Jerusalem Zoo

Once every three years the fleet of ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. 1 Kings 10:22

The ESV footnote on peacocks says, “Or baboons.” Primates don’t exactly swing though the branches of the biblical text, but thanks to Solomon, we find them here. God gave that wise king a relish for understanding creation: “He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish” (1 Kings 4:33). This interest apparently extended to the brightest of the beasts.

It seems to me that Solomon imported these creatures into Jerusalem because he was fascinated by them. This, shall we say, fun aspect of his reign is not unimportant. Solomon was a Messianic figure, and as such he was a sort of second Adam. You already know that the first Adam kept the original zoo in the Garden. Humans were created to rule over all the animals in a loving, interested, and faithful stewardship. Solomon recovered some of this in his awesome reign.

This marvelous truth will be fulfilled when the true Son of David restores this creation. Just as Noah brought the animal kingdom through the flood to a new world on the other side, so Jesus will remake all things on the other side of the great judgment, including animals. His blood pays for even this (Col 1:20). All dogs don’t go to heaven, but in that place we will rule over all God’s wonderful creatures with Christ, enjoying their companionship in the happy serenity of our eternal reign.