the amount of money a man controlled… For the first time in Israel’s history, there began to be a distinct difference between ‘rich’ and ‘poor.’ The king and his household were rich; the common people were poor.” (Great People of the Bible and How They Lived. Pleasantville, New York: Reader’s Digest Association, 1974, 192-193).

“Political necessity forced Solomon to erect shrines to their gods and to give the appearance of taking part in certain ceremonies with them when visiting dignitaries were at his court. For this apostasy and crass disloyalty “the Lord was angry with Solomon,” (1 Kings 11:9)… and after his death the bulk of his kingdom was rent from the hands of his family.” (Story of the Bible World in Map, Word and Pictures. Pleasantville, New York, 1962, 59).

“Solomon [also] allowed his love for material things and his great accomplishments as a builder to wean him from his early devotion to the Lord… When the Queen of Sheba and other foreign visitors paid their respects, they said little about Solomon’s righteousness or wisdom. Rather they expressed amazement and awe at his tremendous achievements in building. Their compliments had a marked effect upon Solomon. They seem to have created within him a hunger for the plaudits of men. His desire to construct even grander structures [led him] to enforce heavy taxation upon his people–so heavy that he eventually forced his people into poverty… Mismanagement of the nation’s wealth left united Israel tottering.” (The Old Testament Institute Student Manual: 1 Kings-Malachi. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981, [Second Edition, 1982], 11).

“Solomon’s palace ‘consisted of several buildings connected together; namely, (1) the house of the forest of Lebanon [see 1 Kings 7:2-5); (2) the pillar-hall with the porch (ver. 6); (3) the throne-room and judgment hall (ver.7); (4) the king’s dwelling-house and the hose of Pharaoh’s daughter (ver.8)…The description of the several portions of this palace is so very brief, that it is impossible to form a distinct idea of its character. The different divisions are given in vers. 1-8 in their natural order, commencing at the back and terminating with the front (ver.8). Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary, 3:1:38.” (The Old Testament Institute Student Manual: 1 Kings-Malachi. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981, [Second Edition, 1982], 6).

“To build fortresses, cities, the temple, and other royal buildings, including an elaborate, costly palace, Solomon used forced labor allotted periodically to different districts. But he also used teams of non-Israelite slaves (1 Kings 9:20-21). Thus Solomon’s glory was at least partially based on the oppression of conquered peoples and native Israelites, and it was deeply resented. When Rehaboam succeeded his father, Solomon, Israel told him that they would not tolerate the “grievous service” of Solomon any more. When he vowed to increase their burdens, he was rejected by the ten northern tribes.

“Although the temple was built in response to the Lord’s will, had a valid religious motivation, and was of great spiritual value to Israel, Solomon’s palace and luxurious court seem to have resulted from other motivations. One thinks of [wicked] King Noah’s elaborate building projects recorded in the Book of Mormon (see Mosiah 11).” (“The Reign of Solomon,” in Studies in Scripture, Vol. 4. Edited by Kent P. Jackson. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1993, 17).

“It almost seems as if there are two Solomons. The first was a king of great power and glory who gave Israel legendary prestige and a sense of self-worth. He was a ruler of supernatural wisdom who had semi-prophetic status, for he had visions and was selected by the Lord to build his temple. He also had a kind of priestly status, for he prayed to dedicate the temple and perform frequent sacrifice….

“The second Solomon (absent in Chronicles) carried out purges to eliminate his rivals. With an extensive court, he lived on a lavish scale and required his people to shoulder the burden. His building projects were vast and impressive but came into being through oppression of the people–-foreign slaves and Israelites who were forced to endure temporary slave status. He married foreign women, perhaps because he desired political security or priestly status, to worship pagan gods. And he sought to kill the man whom the Lord had selected to lead most of Israel after his death–much as Saul had sought to kill Solomon’s father, David, whom the Lord had similarly chosen to rule (1 Sam.19-24; 26).” (“The Reign of Solomon,” in Studies in Scripture , Vol. 4. Edited by Kent P. Jackson. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1993, 19).

“All men and women enjoy certain blessings from the Lord. The individual is wise who accepts the blessings with a grateful heart and walks in righteousness before the Lord…

“[At times affluence can be a problem for us]. We, as modern Israel, need to avoid the sins of pride, misuse of wealth, esteem of the world, [and marriage outside the Church]… sins which beset Solomon and caused his downfall.

“Are we any different? Even if we make some good decisions, could we also make some foolish ones that might destroy us?

“[The blessing of a] patriarchal blessing can be an important guide to us. Because Solomon forgot his blessing from the Lord, he lost it” (Old Testament Institute Student Manual: 1 Kings-Malachi. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981, [ Second Edition, 1982], 11).