1 Kings 3:6-16

Solomon's Prayer

6 Then Solomon said, "¹You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, ²according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and ³You 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, ⁴You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet ⁵I am but a little child; ⁶I do not know how to go out or come in.

8 "⁷Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, ⁸a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.

9 "So ⁹give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people ¹⁰to 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 ¹¹not 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, ¹²I have done according to your words. Behold, ¹³I 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.

13 "¹⁴I have also given you what you have not asked, both ¹⁵riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.

14 "¹⁶If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will ¹⁷prolong your days."

15 Then ¹⁸Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and made peace offerings, and ¹⁹made a feast for all his servants.

Solomon Wisely Judges

16 Then two women who were harlots came to the king and stood before him.

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1 Kings 3:6-16 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 19

1. 2 Samuel 7:8-17; 2 Chronicles 1:8
2. 1 Kings 9:4
3. 1 Kings 1:48
4. 1 Chronicles 22:9-13
5. 1 Chronicles 29:1; Jeremiah 1:6, 7
6. Numbers 27:17
7. Exodus 19:6; Deuteronomy 7:6
8. Genesis 15:5; Genesis 22:17
9. 2 Chronicles 1:10; Psalms 72:1, 2; Proverbs 2:3-9; James 1:5
10. 2 Samuel 14:17; Hebrews 5:14
11. James 4:3
12. 1 John 5:14, 15
13. 1 Kings 4:29-31; 1 Kings 5:12; 1 Kings 10:23, 24; Ecclesiastes 1:16
14. 1 Kings 4:21-24; 1 Kings 10:23, 27; Matthew 6:33; Ephesians 3:20
15. Proverbs 3:16
16. 1 Kings 3:6
17. Psalms 91:16; Proverbs 3:2
18. Genesis 41:7
19. 1 Kings 8:65

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"