The Song of Solomon, also known as the Song of Songs, is quite erotic for the Bible. It was included in the Hebrew Bible despite significant opposition. Some have regarded the book as a dramatic poem, while others see it basically as love lyrics. .

             Solomon carefully cultivated ties of friendship, which had existed between Israel and the kingdom of Tyre. This had great economic advantages. The biggest bond was with Egypt, which was cemented by his marriage to the daughter of the reigning Pharaoh. Solomon showed outstanding power, since he was able to claim and partially enforce authority over Palestine. The important and strategic Canaanite City of Gezer is said to have revolted against Pharaoh and after being destroyed, to have been handed over to Solomon as a property of marriage with Pharaoh's daughter when she was given to him in marriage. Solomon took important steps to further prosperity and to move a big portion of the national income into the royal treasury to finance his lifestyle and his buildings. His division of the country into 12 districts must have been a highly efficient thing to do, but it was reformed as one after his reign.

             One of the main sources of the enormous revenue required to support Solomon's brilliant reign was direct taxation in the form of money, goods, or unpaid labor that furnished for his building projects. Besides taxes in money and produce, Solomon required large donations of free labor from the poor whom he practically pushed into slavery.

             Another important source of revenue for the royal treasury was that he expanded trade to a remarkable degree. The use of the Arabian camel brought a tremendous increase in trade. Caravans could now travel through deserts because of the camel"s ability to go without water for a couple days. Solomon"s fleets traded in the Mediterranean and Red seas, and his subjects mined gold in what is now Saudi Arabia. By thus exercising control over virtually all the trade routes both to the east and the west of the Jordan, Solomon increased the revenue by charging tolls from the merchants passing through his territories.