1 Kings 3:4

4 King Solomon went to Gibeon to offer a sacrifice, because it was the most important place of worship. He offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

1 Kings 3:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 3:4

And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there
About four or five miles from Jerusalem; (See Gill on 1 Kings 2:28);

for that [was] the great high place;
not that the place itself might be higher than others that were used; but here were the tabernacle of Moses, and the altar; so that it was a more dignified place, and more sacred because of them:

a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar;
the brazen altar of burnt offerings there; not at one time, but on several days successively; though Jarchi says on one day; and which was a prodigious number, never was known the like, unless at the dedication of the temple, ( 1 Kings 8:63 1 Kings 8:64 ) .

1 Kings 3:4 In-Context

2 The Temple for the worship of the Lord had not yet been finished, so people were still sacrificing at altars in many places of worship.

3 Solomon showed he loved the Lord by following the commands his father David had given him, except many other places of worship were still used to offer sacrifices and to burn incense.

4 King Solomon went to Gibeon to offer a sacrifice, because it was the most important place of worship. He offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

5 While he was at Gibeon, the Lord appeared to him in a dream during the night. God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."

6 Solomon answered, "You were very kind to your servant, my father David. He obeyed you, and he was honest and lived right. You showed great kindness to him when you allowed his son to be king after him.