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Commentary Critical and Explanatory

1 Kings 3:7

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.

I am but a little child - not in age, because he had reached manhood (1 Kings 2:9), and must have been at least 20 years old (Josephus erroneously makes him only 14 years old, 'Antiquities,' b. 8:, ch. 7:, sec. 8); but he was raw and inexperienced in matters of government.

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See also 1 Kings 3:7 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 1 Kings 3:7. _I KNOW NOT HOW TO GO OUT OR COME IN._] I am just like an infant learning to walk alone, and can neither go out nor come in without help....

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    See 1 Kings 2:2 note, and on the hyperbole contained in the phrase “little child,” compare Genesis 43:8; Exodus 33:11. HOW TO GO OUT OR COME IN - This expression is proverb

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    2. JEHOVAH APPEARS TO SOLOMON HIS PRAYER AND THE ANSWER CHAPTER 3 _ 1. Affinity with Pharaoh and Pharaoh's daughter (1 Kings 3:1)_ 2. Solomon loved the LORD (1 Kings 3:2) 3. Jehovah appears to Sol...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    1 KINGS 3:1 TO 1 KINGS 4:34. EARLY DAYS, REIGN, AND WISDOM OF SOLOMON. The sources of this section are various, and the arrangement of the narrative in the LXX should be noticed. There are (_a_) a sta...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    A LITTLE CHILD. In his father's eyes. "wise man" (1 Kings 2:6; 1 Kings 2:9). I KNOW NOT. I shall not know. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and know not", indicating the Figu...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _I_am but _a little child_ This is a form of expression meant to indicate want of experience, but cannot be pressed literally. What Solomon's age may have been we have very imperfect data for judging....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    I AM BUT A LITTLE CHILD, &C.— It is plain that Solomon means here, that he was only a little child, a mere infant, in understanding and abilities, to guide and govern so great a people. See Psalms 131...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    I. THE ENDOWMENT OF THIS KING 3:4-28 Solomon is popularly known as the wisest man who ever lived. This section provides (1) an explanation of Solomon's wisdom (1 Kings 3:4-15); and (2) a demonstratio...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    I _am but_ A LITTLE CHILD] The words seem to imply that Solomon was quite youthful when he came to the throne; but the politic measures by which he secured his crown, as described in 1 Kings 2, sugges...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    SOLOMON'S CHOICE This chapter relates how Solomon, out of various gifts offered to him by the Almighty, chose wisdom, and adds an illustration of the use he made of the gift with which he was endowed...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S LESSONS FROM HISTORY 1 KINGS _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 3 GOD SPEAKS TO SOLOMON V1 Solomon made an agreement with Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Solomon married Pharaoh’s daughter. Solomon brough...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וְ עַתָּה֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔י אַתָּה֙ הִמְלַ֣כְתָּ...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE BOY-KING'S WISDOM 1 Kings 3:1 "An oracle is upon the lips of a king."- Proverbs 16:10 (Hebrews). "A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eye."- Proverbs...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    BREAKING THREE COMMANDMENTS 1 Kings 21:1; 1 Kings 1:1; 1 Kings 2:1; 1 Kings 3:1;...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE YOUNG KING'S WISE CHOICE 1 Kings 3:1 The chapter opens doubtfully. The affinity with Pharaoh, and the two _onlys_ of 1 Kings 3:2 are not promising. See Deuteronomy 12:13. Yet there were hopeful f...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The first brief paragraph in this chapter reveals at once Solomon's strength and weakness. He was strong, for he loved the Lord and walked in the statutes of his father David. However, there was the o...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    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 (f) go out or come in. (f) That is, to behave himself in executi...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _In. So as to judge with discretion, and to lead my people. (Calmet)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (6) And Solomon said, Thou hast showed 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...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The books of First and Second Samuel show us the failure of the priesthood, and, in consequence, when a state of evident shame and dishonour overspread the face of Israel, the heart of the people desi...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    But there is another element in the history of the king of glory, in which he oversteps the limits of the king of Israel's legitimate position; he allies himself with the Gentiles, and marries Pharaoh...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND NOW, O LORD MY GOD, THOU HAST MADE THY SERVANT KING INSTEAD OF DAVID MY FATHER,.... Removed by death, in whose stead he reigned by the appointment of God, and through his overruling providence, no...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 7. _And I am but a little child._] So he...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _According as he walked before thee in truth_ In the true worship of God, in the profession, belief, practice, and defence of the true religion. So _truth_ here contains all duties to God, as _righteo...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Solomon marieth Pharaohs daughter. 2 Hie places being in vse, Solomon sacrificeth at Gibeon. 5 Solomon at Gibeon, in the choice which God gaue him, preferring wisedome, obtaineth wisedome, riches,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    SOLOMON AT GIBEON...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And now, O Lord, my God, Thou hast made Thy servant king instead of David, my father; and I am but a little child, he felt that his youth and inexperience mere unfitted for the great and arduous tasks...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    SOLOMON RECEIVES WISDOM FROM GOD (vs.1-15) However, early in Solomon's reign he slipped into the snare of making a treaty with the king of Egypt. Israel had before escaped from the bondage of Egypt,...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    5-15 Solomon's dream was not a common one. While his bodily powers were locked up in sleep, the powers of his soul were strengthened; he was enabled to receive the Divine vision, and to make a suitab...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    I AM BUT A LITTLE CHILD; so he was in years; not as if he were now but twelve years old, as many gather from this name of child; for that name is given to Ishmael when eighteen years old, GENESIS 21:1...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Kings 3:7 LORD H3068 God H430 servant H5650 king H4427 (H8689) father H1 David H1732 little H6996 child...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Alliance of Solomon and Pharoah. Marriage with Pharoah's daughter. Loses at Gibeon. Solomon's prayer. His wisdom. CHARACTERS: God, Solomon, two women. CONCLUSION: The wisdom of God is laid...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Kings 3:1. _Solomon took Pharaoh's daughter._ It would appear from the 45th Psalm, which the rabbins with one consent affirm, was the nuptial ode for this marriage, that David had made arrangements...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The Lord appeared again to Solomon in a dream._ DREAMS INDICATE CHARACTER Tell me your dreams, and I will read the riddle of your life. Tell me your prayers, and I will write the history of a soul....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 3:1 Although Solomon has displayed a worldly kind of wisdom in his treatment of those who were a threat to him (1 Kings 2:6,...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 3:7 I AM BUT A LITTLE CHILD. I DO NOT KNOW HOW. Solomon feels inadequate for the great task of leading Israel. ⇐...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.— 1 Kings 3:5. IN GIBSON THE LORD APPEARED TO SOLOMON—Probably during this sacrificial festival. 1 Kings 3:7. A LITTLE CHILD: נַעַר קָטּן a weak boy; but it is an error...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE BEGINNING OF SOLOMON'S REIGN.—In the preceding chapter we have seen the establishment of Solomon's rule (verse 46) by the removal of internal foes, _i.e; _of disaffected and rebellious...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now Solomon begins the gathering of wives of which it seemed had no end. He made an affinity with the Pharaoh of Egypt, and he took the Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her to the city of David, until...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 29:1; 1 Samuel 18:16; 2 Samuel 5:2; Daniel 2:21; Danie

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Child — So he was in years: not above twenty years old; and withal (which he principally intends) he was raw and unexperienced, as a child, in state affairs. Go out, &c. — To govern my people, and man...

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