From divided loves to sacred desire: Lady Wisdom’s reconciliation in the Wisdom of Solomon

Solomon’s legacy has been shaped by two major loves in his life: his love for wisdom (1 Kgs 3:1–15) and his love for women (1 Kgs 11:1–9; cf. Song of Songs). The dual passions have generated polarizing interpretations of his character in the history of reception: the former one draws him closer to God, while the latter drives him away from God. The Wisdom of Solomon, however, reinterprets the two seemingly contradictory impulses, bringing reconciliation of the competing loves of Solomon through erotic metaphors and love language within the wisdom tradition. In this paper, I argue that the Wisdom of Solomon reframes Solomon from an unfaithful lover to a devoted one by presenting Lady Wisdom as both a divine gift and a female figure of desire. Through an analysis of biblical and Second Temple texts, including those depicting Solomon’s relationship with real women and personified Lady Wisdom, I demonstrate how Wisdom of Solomon transforms Solomon’s earthly passions into a singular and sacred devotion. This reconciliation, in turn, provides a significant lens through which to view the characterization of Solomon as a lover.