How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #1
I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honour all your life; no other king shall compare with you. (NRSV 3:13)
And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. (KJV 3:13)
Given what we know about power, is God blessing Solomon here, or cursing him? On the one hand, he could never have accomplished everything he did without riches and honor. On the other hand, perhaps he could have stayed faithful to God if he hadn't been able to afford all those wives.
Quote #2
Solomon was sovereign over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, even to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. […] For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates; and he had peace on all sides. During Solomon's lifetime Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all of them under their vines and fig trees. Solomon also had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. Those officials supplied provisions for King Solomon and for all who came to King Solomon's table, each one in his month; they let nothing be lacking. (NRSV 4:21-28)
And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life. […] For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him. And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing. (KJV 4:21, 24-27)
These scriptures define Solomon's power by several measures. He is, of course, a colossus in terms of territory and military might. And he never lacks for food in his house. Interestingly, though, his power is also measured in terms of the safety and peace of his people. Perhaps this is because while the people are happy, the king's power is secure.
Quote #3
King Solomon conscripted forced labour out of all Israel; the levy numbered thirty thousand men. He sent them to the Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts; they would be a month in the Lebanon and two months at home; Adoniram was in charge of the forced labour. Solomon also had seventy thousand labourers and eighty thousand stonecutters in the hill country, besides Solomon's three thousand three hundred supervisors who were over the work, having charge of the people who did the work. At the king's command, they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones. (NRSV 5:13-17)
And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy. And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains; Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work. And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. (KJV 5:13-17)
It's hard to imagine a power greater than the ability to force people to work for you. Solomon's power over human lives allowed him to build the architectural marvels that characterized his rule, though it probably also sowed the seeds of rebellion that eventually decimated the power of his heirs.