Solomon was a king of the Israelites. He began his reign in about 962 B.C. after the death of his father, King David. Solomon oversaw many building projects, including a temple in Jerusalem. This temple became the center of religious life for Israelites. Three times each year, Israelite men made a pilgrimage, or journey, to the temple. The journey was not always safe and required farmers to leave their land for weeks at a time.