Sources disagree on how old Solomon was when he became king. His age of coronation is unknown from some accounts, while others put it at about 20. Since the Bible does not explicitly state how old anything is, most estimations are made based on background information. The Bible, particularly the first 11 chapters of the Book of Kings and the first 9 chapters of the Book of Chronicles, is the primary source for information on Solomon and his reign. In contrast to his father, however, there is very little informational evidence from Solomon’s rule.
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Clues Suggest That Solomon Became King at 20 Years Old
20 Years Until Solomon’s Birth
The events that occurred between 2 Samuel 12-24 until the born of Solomon spanned about 20 years. This timeline can be pieced together using various biblical verses. For example, 2 Samuel 13 describes Amnon’s rape of Tamar, which occurred during this time period. Two years later, Absalom murdered Amnon, as described in 2 Samuel 13:23. Absalom then fled Jerusalem and remained in exile for three years before returning, as noted in 2 Samuel 13:38.
Preparations for Absalom’s conspiracy took four years, as described in 2 Samuel 15:7. Absalom’s rebellion against David is detailed in 2 Samuel 15-19, and Sheba’s rebellion is described in 2 Samuel 20. Additionally, 2 Samuel 21:1 notes that there were three years of famine during this time period. David’s census is described in 2 Samuel 24, and preparations for the rebellion of Adonijah are detailed in 1 Kings 1. These events, along with others, help to piece together a timeline of about 20 years of events that occurred between 2 Samuel 12-24.
Another 19-20 Years Until Solomon’s Death
After Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam ascended the throne. The Hebrew Bible covers Rehoboam’s rule in 1 Kings 12 and 1 Kings 14:21-31. When he took the throne, Rehoboam was 41 years old (according to 1 Kings 14:21). According to that, Solomon was probably about 19 years old when Rehoboam was born and around 18 when he tied the knot with the Ammonite princess Naamah.
David Died at the Age of 70
Both 1 Kings 11:42 and 2 Chronicles 9:30 state that Solomon’s rule lasted 40 years and David lived to be 70 years old. Therefore, when Solomon was born, David was in his mid-50s. Since David also ruled for 40 years, this makes Solomon at least 10 years younger than David when he assumed the throne.
-> See also: King Solomon’s Net Worth: How Rich Was the King of Israel?
Other Age Theories
Solomon Was King at the age of 12 or 13
Solomon calls himself a “little child” who “does not know how to carry out his duties” (1 Kings 3:7) in the Bible. Some have taken this to mean that he was rather young when he assumed the throne.
But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. (1 Kings 3:7)
According to this theory, Solomon became king at the age of 12 or 13 since, in tradition, an Israelite boy is considered a “Bar Mitzvah” after he reaches the age of 12 or 13, at which point he is expected to take responsibility for his actions. Solomon’s rule also lasted for 40 years, which indicates a pretty late age for the lifespan of ancient humans at the time.
However, according to others, this verse may not be a literal allusion to Solomon’s coronation age but rather a reflection of his humility.
Solomon Was King at the age of 24
Another timeline analysis suggests that Solomon’s birth occurred no earlier than the 16th year of David’s reign. David ruled for a total of 40 years; the first seven of which were spent at Hebron. In his sixth year, he transported the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem after conquering the city. David eventually won the battle and conquered the Arameans so that they could no longer aid the Ammonites.
In his 11th year as king or later, David began living with Bathsheba. The kid David fathered with Bathsheba was born in his 12th year or later and passed away shortly after birth. Solomon was the fourth of David’s sons, born to Bathsheba, who survived infancy. In the 13th year or later of David’s reign, Shammua, Bathsheba’s first healthy son, was born. In the 14th year or later, Shobab was born, and in the 15th year or later, Nathan was born. Since David died in the 16th year of his reign, the earliest Solomon may have been born could be at the age of 24.
-> See also: Shulamite: Solomon’s Bride, Her Origin and Meaning
Conclusion: Solomon Became King in His Early Twenties
Therefore, according to historians and biblical scholars, Solomon likely became king at the age of 20 to 25. Multiple variables were used to arrive at this estimate. After 40 years in power, Solomon would have been roughly 60 years old when he passed away. Solomon was probably about 19 years old when his son Rehoboam was born, making Rehoboam 41 when he succeeded to the throne. Also, David was probably about 50 years old when Solomon was born.
The historical evidence, biblical texts, and traditional accounts all point to Solomon’s early twenties as the age of rule:
- Length of Solomon’s Reign: According to 1 Kings 11:42, Solomon ruled Jerusalem and Israel for forty years. If he had become king at the age of 20, he would have been roughly 60 years old when he passed away, which is already pretty old for the average lifespan at the time.
- Age of Rehoboam: According to 1 Kings 14:21, Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, started his reign at the age of 41 and Solomon was probably in his early twenties when his son Rehoboam was born.
- David’s Age at Solomon’s Birth: Solomon was born when David was about 50 years old. Since David’s rule was 40 years long (2 Samuel 5:4), this would indicate that Solomon became king in his early twenties.
- Solomon’s Self-Description: Solomon calls himself a “little child” in 1 Kings 3:7, saying he does not know how to carry out his responsibilities as king. It’s possible to read this allegorically, but it might simply imply that Solomon was a youthful king.
- Historical Context and Scholarly Consensus: Life expectancy at the time and historical evidence suggest that Solomon was in his early 20s when he became king. Many biblical scholars agree with this age.
Impacts of Solomon’s Young Age on His Reign
Both the benefits and drawbacks of his youth affected his rule.
Positive Effects
- Wisdom: According to the story, Solomon asked for wisdom from God to serve his people better since he knew that he needed knowledge more than anything else as a young king.
- A Long Reign: Due to his youthful age at the time of his accession, Solomon was able to govern for a very long time. He ruled Israel for 40 years and during that time the country enjoyed relative stability and prosperity.
- Building Projects: Since Solomon’s most well-known construction project is the First Temple in Jerusalem, his youthful vigor and drive may have prepared him for such massive undertakings.
Negative Effects
- Challenges to the Throne: Another son of David, Adonijah, who was older than Solomon, made an unsuccessful bid for the kingdom promised to Solomon before David’s death. Because of this, a power battle arose, which Solomon ultimately won.
- Inexperience: It’s possible that Solomon’s inexperience as king led to some negative choices early in his reign. For instance, he compromised culturally and religiously by marrying Pharaoh’s daughter.
- Overconfidence: Solomon allegedly had a heart for his God at first, but his numerous riches, foreign brides, and concubines possibly steered him away from being a humble ruler.
Did King Solomon Really Rule Jerusalem?
The Bible is silent about Solomon’s exact age. The indirect evidence, however, supports the conclusion that Solomon was about 20 or 24 years old when he became king, which is in line with the majority of non-Biblical sources. The biblical account of Solomon’s reign in the early 10th century BC has been said to be confirmed by artifacts discovered by some scholars; however, the archaeological records also suggest that the fortified cities and even the Temple of Jerusalem emerged more than a century later than Solomon’s reign. Historians and archaeologists continue to argue about the Old Testament’s veracity as history. Few to no artifacts have been discovered that date to King Solomon’s reign and there is some doubt about the king’s actual existence.
Difficulties and Possibilities the Young King Solomon Confronted
Challenges
- Kingship Disputes: Adonijah, another son of David, contested Solomon’s rightful succession to the kingdom before his father’s death. Because of this, a power battle arose, which Solomon ultimately won.
- Religious Compromise: Solomon married foreign ladies, bringing with them their pagan beliefs, in order to strengthen his political relationships. God became angry because of the resulting religious compromise and idolatry.
- High Expectations: People had great hopes for Solomon’s rule since he was King David’s son. It would have been quite difficult for him to fulfill all of these roles as a young king.
Opportunities
- Divine Wisdom: In an alleged dream encounter with God, Solomon prayed for—and received—the gift of divine knowledge since he knew that he was too young to rule.
- Peaceful Reign: Solomon was given the name “peace” because he brought about a period of relative calm throughout his reign. Israel’s economy and population were both able to flourish during this time.
- Building a Rich Temple: The construction of the First Holy Temple in Jerusalem took around 7 years, and an elderly king may not have seen the completion of his temple, let alone decided to build it.