1 Kings 3:4-15

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 demonstration of how that wisdom was put into practice (1 Kings 3:16-28).

A. THE EXPLANATION OF SOLOMON'S Wisdom 3:4-15

The Bible explains Solomon's famous wisdom as a supernatural endowment of God. It was while the king was engaged in religious activity at Gibeon that God revealed Himself to Solomon in a dream. During the course of that majestic experience (1) Solomon prayed for wisdom to guide and govern his people (1 Kings 3:4-9); and (2) received the promise of wisdom and many added blessings (1 Kings 3:10-15).

1. THE PRAYER FOR WISDOM (1 Kings 3:4-9)

TRANSLATION

(4) Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was the great high place. A thousand burnt offerings Solomon did offer upon that altar. (5) In Gibeon the LORD appeared unto Solomon in a dream of the night; and God said, Ask what I shall give you. (6) And Solomon said, You have demonstrated great mercy unto Your servant David my father, as he walked before You in truth, in righteousness and in uprightness of heart with You; and You kept for him this great mercy, that You gave to him a son to sit upon his throne as it is this day. (7) And now, O LORD my God, You have caused your servant to reign instead of David my father, yet I am a small lad: I do not know how to go out or come in. (8) But Your servant is in the midst of Your people which you have chosen, a great people which cannot be counted or numbered because of multitude. (9) Now give Your servant a discerning heart to judge Your people, to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this Your great people?

COMMENTS

Gibeon, about six miles northwest of Jerusalem, was chosen as the spot where the new reign would be inaugurated with a religious service. The leading citizens of the land, including the captains, judges and governors, accompanied the young king to that high place. Gibeon was chosen as over against the tent of meeting erected by David in Jerusalem because the Tabernacle and huge bronze altar[131] were located there (2 Chronicles 1:3).[132] The site probably is called a high place because the ark of the covenant, with which the Lord had bound up His presence, was not there.[133] Upon the altar in Gibeon a thousand whole burnt offerings were offered by (i.e., provided by) Solomon (1 Kings 3:4). The purpose of this enormous sacrifice was to implore the divine blessing upon the reign of the new king.

[131] The bronze altar was 7 1/2 feet square and 4 1/2 feet tall (Exodus 27:1-8). The altar at David's Jerusalem tent was likely much smaller.

[132] The Tabernacle was last mentioned as being at Nob (1 Samuel 21:6). The Scriptures do not relate how and when this sacred tent had been transported to Gibeon.

[133] Keil, BCOT, p. 41. The ark at this time was located at David's Jerusalem tent.

In a dream[134] one nightperhaps the night following the last day of sacrificesGod appeared to Solomon. Thus the one thing lacking in the place of sacrifice at Gibeon, viz., the ark of the covenant with the presence of the Lord, was supplied by God Himself.[135] Probably God appeared in the dream as the angel of the Lord in which guise He had on numerous other occasions appeared to Old Testament saints. In response to the numerous sacrificial gifts offered by Solomon to God, the Lord instructed the young king to name whatever it was he might desire that God would give to him in return (1 Kings 3:5). Such an invitation assumes that the request will be within the will of God. There seems to be a connection between the question which God addressed to Solomon, what shall I give you? and the object of the sacrifice, viz., to seek the help of God for his reign.

[134] This is one of the rare occasions in Bible history when God spoke to a man in his dreams. It should be noted, however, that within the context of this dream, Solomon was able to give a rational response to the question posed by God.
[135] Keil, BCOT, p. 41.

Solomon's reply to the Lord is marked by both perception and piety. He began his prayer by acknowledging the great favor which the Lord had bestowed on David to permit his son to follow him on the throne (1 Kings 3:6). He then humbly confessed his inability to handle the task that had been thrust upon his shoulders. For one thing, he felt himself to be young and inexperienced, so he referred to himself metaphorically as a little child or small lad. Solomon must have been only in his teens[136] when his father died. He did not know how to go out or come in, i.e., to conduct himself in the office of king, to manage the affairs of state (1 Kings 3:7). Furthermore, the nation had become so vast[137] that the governance of it would be a major challenge even to the most mature and experienced man (1 Kings 3:8). In view of these circumstances Solomon asked God to give him a discerning heart (lit., a hearing heart) that would qualify him to judge (i.e., rule) the people of God, to know the difference between what was true and false. The king in ancient society was the supreme judge as well as the governor of the land. No one would be able to judge so numerous a people unless God gave him a supernatural endowment of wisdom to do so (1 Kings 3:9).

[136] Rabbinic tradition has Solomon ascending the throne at age twelve, Josephus (Ant. VII, 7.8) says he was fourteen. Modern commentators estimate that he was seventeen or eighteen. However, Solomon already had one child at the time of his accession as is indicated by the fact that he reigned forty years and his son Rehoboam was forty-one at the time of his father's death (1 Kings 14:21). Pharaoh's daughter was not his first wife.

[137] In 1 Kings 3:8 Solomon describes the magnitude of the nation in words similar to those used in the divine promise to the patriarchs (Genesis 13:16; Genesis 28:14).

2. THE PROMISE OF WISDOM (1 Kings 3:10-15)

TRANSLATION

(10) And the thing was good in the eyes of the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. (11) And God said unto him, Because you asked this thing, and did not ask for yourself long life, nor did you ask for yourself wealth, nor did you ask for the life of your enemies, but you have asked for yourself understanding to discern judgment, (12) behold I have done according to your word. Behold I have given to you a wise heart and understanding such that there has been none like you before, nor after you shall any arise like you. (13) Also that which you have not asked, I will give to you, both wealth and honor such that there shall not be a man like you among the kingdoms all of your days. (14) And if you walk in My ways to keep My statutes and My commandments as David your father walked, then I will lengthen your days. (15) And Solomon arose, and behold it was a dream, and he went to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all of his servants.

COMMENTS

Solomon's response pleased the Lord (1 Kings 3:10). Even though in a dream, Solomon had expressed to God the true desires of his conscious mind. He might have asked for long life or wealth or victory over his enemies on the field of battle. But since he had asked for a gift that would enable him to better meet the needs of his people (1 Kings 3:11), God had already granted his petition. Solomon would possess a wisdom such as none before him possessed, nor would any after him be his equal in this respect (1 Kings 3:12). In addition God gave him what he had not requested, viz., riches and honor (1 Kings 3:13). The blessing of long life, however, had a condition attached. Only if Solomon continued to walk in the way of the Lord would his days be lengthened (1 Kings 3:14). In setting forth this condition God confirmed what David earlier had said to Solomon (cf. 1 Kings 2:3-4). Since Solomon did not meet the condition here set forth, he did not live to an exceptionally old age. He can hardly have been more than sixty (if that much) at the time of his death.

Solomon awoke to discover that he had been dreaming. But this was no ordinary dream; it was a dream in which a divine revelation had been made to him.[138] Solomon proceeded immediately to the other major sanctuary of that period, the tent which housed the ark of the covenant, and there he offered new sacrifices to the Lord.[139] In addition to the burnt offerings made at Gibeon, he added peace offerings in gratitude for the endowment he had just received. In the peace offering a token portion of the animal was offered on the altar and the remains were eaten at a sacrificial meal by the worshiper and his guests.

[138] Similar to the dream granted to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:7) and Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:4).

[139] The altar in Jerusalem was mentioned in 1 Kings 2:28.