Introduction
A picture of the reign of Solomon, David’s son
Verses
1Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into David’s city, until he had finished building his own house, the LORD’s house, and the wall around Jerusalem.
2However the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was not yet a house built for the LORD’s name.
3Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father; except that he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
4The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
5In Gibeon, the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask for what I should give you.”
6Solomon said, “You have shown to your servant David my father great loving kindness, because he walked before you in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you. You have kept for him this great loving kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.
7Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father. I am just a little child. I don’t know how to go out or come in.
8Your servant is amongst your people which you have chosen, a great people, that can’t be numbered or counted for multitude.
9Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this great people of yours?”
10This request pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have you asked for riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice;
12behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart; so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you.
13I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honour, so that there will not be any amongst the kings like you for all your days.
14If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
15Solomon awoke; and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the LORD’s covenant, and offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
16Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king, and stood before him.
17The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house. I delivered a child with her in the house.
18The third day after I delivered, this woman delivered also. We were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, just us two in the house.
19This woman’s child died in the night, because she lay on it.
20She arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
21When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, it was dead; but when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I bore.”
22The other woman said, “No; but the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son.”
The first one said, “No; but the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son.” They argued like this before the king.
The first one said, “No; but the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son.” They argued like this before the king.
23Then the king said, “One says, ‘This is my son who lives, and your son is the dead;’ and the other says, ‘No; but your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’ ”
24The king said, “Get me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king.
25The king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.”
26Then the woman whose the living child was spoke to the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no way kill him!”
But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours. Divide him.”
But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours. Divide him.”
27Then the king answered, “Give her the living child, and definitely do not kill him. She is his mother.”
28All Israel heard of the judgement which the king had judged; and they feared the king; for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do justice.
Questions
1. In his dream, what did Solomon ask God for?
v 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this great people of yours?"
2. Under what conditions did God promise Solomon a long life?
v 14 If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
3. Where was the ark of the LORD at this time?
v 15 ... Then he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the LORD’s covenant ...
Summary Points
- v 1 and 2 Solomon makes a political marriage and brings his wife to Jerusalem
- v 3 to 9 God appears to Solomon in a dream and asks him what he would like from him
- v 10 to 15 God is pleased with Solomon’s request and promises him riches and honour as well as wisdom
- v 16 to 28 Solomon demonstrates his God-given wisdom when two women come into Solomon’s court with a difficult problem
Audio