Controversial, but I Believe it Makes the Point

I'm not falsely accusing Solomon, but since he's the one who penned, "There is nothing new under the sun," I'm going to use him as the example, because there were a lot of potential issues, yet the choice he made is clear.  From what we know about Solomon, with all of our psychology and social labels, if he were alive today, how would he be viewed, sexually?  What would our present society "teach" him about his potential gender orientation?

He was obviously memorable in his style of clothing, since Messiah mentioned it several generations later.  Interestingly, Messiah drew the comparison between Solomon's style and the lilies of the field.  Solomon was clearly not the warrior his father and brothers were.  Not trying to add to or take away from Scriptural history, but Solomon was not the image of virility his father and brothers were.  His mother had to get the prophet to remind David that Solomon was supposed to be king and Adonijah had taken over the throne.   There is a definite sensitivity in his writings.  Song of Solomon can obviously be viewed as romantic.  Physical detail implies intimacy, while the manuscript alludes to almost a "star-crossed lovers" scenario.

As mentioned in the previous chapter, Solomon was definitely close to his mother, and she was obviously protective even into his adult years.  As a matter of fact, his mother was the only woman Solomon actually spoke of well.  He penned that he had never met a woman with wisdom.  The man had 300 wives and 700 concubines and gave every indication none of them suited him.  That's 1000 women available to meet the king's every potential whim, from a preparing a banquet to a night of intimacy!

As I've read the account of the life of Solomon, and his very sensitive writings, I've wondered just what he'd be encouraged and guided to believe about himself, if he were growing up in America today.  Since Scripture tells us "we are all born into sin," I can't say for certainty what the propensity of a specific temptation would be for someone else, but we all have a choice in the action we take.  With as many detailed instructions there are in Torah regarding sexuality and intimate partners, it does seem to indicate humanity would be tempted to deviate from the ordained norm.

In everything I read about Solomon, I think his "gender identity" could be called into question.  Yet his example and words clearly indicate we can choose to live according to Torah!

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear G-d, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  Ecclesiastes 12:13