1 KINGS CHAPTER 3 Solomon marrieth Pharaoh's daughter: high places being in use, he goeth to Gibeon to sacrifice, 1 KINGS 3:1. There the Lord appeareth to him; gives him a choice: he preferreth wisdom; obtaineth it, and also riches and honour, 1 KINGS 3:5. His judgment between the two harlots, 1 KIN... [ Continue Reading ]
ONLY: this particle is used here and 1 KINGS 3:3, as an exception to Solomon's integrity and glory, and as his infirmity, and a blemish to his government, that he himself both permitted and practised this which was expressly forbidden, LEVITICUS 17:3,4 DEU 12:13,14, except in some extraordinary case... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, or, _yet_, although he mistook and miscarried himself in the matter of high places, yet in the general his heart was right with God, and he both _loved_ him with inward affection, and walked with him in outward conversation and worship. IN THE STATUTES OF DAVID, i.e. according to the statutes o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GREAT HIGH PLACE; the most eminent and frequented, because there was the tabernacle and the altar of Moses, 1 CHRONICLES 16:39, 1 CHRONICLES 21:29 2 CHRONICLES 1:3,5,6, which possibly were placed upon a high or raised ground. A THOUSAND BURNT OFFERINGS DID SOLOMON OFFER UPON THAT ALTAR; thereby... [ Continue Reading ]
QUEST. How could Solomon pray in his dream, or that prayer be acceptable to God, as this was, 1 KINGS 3:10 ? ANSW. The dreams of men are not such insignificant things as many imagine. That good dreams are oftentimes praiseworthy, and evil dreams blameworthy, is not only the opinion of the Jews and C... [ Continue Reading ]
SOLOMON SAID, i.e. he dreamed that he said. SEE POOLE ON "1 KINGS 3:5". Or, he really said. For although the use of reason is ordinarily so dark and imperfect in dreams, that such actings are not human actions; yet in extraordinary and Divine dreams it is but reasonable to allow something extraordin... [ Continue Reading ]
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 21:14,15, and to Rehoboam when forty-one years old, 2 CHRONICLES 13:7, where the word is the same in the... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IN THE MIDST OF THY PEOPLE, i.e. is set over them to rule and guide them; a metaphor from the overseer of divers workmen, who usually is in the midst of them, that he may the better observe how each of them dischargeth his office. WHICH THOU HAST CHOSEN; thy peculiar people, whom thou takest spec... [ Continue Reading ]
AN UNDERSTANDING HEART; whereby I may both clearly discern, and faithfully perform, all the parts of my duty; for both these are spoken of in Scripture as the effects of a good understanding; and he that lives in the neglect of his duties, or the practice of wickedness, is called a _fool_, and one v... [ Continue Reading ]
How such a dreaming prayer could please God SEE POOLE ON "1 KINGS 3:5", SEE POOLE ON "1 KINGS 3:6".... [ Continue Reading ]
NOR HAST ASKED THE LIFE OF THINE ENEMIES; that God would take away their lives, or put them into thy power to destroy them.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE DONE ACCORDING TO THY WORDS; I have granted, and do at this present grant, unto thee thy desire. And accordingly at this time God did infuse into him a far higher degree and greater measure of wisdom than he naturally had. A WISE AND AN UNDERSTANDING HEART, i.e. wisdom to govern thy people, t... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE ALSO GIVEN; either, first, I have granted and decreed to give; for words signifying action are oft put only for the purpose of the action. Or rather, secondly, _I will give_, as it is expressed in the parallel place, 2 CHRONICLES 1:12; I will as certainly give them, as if I had actually done... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU WILT WALK IN MY WAYS: this caution God gives him, lest his great wisdom should make him proud, or careless, or presumptuous, as if he were out of all danger; and to oblige him to more care and circumspection to avoid the snares and mischiefs to which so much prosperity and glory would probab... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS A DREAM, i.e. he perceived that it was a dream; not a vain dream, wherewith men are commonly deluded; but a Divine knew, dream, assuring him of the thing; which he partly by a Divine impression and inspiration thereof in his mind after he was awakened; and partly by the vast alteration which... [ Continue Reading ]
HARLOTS, or, _victuallers_; for the Hebrew word signifies both. SEE POOLE ON "JOSHUA 2:1". And possibly they might be both; this by their open profession, and the other by their secret practice: not that they were common harlots; for neither would Solomon have tolerated such; nor durst such have pre... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THIRD DAY; so they could not be distinguished by their age. THERE WAS NO STRANGER WITH US IN THE HOUSE; therefore no witness on either side; and although there might be some sensible difference to an exact observer between the features of the two children, yet it is not probable that was much mi... [ Continue Reading ]
And so smothered it; which she justly conjectures, because there were evidences of that kind of death, but no appearance of any other cause thereof.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE AROSE AT MIDNIGHT, when I was asleep, as she reasonably and truly concluded. TOOK MY SON FROM BESIDE ME; either because she really desired the comfort of a child, to be educated by her, and owned as hers; or because she would not be thought guilty of the child's death, for which she knew not how... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Both peremptorily and vehemently affirmed the same thing, oft repeating the same words.... [ Continue Reading ]
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No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
He said this with seeming sincerity and earnestly, though with a design far above the reach of the two women or of the people present, who probably with admiration and horror expected the execution of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
As is evident from her natural and motherly affection to the child, which she had rather have alienated and given away from her than destroyed.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WISDOM OF GOD; either great and eminent wisdom, AS THE CEDARS OR MOUNTAINS of God are the highest and most eminent of the kind; or Divine wisdom with which God had inspired him for the better government of his people. WAS IN HIM TO JUDGMENT; to assist him in wisely examining and justly determini... [ Continue Reading ]