1 Kings 3:5-9

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^[a] 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.

7 "Lord my God, You have now made Your servant king in my father David's place. Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership.^[b]

8 Your servant is among Your people You have chosen, a^[c] people too numerous to be numbered or counted.

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

1 Kings 3:5-9 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Lit and with You
• [b] Lit am a little youth and do not know to go out or come in
• [c] Lit chosen many