3 And Solomon aloved the Lord, bwalking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.
4 Now athe king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, bfor that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
5aAt Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon bin a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”
6aAnd Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he bwalked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You chave given him a son to sit on his throne, as itis this day.
7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a alittle child; I do not know howbto go out or come in.
8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You ahave chosen, a great people, too bnumerous to be numbered or counted.
9aTherefore give to Your servant an1 understanding heart bto judge Your people, that I may cdiscern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have anot asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice,
12abehold, I have done according to your words; bsee, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.
13 And I have also agiven you what you have not asked: both briches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.
14 So aif you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, bas your father David walked, then I will clengthen your days.”
15 Then Solomon aawoke; and indeed it had been a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and bmade a feast for all his servants.
Solomon’s Wise Judgment
16 Now two women whowere harlots came to the king, and astood before him.
17 And one woman said, “O my lord, this woman and I dwell in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house.
THE FIRST AND SECOND BOOKS OF KINGS, in the ancient copies of the Hebrew Bible, constitute one book. Various titles have been given them; in the Septuagint and the Vulgate they are called the Third and Fourth Books of Kings. The authorship of these books is unknown; but the prevailing opinion is that they were compiled by Ezra, or one of the later prophets, from the ancient documents that are so frequently referred to in the course of the history as of public and established authority. Their inspired character was acknowledged by the Jewish Church, which ranked them in the sacred canon; and, besides, it is attested by our Lord, who frequently quotes from them (compare I Kings 17:9; II Kings 5:14 with Luke 4:24-27; I Kings 10:1 with Matthew 12:42).
Join 137,259+ readers
A Verse and a Thought, Every Morning
Consistent Bible study is hard to start.
The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.
Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.
