Has the Narrator Come to Praise Solomon or to Bury Him? Narrative Subtlety in 1 Kings 1-11

Abstract

This article presents a close narrative reading of 1 Kings 1-11, interpreting the account of Solomon and his realm through the lenses of the book of Deuteronomy. On the surface, the narrator appears to be praising Solomon and his kingdom for the first ten chapters, ending with a negative assessment in 1 Kings 11. However, noting the extensive use of irony and subtlety, especially in light of specific prohibitions in Deuteronomy, the conclusion drawn from this study is that the narrator in 1 Kings 1-11 is not praising Solomon or his kingdom at all, even in the first ten chapters, but instead, is presenting a scathing critique.