spamandham

Would you rather be the Biblical King Soloman, living in his day and age with all his wealth looking forward to living to the ripe old age of 35 before you go crazy and die from siphilis without even understanding why, or would you rather be whoever you are today with antiobiotics and other modern medicine, looking forward to 80 years of relatively care free air conditioned comfort?

I certainly wouldn't make that trade no matter how many gold bars and concubines were offered to me. You and I are richer than the legendary Solomon in terms of quality of life.

Toto

There was no syphilis in the ancient near east, and the lucky few who survived the first few years of life might expect to live to 60 if they were not killed in warfare, but otherwise your point stands.

Jayrok

Bill Gates has the funds to build a temple or two himself. I imagine he could round up a few virgins on the black market as well.

Splarnst

If you're willing to accept the Bible's account, then you should accept every written account of rich people and throw in Richie Rich and Scrooge McDuck.

rob117

The biblical description of the Temple- the actual measurements- show it to be a typical Iron Age Levantine Temple. A very similar one dating to about a century later was discovered in Northern Syria (Dever 2001), and there are known Bronze Age prototypes.

The exuberant language used by the biblical authors to describe the Temple and Solomon's wealth are propaganda, meant to gloss over the fact that even if Solomon was as wealthy as they say he was (which he probably wasn't), he was still not nearly as wealthy as the monarchs of Egypt and Mesopotamia, who were both domonating Judah, and had done so for the past century. The point of Kings was not to describe Solomon's wealth as something unheard of- it was to put Solomon on equal footing with the powers that had made his descendants their vassals.

spamandham

There is abundant evidence to support both Richie Rich and Scrooge McDuck. Numerous texts have been discovered that mention them, and even paintings and other artwork exist for them. Both have millions of believers, and there is certainly nothing unreasonable about a very rich boy. Regarding Scrooge McDuck, a duck can in fact walk and talk, and be very wealthy, as long as it is part of a magic kingdom. You can't prove they don't exist.

Not only that, but numerous 20th century historians mention them. More has been written about Scrooge McDuck than about George Washington. Do you question his historicity as well?

Also, if you believe, you are rewarded. If you don't you will most assuredly suffer. What do you have to lose?!

Russell's Teapot

^ Unofficial Best Post of the Week Award :notworthy:

spamandham

awe, thanks.

gnosis92

That's interesting, thanks. Do we know for a fact he existed?

spamandham

I seem to recall Finkelstein/Silberman referring to direct evidence of both Solomon and David in "The Bible Unearthed". I believe period markers have been uncovered that mention them.