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1 Kings 3 Solomon Builds the Temple

1 Solomon Asks for Wisdom
Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem.

2 The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the Lord.

3 Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

7 “Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.

8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.

9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.

11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,

12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.

14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”

15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.
He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.

16 A Wise Ruling
Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.

17 One of them said, “My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me.

18 The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.

19 “During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him.

20 So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast.

21 The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.”

22 The other woman said, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.”
But the first one insisted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.” And so they argued before the king.

23 The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,’ while that one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.’”

24 Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king.

25 He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”

26 The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!”
But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”

27 Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”

28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

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Analysis of 1 Kings Chapter 3

Introduction

1 Kings Chapter 3 is a pivotal chapter in the Old Testament that describes the early reign of King Solomon, the son of David. This chapter is known for Solomon’s request for wisdom, a defining moment that significantly influences the narrative of his kingship throughout the biblical texts. Through this analysis, we will delve into the themes, symbolism, and theological implications of this chapter, examining how the text not only portrays Solomon’s character but also reinforces key messages about God’s providence and human virtue.

Verses 1-3: Solomon’s Alliance with Egypt and Worship Practices

The chapter opens with an important political move:

Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem. The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the Lord. Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. (1 Kings 3:1-3, NIV)

This passage highlights several significant insights:

  1. Political Alliance: Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter signifies a strategic political alliance, showcasing Solomon’s diplomatic acumen. This move is indicative of his intent to secure and strengthen his kingdom through international relations.
  2. Incomplete Religious Reform: Although Solomon loved the Lord and followed his father David’s instructions, the people were still worshipping at high places because the temple in Jerusalem had not yet been built. This acknowledges both Solomon’s devout intentions and the prevailing social customs that had not yet been fully aligned with centralized worship practices.
  3. Religious Dedication: Despite offering sacrifices at high places, Solomon’s dedication to God is emphasized, setting a stage for his later request for wisdom and understanding.

Verses 4-9: Solomon’s Dream and Request for Wisdom

Verses 4-9 narrate the transformative event where Solomon has a dream at Gibeon:

The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (1 Kings 3:4-9, NIV)

This passage is profound for several reasons:

  1. Gibeon’s Significance: Gibeon being the “most important high place” underscores the significance of Solomon’s act of worship. This major sacrificial event indicates his devotion and sets the stage for God’s revelation to him.
  2. Theophany in a Dream: God appearing to Solomon in a dream represents an intimate and direct form of divine communication, reinforcing the notion that God’s guidance in Israel’s leadership is paramount.
  3. Solomon’s Humility and Recognition of God’s Faithfulness: Solomon’s response reflects his humility and recognition of his dependence on God. By acknowledging his inadequacy and youth (“only a little child”) while referring to himself as God’s “servant,” Solomon demonstrates an important ethical posture of servitude and reliance on divine wisdom.
  4. Request for Wisdom: Solomon’s request is not for wealth, long life, or the death of his enemies, but for a “discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” This pivotal moment highlights Solomon’s prioritization of wisdom and justice over personal gain, aligning with the biblical virtues of prudence, justice, and righteousness.

Verses 10-14: God’s Response to Solomon

The narrative continues with God’s favorable response to Solomon’s request:

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” (1 Kings 3:10-14, NIV)

This divine response elucidates several key themes:

  1. Divine Pleasure and Approval: God’s pleasure in Solomon’s request indicates that desires aligned with divine wisdom and justice are highly valued in the biblical narrative. This illustrates the principle that seeking wisdom and moral discernment aligns one closely with God’s will.
  2. Granting of Wisdom and Discernment: God’s promise to make Solomon incomparably wise highlights wisdom as a divine gift and source of authority that surpasses human capability. This acts as a reminder that true wisdom is God-given rather than self-generated.
  3. Additional Blessings: The granting of wealth and honor along with wisdom signifies that righteousness and right intentions often lead to broader blessings. This illustrates the biblical maxim of seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then other things being added unto you (cf. Matthew 6:33).
  4. Conditional Promise of Longevity: While God promises Solomon wealth, honor, and wisdom unconditionally, the promise of long life is conditional on Solomon’s obedience to God’s decrees and commands, underscoring the importance of continued faithfulness and righteousness.

Verses 15: Solomon’s Return to Jerusalem

After his vision, Solomon returns to Jerusalem and offers further sacrifices:

Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court. (1 Kings 3:15, NIV)

This verse serves as a transitional conclusion to the divine encounter. Key points include:

  1. Awakening and Realization: Solomon’s realization that it had been a dream does not diminish the gravity or truth of the divine message; rather, it emphasizes the powerful nature of divine revelations, even through dreams.
  2. Return to Centralized Worship: Solomon’s return to Jerusalem and sacrifice before the Ark of the Covenant marks a shift towards centralized worship, in anticipation of the eventual construction of the Temple, reinforcing the importance of centralized religious practice in the Israelite tradition.
  3. Communal Celebration: By hosting a feast for his court, Solomon creates a moment of communal rejoicing and solidarity, underlining the social and communal dimensions of worship and divine blessing.

Verses 16-28: The Judgement of Solomon

The final section of the chapter recounts the famous judgment of Solomon, showcasing his newly endowed wisdom:

Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One of them said, “Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.

“During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.”

The other woman said, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.”

But the first one insisted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.”

And so they argued before the king.

The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,’ while that one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.’”

Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king. He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”

The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!”

But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”

Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”

When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice. (1 Kings 3:16-28, NIV)

This passage is remarkable for several reasons:

  1. Wisdom in Action: The story powerfully illustrates Solomon’s God-given wisdom in a practical, judicial context. His clever stratagem to reveal the true mother leverages emotional and instinctual truths about maternal love.
  2. Justice and Compassion: Solomon’s decision not only delivers justice but also reveals his deep psychological insight into human nature. The contrast between the true mother’s selfless love and the false mother’s bitterness further underscores the themes of true justice and compassion.
  3. Public Perception and Authority: The reaction of the people—holding Solomon in awe—is significant. It not only solidifies Solomon’s internal authority but also publicly validates the divine endorsement of his wisdom, leading to national stability and unity.

Conclusion

1 Kings Chapter 3 is a rich and multifaceted narrative that encapsulates the early wisdom of Solomon and his deep reliance on God’s guidance. The chapter moves from the initial political and religious contexts of Solomon’s reign to his profound request for wisdom, God’s favorable response, and a public demonstration of that wisdom in action.

Throughout, we see the intertwining of divine providence and human virtue. Solomon’s humility and petition for wisdom rather than personal gain reflect the ideal posture of a leader in the biblical tradition. God’s granting of Solomon’s request, along with additional blessings, underscores the scriptural principle that those who seek to align their will with God’s purposes often find themselves recipients of His abundant grace.

The narrative arc from Solomon’s private dream to his public judgment demonstrates the far-reaching impact of divine wisdom, which not only benefits the leader but also brings justice and stability to the broader community. Ultimately, 1 Kings Chapter 3 affirms the centrality of divine wisdom and the importance of righteous leadership, inviting readers to reflect on the sources of true justice and the value of seeking wisdom in their own lives.