Hidden Critique of Solomon in the Hebrew Bible

The Hebrew Bible portrays Israel's united kingdom under King Solomon as ideal in order to arouse hope for the restoration of Israelite kingship. Ironically, however, Solomon is also blamed for the kingdom's demise. Pekka Särkiö explores how writers and redactors used scribal tools and creativity to weave these disparate perspectives together with a subtle, hidden critique that stretches through the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. This in-depth study reveals the expressions, themes, and structures that evoke Solomon's foreign wives, his excessive wealth, his respect for other gods, his pride, and his elevation to a venerated character. The resulting texts allow the coexistence of hope for the future and the concerns of northern survivors who blamed Solomon for the exile and the divided kingdom.