Editing Solomon (section)

===Succession and administration===
[[File:Cornelis de Vos - The Anointing of Solomon.jpg|thumb|''The Anointing of Solomon '' by [[Cornelis de Vos]] (c.{{nbsp}}1630). According to 1{{nbsp}}[[Books of Kings|Kings]] 1:39, Solomon was [[Anointing|anointed]] by [[Zadok]].]]

According to the [[First Book of Kings]], when David was old, "he could not get warm".<ref name="1 Kings 1 ESV">{{cite web|url=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20kings%201;&version=47; |title=1 Kings 1 (ESV) |publisher=BibleGateway.com |access-date=2010-03-03}}</ref> "So they sought a beautiful young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found [[Abishag]] the [[Shunamitism|Shunamite]], and brought her to the king. The young woman was very beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him, but the king knew her not."<ref name="1 Kings 1 ESV" />

While David was in this state, court factions were maneuvering for power.  [[Adonijah]], David's [[heir apparent]], acted to have himself declared king, but was outmaneuvered by Bathsheba and the biblical prophet Nathan, who convinced David to proclaim Solomon king according to his earlier promise (not recorded elsewhere in the biblical narrative),<ref>Lumby, J. R., [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/1_kings/1.htm Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges on 1 Kings 1], accessed 24 September 2017</ref> despite Solomon's being younger than his brothers.

Solomon, as instructed by David, began his reign with an extensive purge, including his father's chief general, [[Joab]], among others, and further consolidated his position by appointing friends throughout the administration, including in religious positions as well as in civic and military posts.<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Kings|4:1–19|NKJV}}</ref> It is said that Solomon ascended to the throne when he was only about fifteen.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Bible Exposition Commentary, Volume 1|last=Wiersbe|first=Warren |publisher=Cook Communications|year=2003|isbn=978-0-7814-3531-4|location=Eastbourne|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bibleexpositionc00wier/page/496 496] |url=https://archive.org/details/bibleexpositionc00wier/page/496}}</ref>

Solomon greatly expanded his military strength, especially the cavalry and chariot arms.  He founded numerous colonies, some of which doubled as trading posts and military outposts.  He also increased the bureaucracy.<ref>Steinsaltz, Adin.  ''Biblical Images: Men and Women of the Book''.  New York: Basic Books, 1984.  p. 156.</ref>

Trade relationships were a focus of his administration. In particular he continued his father's very profitable relationship with the Phoenician king [[Hiram I]] of Tyre (see 'wealth' below); they sent out joint expeditions to the lands of [[Tarshish]] and [[Ophir]] to engage in the trade of luxury products, importing gold, silver, sandalwood, pearls, ivory, apes, and peacocks. Solomon is considered the most wealthy of the Israelite kings named in the Bible.