1 Kings 3:2-12

2 ¹The people were still sacrificing on the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the LORD until those days.

3 Now ²Solomon loved the LORD, ³walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

4 ⁴The king went to ⁵Gibeon to sacrifice there, ⁶for that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

5 ⁷In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon ⁸in a dream at night; and God said, "⁹Ask what you wish me to give you."

Solomon's Prayer

6 Then Solomon said, "¹⁰You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, ¹¹according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and ¹²You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

7 "Now, O LORD my God, ¹³You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet ¹⁴I am but a little child; ¹⁵I do not know how to go out or come in.

8 "¹⁶Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, ¹⁷a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.

9 "So ¹⁸give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people ¹⁹to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"

God's Answer

10 It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.

11 God said to him, "Because * you have asked this thing and have ²⁰not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice,

12 behold, ²¹I have done according to your words. Behold, ²²I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.

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1 Kings 3:2-12 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

Cross References 22

1. Leviticus 17:3-5; Deut 12:2, 13, 14; 1 Kings 22:43
2. Deuteronomy 6:5; Deuteronomy 10:12, 13; Deuteronomy 11:13; Deuteronomy 30:16; Psalms 31:23; Psalms 145:20; 1 Corinthians 8:3
3. 1 Kings 2:3; 1 Kings 9:4; 1 Kings 11:4, 6, 38
4. 2 Chronicles 1:3
5. Joshua 18:21-25
6. 1 Chronicles 16:39; 1 Chronicles 21:29
7. 1 Kings 9:2; 1 Kings 11:9
8. Numbers 12:6; Matthew 1:20; Matthew 2:13
9. John 15:7
10. 2 Samuel 7:8-17; 2 Chronicles 1:8
11. 1 Kings 9:4
12. 1 Kings 1:48
13. 1 Chronicles 22:9-13
14. 1 Chronicles 29:1; Jeremiah 1:6, 7
15. Numbers 27:17
16. Exodus 19:6; Deuteronomy 7:6
17. Genesis 15:5; Genesis 22:17
18. 2 Chronicles 1:10; Psalms 72:1, 2; Proverbs 2:3-9; James 1:5
19. 2 Samuel 14:17; Hebrews 5:14
20. James 4:3
21. 1 John 5:14, 15
22. 1 Kings 4:29-31; 1 Kings 5:12; 1 Kings 10:23, 24; Ecclesiastes 1:16

Footnotes 7

[a]. Or "faithfulness"
[b]. Lit "kept"
[c]. Lit "a hearing"
[d]. Lit "heavy"
[e]. Lit "the thing"
[f]. Lit "many days"
[g]. Lit "hearing"