What do you think of 1 Kings 3:1-15?

[jesus lover]

Bible Gateway passage: 1 Kings 3:1-15 - King James Version

And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the 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. Only the people sacrificed in high places, because...

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1 Kings 3:1-15

King James Version

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3 And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the 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.
2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the Lord, until those days.
3 And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.
5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6 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 kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 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 go out or come in.
8 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.
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 great a people?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 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 enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was 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.

 

[BruceLeiter]

@jesus lover, why do you bring up this passage for our comments?

 

[jesus lover]

@jesus lover, why do you bring up this passage for our comments?

I just thought it was a cool story.

 

[jswauto]

SUMMARY OF 1 KINGS 3:1–15
How Solomon stepped into kingship — and how God met him there.
1. Solomon begins his reign with both strength and compromise (v.1–3)
• He forms a political alliance with Pharaoh by marrying his daughter — a move that strengthens Israel’s position but hints at future spiritual danger.
• Israel is still worshiping at high places, because the Temple has not yet been built.
• Solomon himself loves the Lord and follows David’s statutes, but he also sacrifices at the high places — a tension that will later define his downfall.
This is the Bible’s subtle way of saying:
Solomon’s heart is sincere, but not yet fully aligned.

2. Solomon goes to Gibeon — the most important high place (v.4)
He offers a thousand burnt offerings!
This is extravagant worship — a king declaring dependence on God.
Gibeon is where the Tabernacle and bronze altar were located at this time, so this is not rebellion; it’s devotion expressed in the only available place of worship.

3. God appears to Solomon in a dream (v.5)
This is one of the rare moments in Scripture where God gives a blank check:
“Ask what I shall give thee.”
Heaven opens the door.
The king is tested by what he desires most.

4. Solomon’s request reveals his heart (v.6–9)
He does not ask for:
• long life
• riches
• military victory
• political dominance
Instead, he asks for:
“An understanding heart to judge thy people… to discern between good and bad.”
He sees himself as:
• young
• inexperienced
• overwhelmed
• dependent on God
This humility is the key to everything that follows.

5. God is pleased — and responds with abundance (v.10–14)
Because Solomon asked for wisdom instead of self‑advancement, God gives him:
✔ Unmatched wisdom
“No one like you before or after.”
✔ Riches and honor
Blessings he didn’t ask for.
✔ Conditional long life
If he walks in God’s ways.
This is the divine pattern:
Seek God’s heart, and God adds everything else.

6. Solomon wakes up — and worships before the Ark (v.15)
He returns to Jerusalem and stands before the Ark of the Covenant, offering:
• burnt offerings
• peace offerings
• a feast for his servants
This is a beautiful detail:
He began at Gibeon because the Temple wasn’t built —
but he ends before the Ark, the true center of God’s presence.
It’s a symbolic realignment.

These points in the story are keys to how Solomon became the greatest king in history!

-He offers a thousand burnt offerings!

-The Lord asks him:“Ask what I shall give thee.”

-Solomon answers:“An understanding heart to judge thy people… to discern between good and bad.”


THE SCRIPTURES SOLOMON WROTE
1. Proverbs (Majority of the Book)
• Proverbs 1–29 — traditionally attributed to Solomon
• Proverbs 30–31 — written by Agur and King Lemuel, not Solomon
• Proverbs 25–29 — collected later by Hezekiah’s scribes but still Solomon’s sayings (Prov. 25:1)

2. Ecclesiastes
• Entire book traditionally attributed to Solomon
• The author calls himself “the son of David, king in Jerusalem” (Eccl. 1: 1)

3. Song of Solomon (Song of Songs)
• Entire book attributed to Solomon
• Opening line: “The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s” (Song 1:1)

4. Psalms (Two Psalms Traditionally Attributed to Solomon)
• Psalm 72 — “A Psalm for Solomon” (likely written by David for Solomon, but some traditions attribute it to Solomon)
• Psalm 127 — “A Song of Degrees for Solomon”
These are the only psalms connected to him.


SCRIPTURES THAT TELL THE STORY OF SOLOMON
A complete list for your understanding

SOLOMON’S RISE TO THE THRONE
1 Kings 1–2 — Solomon chosen as king, David’s final instructions
1 Chronicles 28–29 — David commissions Solomon to build the Temple
Prophetic element:
David tells Solomon that obedience will determine the future of the kingdom (1 Chr. 28:9).

SOLOMON ASKS FOR WISDOM
1 Kings 3:1–15 — God appears in a dream; Solomon asks for wisdom
2 Chronicles 1:7–12 — Parallel account
Prophetic element:
God promises unmatched wisdom, riches, honor, and long life if Solomon walks in His ways.

SOLOMON’S WISDOM AND ADMINISTRATION
1 Kings 3:16–28 — The famous judgment between two mothers
1 Kings 4:20–34 — His wisdom, writings, and international fame

SOLOMON BUILDS THE TEMPLE
1 Kings 5–8 — Construction, furnishings, dedication
2 Chronicles 2–7 — Parallel account
Prophetic element:
Solomon’s dedication prayer anticipates:
• Israel’s future sin
• exile
• repentance
• restoration
(1 Kings 8:22–53)
God responds with the covenant promise:
2 Chronicles 7:14 — If My people humble themselves…

SOLOMON’S WEALTH, POWER, AND GLOBAL INFLUENCE
1 Kings 9–10 — His empire, trade, and the Queen of Sheba
2 Chronicles 8–9 — Parallel account
Prophetic element:
The Queen of Sheba becomes a foreshadowing of the nations coming to Christ (Matt. 12:42).

SOLOMON’S WRITINGS
Proverbs 1–29 — Solomon’s sayings
Ecclesiastes — His reflections on life
Song of Solomon — His poetic work
Psalm 72 & 127 — Traditionally attributed
Prophetic element:
Psalm 72 is Messianic — describing the future reign of Christ.

SOLOMON’S COMPROMISE AND FALL
1 Kings 11:1–13 — Foreign wives, idolatry, and God’s judgment
Prophetic element:
God declares the kingdom will be torn from Solomon’s son —
a prophecy fulfilled in 1 Kings 12 with the split into Israel and Judah.

SOLOMON’S ENEMIES RAISED BY GOD
1 Kings 11:14–40 — Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam rise as instruments of judgment
Prophetic element:
Ahijah the prophet tells Jeroboam he will rule 10 tribes (1 Kings 11:29–39).

THE AFTERMATH OF SOLOMON’S REIGN
1 Kings 12 — The kingdom divides
2 Chronicles 10 — Parallel account
Prophetic element:
The division sets the stage for:
• Elijah and Elisha
• Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel
• the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles
• the future reunification under Messiah (Ezek. 37)

NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES TO SOLOMON
Matthew 6:29 — Solomon’s glory compared to God’s provision
Matthew 12:42 — Jesus declares Himself “greater than Solomon”
Acts 7:47 — Stephen mentions Solomon building the Temple
These passages show Solomon as both a type of Christ (wisdom, kingdom, temple) and a warning (fall through compromise).

 

[BruceLeiter]

I just thought it was a cool story.

Yes, @jesus lover, it shows the good and bad sides of Solomon. The good was his request for wisdom instead of riches; the bad was his offering sacrifices on the high places, a practice forbidden in the law. Such disobedience leads eventually to his wandering after the idols of his many foreign wives.