Ecclesiastes 2:8 (ESV)

8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.

You see silver and gold everywhere around Solomon. He imposes taxes on other kings and regions. The money, the silver and the gold are pouring in.

When Solomon eats, singers grace the meal. He can pay for these things because he receives a lot of money from the kings and the territories subject to him. There is also something else he has enjoyed in his life. We read in this verse, I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man. Here we can think also of the wives whom Solomon had in abundance.

The number of wives Solomon had is truly incredible. We read about it in 1 Kings 11: He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart (1 Kings 11:3). He sought his happiness in relationships, including sexual contacts with many women. These women were so important and attractive to him that he had temples built for their gods against the will of God. He even went to those temples with them (see 1 Kings 11:4–13). These things bring God’s judgment upon Solomon’s life. The judgment of God means, among other things, that much of Solomon’s property would not remain in the hands of his descendants. We read about this in 1 Kings 11:11: Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, Since you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.

Considering all that Solomon owned, how wealthy he was, and what he could enjoy, it seems that he must have been one of the happiest people on earth. If only you had all those things! It appears that he lacked nothing. Anyone who does not look beyond this world will start to think this way.