Solomon had no Hebrew Bible

🏺 Before Solomon (pre–10th century BCE): What was written?

1. Virtually nothing in full book form

Most scholars argue that no complete biblical books existed before Solomon.

Israel at that time was still largely tribal and semi-nomadic, and literacy was limited to scribal elites (mostly in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Canaanite city-states).

2. Possible short poems or songs

A few very early fragments may date back to pre-monarchic Israel (before Solomon, i.e., before ~970 BCE):

Song of Deborah (Judges 5) – often dated to the 12th century BCE, considered one of the oldest Hebrew texts.

Blessing of Jacob (Genesis 49) – may contain archaic Hebrew and tribal references from the early Iron Age.

Song of the Sea (Exodus 15) – a poetic victory hymn, possibly from early Israelite tradition.

These would have circulated orally first, possibly written down in fragmentary form later.

3. Oral tradition dominated

Israelite religion was primarily oral before the monarchy.

Stories of the patriarchs, Exodus, and wilderness wanderings were likely preserved as oral epic cycles, not written texts.

Writing existed, but was rare and usually reserved for administration (taxes, treaties, trade records).

🏛️ During Solomon’s Time (10th century BCE):

With Solomon’s centralized court, building projects, and possible scribal schools, the conditions for written texts emerged.

Early compilations of laws, genealogies, and tribal traditions may have begun around this time.

📖 Scholarly consensus (simplified):

Before Solomon (~970 BCE): at most, some short poems, hymns, or blessings. No full books.

During Solomon’s reign: beginnings of written Israelite literature, maybe the earliest kernels of “J” source (Yahwist).

After Solomon (9th–5th century BCE): major composition and editing of the Pentateuch, historical books, and prophetic writings.

✅ Answer in one line:

Before Solomon, at most a few archaic poems (like the Song of Deborah, Song of the Sea, and tribal blessings) may have been written, but no full biblical books existed—the Hebrew Bible as we know it began taking shape only in and after Solomon’s time.