Geneva Study Bible Commentary
1 Kings 3:9
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.
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.
Verse 1 Kings 3:9. _GIVE - AN UNDERSTANDING HEART TO JUDGE THY PEOPLE_] He did not ask wisdom in general, but the true science of government. This wisdom he sought, and this wisdom he obtained....
One of the chief functions of the Oriental monarch is always to hear and decide causes. Hence, supreme magistrates were naturally called “judges.” (See the introduction to the Book of Judges.) In the...
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...
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...
GIVE. Compare 2 Chronicles 1:10. UNDERSTANDING. hearing. Solomon began by asking wisdom from God. Rehoboam (his son) began by asking counsel from man (1 Kings 12:6; 1 Kings 12:8)....
_an understanding heart_ This is explained (2 Chronicles 1:10) by -wisdom and knowledge." The participle rendered -understanding" is literally -hearing," and the LXX. has paraphrased the clause thus:...
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...
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...
_AND THY SERVANT IS IN THE MIDST OF THY PEOPLE WHICH THOU HAST CHOSEN, A GREAT PEOPLE, THAT CANNOT BE NUMBERED NOR COUNTED FOR MULTITUDE._ No JFB commentary on these verses....
3:9 heart, (a-8) Strictly, 'a heart that hears;' and so ver. 11, 'to hear judgment.'...
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...
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...
וְ נָתַתָּ֨ לְ עַבְדְּךָ֜ לֵ֤ב שֹׁמֵ֨עַ֙ לִ
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...
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...
BREAKING THREE COMMANDMENTS 1 Kings 21:1; 1 Kings 1:1; 1 Kings 2:1; 1 Kings 3:1;...
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...
_Understanding. Literally, "docile." (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "willing to hear," and to obey God. (Menochius)_...
(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...
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...
_A NOBLE REQUEST_ ‘Give thy servant an understanding heart.’ 1 Kings 3:9 I. NOT WEALTH, NOT PLEASURE, NOT FAME, NOT VICTORY, NOT LENGTH OF DAYS, BUT AN UNDERSTANDING HEART, WAS THE CHOICE OF SOLOMO...
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...
GIVE THEREFORE THY SERVANT AN UNDERSTANDING HEART, TO JUDGE THY PEOPLE,.... Not an understanding of things spiritual, nor of things natural, though both were given him, but of things political, what r...
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 great a people? Ver. 9. _Give therefore thy servan...
_Give to thy servant 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 und...
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,...
Give therefore Thy servant an understanding heart, one ready to hear and understand every case presented to it properly, TO JUDGE THY PEOPLE, THAT I MAY DISCERN BETWEEN GOOD AND BAD; FOR WHO IS ABLE T...
SOLOMON AT GIBEON...
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,...
UNDERSTANDING: _ Heb._ hearing...
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...
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 t...
1 Kings 3:9 give H5414 (H8804) servant H5650 understanding H8085 (H8802) heart H3820 judge H8199 (H8800) people...
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...
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 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....
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,...
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. ⇐...
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...
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...
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...
1 Chronicles 22:12; 1 Chronicles 29:19; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 2:15;...
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...