1 Kings 11:42

Forty years— Josephus, Antiq. lib. 8: cap. 3 tells us, that Solomon lived to a great age, that he reigned eighty years, and died at ninety-four; but this is a manifest error in that historian; and our saying that the Scriptures give us an account of Solomon only while he continued in a state of piety, but that Josephus's computation takes in the whole of his life, is a poor and forced way of reconciling it. The authority of Josephus must never be put in balance with that of the Holy Scriptures, from which it may be learned that Solomon lived to the age of fifty-eight, or thereabout. Indeed, we may well presume, that his immoderate pursuit of sensual pleasures both shortened his life, and left an eternal stain upon his memory; otherwise the character which the author of Ecclesiasticus gives of this prince is very beautiful. "Solomon reigned in a peaceable time, and was honoured; for God made all quiet round about him, that he might build an house in his name, and prepare his sanctuary for ever. How wise wast thou in thy youth, and as a flood filled with understanding! Thy soul covered the whole earth, and thou filledst it with dark parables. Thy name went far unto the islands, and for thy peace thou wast beloved. The countries marvelled at thee for thy songs, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations. By the name of the Lord, who is called the Lord God of Israel, thou didst gather gold as tin, and didst multiply silver as lead.—But thou didst bow thy loins unto women," &c. Sir 47:13, &c.