1 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.

16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.

17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.

18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.

19 And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.

20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.

21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.

22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.

23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.

24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.

25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.

26 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 in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.

27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

1 And Solomon made affinitie with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and tooke Pharaohs daughter, and brought her into the citie of Dauid, vntill he had made an end of building his owne house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Ierusalem round about.

2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built vnto the Name of the Lord vntill those dayes.

3 And Solomon loued the Lord, walking in the statutes of Dauid his father: onely 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 vp on that Altar.

5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dreame by night: and God sayd, Aske what I shall giue thee.

6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed vnto thy seruant Dauid my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in trueth, and in righteousnesse, and in vprightnesse of heart with thee, and thou hast kept for him this great kindnesse, that thou hast giuen him a sonne to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy seruant King in stead of Dauid my father: and I am but a litle childe: I know not how to goe out or come in.

8 And thy seruant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbred, nor counted for multitude.

9 Giue therefore thy seruant an understanding heart, to iudge thy people, that I may discerne betweene good and bad: for who is able to iudge this thy so great a people?

10 And the speach pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

11 And God said vnto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thy selfe long life, neither hast asked riches for thy selfe, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thy selfe vnderstanding to discerne iudgement;

12 Behold, I haue done according to thy word: loe, I haue giuen thee a wise and an vnderstanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like vnto thee.

13 And I haue also giuen thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the Kings like vnto thee, all thy dayes.

14 And if thou wilt walke in my wayes, to keepe my Statutes and my Commandements, as thy father Dauid did walke, then I will lengthen thy dayes.

15 And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dreame: and he came to Ierusalem, and stood before the Arke of the Couenant of the Lord, and offered vp burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his seruants.

16 Then came there two women that were harlots, vnto the king, and stood before him.

17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house, and I was deliuered of a childe, with her in the house.

18 And it came to passe the third day after that I was deliuered, that this woman was deliuered also: and wee were together; there was no stranger with vs in the house, saue we two in the house.

19 And this womans childe died in the night: because she ouerlaid it.

20 And shee arose at midnight, and tooke my sonne from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and layd it in her bosome, and layd her dead childe in my bosome.

21 And when I rose in the morning to giue my childe sucke, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, beholde, it was not my sonne, which I did beare.

22 And the other woman said, Nay, but the liuing is my sonne, and the dead is thy sonne: And this said, No, but the dead is thy sonne, and the liuing is my sonne. Thus they spake before the king.

23 Then said the King, The one saith, This is my sonne, that liueth, and thy sonne is the dead: and the other saith Nay: but thy sonne is the dead, and my sonne is the liuing.

24 And the King said, Bring mee a sword. And they brought a sword before the king:

25 And the king said, Diuide the liuing childe in two, and giue halfe to the one, and halfe to the other.

26 Then spake the woman whose the liuing childe was, vnto the king, (for her bowels yerned vpon her sonne) and she said, O my lord, giue her the liuing childe, and in no wise slay it: But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but diuide it.

27 Then the King answered and said, Giue her the liuing child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

28 And all Israel heard of the Iudgement which the king had iudged, and they feared the King: for they saw that the wisedome of God was in him, to doe Iudgement.

I == 2nd Saqm 5:7 ; 1st Kings 7:1 , 8 ; 9:15 , 19 , 24

 

 

II == Lev 17:3-5 ; Deut 12:2 , 4-5 ; 1st Kings 22:43

 

III == Deut 6:5 ; 30:16 , 20 ; 1s Kings 3:6 , 14 ; Ps 31:23 ; Rom 8:28 ; 1st Cor 8:3

IV == 1st Chr 16:39 ; 2nd Chr 1:3

 

V == 1st Kings 9:2 ; 2nd Chr 1:7 ; Matt 1:20 ; 2:13 , 19

VI == 1st Kings 1:48 ; 2:4 ; 9:4 ; 2nd Chr 1:8-10 ; Ps 15:2

 

 

 

 

VII == Num 27:17 ; 1st Chr 29:1

 

 

VIII == Gen 13:16 ; 15:5 ; Deut 7:6 ; 2nd Chr 1:10 ; Ps 72:1-2 ; Prov 2:3-9 ; Heb 5:14 ; James 1:5

 

 

 

 

 

XI == James 4:3

 

 

 

 

XII == 1st Kings 4:29-31 ; Eccl 1:16

 

 

XIII == 1st Kings 4:21 , 24 ; Prov 3:16 ; Matt 6:33

 

 

XIV == 1st Kings 15:5 ; Ps 91:16 ; Prov 3:2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVI == Gen 42:30 ; Isa 49:15 ; Jer 31:20 ; Hos 11:8

XXVIII == 1st Kings 3:9 , 11-12

1 With the royal power firmly in his grasp, Solomon allied himself by marriage with Pharaoh, king of Egypt. The daughter of Pharaoh, whom he married, he brought to the City of David, until he should finish building his palace, and the temple of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem.

2 However, the people were sacrificing on the high places, for up to that time no temple had been built to the name of the LORD.

3 Solomon loved the LORD, and obeyed the statutes of his father David; yet he offered sacrifice and burned incense on the high places.

4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, because that was the most renowned high place. Upon its altar Solomon offered a thousand holocausts.

5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, "Ask something of me and I will give it to you."

6 Solomon answered: "You have shown great favor to your servant, my father David, because he behaved faithfully toward you, with justice and an upright heart; and you have continued this great favor toward him, even today, seating a son of his on his throne.

7 O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.

8 I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.

9 Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?"

10 The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.

11 So God said to him: "Because you have asked for this - not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right - 

12 I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.

13 In addition, I give you what you have not asked for, such riches and glory that among kings there is not your like.

14 And if you follow me by keeping my statutes and commandments, as your father David did, I will give you a long life."

15 When Solomon awoke from his dream, he went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, offered holocausts and peace offerings, and gave a banquet for all his servants.

16 Later, two harlots came to the king and stood before him.

17 One woman said: "By your leave, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth in the house while she was present.

18 On the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were alone in the house; there was no one there but us two.

19 This woman's son died during the night; she smothered him by lying on him.

20 Later that night she got up and took my son from my side, as I, your handmaid, was sleeping. Then she laid him in her bosom, after she had laid her dead child in my bosom.

21 I rose in the morning to nurse my child, and I found him dead. But when I examined him in the morning light, I saw it was not the son whom I had borne."

22 The other woman answered, "It is not so! The living one is my son, the dead one is yours." But the first kept saying, "No, the dead one is your child, the living one is mine!" Thus they argued before the king.

23 Then the king said: "One woman claims, 'This, the living one, is my child, and the dead one is yours.' The other answers, 'No! The dead one is your child; the living one is mine.'"

24 The king continued, "Get me a sword." When they brought the sword before him,

25 he said, "Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other."

26 The woman whose son it was, in the anguish she felt for it, said to the king, "Please, my lord, give her the living child - please do not kill it!" The other, however, said, "It shall be neither mine nor yours. Divide it!"

27 The king then answered, "Give the first one the living child! By no means kill it, for she is the mother."

28 When all Israel heard the judgment the king had given, they were in awe of him, because they saw that the king had in him the wisdom of God for giving judgment.

 

v 1. This marriage alliance made peace with Egypt, but it was contrary to what God commanded. God would have made peace without that. Solomon did not build her special house until after he had built his own house, the temple and wall, a period of over 20 years, 6:38-7:8.

v 2. Heathen worshipped on high places thinking they were getting closer to the gods. Moses’ prohibition against high places, Deut. 12:1-4 was not observed until the temple was built. Then it was commanded to worship there, Deut. 12:5, 2 Chr. 7:12.

v 3,4. In general Solomon was still following the Lord. The chief place of offering was still at Gibeon where David assembled all his leaders. This was where the tremendous sacrifice of 1000 animals was made. The ark was in a new tent at Jerusalem, but the bronze altar was still at Gibeon at the old tabernacle 2 Chr. 1:1-4 . From the time of Abraham, sacrifices had been made on high places, so there was nothing wrong with Solomon and the people offering on high places until they had a permanent place of worship. However, God had forbidden it in Lev. 17:3,4 etc. because it would become almost equivalent to heathen worship on high places.

v 5-9. Probably that same night, God appeared to Samuel in a dream, offering anything he would ask. Solomon admitted his inexperience, v 7, (he was about 20) and asked for wisdom in governing this vast number of people.

 

 

 

 

v 10-15. Since this was such an unselfish request, God promised to make him more wise than any before or after, but He would also give him riches and honor. Further, if he was as obedient as David, he would also have long life. Upon awakening Solomon felt drawn closer to God and offered more offerings of complete dedication and made a worship feast of the peace offerings for his court. Since he was not a priest he did not enter the tabernacle, but stood outside facing the ark. .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 16-28. The first recorded test of his wisdom was with the two women, one of whose child had died. Both argued that the live child was hers, so he ordered a sword to be brought and divide the living child among the two. The real mother begged to let the other woman have the child rather than harm it, thus proving it to be hers. This case of his wisdom became known throughout all the land.