Solomon's Age - Page 2

  • TBD – The interval between the death of Absalom and the beginning of the famine is not stated. It may be that the famine occurred shortly after the death of Absalom or may have occurred a few years after.
  • 3 years – The famine - “Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David sought the face of the LORD” (2 Samuel 21:1 ESV) The absence of any mention of the effects of the famine, affecting the battle plans of Absalom or David appears to indicate that the famine occurred after the death of Absalom.  
  • TBD – The interval between the end of the famine and the beginning of the census is not stated. It may be that the census was started as soon as the famine ended, or it may not have begun until several years later. The listing of the census after the 20,000 deaths resulting from the war against Absalom and the potentially large number of deaths caused by three years of famine appears to also reinforce the idea that there was a significant interval between the end of the famine and the census: “And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the loss there was great on that day, twenty thousand men.” (2 Samuel 18:7 ESV)
  • 1 year – The census and judgment - “So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in Israel there were 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were 500,000.” (2 Samuel 24:8-9 ESV)
  • TBD – The duration of the interval between the completion of the census and the finding of Abishag is not stated: “King David was very old; even when they covered him with blankets, he could not get warm. His servants advised him, “A young virgin must be found for our master, the king, to take care of the king’s needs and serve as his nurse. She can also sleep with you and keep our master, the king, warm.” So they looked through all Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. The young woman was very beautiful; she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.” (1 Kings 1:1–4 NET)
  • TBD – The duration of the interval between finding Abishag and the death of David with the ascent of Solomon to the throne is not stated. This may have been only a few months, or may have been several years.

The duration of the complete sequence of events after the death of Absalom is not stated. Brief intervals between these events after the death of Absalom would allow Solomon to ascend to the throne as young as age 16. However, even a few years between each of these events would cause Solomon to be at least 20 when he became king.

 

SUGGESTIONS SOLOMON BECAME KING BEFORE 20

Some have thought that Solomon ascended to the throne prior to reaching age 20.

This is based partly on tradition, but also on the description of Solomon a little child, young and inexperienced, the command to “prove yourself a man”, and the representation by his mother of his kingship.

 

TRADITION

  • The ancient historian Josephus states that Solomon was 14 years old when he became king: “So Solomon died when he was already an old man, having reigned eighty years, and lived ninety-four.”4
  • John Gill states, “The Jews commonly say he [Solomon] was but twelve years of age when he was anointed king, which they reckon thus; that he was born at the time that Ammon ravished Tamar, two years after which was Absalom’s sheep shearing, when he slew Amnon, on which he fled to Geshur, and was there three years; here are five years; he returned thence and was at Jerusalem two years; lo, seven years; he rebelled and was slain, and after that there was a famine of three years, which make ten; and in the year following David numbered the people, which was nine or ten months in doing; the next year he died, which was the fortieth of his reign, in all twelve years; so reckon Jarchi and Kimchi; and Eupolemus, an Heathen writer, is express for it, who says, that David, when he had reigned forty years, delivered up the kingdom to Solomon his son, being then twelve years of age, which he must receive from the tradition of the Jews”3
  • The article “King David’s Last Will and Testament” states, “On his deathbed Kind David who was 70 years old at the time, commanded his son Shlomo who was 12 years old, to keep the Torah … Shlomo was made king at the age of 12. He ruled for 40 years and passed away at the age of 52.”1
  • The article “King Solomon” states, “Before David dies, he appoints as king his son Solomon, who is 12 years old at the time, with these words … Born in 848 BCE, Solomon dies at age 52 in 796 BCE, ruling as king for 40 years.”2
  • The Preacher’s Commentary Series states, “Some Greek manuscripts add the information that Solomon was twelve years old at his accession; however, this is legend5”

However, traditions are frequently inaccurate:

  • Josephus indicated that Solomon reigned 80 years, while Scripture clearly states he reigned only forty years.
  • The timeline of John Gill appears to exclude the four years of secret planning to rebel while Absalom was at the palace gates.

Traditions must always be examined by Scripture and discarded when they disagree.

 

LITTLE CHILD AND INEXPERIENCED

Both Solomon and his own father refer to Solomon as being young and inexperienced.

  • “David said, ‘My son Solomon is young and inexperienced.” (1 Chronicles 22:5-23:1 NIV)
  • “And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.” (1 Kings 3:7 ESV)

Some think these statements indicate that Solomon would have been in his early teens.