And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took
Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the (a) city of David, until
he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the
LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
(a) Which was Bethlehem.... [ Continue Reading ]
Only the people sacrificed in (b) high places, because there was no
house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.
(b) Where altars were appointed before the temple was built, to offer
to the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his (c)
father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
(c) For his father had commanded him to obey the Lord and walk in his
ways, (1 Kings 2:3).... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king went to (d) Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that [was] the
great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon
that altar.
(d) For there the tabernacle was (2 Chronicles 1:3).... [ Continue Reading ]
And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed 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 hast
(e) kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son
to sit on his throne, as [it i... [ Continue Reading ]
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 executing this charge of ruling.... [ Continue Reading ]
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people,
that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this
thy so (g) great a people?
(g) Which are so many in number.... [ Continue Reading ]
And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast
not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for
thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine (h) enemies; but hast asked
for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
(h) That is, that their enemy would die.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Solomon awoke; and, behold, [it was] (i) a dream. And he came to
Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and
offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a
feast to all his servants.
(i) He knew that God had appeared to him in a dream.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then came there two women, [that were] harlots, unto the king, and (k)
stood before him.
(k) By this example it appears that God kept his promise to Solomon in
granting him wisdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
And she arose at midnight, and (l) took my son from beside me, while
thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead
child in my bosom.
(l) She stole the living child to avoid both the shame and punishment.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king said, (m) Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword
before the king.
(m) Unless God gives judges understanding, the impudency of the
trespasser will overthrow the just cause of the innocent.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then spake the woman whose the living child [was] unto the king, for
her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the
living child, and (n) in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it
be neither mine nor thine, [but] divide [it].
(n) Her motherly affection appears in that s... [ Continue Reading ]