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And (A)Solomon loved Yahweh, (B)walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. (C)And the king went to (D)Gibeon to sacrifice there, (E)for that was the great high place; Solomon offered one thousand burnt offerings on that altar. (F)In Gibeon, Yahweh appeared to Solomon (G)in a dream at night; and God said, “(H)Ask what I should give to you.”

God Gives Wisdom to Solomon

Then Solomon said, “(I)You have shown great lovingkindness to Your slave David my father, (J)according to how he walked before You in [a]truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and (K)You have kept for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. So now, O Yahweh my God, (L)You have made Your slave king in place of my father David, yet (M)I am but a little child; (N)I do not know how to go out or come in. (O)And Your slave is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, (P)a numerous people who are too many to be numbered or counted. So (Q)give Your slave a listening heart to judge Your people (R)to discern between good and evil. For who is able to [b]judge this glorious people of Yours?”

10 [c]And it was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have (S)not asked for yourself [d]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 listen to justice, 12 behold, (T)I have done according to your words. Behold, (U)I 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 (V)I have also given you what you have not asked, both (W)riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. 14 (X)Now if you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will (Y)prolong your days.”

15 Then (Z)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 burnt offerings and made peace offerings, and (AA)made a feast for all his servants.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 3:6 Or faithfulness
  2. 1 Kings 3:9 Or do justice for
  3. 1 Kings 3:10 Lit the thing
  4. 1 Kings 3:11 Lit many days

Solomon loved Yahweh, by walking in the statutes of David his father; only he was sacrificing and offering incense on the high places. So the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice, for the great high place was there. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

Solomon’s Request for Wisdom

Yahweh appeared to Solomon at Gibeon in a dream at night, and God said, “Ask what I should give to you.” Then Solomon said, “You have shown great loyal love with your servant David my father, as he walked before you in faithfulness and in righteousness and in uprightness of heart with you. You have shown for him this great loyal love, and you have given a son to him who is sitting on his throne as it is this day. So then, O Yahweh, you are my God. You have made your servant king in place of David my father though I am a young boy. I do not know going out or coming in. Your servant is in the middle of your people whom you have chosen; a great people who cannot be counted or numbered because of abundance. Give to your servant a listening heart to judge your people, to discern between good and bad, because who is able to judge this, your difficult people?”

10 The word was good in the eyes of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and you did not ask for yourself a long life[a] and you did not ask riches for yourself and you did not ask for the life of your enemies, but you have asked for yourself the ability to make wise judgments;[b] 12 behold, I do hereby do according to your word. I hereby give you a wise and discerning heart; there was no one like you before you, nor afterwards will one like you arise. 13 Too, what you have not asked I give to you: both riches and honor, so that no man among the kings will be like you all of your days. 14 If you will walk in my ways by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David your father walked, then I will lengthen your days.” 15 Then Solomon awoke, and look, it was a dream, and he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and he offered burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings, and he held a feast for all of his servants.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 3:11 Literally “many days”
  2. 1 Kings 3:11 Literally “understanding to hear judgment”