Solomon was born in Jerusalem:-

1Ch 14:3 And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters.

1Ch 14:4 Now these are the names of his children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,

Solomon's father David was a warrior and had had a hard physical life in a time of almost continuous war and strife, whereas Solomon lived in peaceful times, had great riches and splendour, lived a life of ease, and could do as he liked: David wore himself out yet lived to 70, while Solomon had it easy: He should have lived for ages but he didn't. How old was he when he died? However, there is more to this than at first sight. Before King David died in 970BC (Ussher) he told his son Solomon to "shew thyself a man (KJV) or "be a man (BBE)" :-

1Ki 2:1-3 KJV Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, (v.2) I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; (v.3) And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

1Ki 2:2-4 BBE I am going the way of all the earth: so be strong and be a man; (v.3) And keep the orders of the Lord your God, walking in his ways, keeping his laws and his orders and his rules and his words, as they are recorded in the law of Moses; so that you may do well in all you do and wherever you go, (v.4) So that the Lord may give effect to what he said of me, If your children give attention to their ways, living uprightly before me with all their heart and their soul, you will never be without a man to be king in Israel.

The implication is that he was not old enough, perhaps still a teenager. Albert Barnes says:-

"... Solomon's youth clearly constituted one of the chief difficulties of his position. If he was about nineteen or twenty, and known to be of a pacific disposition (see 1Ch_22:9), then to have to rule over the warlike and turbulent Hebrew nation, with a strong party opposed to him, and brothers of full age ready to lead it, was evidently a most difficult task. Hence, he is exhorted, though in years a boy, to show himself in Spirit "a man."

(Albert Barnes on 1Kings 2:2 in his Commentary "Notes on the Bible")

If he was 20 that would make him born in 990BC, and after reigning for 40 years he died in 931BC (Ussher):-

1Ki 11:42-43 BBE And the time Solomon was king in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. (v.43) And Solomon went to rest with his fathers, and was put into the earth in the town of David his father: and Solomon went to rest with his fathers and Rehoboam his son became king in his place.

Because the Hebrew and Greek calendars do not coincide and his birthdate is unknown, his age cannot be determined exactly. Accordingly, Solomon would have been either 60 or in his 6oth year when he died, even though God says a man is ordained to normally live to 70 but if he is blessed up to 80:-

Psa 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten [ie 70 yrs]; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years [ie 80 yrs], yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

So why did Solomon die early at 60 and not later? He had a peaceful This implies that if a person dies earlier than 70 they have not been blessed by living longer, but have instead disobeyed God and been cursed accordingly.

God had promised David that if he did as he was told and obeyed Him then his descendants would continue to reign (ie as a "Dynasty of David") over Israel:-

2Sa 7:12-13 KJV [God telling David]:- "And when thy [ie David's] days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers [ie die], I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom [ie Solomon's]. (v.13) He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever".

Before he died David had told Solomon the same thing, that if he obeyed God and did as he was told then David's descendants would continue to reign (ie as a "Dynasty of David") over Israel: (note that "descendants" is plural ie not just Solomon but his descendants as well.):-

1Ki 2:3-4 GNB and do what the LORD your God orders you to do. Obey all his laws and commands, as written in the Law of Moses, so that wherever you go you may prosper in everything you do. (v.4) If you obey him, the LORD will keep the promise he made when he told me that my [ie David's] descendants would rule Israel as long as they were careful to obey his commands faithfully with all their heart and soul.

After David died God repeated it to Solomon:-

1Ki 6:11-13 KJV And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, (v.12) Concerning this house [ie temple] which thou art in building,if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: (v.13) And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

Solomon did not do this: he did not obey the Lord as he had been told to do. Solomon's father David was a warrior and had had a hard physical life in a time of almost continuous war and strife, whereas Solomon lived in peaceful times, had great riches and splendour, lived a life of ease, and could do as he liked: David wore himself out yet lived to 70, while Solomon had it easy and did as he liked yet died earlier at 60 because of his disobedience, and after Solomon died here was a civil war and the nation was split into two. Obedience brings life but disobedience results in death.

At first sight it seems unlikely Israel could be so great under David and Solomon for half a century in the face of two mighty empires, Egypt and Assyria. But independent history confirms Scripture by showing that exactly at this time, from the beginning of the 11th to the close of the 10th century B.C., Assyria was under a cloud, and Egypt from 1200 B.C. to Shishak's accession 990 B.C. Solomon was prematurely "old" (1Ki_11:4), for he was only about 60 at death.

However, there is more to this than at first sight. Before King David died in 970BC (Ussher) he told his son Solomon to "shew thyself a man (KJV) or "be a man (BBE)" :-

1Ki 2:1-3 KJV Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, (v.2) I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; (v.3) And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

1Ki 2:2-4 BBE I am going the way of all the earth: so be strong and be a man; (v.3) And keep the orders of the Lord your God, walking in his ways, keeping his laws and his orders and his rules and his words, as they are recorded in the law of Moses; so that you may do well in all you do and wherever you go, (v.4) So that the Lord may give effect to what he said of me, If your children give attention to their ways, living uprightly before me with all their heart and their soul, you will never be without a man to be king in Israel.

The implication is that he was not old enough, perhaps still a teenager. Albert Barnes says:-

"... Solomon's youth clearly constituted one of the chief difficulties of his position. If he was about nineteen or twenty, and known to be of a pacific disposition (see 1Ch_22:9), then to have to rule over the warlike and turbulent Hebrew nation, with a strong party opposed to him, and brothers of full age ready to lead it, was evidently a most difficult task. Hence, he is exhorted, though in years a boy, to show himself in Spirit "a man."

(Albert Barnes on 1Kings 2:2 in his Commentary "Notes on the Bible")

If he was 20 that would make him born in 990BC, and after reigning for 40 years he died in 931BC (Ussher):-

1Ki 11:42-43 BBE And the time Solomon was king in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. (v.43) And Solomon went to rest with his fathers, and was put into the earth in the town of David his father: and Solomon went to rest with his fathers and Rehoboam his son became king in his place.

Because the Hebrew and Greek calendars do not coincide and his birthdate is unknown, his age cannot be determined exactly. Accordingly, Solomon would have been either 60 or in his 6oth year when he died, even though God says a man is ordained to normally live to 70 but if he is blessed up to 80:-

Psa 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten [ie 70 yrs]; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years [ie 80 yrs], yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

So why did Solomon die early at 60 and not later? He had a peaceful This implies that if a person dies earlier than 70 they have not been blessed by living longer, but have instead disobeyed God and been cursed accordingly.

God had promised David that if he did as he was told and obeyed Him then his descendants would continue to reign (ie as a "Dynasty of David") over Israel:-

2Sa 7:12-13 KJV [God telling David]:- "And when thy [ie David's] days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers [ie die], I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom [ie Solomon's]. (v.13) He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever".

Before he died David had told Solomon the same thing, that if he obeyed God and did as he was told then David's descendants would continue to reign (ie as a "Dynasty of David") over Israel: (note that "descendants" is plural ie not just Solomon but his descendants as well.):-

1Ki 2:3-4 GNB and do what the LORD your God orders you to do. Obey all his laws and commands, as written in the Law of Moses, so that wherever you go you may prosper in everything you do. (v.4) If you obey him, the LORD will keep the promise he made when he told me that my [ie David's] descendants would rule Israel as long as they were careful to obey his commands faithfully with all their heart and soul.

After David died God repeated it to Solomon:-

1Ki 6:11-13 KJV And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, (v.12) Concerning this house [ie temple] which thou art in building, if thou wilt : (v.13) And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

Solomon did not do this: he did not obey the Lord as he had been told to do. Solomon's father David was a warrior and had had a hard physical life in a time of almost continuous war and strife, whereas Solomon lived in peaceful times, had great riches and splendour, lived a life of ease, and could do as he liked: David because of his disobedience, and after Solomon diedt here was a civil war and the nation was split into two. Obedience brings life while disobedience results in death.

In the King James version

the phrase - it is written - appears 80 times

1. 6034 Jos 8:31 As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.
2. 8041 2 Sam 1:18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
3. 8774 1 Kin 2:3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
4. 10187 2 Kin 23:21 And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant.
5. 11675 2 Chr 23:18 Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.
6. 11709 2 Chr 25:4 But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.
7. 11858 2 Chr 31:3 He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.
8. 11979 2 Chr 35:12 And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen.
9. 12100 Ezr 3:2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
10. 12102 Ezr 3:4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;
11. 12170 Ezr 6:18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
12. 12509 Neh 8:15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
13. 12584 Neh 10:34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:
14. 12586 Neh 10:36 Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:
15. 14533 Psa 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
16. 18904 Isa 65:6 Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,
17. 22001 Dan 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
18. 23174 Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
19. 23213 Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
20. 23215 Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
21. 23216 Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
22. 23219 Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
23. 23469 Mat 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
24. 23839 Mat 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
25. 24078 Mat 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
26. 24085 Mat 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
27. 24217 Mar 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
28. 24469 Mar 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
29. 24550 Mar 9:12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.
30. 24551 Mar 9:13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
31. 24775 Mar 14:21 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
32. 24781 Mar 14:27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
33. 24996 Luk 2:23 (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
34. 25029 Luk 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
35. 25067 Luk 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
36. 25071 Luk 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
37. 25073 Luk 4:10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
38. 25222 Luk 7:27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
39. 25777 Luk 19:46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
40. 26037 Luk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
41. 26288 Joh 6:31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
42. 26302 Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
43. 26594 Joh 12:14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
44. 26943 Act 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
45. 27158 Act 7:42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
46. 27457 Act 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
47. 27739 Act 23:5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
48. 27947 Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
49. 27986 Rom 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
50. 27995 Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
51. 28001 Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
52. 28039 Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
53. 28152 Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
54. 28168 Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
55. 28188 Rom 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
56. 28203 Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
57. 28217 Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
58. 28235 Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
59. 28264 Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
60. 28291 Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
61. 28306 Rom 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
62. 28312 Rom 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
63. 28324 Rom 15:21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
64. 28382 1 Cor 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
65. 28394 1 Cor 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
66. 28403 1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
67. 28429 1 Cor 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
68. 28549 1 Cor 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
69. 28574 1 Cor 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
70. 28699 1 Cor 14:21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the LORD.
71. 28763 1 Cor 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
72. 28872 2 Cor 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
73. 28947 2 Cor 8:15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
74. 28965 2 Cor 9:9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
75. 29112 Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
76. 29115 Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
77. 29153 Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
78. 29158 Gal 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
79. 30140 Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
80. 30390 1 Pet 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.