Solomon

April 11, 2011
Weitzman (Surviving Sacrilege: Cultural Persistence in Jewish Antiquity) writes in the tradition of critical biblical scholarship with great éclat, which makes his latest effort something of a demolition derby. This is illustrated well by the most familiar story told of King Solomon, finding him judging two women who are vying for the same baby, a sword suspended above it. In some versions of the Bible, a second, dead child exists, "accidentally smothered by its mother and scarcely acknowledged after its death." Likewise, recent archaeological research has not only debunked what was thought to be evidence of the king's construction projects, including his Temple, but also his Kingdom, once thought to be vast. This kind of brush clearing opens the way for a tour de force evaluation of Solomon's wisdomâboth the practical mastery which brought him to political power and the wisdom which God granted him while he sleptâa trait that the biblical narrative does "not explain or describe...but only shows in action, leaving us awestruck and puzzled," Claims Weitzman. His effort is organized through successive talesâSolomon's Kingdom, his Temple, and so onâclearly illustrating the many cultures, including Islam, Rome, and medieval Catholicism, that contributed, creating a foundation story for our culture. A thoroughly entertaining treatment of a controversial topic.

March 15, 2011
Who was Solomon? Even the Old Testament, hardly a foolproof historical source, presents a contradictory picture of him. Wise, temperate, and a lover of God, he is also seen as lustful, petty, and prone to idolatry. To his credit, Weitzman, professor of Jewish culture and religion at Stanford, makes no claim to have unearthed the real Solomon. Instead, he has written an unauthorized biography, which tells as much about various perceptions of Solomon over centuries as it does about Solomon himself. Of course, Weitzman does trace the key events of Solomons life, relying on the biblical text and a few other speculative accounts. After all, Solomons life, loves, and fall from grace are the stuff of a great melodrama and provide strong moral lessons. Still, as Weitzman acknowledges, a true understanding of the historical Solomon is beyond our grasp, but the authors speculations and his examination of other historical views of the man offer intriguing food for thought.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)