In This Volume, Among Much Else, Dr. Israel Drazin raises the question of whether the author of Kings was writing about Solomon ironically. Solomon may have had good intentions, but ironically every one of his acts missed its mark. Solomon intended to unite the twelve tribes into a strong nation, yet immediately after his death, ten of the tribes, dissatisfied with the high taxes and enslavement of the people, broke from the monarchy of Solomon's son and formed their own nation. Solomon married many wives to improve relations with other nations; but his wives "swayed his heart after the gods of others." Although he built the First Temple to draw his people to God, and offered thousands of sacrifices, his wives persuaded him to build many temples for their idols. Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. This raises serious doubts about his respect for women. It is therefore ironic that the only testimony of his wisdom is from three women, two prostitutes, and a pagan queen. Solomon sought to bring his people internal peace and rest from outside interference, but his actions provoked three rebellions against him during his lifetime. Two were from foreigners from whom Solomon failed to anticipate danger despite his many marital alliances. The third rebellion, led by Jeroboam, was from Solomon's people, whom he tried to unite. Despite his wealth, national connections, and wisdom, he was unable to overcome these antagonists. Solomon married the daughter of Pharaoh to create peace and good relations with Egypt. Yet Pharaoh harbored two of the rebels, one of whom married into his family. Curiously and unwisely, while Solomon divided the tribes into administrative sections to diminish their tribal loyalty, he assigned Jeroboam as the tax collector for the two tribes of Joseph, despite Jeroboam being from one of the tribes of Joseph from whom Solomon tried to protect himself. Jeroboam led one of the three rebellions and fled to Egypt, where Pharaoh protected him until Solomon died. Book jacket.