1 Kings 3:7-17

7 And now, O Lord my God, ¹you have made your servant king in place of David my father, ²although I am but a little child. I do not know ³how to go out or come in.

8 ⁴And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, ⁵too many to be numbered or counted for multitude.

9 ⁶Give your servant therefore an understanding mind ⁷to govern your people, that I may ⁸discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? ”

10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.

11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,

12 behold, ⁹I now do according to your word. Behold, ¹⁰I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

13 ¹¹I give you also what you have not asked, ¹²both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.

14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, ¹³as your father David walked, then ¹⁴I will lengthen your days. ”

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

Solomon’s Wisdom

16 Then two prostitutes came to the king ¹⁶and stood before him.

17 The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house.

1 Kings 3:7-17 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. 3:7 [1 Chr. 28:5]
• 2. 3:7 [1 Chr. 29:1]
• 3. 3:7 Num. 27:17
• 4. 3:8 Deut. 7:6
• 5. 3:8 Gen. 13:16; 15:5
• 6. 3:9 [Prov. 2:6, 9; James 1:5]
• 7. 3:9 Ps. 72:1, 2
• 8. 3:9 [2 Sam. 14:17; Isa. 7:15; Heb. 5:14]
• 9. 3:12 [1 John 5:14, 15]
• 10. 3:12 ch. 4:29-31; 5:12; 10:23, 24; Eccles. 1:16
• 11. 3:13 [Matt. 6:33]
• 12. 3:13 ch. 4:21-24; 10:23, 27; [Prov. 3:16]
• 13. 3:14 ver. 6; ch. 15:5
• 14. 3:14 [Ps. 91:16; Prov. 3:2]
• 15. 3:15 Gen. 41:7
• 16. 3:16 Num. 27:2