Solomon - Soromon (English spelling)

Date of birth and death unknown. Third king of the Kingdom of Israel (Hebrew) (reigned from 960 BC to 922 BC). His name means "full of peace." Born in Jerusalem, he became the successor of his father, King David. Known as a king with great wisdom, wisdom literature such as the Song of Songs and Proverbs in the Old Testament has traditionally been attributed to him. His wisdom is also emphasized by the famous legend of him judging two women who were fighting over the ownership of a baby. After ascending to the throne, he suppressed his opponents while working for external peace, building the kingdom to its zenith, and was later praised as "Solomon's Splendor." It is also known from Matthew Chapter 6 that this was still in the memory of people in the time of Jesus Christ. Religiously, he built an elaborate temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem using materials and technology from Phoenicia, and established a sanctuary where the Ark of the Covenant was placed to unite the people. Politically, he ignored the traditional tribal system and established 12 administrative districts, dispatching governors to handle tax collection and labor duties. Military-wise, he introduced horses and chariots from Egypt and established a standing army, but this was more for the purpose of demonstrating national power than for actual combat. Economically, he occupied key trading points around the world and collected tolls, and also promoted trade with Egypt, Phoenicia, Arabia, and other countries, building shipyards and copper refineries to accumulate wealth. Along with the life of the lavish palace and harem, which is known for the legend that he stole the heart of the Queen of Sheba, art, literature, and music also developed. On the other hand, the exhaustion of the people due to conscription, taxation, forced labor, etc., led to the division of the kingdom into the north and south after his death.

[Ryuichi Urushibara April 18, 2018]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

生没年不詳。イスラエル（ヘブライ）王国第3代の王（在位前960ころ～前922ころ）。名は「平和に満ちた」の意。エルサレムに生まれ、父王ダビデの命によってその後継者となった。「知恵」に優れた王として知られ、『旧約聖書』のうち、雅歌、箴言(しんげん)など知恵文学は伝統的に彼に帰されてきた。また赤ん坊の所有を争った2人の女を裁いた有名な伝説は彼の知恵を強調している。即位後、反対派を抑圧する一方、対外平和に努め、王国の絶頂期を築いて、後世「ソロモンの栄華」とうたわれたが、それがイエス・キリストの時代の人々の記憶のなかにも残っていたことは「マタイ福音書(ふくいんしょ)6章」によっても知られる。宗教的には、フェニキアからの資材と技術によって精緻(せいち)を凝らしたヤーウェ神殿をエルサレムに建設し、「契約の箱（櫃(ひつ)）」を安置して人心を一つにまとめる聖域を確立した。政治的には従来の部族制を無視して12の行政区域を設け、長官を派遣して徴税や賦役の事務にあたらせた。軍事面ではエジプトから馬と戦車を導入し、常備軍を設置したが、これは実戦のためよりも国力の誇示のためであった。また経済的には世界の交易の要地を占めて通行税を徴収したほか、エジプト、フェニキア、アラビアなどとの通商を盛んにし、造船所や製銅所をも建設して富を集めた。シバの女王の心を奪ったという伝説で知られるほど華美な宮廷、ハレムの生活とともに、美術、文学、音楽も発展したが、反面、徴兵、徴税、強制労働などによる民の疲弊は、死後王国が南北に分裂する原因ともなった。

［漆原隆一　2018年4月18日］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例