The film, produced in 1997, opens with a chariot race between Solomon and his future rival Adonijah. We see Adonijah plot to be crowned king before Solomon. He has the army desert the city and takes a priest. They gather up the people. When the people see Solomon, played by Ben Cross, they flock to him for his crowning. Max von Sydow plays King David and Anouk Aimée as Bathsheba. It took me a while to recognize David Suchet as Joab the military, with a beard as a military commander.
Solomon develops from a young man to a new king and then to an older man who states that “all is vanity.” While building the Temple for Israel, Solomon marries the Queen of Sheba, to whom he gives his heart. When she leaves, he becomes despondent. As Solomon consolidates power by marrying the daughters of kings of other nations, he allows them to install temples to their gods and statues around the city. He is even convinced to burn incense to one of their gods. This disgusts the average faithful Jew. During one of his nighttime visits, Solomon witnesses Jews destroying an idol. Ahijah of Shiloh prophesies that God will tear the kingdom by tearing a new cloak into 12 pieces: 10 pieces in the North to Jeroboam, one official of Solomon’s court, and 2 pieces in the South to Rehoboam, Solomon’s son. This happens after the death of King Solomon.
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