1 Kings 3:5-14

5 ¹In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon ²in a dream at night; and God said, "³Ask what you wish me to give you."

Solomon's Prayer

6 Then Solomon said, "⁴You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, ⁵according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and ⁶You 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, ⁷You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet ⁸I am but a little child; ⁹I do not know how to go out or come in.

8 "¹⁰Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, ¹¹a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.

9 "So ¹²give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people ¹³to 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 ¹⁴not 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, ¹⁵I have done according to your words. Behold, ¹⁶I 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 "¹⁷I have also given you what you have not asked, both ¹⁸riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.

14 "¹⁹If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will ²⁰prolong your days."

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1 Kings 3:5-14 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 20

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

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"