August 6, 2025 • 29 mins
# 209 - Solomon's Wisdom – In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, the young king asks not for power or wealth, but for a heart that hears. His request for wisdom reshapes a kingdom—and reveals what true leadership looks like.
Episode 209 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Joshua.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/who-we-are?utm_source=pray
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Job 28:28, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”
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Show Notes:
(01:23) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(02:41) Solomon's Wisdom
(24:00) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Previously on the Chosen People.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
You're wise, Solomon, but you must also be strong, strong
enough to overcome the tugue of power. Show yourself a man,
Keep the charge of the Lord your God. Walk in
his ways, keep his laws and commendments. Guard your heart
(00:27):
with his testimonies. Say, as Moses wrote them, if you
hold fast to the word of God, you will prosper
in all you do. He promised me, If my son
walks in his ways, Israel will never lack a man
(00:49):
on the throne.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
The cry spread like wildfire through the garden, through the courtyard,
out into the streets. Servants, God's singers, scribes, the voice
of the city rising as one. Long Live King Solomon,
Long Live King Solomon. He had been crowned king, but
(01:13):
now Solomon had to prove that he was worthy of
the appointment.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
The wisest thing that Solomon ever did was admit that
he wasn't wise enough. Shelloh, my friends, from here in
the holy land of Israel, i'm l extein with the
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the
Chosen People. In today's Bible story, we find ourselves standing
on sacred ground. But not because the earth is quaking,
(01:48):
or the heavens are torn open.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
No.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Today, what is sacred is the silence. A young king
sits with the weight of the chosen people pressing on
his shoulders, and all the noise of court and crowns
seems to hush as he does something that very few
powerful people ever do. He listens and he asks. But
what does a good leader ask for? Strength? Safety, success?
(02:14):
Or is there something more elusive, something deeper than strategy
and more enduring than gold. We've watched Solomon inherit the
mantle of his father, King David. We've seen transition, we've
seen power shift, and now we will see what kind
of man Solomon has become when he's offered anything, anything
in the world, anything at all. What would you ask
(02:37):
for if the heavens opened up and said name it.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
The wind picked up speed as it traveled up the
rise and torseled Solomon's hair, blasting cold air across his face,
making him feel alive. From somewhere behind him, his young son,
Ria Boham, giggled at the excitement of being so far
above the city below. Solomon couldn't help but smile at
(03:04):
the enthusiasm of his childish belly laugh and turned to
see him grinning from ear to ear as he broke
free from his mother's hand to run ahead to where
Solomon led the group. Solomon turned and waited for him,
and when he reached the top, the two of them
stood in awe at the sweeping panorama of the mountains
(03:25):
and valleys that made up their home. In the heart
of it was the city of David, its densely packed
white streets winding and cutting up the rise. In the middle,
it was nestled between terraced hills of olive and fig trees,
and pockets of golden grain in the narrow valleys that
(03:46):
flowed between like rivers. Solomon crouched playfully, scooped up a
delighted riller Boem, and placed him on his shoulders. Solomon
pointed to the landmarks below surrounding his son in the
land that would one day be his to rule.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
See that high point above the city of David.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
That's where we live.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Yes, yes, that's where we live until our new palace.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Is complete and the place for your Egyptian wife.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Well, not quite. I will build Princess Nifotari a palace
outside the City of David, where she can worship her
own guard. That high point you see over there will
be the temple for the war. Your grandfather brought it
and placed an altar there. You can't see it anymore,
but the place where it stood will be the heart
(04:38):
of a new temple.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Even from this distance, the construction on the mount was
an impressive and bustling scene. The massive foundation of pale
stone had taken shape, its deep trenches and thick walls
extending upwards beneath a skeleton of scaffolding.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Tell me, Rehabarm, do you know the history of that mountain?
Have your tutors told you of Mount Moriah?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Solomon peered up at his son's face above his head
on his shoulders. Rhea Bonham's brow furrowed as he scrunched
up his face in concentration, searching his memory.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
There's an altar there, just like here.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Yes, this is a high place too. But who put
the altar over on Mount Moriah?
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Grandfather?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yes, I just told you that. And who else?
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Our father Abraham when the Lord asked him to sacrifice
his son Isaac good?
Speaker 2 (05:39):
And what did the Lord provide instead?
Speaker 4 (05:42):
A ram?
Speaker 2 (05:42):
And where is your ram today?
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Solomon punctuated the question with a knowing glance. Output Before
rio Bohm could respond, Solomon tightened his grip on the
boy's legs and started marching toward the slope where the
altars were being sampled.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Oh, dear, no ram I, guess my boy reabou will
do he a bone?
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Shrieked with laughter, kicking his legs in protest against his
father's hold. Tears of laughter streaked down Solomon's cheeks as
he gently lowered his still giggling son to the ground.
Though he carried the weight of the kingdom, wives and children,
he was still a young man, and sometimes, on rare
(06:26):
occasions it felt free to lean into the boyhood he
had left behind not so long ago. But moments like
these were fleeting. There was always more to read, more,
to learn, more, to study and memorize. Even if he
lived a thousand years, it would never be enough. Solomon
(06:47):
looked around. The fires had sprung to life, and the
priests were making their final preparations. Soon they would be
waiting for him to begin. He and his entire royal
Entoura had traveled to the high Place at Gibeon to
worship the Lord, celebrating the long anticipated alliance sealed by
(07:08):
his marriage to Pharaoh's daughter. Solomon spared her a glance
down the mount. She stood stiffly, her nose wrinkled, as
if the very air offended her. Even from this distance,
he could see her narrowed eyes, her crossed arms, the
imperious way she surveyed the Israelite ceremony. Her expression made
(07:30):
her opinion clear. To her, Israel was nothing more than
a podunk, upstart kingdom, laughably crude compared to the ancient
grandeur of Tannis. Solomon sighed he would need to charm her,
distract her, flatter her something before her mood soured further,
(07:51):
before she made it everyone's problem.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Rebel to me a favor.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
The boy looked up at him with a determined expression.
He was eager to please his father.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Will you go watch over your baby sisters while I
lead the ritual. Tell them everything you know about this
place and observe everything you learn about the practice.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Yes, father, will mother sacrifice an animal from Milcom when
you're done sacrificing to the lord.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Solomon blinked in surprise at his son's innocent question.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
No, this is where we worship the God of Israel.
I won't permit the worship of another god here in
this holy place.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
But it looks just like where Mother worships the gods
of her people, the Ammonites.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well, it's not, and we won't worship here for long.
Once the temple's complete, we won't need to come to
this high place anymore.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
But you're building the princess Nafertari a place where she
can worship her gods. Will our temple be like that?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Solomon struggled for a moment and tried to think of
how he would explain the difference between worshiping their true
God and the advantages of nurturing these complex political alliances
to his five year old. When his mother and the
prophet Nathan approached, King, they are ready for you.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
Real booking, my love. Why don't you come with me?
We'll go find your mother and your sisters.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Nathan's face was impossible to read, but his mother arched
an eyebrow at him, which told him she heard most
of their exchange. As they approached, Solomon sighed, a problem
for another time. It was just Solomon and Nathan for
a moment. Nathan pursed his lips and sighed.
Speaker 6 (09:39):
Ah a complicated thing. Teaching a child the ways of
the world.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
I'm afraid Riobaum's world is more complicated than most children's.
Speaker 6 (09:51):
It is the world you're created for, My king, Remember.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
That Nathan bowed and left with that pearl of wisdom.
As he was known to do, Nathan never lingered long
enough for questions or protests. Later that night, Solomon was
fast asleep in his tent. The world around him faded
under the dark, warm embrace of his furs. As Solomon slept,
(10:20):
he was whisked away in a dream, a vision, a visitation.
He heard the Lord's voice break the peaceful silence, ask
what shall I give you? Solomon stirred. He pondered the
Lord's question for a long while. What could he ask
(10:41):
of the Lord? What should he ask of the Lord?
He considered the kingdom he had inherited from his father.
It was unified, stable for the most part, and their
wealth had grown. Solomon considered asking for more of what
they had already achieved, But he considered what more he
(11:01):
had to do in his lifetime. His father's words had
loomed large in his memory in the years since his death.
Speaker 7 (11:09):
Your wives, Solomon, but you must also be strong, strong
enough to overcome the tongue of power.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Show your silver there, keep the charge.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Of the Lord, your God. A pit formed in Solomon's stomach.
Even in his dream, his father's words were still true.
Even though Solomon had achieved so much in his short reign,
Alliances formed, children born, including his heir, allegiances, shored up debts, paid,
(11:45):
temple plans under weigh, and yet for where Solomon wanted
to take Israel, Solomon would have to be wise, the
wisest king there ever was, to match the ambition he
had for his beloved nation, Wise enough to protect his
family and the children of Israel, wise enough to stay
(12:06):
faithful to the Lord and all that he had been
called to do.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
You have shown my father David, a love that is
steadfast and unfailing, because he walked before you, and faithfulness, righteousness,
and integrity. You honored him, you sustained him, and even
now you've kept your promise by placing me on his throne.
(12:34):
But Lord, my God, you have made me king in
his place, and I'm young. I've no experience in ruling
of people, let alone a nation as vast as this one.
They're yours, too many to be counted, too great to
be led by a man who leads only himself. So
(13:00):
I ask you give your servant the heart that hears.
Let me discern what is right. Teach me to distinguish
between good and evil, because who, who, and all the
world is truly capable of governing a people as great
as yours.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Even from deep within his subconscious, Solomon could sense that
the Lord was pleased. Waves of warmth and approval caused
him to sink deeper into the blankets and luxurious animal
skins piled high on his bedroll.
Speaker 8 (13:38):
Because you have requested this, and did not ask for
long life, or riches for yourself, or the death of
your enemies, but you ask discernment for yourself to administer justice.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
I will therefore do what you have asked.
Speaker 8 (13:54):
I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so
that there has ever been any one like you before
and never will be again. In addition, I will give
you what you did not ask for, both riches and honor,
so that no king will be your equal during your
(14:17):
entire life.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
If you walk in.
Speaker 8 (14:20):
My ways and keep my statutes and commands, just as
your father David.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Did, I will give you a long, long life. Solomon
woke suddenly and realized it had been a dream. He
sat up, invigorated, allowing his eyes to adjust to the
dim lighting of the pre dawn. The sun's triumphant glow
pressed gently against the outline of the tense opening, beckoning
(14:48):
like the hope and promise yet to come. Solomon grinned
and arose. He would arrange for a feast of celebration
and offer even more burnt offerings to the Lord to
express his gratitude for this profound gift the Lord had
bestowed upon him. Years passed and Solomon wielded the wisdom
(15:13):
he had been given. Often with wisdom came other tools,
diplomatic prowess, an engineering mind, and assent for finding the
truth hidden behind lies. He did his best to serve
the Lord who had given it to him, as well
as the people. On such an occasion, the great doors
(15:35):
of the throne room groaned open, and the final petition
of the day was ushered in. They were two women,
dressed plainly, heads bowed low. Whispers rippled through the court
at their presence. They were harlots, Yet Solomon did not stir,
despite the obvious judgment being passed by the court at
(15:57):
their being allowed to appear. Before the king. He gleaned
that they would have only been permitted to do so
if their need was dire, and so Solomon would listen.
Who else would hear their case? For they were women
of low standing, likely no husbands to speak for them,
no patrons present to plead their case, and they had
(16:21):
come with a single child. The infant was held in
the arms of one of Solomon's servants. The first woman
wasted no time, stepping forward with the urgency of a
mother in distress.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
My Lord, this woman and I live in the same house.
We both bore sons days apart. But one night she
rolled over unto her child, and he died. And before
the sun rose she stole my son from my arms.
As I slept, she placed her dead child beside me
and took mine as her own.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
The second woman, unable to contain herself, burst forward, interjecting.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
That's a lie.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
The boy is mine and the dead one is hers.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
No, she lies my son, my son.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Furious, they shouted over each other, voices rising and becoming
increasingly shrill and desperate with each round of insults. The
women were clearly rivals of some kind, and some deep
entrenched history between them. The infant squirmed in the attendant's arms,
his small face confused by the warring cries of the
(17:34):
two women who both claimed to be his mother. Solomon exhaled, slowly,
steepling his fingers as the throne room waited. This was
not a case of wealth or land, treaties or diplomacy.
There were no witnesses, documents, or proof, just a child
(17:55):
caught in the storm of two desperate women. He felt
for the child, Solomon leaned forward, Bring me a sword.
The words sent a jolt of doubt through the court.
One of his guards hesitated. Solomon turned his gaze on him,
sharp and unreadable. Did I stutter? Solomon watched the man's
(18:20):
throat bob with uncertainty, but he stepped forward, obediently, drawing
his sword from its sheath. The polished blade gleamed in
the torchlight of the throne room. The murmurs in the
court ceased as the guard kneeled before his king, offering
him his sword, awaiting orders, The child let out a
(18:41):
soft whimper in the stunned silence.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Divide the living child in two, give half to one
and half to the other.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Gasps echoed through the chamber. The frozen women didn't move
a muscle. They seemed suspended in this shocking moment as
the full meaning of Solomon's words hit them.
Speaker 5 (19:03):
Surely you're joking.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
This isn't a joke. Let's settle this now. Swiftly.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
The first leaped forward to collapse before the king with
violent tears.
Speaker 5 (19:15):
No, no, my lord, I beg you give her the child,
let him with Do not kill him.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
There it was. Solomon never intended to kill the child,
but he knew, in a swift moment between life and death,
the real mother would spring forward. The second woman stood
still as a stone. Her eyes then assessed the woman
next to her. Solomon could see the scheming in her
(19:43):
eyes as she calculated her options. Would she try the
same plea as the first woman, or play an entirely
different hand. Solomon saw her eyes narrow in decision, and
a stubbornness set her features.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Neither of us should have him divide him.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
Solomon's eyebrows raised, but her calloused words stirred more tears
from the first woman. She would gamble with the child's
life just to call his bluff, but in her desire
to win, the truth was laid bare.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Do not harm the child. Give him to the first woman.
She is his mother.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
As the whispers in the court faded, Solomon remained seated
on his throne, watching the true mother cradle her child.
Relief etched across her face. She wept in relief and
beamed at him wordlessly. He nodded respectfully. Moments where he
could simply be a father or even just a man,
(20:47):
were fewer and farther between. As his empire and ambitions grew,
the weight of wisdom and the responsibilities it brought often
outpaced his heart and his humanity. There was always another
deal to be made, plans to oversee, and all the
while his children and his wives grew up around him.
(21:09):
At a distance, he glanced to the side. Nathan stood
among the advisers, his face unreadable, But as their eyes met,
the old prophet gave him the smallest of nods, a
gesture of approval, perhaps or mere acknowledgment. Suspicion prickled on
(21:31):
the back of Solomon's neck. You disapprove.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
I didn't say that.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
But you thought it. The Prophet's gaze softened, but Solomon
couldn't tell if it was out of respect or resignation,
or perhaps it was sympathy.
Speaker 6 (21:49):
I try not to think too much, my King. I
can spin myself in circles. Eventually I don't know which
way is up or down.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Then, without another word, Nathan turned and left the court.
Solomon didn't know it then, but this would be the
last time Solomon would see him. The weight of that
departure would settle slowly over Solomon. In light of the
gift of wisdom bestowed upon Solomon from the Lord, the
(22:21):
man who represented his voice was seemingly no longer needed.
It would be up to Solomon to determine how well
his ear was inclined to that soft, still ever guiding voice.
He stood, and the court quieted again as he addressed
them to day.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Justice was done, But Israel's future will not be built
on Quatroun victories alone.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
He swept a hand toward the City of david Palace windows,
where the outline of Mount Moriah rose against the sky.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Soon we will complete the House of the Lord, a
temple like any the world has ever seen. And as
long as I sit on this throne, Israel will be
a kingdom of wisdom, peace and prosperity.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
The court irrupted in applause, but as Solomon sat back down,
his gaze lingered on the mountain top in the distance,
and then briefly on the empty space where Nathan had stood.
Solomon allowed the applause to wash over him. The reunited
mother's smile from earlier kindled satisfaction in his heart. He
(23:33):
then recalled the day on the mountain those years ago,
when he was first gifted with the Lord's wisdom, the
boy on his shoulders, his family's legacy, secure the temple
on the horizon. But even as he held it all
in his hands, power, wisdom, legacy, he couldn't help but
(23:56):
wonder for how long?
Speaker 8 (24:02):
So?
Speaker 3 (24:03):
What would you ask for? If God promised to grant
you your heart's desire? Today we saw that very thing
happen to King Solomon. God asked Solomon that question, the
one that all of us would love to be asked,
Ask for whatever you want me to give you. And
Solomon responds first, not with a direct answer, but with
a clear statement, a statement about the chosenness of Israel.
(24:26):
Solomon says, your servant is here among the people. You
have chosen, a great people, too numerous to counter number. Now,
many people would have answered God immediately with that one
thing each of us has longed for, maybe riches or fame,
or health or whatever it is. But Salomon wanted to
set the stage for the plans that God had for him.
(24:48):
He wanted to know what it was that he needed
in order to properly govern the Chosen People. And after
Solomon said that, only then did he give God his answer.
Solomon said to God, so give your servant a discerning
heart to govern your people and distinguish between right and wrong.
For who is able to govern this great people of yours?
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Wow?
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Isn't that a beautiful recipe for governing God's chosen people?
To have the ability to know the difference between good
and evil, between right and wrong. Deep down, isn't that
what each of us ask God for? We all want
to be good, but we need to know what is
good and what is not, and only God can give
us that answer and ability. After Solomon makes his choice,
(25:38):
God tells him, I will do what you have asked.
I will give you a wise and discerning heart. Our
sage to say that wisdom is the accumulation and retention
of knowledge and discernment or understanding. It teaches us the
ability to apply our knowledge to the situation at hand,
and it's the ability to reason and decide one fact
from another. Aren't those truly precious qualities? And aren't they
(26:02):
rare qualities during Bible days or in our modern times
For someone who governs the nation with these qualities. King
Solomon's at the tone for the Chosen People's historical burning
desire to obtain wisdom to be gained from God's word.
In fact, after the famous verdict by Solomon and the
(26:23):
incident with the baby and the two mothers, the Bible
tells us so King Solomon was king over all of Israel.
When the people of Israel saw Solomon's wisdom on display
in the flesh, they all rejoiced over his kingship. For
the Chosen people, wisdom is always a recent rejoice, and
speaking of rejoicing, the Bible tells us that after God
(26:46):
gave Solomon the gift of wisdom, the king brought all
of his associates to Jerusalem and held a great feast
of celebration. The sages note that Solomon did not do
this at his coronation, but only at the receiving of
his wisdom from God, showing that he prized wisdom even
more than he valued the throne. Tradition also says that
(27:07):
his feast was actually the origin of our celebration on
the holiday of Simcra Torah, when we dance and sing
and thanksgiving for having received the wisdom of the Torah.
So what does this Bible story mean for you and
for me? It means wisdom isn't reserved for thrones. It
means you don't need a crown to ask for discernment.
(27:28):
You just need breath in your lungs and the courage
to pray, to tell God, I don't know what to do,
but I do want to do it your way. Wisdom
is needed when you're raising children, when you're making decisions
at work, when you're navigating painful life moments that have
no easy answers. Wisdom is in how you love your spouse,
is in how you forgive your enemies, and that means
(27:51):
wisdom is available. So all you have to do is
ask God for wisdom. Ask in the quiet, Ask when
you're unsure, Ask when it feels like the room is spinning.
Because our God isn't looking for perfect leaders or polished prayers.
He's looking for hearts that listen with blessings from here
(28:12):
in the Holy Land of Israel.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
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(28:38):
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(28:58):
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Previously on the Chosen People.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
You're wise, Solomon, but you must also be strong, strong
enough to overcome the tugue of power. Show yourself a man,
Keep the charge of the Lord your God. Walk in
his ways, keep his laws and commendments. Guard your heart
(00:27):
with his testimonies. Say, as Moses wrote them, if you
hold fast to the word of God, you will prosper
in all you do. He promised me, If my son
walks in his ways, Israel will never lack a man
(00:49):
on the throne.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
The cry spread like wildfire through the garden, through the courtyard,
out into the streets. Servants, God's singers, scribes, the voice
of the city rising as one. Long Live King Solomon,
Long Live King Solomon. He had been crowned king, but
(01:13):
now Solomon had to prove that he was worthy of
the appointment.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
The wisest thing that Solomon ever did was admit that
he wasn't wise enough. Shelloh, my friends, from here in
the holy land of Israel, i'm l extein with the
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the
Chosen People. In today's Bible story, we find ourselves standing
on sacred ground. But not because the earth is quaking,
(01:48):
or the heavens are torn open.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
No.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Today, what is sacred is the silence. A young king
sits with the weight of the chosen people pressing on
his shoulders, and all the noise of court and crowns
seems to hush as he does something that very few
powerful people ever do. He listens and he asks. But
what does a good leader ask for? Strength? Safety, success?
(02:14):
Or is there something more elusive, something deeper than strategy
and more enduring than gold. We've watched Solomon inherit the
mantle of his father, King David. We've seen transition, we've
seen power shift, and now we will see what kind
of man Solomon has become when he's offered anything, anything
in the world, anything at all. What would you ask
(02:37):
for if the heavens opened up and said name it.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
The wind picked up speed as it traveled up the
rise and torseled Solomon's hair, blasting cold air across his face,
making him feel alive. From somewhere behind him, his young son,
Ria Boham, giggled at the excitement of being so far
above the city below. Solomon couldn't help but smile at
(03:04):
the enthusiasm of his childish belly laugh and turned to
see him grinning from ear to ear as he broke
free from his mother's hand to run ahead to where
Solomon led the group. Solomon turned and waited for him,
and when he reached the top, the two of them
stood in awe at the sweeping panorama of the mountains
(03:25):
and valleys that made up their home. In the heart
of it was the city of David, its densely packed
white streets winding and cutting up the rise. In the middle,
it was nestled between terraced hills of olive and fig trees,
and pockets of golden grain in the narrow valleys that
(03:46):
flowed between like rivers. Solomon crouched playfully, scooped up a
delighted riller Boem, and placed him on his shoulders. Solomon
pointed to the landmarks below surrounding his son in the
land that would one day be his to rule.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
See that high point above the city of David.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
That's where we live.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Yes, yes, that's where we live until our new palace.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Is complete and the place for your Egyptian wife.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Well, not quite. I will build Princess Nifotari a palace
outside the City of David, where she can worship her
own guard. That high point you see over there will
be the temple for the war. Your grandfather brought it
and placed an altar there. You can't see it anymore,
but the place where it stood will be the heart
(04:38):
of a new temple.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Even from this distance, the construction on the mount was
an impressive and bustling scene. The massive foundation of pale
stone had taken shape, its deep trenches and thick walls
extending upwards beneath a skeleton of scaffolding.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Tell me, Rehabarm, do you know the history of that mountain?
Have your tutors told you of Mount Moriah?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Solomon peered up at his son's face above his head
on his shoulders. Rhea Bonham's brow furrowed as he scrunched
up his face in concentration, searching his memory.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
There's an altar there, just like here.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Yes, this is a high place too. But who put
the altar over on Mount Moriah?
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Grandfather?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yes, I just told you that. And who else?
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Our father Abraham when the Lord asked him to sacrifice
his son Isaac good?
Speaker 2 (05:39):
And what did the Lord provide instead?
Speaker 4 (05:42):
A ram?
Speaker 2 (05:42):
And where is your ram today?
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Solomon punctuated the question with a knowing glance. Output Before
rio Bohm could respond, Solomon tightened his grip on the
boy's legs and started marching toward the slope where the
altars were being sampled.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Oh, dear, no ram I, guess my boy reabou will
do he a bone?
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Shrieked with laughter, kicking his legs in protest against his
father's hold. Tears of laughter streaked down Solomon's cheeks as
he gently lowered his still giggling son to the ground.
Though he carried the weight of the kingdom, wives and children,
he was still a young man, and sometimes, on rare
(06:26):
occasions it felt free to lean into the boyhood he
had left behind not so long ago. But moments like
these were fleeting. There was always more to read, more,
to learn, more, to study and memorize. Even if he
lived a thousand years, it would never be enough. Solomon
(06:47):
looked around. The fires had sprung to life, and the
priests were making their final preparations. Soon they would be
waiting for him to begin. He and his entire royal
Entoura had traveled to the high Place at Gibeon to
worship the Lord, celebrating the long anticipated alliance sealed by
(07:08):
his marriage to Pharaoh's daughter. Solomon spared her a glance
down the mount. She stood stiffly, her nose wrinkled, as
if the very air offended her. Even from this distance,
he could see her narrowed eyes, her crossed arms, the
imperious way she surveyed the Israelite ceremony. Her expression made
(07:30):
her opinion clear. To her, Israel was nothing more than
a podunk, upstart kingdom, laughably crude compared to the ancient
grandeur of Tannis. Solomon sighed he would need to charm her,
distract her, flatter her something before her mood soured further,
(07:51):
before she made it everyone's problem.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Rebel to me a favor.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
The boy looked up at him with a determined expression.
He was eager to please his father.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Will you go watch over your baby sisters while I
lead the ritual. Tell them everything you know about this
place and observe everything you learn about the practice.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Yes, father, will mother sacrifice an animal from Milcom when
you're done sacrificing to the lord.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Solomon blinked in surprise at his son's innocent question.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
No, this is where we worship the God of Israel.
I won't permit the worship of another god here in
this holy place.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
But it looks just like where Mother worships the gods
of her people, the Ammonites.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well, it's not, and we won't worship here for long.
Once the temple's complete, we won't need to come to
this high place anymore.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
But you're building the princess Nafertari a place where she
can worship her gods. Will our temple be like that?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Solomon struggled for a moment and tried to think of
how he would explain the difference between worshiping their true
God and the advantages of nurturing these complex political alliances
to his five year old. When his mother and the
prophet Nathan approached, King, they are ready for you.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
Real booking, my love. Why don't you come with me?
We'll go find your mother and your sisters.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Nathan's face was impossible to read, but his mother arched
an eyebrow at him, which told him she heard most
of their exchange. As they approached, Solomon sighed, a problem
for another time. It was just Solomon and Nathan for
a moment. Nathan pursed his lips and sighed.
Speaker 6 (09:39):
Ah a complicated thing. Teaching a child the ways of
the world.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
I'm afraid Riobaum's world is more complicated than most children's.
Speaker 6 (09:51):
It is the world you're created for, My king, Remember.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
That Nathan bowed and left with that pearl of wisdom.
As he was known to do, Nathan never lingered long
enough for questions or protests. Later that night, Solomon was
fast asleep in his tent. The world around him faded
under the dark, warm embrace of his furs. As Solomon slept,
(10:20):
he was whisked away in a dream, a vision, a visitation.
He heard the Lord's voice break the peaceful silence, ask
what shall I give you? Solomon stirred. He pondered the
Lord's question for a long while. What could he ask
(10:41):
of the Lord? What should he ask of the Lord?
He considered the kingdom he had inherited from his father.
It was unified, stable for the most part, and their
wealth had grown. Solomon considered asking for more of what
they had already achieved, But he considered what more he
(11:01):
had to do in his lifetime. His father's words had
loomed large in his memory in the years since his death.
Speaker 7 (11:09):
Your wives, Solomon, but you must also be strong, strong
enough to overcome the tongue of power.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Show your silver there, keep the charge.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Of the Lord, your God. A pit formed in Solomon's stomach.
Even in his dream, his father's words were still true.
Even though Solomon had achieved so much in his short reign,
Alliances formed, children born, including his heir, allegiances, shored up debts, paid,
(11:45):
temple plans under weigh, and yet for where Solomon wanted
to take Israel, Solomon would have to be wise, the
wisest king there ever was, to match the ambition he
had for his beloved nation, Wise enough to protect his
family and the children of Israel, wise enough to stay
(12:06):
faithful to the Lord and all that he had been
called to do.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
You have shown my father David, a love that is
steadfast and unfailing, because he walked before you, and faithfulness, righteousness,
and integrity. You honored him, you sustained him, and even
now you've kept your promise by placing me on his throne.
(12:34):
But Lord, my God, you have made me king in
his place, and I'm young. I've no experience in ruling
of people, let alone a nation as vast as this one.
They're yours, too many to be counted, too great to
be led by a man who leads only himself. So
(13:00):
I ask you give your servant the heart that hears.
Let me discern what is right. Teach me to distinguish
between good and evil, because who, who, and all the
world is truly capable of governing a people as great
as yours.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Even from deep within his subconscious, Solomon could sense that
the Lord was pleased. Waves of warmth and approval caused
him to sink deeper into the blankets and luxurious animal
skins piled high on his bedroll.
Speaker 8 (13:38):
Because you have requested this, and did not ask for
long life, or riches for yourself, or the death of
your enemies, but you ask discernment for yourself to administer justice.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
I will therefore do what you have asked.
Speaker 8 (13:54):
I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so
that there has ever been any one like you before
and never will be again. In addition, I will give
you what you did not ask for, both riches and honor,
so that no king will be your equal during your
(14:17):
entire life.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
If you walk in.
Speaker 8 (14:20):
My ways and keep my statutes and commands, just as
your father David.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Did, I will give you a long, long life. Solomon
woke suddenly and realized it had been a dream. He
sat up, invigorated, allowing his eyes to adjust to the
dim lighting of the pre dawn. The sun's triumphant glow
pressed gently against the outline of the tense opening, beckoning
(14:48):
like the hope and promise yet to come. Solomon grinned
and arose. He would arrange for a feast of celebration
and offer even more burnt offerings to the Lord to
express his gratitude for this profound gift the Lord had
bestowed upon him. Years passed and Solomon wielded the wisdom
(15:13):
he had been given. Often with wisdom came other tools,
diplomatic prowess, an engineering mind, and assent for finding the
truth hidden behind lies. He did his best to serve
the Lord who had given it to him, as well
as the people. On such an occasion, the great doors
(15:35):
of the throne room groaned open, and the final petition
of the day was ushered in. They were two women,
dressed plainly, heads bowed low. Whispers rippled through the court
at their presence. They were harlots, Yet Solomon did not stir,
despite the obvious judgment being passed by the court at
(15:57):
their being allowed to appear. Before the king. He gleaned
that they would have only been permitted to do so
if their need was dire, and so Solomon would listen.
Who else would hear their case? For they were women
of low standing, likely no husbands to speak for them,
no patrons present to plead their case, and they had
(16:21):
come with a single child. The infant was held in
the arms of one of Solomon's servants. The first woman
wasted no time, stepping forward with the urgency of a
mother in distress.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
My Lord, this woman and I live in the same house.
We both bore sons days apart. But one night she
rolled over unto her child, and he died. And before
the sun rose she stole my son from my arms.
As I slept, she placed her dead child beside me
and took mine as her own.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
The second woman, unable to contain herself, burst forward, interjecting.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
That's a lie.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
The boy is mine and the dead one is hers.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
No, she lies my son, my son.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Furious, they shouted over each other, voices rising and becoming
increasingly shrill and desperate with each round of insults. The
women were clearly rivals of some kind, and some deep
entrenched history between them. The infant squirmed in the attendant's arms,
his small face confused by the warring cries of the
(17:34):
two women who both claimed to be his mother. Solomon exhaled, slowly,
steepling his fingers as the throne room waited. This was
not a case of wealth or land, treaties or diplomacy.
There were no witnesses, documents, or proof, just a child
(17:55):
caught in the storm of two desperate women. He felt
for the child, Solomon leaned forward, Bring me a sword.
The words sent a jolt of doubt through the court.
One of his guards hesitated. Solomon turned his gaze on him,
sharp and unreadable. Did I stutter? Solomon watched the man's
(18:20):
throat bob with uncertainty, but he stepped forward, obediently, drawing
his sword from its sheath. The polished blade gleamed in
the torchlight of the throne room. The murmurs in the
court ceased as the guard kneeled before his king, offering
him his sword, awaiting orders, The child let out a
(18:41):
soft whimper in the stunned silence.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Divide the living child in two, give half to one
and half to the other.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Gasps echoed through the chamber. The frozen women didn't move
a muscle. They seemed suspended in this shocking moment as
the full meaning of Solomon's words hit them.
Speaker 5 (19:03):
Surely you're joking.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
This isn't a joke. Let's settle this now. Swiftly.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
The first leaped forward to collapse before the king with
violent tears.
Speaker 5 (19:15):
No, no, my lord, I beg you give her the child,
let him with Do not kill him.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
There it was. Solomon never intended to kill the child,
but he knew, in a swift moment between life and death,
the real mother would spring forward. The second woman stood
still as a stone. Her eyes then assessed the woman
next to her. Solomon could see the scheming in her
(19:43):
eyes as she calculated her options. Would she try the
same plea as the first woman, or play an entirely
different hand. Solomon saw her eyes narrow in decision, and
a stubbornness set her features.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Neither of us should have him divide him.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
Solomon's eyebrows raised, but her calloused words stirred more tears
from the first woman. She would gamble with the child's
life just to call his bluff, but in her desire
to win, the truth was laid bare.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Do not harm the child. Give him to the first woman.
She is his mother.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
As the whispers in the court faded, Solomon remained seated
on his throne, watching the true mother cradle her child.
Relief etched across her face. She wept in relief and
beamed at him wordlessly. He nodded respectfully. Moments where he
could simply be a father or even just a man,
(20:47):
were fewer and farther between. As his empire and ambitions grew,
the weight of wisdom and the responsibilities it brought often
outpaced his heart and his humanity. There was always another
deal to be made, plans to oversee, and all the
while his children and his wives grew up around him.
(21:09):
At a distance, he glanced to the side. Nathan stood
among the advisers, his face unreadable, But as their eyes met,
the old prophet gave him the smallest of nods, a
gesture of approval, perhaps or mere acknowledgment. Suspicion prickled on
(21:31):
the back of Solomon's neck. You disapprove.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
I didn't say that.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
But you thought it. The Prophet's gaze softened, but Solomon
couldn't tell if it was out of respect or resignation,
or perhaps it was sympathy.
Speaker 6 (21:49):
I try not to think too much, my King. I
can spin myself in circles. Eventually I don't know which
way is up or down.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Then, without another word, Nathan turned and left the court.
Solomon didn't know it then, but this would be the
last time Solomon would see him. The weight of that
departure would settle slowly over Solomon. In light of the
gift of wisdom bestowed upon Solomon from the Lord, the
(22:21):
man who represented his voice was seemingly no longer needed.
It would be up to Solomon to determine how well
his ear was inclined to that soft, still ever guiding voice.
He stood, and the court quieted again as he addressed
them to day.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Justice was done, But Israel's future will not be built
on Quatroun victories alone.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
He swept a hand toward the City of david Palace windows,
where the outline of Mount Moriah rose against the sky.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Soon we will complete the House of the Lord, a
temple like any the world has ever seen. And as
long as I sit on this throne, Israel will be
a kingdom of wisdom, peace and prosperity.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
The court irrupted in applause, but as Solomon sat back down,
his gaze lingered on the mountain top in the distance,
and then briefly on the empty space where Nathan had stood.
Solomon allowed the applause to wash over him. The reunited
mother's smile from earlier kindled satisfaction in his heart. He
(23:33):
then recalled the day on the mountain those years ago,
when he was first gifted with the Lord's wisdom, the
boy on his shoulders, his family's legacy, secure the temple
on the horizon. But even as he held it all
in his hands, power, wisdom, legacy, he couldn't help but
(23:56):
wonder for how long?
Speaker 8 (24:02):
So?
Speaker 3 (24:03):
What would you ask for? If God promised to grant
you your heart's desire? Today we saw that very thing
happen to King Solomon. God asked Solomon that question, the
one that all of us would love to be asked,
Ask for whatever you want me to give you. And
Solomon responds first, not with a direct answer, but with
a clear statement, a statement about the chosenness of Israel.
(24:26):
Solomon says, your servant is here among the people. You
have chosen, a great people, too numerous to counter number. Now,
many people would have answered God immediately with that one
thing each of us has longed for, maybe riches or fame,
or health or whatever it is. But Salomon wanted to
set the stage for the plans that God had for him.
(24:48):
He wanted to know what it was that he needed
in order to properly govern the Chosen People. And after
Solomon said that, only then did he give God his answer.
Solomon said to God, so give your servant a discerning
heart to govern your people and distinguish between right and wrong.
For who is able to govern this great people of yours?
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Wow?
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Isn't that a beautiful recipe for governing God's chosen people?
To have the ability to know the difference between good
and evil, between right and wrong. Deep down, isn't that
what each of us ask God for? We all want
to be good, but we need to know what is
good and what is not, and only God can give
us that answer and ability. After Solomon makes his choice,
(25:38):
God tells him, I will do what you have asked.
I will give you a wise and discerning heart. Our
sage to say that wisdom is the accumulation and retention
of knowledge and discernment or understanding. It teaches us the
ability to apply our knowledge to the situation at hand,
and it's the ability to reason and decide one fact
from another. Aren't those truly precious qualities? And aren't they
(26:02):
rare qualities during Bible days or in our modern times
For someone who governs the nation with these qualities. King
Solomon's at the tone for the Chosen People's historical burning
desire to obtain wisdom to be gained from God's word.
In fact, after the famous verdict by Solomon and the
(26:23):
incident with the baby and the two mothers, the Bible
tells us so King Solomon was king over all of Israel.
When the people of Israel saw Solomon's wisdom on display
in the flesh, they all rejoiced over his kingship. For
the Chosen people, wisdom is always a recent rejoice, and
speaking of rejoicing, the Bible tells us that after God
(26:46):
gave Solomon the gift of wisdom, the king brought all
of his associates to Jerusalem and held a great feast
of celebration. The sages note that Solomon did not do
this at his coronation, but only at the receiving of
his wisdom from God, showing that he prized wisdom even
more than he valued the throne. Tradition also says that
(27:07):
his feast was actually the origin of our celebration on
the holiday of Simcra Torah, when we dance and sing
and thanksgiving for having received the wisdom of the Torah.
So what does this Bible story mean for you and
for me? It means wisdom isn't reserved for thrones. It
means you don't need a crown to ask for discernment.
(27:28):
You just need breath in your lungs and the courage
to pray, to tell God, I don't know what to do,
but I do want to do it your way. Wisdom
is needed when you're raising children, when you're making decisions
at work, when you're navigating painful life moments that have
no easy answers. Wisdom is in how you love your spouse,
is in how you forgive your enemies, and that means
(27:51):
wisdom is available. So all you have to do is
ask God for wisdom. Ask in the quiet, Ask when
you're unsure, Ask when it feels like the room is spinning.
Because our God isn't looking for perfect leaders or polished prayers.
He's looking for hearts that listen with blessings from here
(28:12):
in the Holy Land of Israel.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
You can listen to The Chosen People with Isle Eckstein
ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey dot
Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only made
possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,
Max Bard, Zach Shellabager and Ben Gammon are the executive
producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by
(28:38):
Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by
Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky,
and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music
(28:58):
by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, Bree Rosalie
and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paulinier, Robin van Ettin,
kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, Rabbi Edward Abramson, and the team
at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear
more Prey dot Com productions on the Prey dot Com
(29:19):
app available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please
rate and leave a review.
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