With tender earnestness David entreated Solomon to be manly and noble, to show mercy and loving-kindness to his subjects, and in all his dealings with the nations of earth to honor and glorify the name of God and to make manifest the beauty of holiness. The many trying and remarkable experiences through which David had passed during his lifetime had taught him the value of the nobler virtues and led him to declare in his dying charge to Solomon: "He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain." 2 Samuel 23:3,4.

Jehovas navn blev højt æret i den første del af Salomons regeringstid. Den visdom og retfærdighed, som kongen lagde for dagen, var for alle nationer et vidnesbyrd om de fremragende egenskaber hos den Gud, som han tjente. Israel var for en tid verdens lys, og i denne periode vidnede de om Guds storhed. Dybest set var den herlighed, som kendetegnede begyndelsen af Salomons regeringstid, ikke hans uforlignelige visdom, hans eventyrlige rigdomme eller hans vældige magt og berømmelse. Herligheden lå i den hæder, som han kastede over Israels Guds navn ved at benytte Himmelens gaver med visdom.