re: According to the Bible, King Solomon was the driving force behind the creation of Israel.
This is bigger news than discovering the temple.
Most Bible readers think God/Yaweh was the driving force behind the creation of Israel.
Those who would name a mortal would say a series of 3 people were the driving force: Samuel, Saul, David. By the time Solomon came to power, Israel was already at its peak, thanks to his father David.
In fact, most Bible scholars attribute to Solomon the destruction of Israel. Solomon heavily taxed the 10 Northern tribes to employ those of the 2 southern tribes to supervise the building of the temple by non-jewish laborers.
The 10 tribes seceded from Judah over the unfair taxation. In fact, the 10 tribe were the original tea party.
Would not Solomon’s “palace” be near Jerusalem, or in the center of Jerusalem, rather than in a village/town outside the big city?
Or would this be considered a “summer home” - deliberately away from the sounds and smells of the big city?