Solomon was charged by his dad to build a temple to his God (1Ch. 22:6). Though David fought long and hard to establish his kingdom, Solomon inherited a land that was in relative peace, yet he expanded it and his kingdom was a wealthy one. This wealth, combined with the supplies David had stored for the Temple (1Ch. 22:5), made for a magnificent building, as fitting for the Lord of the universe as possible. It took seven years to finish the Temple (1Kn. 6:38). Then Solomon began work on his own house.
And Solomon was thirteen years building his own house. And he finished all his house. 1Kn. 7:1
There are many things that people try to read into this Scripture, but the timeline states Solomon built God's Temple for seven years, then spent thirteen years building his palace, together 'done in twenty years' (1Kn. 9:10). Just because it took less time to build the Temple does not mean there was less care put into it. When it was done, it was as 'perfect'ly fashioned as humanly possible- I'm sure Solomon would not have stood for less, and the plans came from David! His palace, on the other hand, was larger, and made more ornate for his own tastes which were opulent.
It seems to be at this time that Solomon's eyes are taken off of God due to his love of wealth and women. 1Kn. 11:1-10 speaks of 700 wives (crazy man!) and 300 concubines. The inside walls of his palace were supposedly covered in gold. With personal and public rooms, the palace area would have been about twice the size of the Temple area. But the worst sin of all would have to be that he allowed his flesh to obscure his focus on God, and the women in his life were able to turn him to idols- all in thirteen years. Perhaps he did learn his lesson eventually, as he states here:
I made my works great; I built houses for myself... Ec. 2:4
And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them... (v.10)
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit; and there is no profit under the sun. (v.11)
And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them... (v.10)
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit; and there is no profit under the sun. (v.11)