1 Kings 3:1-10

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

1 ¹Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into ²the city of David until he had finished ³building his own house ⁴and the house of the Lord ⁵and the wall around Jerusalem.

2 ⁶The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord.

3 Solomon ⁷loved the Lord, ⁸walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.

4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, ⁹for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

5 ¹⁰At Gibeon ¹¹the Lord appeared to Solomon ¹²in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you. ”

6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because ¹³he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and ¹⁴have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.

7 And now, O Lord my God, ¹⁵you have made your servant king in place of David my father, ¹⁶although I am but a little child. I do not know ¹⁷how to go out or come in.

8 ¹⁸And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, ¹⁹too many to be numbered or counted for multitude.

9 ²⁰Give your servant therefore an understanding mind ²¹to govern your people, that I may ²²discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? ”

10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.

1 Kings 3:1-10 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.

Cross References

• 1. 3:1 ch. 7:8; 9:16, 24; 2 Chr. 8:11
• 2. 3:1 See ch. 2:10
• 3. 3:1 ch. 7:1
• 4. 3:1 See ch. 6
• 5. 3:1 ch. 9:15
• 6. 3:2 ch. 22:43; [Deut. 12:2, 3]
• 7. 3:3 Deut. 6:5; 30:16, 20; [Ps. 31:23]
• 8. 3:3 ver. 6, 14
• 9. 3:4 2 Chr. 1:3, 6, 13; [1 Chr. 16:39; 21:29]
• 10. 3:5 For ver. 5-14, see 2 Chr. 1:7-12
• 11. 3:5 ch. 9:2; 11:9
• 12. 3:5 [Num. 12:6; Matt. 1:20; 2:13, 19]
• 13. 3:6 ch. 2:4; 9:4; [Ps. 15:2]
• 14. 3:6 ch. 1:48
• 15. 3:7 [1 Chr. 28:5]
• 16. 3:7 [1 Chr. 29:1]
• 17. 3:7 Num. 27:17
• 18. 3:8 Deut. 7:6
• 19. 3:8 Gen. 13:16; 15:5
• 20. 3:9 [Prov. 2:6, 9; James 1:5]
• 21. 3:9 Ps. 72:1, 2
• 22. 3:9 [2 Sam. 14:17; Isa. 7:15; Heb. 5:14]