Part I. Introduction, Sources and Historical Background: 1. An introduction; 2. Sources – epigraphical, archaeological, and biblical; 3. Challenging recent dismissals of the United Monarchy; 4. Solomon's Kingdom – historical evaluation and case studies; Part II. Solomon's Birth, Rise, and Temple-Building: Literary and Historiographical Observations: 5. Solomon's birth story and its setting in 2 Samuel 10-12 – redaction history versus compositional unity; 6. Love of God and apologia for a king – Solomon as the Lord's beloved king in biblical text and ancient Near Eastern contexts; 7. Solomon's birth and names in Second temple period literature; 8. Solomon's pre-monarchic life in biblical historiography; 9. Solomon's physical appearance and leadership in biblical historiography; 10. Solomon's succession to the throne – history and contrasting historiographies; 11. The coronation of Solomon, David's testament and its implementation; 12. 'Why is the city in an uproar?' – Solomon's coronation story in its biblical context; 13. Solomon's temple-building and its divine approval in the early and late biblical historiographies; 14. Writing and rewriting the story of Solomon.