1 Kings 3:1-15
Ask for Wisdom
1Later, Solomon formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. Solomon brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his palace and the house of the LORD, as well as the wall around Jerusalem.
2The people, however, were still sacrificing on the high places because a house for the Name of the LORD had not yet been built.
3And Solomon loved the LORD and walked in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
4Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar there.
5One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”
6Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
7And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in.
8Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number.
9Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
10Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request.
11So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice—
12behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been another like you, nor will there ever be.
13Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.
14So if you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments, just as your father David did, I will prolong your days.”
15Then Solomon awoke, and indeed it had been a dream. So he returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he held a feast for all his servants.
Berean Standard Bible
Solomon makes an alliance with Pharaoh and marries Pharaoh's daughter. At the same time, the people are sacrificing at the high places because no house has yet been built for the name of the LORD. Solomon loves the LORD and walks in David's statutes, but the narrator has already given us a tension to remember.
Solomon goes to Gibeon, the great high place, and offers a thousand burnt offerings. There the LORD appears to him in a dream and says, “Ask for whatever you want Me to give you.” Solomon does not ask for a long life, riches, or victory over enemies.
He remembers God's great kindness to David and admits that he is a little child who does not know how to go out or come in. He asks for an understanding heart to judge God's people and distinguish between good and evil. The request is shaped by the weight of serving others, not by a desire to appear impressive.
God is pleased and gives Solomon wisdom, along with riches and honor. Solomon is also told to walk in God's ways. The promise is generous but not a guarantee that wisdom cannot be neglected. Solomon wakes, stands before the ark, offers burnt and peace offerings, and gives a feast to his servants.
How We Know
The passage belongs to a sustained historical and covenant record. The events in 1 Kings 3:1-15 are part of the royal history that 2 Chronicles also summarizes. The temple, succession, and court details are presented within Israel's continuing covenant story, giving the reader internal points of comparison rather than an isolated legend.
Questions
1 What does Solomon ask God to give him?
AnswerHe asks for an understanding heart to judge God's people and distinguish between good and evil.
2 Why does Solomon say he needs this gift?
AnswerHe feels like a child who does not know how to lead and must govern a people too numerous to count.
3 What does Solomon not ask for?
AnswerHe does not ask for long life, riches, or the death of his enemies, though those could have served his interests.
4 How does Solomon respond after the dream?
AnswerHe worships before the ark, presents offerings, and gives a feast to his servants after receiving wisdom.
What This Means for Us
Good leadership begins by admitting what we do not know. Solomon's request is not for cleverness but for the ability to listen, judge fairly, and recognize moral difference while serving other people.
When your household asks for help, name the people your decision will affect. Wisdom grows when we seek understanding for service rather than knowledge that merely increases our control.
Prayer
Lord, give us understanding hearts. Help us admit our limits, judge fairly, recognize good and evil, and use every gift for the people entrusted to our care. Amen.