1 Kings 3:9-19

9 "So ¹give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people ²to 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 ³not 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, ⁴I have done according to your words. Behold, ⁵I 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 "⁶I have also given you what you have not asked, both ⁷riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.

14 "⁸If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will ⁹prolong your days."

15 Then ¹⁰Solomon 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 ¹¹made a feast for all his servants.

Solomon Wisely Judges

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

18 "It happened on the third day after I gave birth, that this woman also gave birth to a child, and we were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, only the two of us in the house.

19 "This woman's son died in the night, because she lay on it.

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

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "a hearing"
• [b] Lit "heavy"
• [c] Lit "the thing"
• [d] Lit "many days"
• [e] Lit "hearing"
• [f] Lit "I and this woman"