He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. – 1 Kings 4:33

Today's Scripture Reading (November 27, 2025): 1 Kings 4

Solomon's wisdom extended to many areas. Like many Kings of this time, Solomon wanted to be seen as someone who understood all of life. And so, his wisdom was said to extend from the cedar of Lebanon, which was the foremost of all plants, down to the hyssop that grew out of the city walls, which was thought to be the least. These plants symbolized the Alpha and Omega of Solomon's wisdom and knowledge.

He also understood the animals. In fact, it might be surprising to many, at least according to the stories of the ancient rabbis, that Solomon was the original Dr. Dolittle: even the animals were said to have brought their disagreements to Solomon for a resolution.

One such story told by the rabbis concerned a man who was walking in his field on a hot day carrying a jug of cool milk. As he walked across his field, he came upon a serpent who was struggling with thirst in the heat of the day. The serpent asked the man for some of the milk, but the man refused to give it. So, the serpent, who had slithered through the length and breadth of the property, offered to share a secret with the man. The serpent had discovered a rock under which a buried treasure was hidden, and he was willing to give the treasure to the man in exchange for the milk (I mean, what was a serpent going to do with buried treasure, that was more the man's area of expertise?)

The man agrees and shares the milk with the serpent. And the serpent fulfills his part of the deal and leads the man to the buried treasure. But as the man bends over to move the rock, the serpent attacks the man and coils itself around the man's neck. The man immediately protests that the serpent is reneging on the deal the two had made. The serpent insists that the man will never take the treasure because the agreement itself was inequitable; the treasure was worth much more than a bit of milk.

The man suggests that they take their dispute to Solomon, and the serpent agrees. So, the pair appears before Solomon with the snake still coiled around the man's neck. Solomon asks the serpent what it is that the serpent wanted, and the serpent replies that he wants to kill the man because the Holy Scriptures prophecy that this is right; "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers … and you will strike his heel" (Genesis 3:15).

Solomon listened to the serpent, but refused to issue a judgment until the serpent had let go of the man, because in a trial, both parties must be of equal standing. Once the serpent was on the floor, Solomon repeated his request about what it was that the serpent wanted. And again, the serpent repeated that according to Scripture, the task of the serpent was to kill the man, for it says that the serpent will strike at the man's heel. Solomon turned to the man and said, "And God's command to you was to crush the head of the serpent; Do it.

The man crushed the head of the serpent as Solomon had commanded. Such was the wisdom of Solomon, even among the animals. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 5