Editing Solomon (section)

===Construction projects===
{{See also|Solomon's Temple}}
[[File:Solomon and the Plan for the Temple.jpg|thumb|left|upright|alt=Solomon plans the building of the temple|Solomon and the plan for the [[First Temple]]. Illustration from a [[Bible card]]]]
For years before his death, David was engaged in collecting materials for building a temple in Jerusalem as a permanent home for [[Yahweh]] and the [[Ark of the Covenant]]. Solomon is described as undertaking the construction of the [[Solomon's Temple|temple]], with the help of an architect, also named [[Hiram Abiff|Hiram]], and other materials, sent from King Hiram of Tyre.

After the completion of the temple, Solomon is described in the biblical narrative as erecting many other buildings of importance in [[Jerusalem]]. For 13 years, he was engaged in the building of a royal palace on [[Ophel]] (a hilly promontory in central Jerusalem). This complex included buildings referred to as:
:The House (or Hall) of the Forest of Lebanon<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Kings|10:17|NKJV}} and {{bibleverse|2|Chronicles|9:20|NKJV}}: "House" in the [[King James Version]] and [[Revised Standard Version]], "Hall" in the [[Jerusalem Bible]] and [[Good News Translation]]</ref>
:The Hall or Porch of Pillars
:The Hall of the Throne or the Hall of Justice as well as his own residence and a residence for his wife, [[Pharaoh's daughter (wife of Solomon)|Pharaoh's daughter]].<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Kings|7:1-8|NKJV}}</ref>

[[File:Tissot Solomon Dedicates the Temple at Jerusalem.jpg|thumb|King Solomon [[Dedication (ritual)|dedicates]] the Temple at Jerusalem. Painting by [[James Tissot]] or follower, c. 1896–1902]]
[[Solomon's Throne|Solomon's throne]] is said to have been spectacularly opulent and possessed moving parts, making it one of the earliest mechanical devices in history. It is said that "Nothing like it (the throne) had ever been made for any other kingdom."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bible Gateway passage: 1 Kings 10:20 - New International Version |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2010:20&version=NIV |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Bible Gateway |language=en}}</ref> Solomon also constructed great water works for the city, and the [[Millo]] ([[Septuagint]], ''Acra'') for the defense of the city. However, excavations of Jerusalem have discovered no monumental architecture from the era, and no remains of either the Temple or Solomon's palace have been found.

Solomon is also described as rebuilding cities elsewhere in Israel, creating the port of [[Ezion-Geber]], and constructing [[Palmyra]] in the wilderness as a commercial depot and military outpost. Although the location of the port of Ezion-Geber is known, no remains have ever been found. More archaeological success has been achieved with the major cities Solomon is said to have strengthened or rebuilt, for example, [[Tel Hazor|Hazor]], [[Tel Megiddo|Megiddo]] and [[Gezer]].<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Kings|9:15|HE}}</ref> These all have substantial ancient remains, including impressive six-chambered gates, and [[ashlar]] palaces; however it is no longer the scholarly consensus that these structures date to the time, according to the Bible, when Solomon ruled.{{sfn|Finkelstein|Silberman|2001|pages=186–195}}

According to the Bible, during Solomon's reign, Israel enjoyed great commercial prosperity, with extensive traffic being carried on by land with [[Tyre (Lebanon)|Tyre]], [[Egypt]], and [[Arabia]], and by sea with [[Tarshish]], [[Ophir]], and [[South India]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bhaktivejanyana|first=Swami |title=Ithihaasa: the mystery of his story is my story of history|date=2013-01-23|isbn=978-1-4772-4272-8 |location=Bloomington, IN|oclc=826444777}}</ref>