1 Kings 3:1-6

The Lord Appears to Solomon

1 Solomon made an alliance^[a] with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying Pharaoh's daughter.^[b] Solomon brought her to the city of David until he finished building his palace, the Lord's temple, and the wall surrounding Jerusalem.

2 However, the people were sacrificing on the high places, because until that time a temple for the Lord's name had not been built.

3 Solomon loved the Lord by walking in the statutes of his father David, but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar.^[c]

5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, "Ask. What should I give you?"

6 And Solomon replied, "You have shown great and faithful love to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and^[d] integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.

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1 Kings 3:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KINGS 3

This chapter relates the marriage of Solomon with Pharaoh's daughter, 1Ki 3:1; his piety and devotion, 1Ki 3:2-4; his prayer for wisdom and understanding, which was acceptable to God, who promised to grant his request, with an addition to it, 1Ki 3:5-15; an instance and proof of the wisdom given him in determining a case between two harlots brought before him, which greatly raised his reputation, and gave him reverence among his people, 1Ki 3:16-28.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 4

[a]. Lit Solomon made himself a son-in-law
[b]. Dt 7:3; 2 Ch 18:1; Ezr 9:14
[c]. 1 Ch 1:3,6
[d]. Lit and with You