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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 the Lord and followed all the decrees of his father, David, except that Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned incense at the local places of worship. The most important of these places of worship was at Gibeon, so the king went there and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings. That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”

Solomon replied, “You showed great and faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued to show this great and faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne.

“Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. 11 So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies— 12 I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! 13 And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! 14 And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.”

15 Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he invited all his officials to a great banquet.

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