1 Kings 3
28 verses
Solomon's vision at Gibeon, in which YHWH appears to him and offers to grant him whatever he asks, establishes the spiritual foundation for Solomon's kingship and introduces the theme of wisdom as the central characteristic of his reign. The chapter opens with the notation that Solomon 'loved YHWH, walking in the statutes of his father David,' establishing his piety and his continuity with the Davidic covenant. Solomon's request for wisdom rather than for long life or military victory demonstrates his alignment with YHWH's purposes and his commitment to just rule. YHWH's response emphasizes the gratuity of the divine gift: not only will Solomon receive the wisdom he has asked for, but YHWH will also give him riches and honor. The chapter illustrates Solomon's wisdom through the famous account of the two women disputing over a child: when Solomon proposes to divide the child with a sword, the true mother reveals herself through her willingness to give up the child rather than see him harmed. The narrative notes that all Israel heard of the judgment and stood in awe of the king, perceiving that the wisdom of God was in him. The theological significance lies in the establishment that Solomon's reign is founded on a commitment to wisdom and justice rather than on military might; the divine promise of wealth and honor flows from his prioritization of understanding and discernment.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
God is faithful in every circumstance.. I notice the repetition here is deliberate — the author wants us to feel the emp...
1
And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
1 0Open verse page →
2
Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the Lord, until those days.
0 0Open verse page →
3
And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
0 0Open verse page →
4
And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.
0 0Open verse page →
5
In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
0 0Open verse page →
6
And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
0 0Open verse page →
7
And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
0 0Open verse page →
8
And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
0 0Open verse page →
9
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
0 1Open verse page →
10
And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
0 0Open verse page →
11
And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
0 1Open verse page →
12
Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
0 0Open verse page →
The thread of covenant runs through every book of the Bible.. The imagery here is agricultural — the original audience w...
13
And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
1 2Open verse page →
14
And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
0 0Open verse page →
15
And Solomon 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 up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
0 0Open verse page →
16
Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
0 1Open verse page →
17
And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
0 0Open verse page →
18
And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
0 0Open verse page →
19
And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
0 1Open verse page →
20
And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
0 1Open verse page →
21
And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
0 1Open verse page →
22
And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
0 0Open verse page →
23
Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
0 0Open verse page →
24
And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
0 0Open verse page →
25
And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
0 1Open verse page →
26
Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
0 0Open verse page →
27
Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
0 0Open verse page →
28
And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.
0 0Open verse page →
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
No notes on this chapter yet. Be the first to write one!