1 Kings 3:5-15

5 1At Gibeon 2the LORD appeared to Solomon 3in 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 4he 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 5have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.
7 And now, O LORD my God, 6you have made your servant king in place of David my father, 7although I am but a little child. I do not know 8how to go out or come in.
8 9And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, 10too many to be numbered or counted for multitude.
9 11Give your servant therefore an understanding mind 12to govern your people, that I may 13discern 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, 14I now do according to your word. Behold, 15I 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 16I give you also what you have not asked, 17both 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, 18as your father David walked, then 19I will lengthen your days."
15 And Solomon 20awoke, 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.

1 Kings 3:5-15 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 20

  • 1. For ver. 5-14, see 2 Chronicles 1:7-12
  • 2. 1 Kings 9:2; 1 Kings 11:9
  • 3. [Numbers 12:6; Matthew 1:20; Matthew 2:13, 19]
  • 4. 1 Kings 2:4; 1 Kings 9:4; [Psalms 15:2]
  • 5. 1 Kings 1:48
  • 6. [1 Chronicles 28:5]
  • 7. [1 Chronicles 29:1]
  • 8. Numbers 27:17
  • 9. Deuteronomy 7:6
  • 10. Genesis 13:16; Genesis 15:5
  • 11. [Proverbs 2:6, 9; James 1:5]
  • 12. Psalms 72:1, 2
  • 13. [2 Samuel 14:17; Isaiah 7:15; Hebrews 5:14]
  • 14. [1 John 5:14, 15]
  • 15. 1 Kings 4:29-31; 1 Kings 5:12; 1 Kings 10:23, 24; Ecclesiastes 1:16
  • 16. [Matthew 6:33]
  • 17. 1 Kings 4:21-24; 1 Kings 10:23, 27; [Proverbs 3:16]
  • 18. ver. 6; 1 Kings 15:5
  • 19. [Psalms 91:16; Proverbs 3:2]
  • 20. Genesis 41:7
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.