The term “one-hit wonder” is most commonly used to designate musicians who had only one popular song. For example, one list of “The Greatest One-Hit Wonders of All Time” ranks the 1996 Los del Rios’ song, “Macarena,” at number one.
For purposes of this series, a “one-hit wonder” is a Bible character who is mentioned once, sometimes not even by name. Some of these characters play critical parts in important events, and some just give us an interesting glimpse into their world.
Because little is known about these minor characters, it is necessary to give them personalities that would be reasonable for the situation, then concentrate the episode of the Eyewitness Bible Series around events portrayed in the Bible.
As we often caution, we are not trying to add to what the Bible says; we are simply trying to add context that will help you understand the Bible better. We invite you to read the applicable Scriptures for these stories so you will know exactly what the Bible says.
Just as some one-hit wonder songs are a bit whimsical. Perhaps you will find some of these stories to be the same way. I hope you enjoy them, and learn some unexpected things.
King Solomon has acquired the reputation for being a good king because he built the Temple and because his first request of God resulted in God making him wise, but a close reading of the Scriptures may lead to a different conclusion.
Solomon married 700 wives and had 300 concubines who led him into a worshiping all kinds of false gods of different countries, and he did not worship them ambivalently—he plunged headlong into idolatry. Hundreds of years after his death, the people of Judah were still worshiping false gods at the buildings and altars Solomon built!
Among the kings of Judah, possibly only one king surpassed Solomon in leading the people into idolatry. King Manasseh was so evil that God decided to allow the kingdom of Judah to cease to exist and the reign of the House of David to come to an end after four centuries. This end would not occur for about a century after the beginning of the reign of Manasseh.
