1 Kings 3

Solomons marriage with the daughter of Pharao, v.1, &c. his worship; 2. The LORD appeareth to him in a dream, to whom he prayeth for wisdom, 5. he obtaineth it, together with riches and honour, 10. and giveth evidence of his wisdom by the sentence passed upon the two women that were at variance about a child.16.

1. And Solomon made affinity with Pharao the eleventh King of Egypt, and took Pharaos daughter, [viz. to wife. See 1 Kings 7:8.] and brought her into the city of David. See above chap.2.v.10. Here Solomon had his Royal Palace or Habitation, from whence he removed, when he had built another dwelling-place in Jerusalem. See below chap.7.ver.1.and 8.] until he had made an end of building his (own) house, and the house of the LORD, [see below chap.6. Understand an house set apart to the outward worship of God, wherein the Ark, a token of God presence, was to be placed, and wherein God would dwell by his spirit and word. Hence the temple is called the Lords habitation, or dwelling, 2 Chron.6.2.] and the wall of Jerusalem round about. [see below chap.9.v.15.19.]

2. Only the people offered on the high places: [i.e. although things went generally well in Solomons reign, yet there was this default against the lawful worship of God, that they offered upon the high places, and on strange altars; and not only in the tent of the congregation, and on the altar of the Lord. In this case they took too much liberty, chusing yet other places and altars to offer sacrifice unto the Lord; which was expressly forbidden them, Lev.17.3, 4. against which they likewise often sinned at other times. See below chap.22.44. 2 Kings 14:4. and 2 Chron.33.17. What these high places the high places, on which they offered unto Idols, but here of those, on which they offered sacrifice unto the Lord; so 2 Chron.33.17.] for (there) was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days. [see Deu.12.5.]

3. And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the institutions of David his father, [i.e. according to the prescript and institution which he had given him in his life-time, and especially when he lay on his death bed] only he offered and burnt incense upon the high places, [i.e. he followed the common abuse of his people; and though God did in some sort wink at it, as long as the temple was not yet ordained for the outward worship of God, yet we read not that ever David did it, who without doubt offered by the Ark, and on the altar of Moses. For in that he offered sacrifice in the threshing-floor of Arauna, the same was done by Gods extraordinary command, 2 Sam.24.18.]

4. And the King went to Gibeon, [A city belonging to the Levites, lying in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos.9.3. and 18.5. and 21.17. where the tent of the Congregation was, as also the altar which Behaleel had made in the wilderness, 2 Chron.1.3, 5. For which cause they had made there an high place on which they offered. So they had likewise an high place at Jerusalem, where the Ark of the Lord was, below v.15. and 2 Chron.1.4.] to offer there, because that high place was great: [i.e. of great esteem, and very famous, because the tent of the congregation, and the altar of burnt-offering were there] a thousand burnt-offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.

5. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream [Understand not a natural, but a divine dream, which remained firm in his memory, with an assurance, that he was extraordinarily raised up by God: whence arose an actual experience and feeling of the singular wisdom, which God in a wonderful manner had poured out upon him. Compare Gen.28.on ver.12.] by night: [viz. the same night, after that he had sacrificed: compare 2 Chron.1.7.] and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

6. And Salomon said, Thou hast shewed great kindness unto thy servant David my father, according as he walked before thy face, in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee: [i.e. In believing, professing, and defending the true doctrine, and in leading a godly and vertous life, as well in his person, as in his office: and all this out of an upright zeal, without hypocrite of spirit] and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son sitting on his throne, as this day.

7. Now then, (O) Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant King in stead of David my father: [See 2 Chron.1.8.] And I am (but) a little lad, I know not (how) to go out, nor to come in. [see Deut.31.on v.2.]

8. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people, which thou hast chosen: a great [Or, manifold] people, that cannot be numbred, nor counted, for multitude. [see 2 Chron.1.9.]

9. Give then thy servant an understanding heart, [Heb. An hearing heart: i.e. which can apprehend wisdom: so hearing is often taken for understanding: see Genes.11.on v.7. and the Exposition here below v.11.] to judge thy people understandingly, discerning between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy heavy people, [i.e. many in number, and great in power: compare Gen.50.9. and see the annotat.]

10. Now that thing was good in the eyes of the Lord, [i.e. Pleased the Lord well: see Gen.19on verse 8.] that Salomon had asked this thing.

11. And God said unto him: Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thief many days, [i.e. Long life: so below verse 13.] all thy days, [for all thy life: so a long life is called lengthening of days, below verse 14. also, multiplying of days, Job 29:18, etc.] neither hast asked riches for thy self, nor hast asked the soul of thine enemies: [i.e. their life, to deprive them of it] but hast asked for thy self understanding, to hear causes. [i.e. to be able to discern between good and bad, right and wrong, when he should hear causes, that should be brought before him judge and determine.]

12. Behold, I have done according to thy words: behold, I have given thee a wise, and understanding heart, [2 Chron.1.10,12. Wisdom and knowledge. Understand here by wisdom, a firm and grounded knowledge of all divine and humane Laws, according to which a King ought to live, and reign, to pleased God, and to preserve his people. Knowledge, or understanding, is a faculty of the spirit, infused into him by God in an extraordinary manner, to use wisdom aright, and to practise the same according to the Laws and Statutes, or Judgements. Compare Job 12:12. & 28.12. Prov.1.2.] (so) the like unto thee, (there) hath not been (any) before thee: neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. [Understand this in respect, 1.Of Kings, Princes, and Potentates, among whom he was exceeding eminent in wisdom. 2. Of natural, politic, and civil things, whose properties, workings, and casualties, he wonderfully reached. 3. Of the manner how he attained to so great a wisdom, viz. not barely by humane instruction, and industry, but by divine instinct, and secret inspiration of the spirit.]

13. I have also given thee even that which thou hast not asked, [See Matth.6.33. Ephes.3.20.] both riches and honour: (so) that there shall not be any among the Kings like unto thee all thy days. [i.e. In all thy lifetime, or as long as thou livest.]

14. And if thou shalt walk in my ways, keeping my Statutes, and my Commandements, according as David thy father walked: then I will also lengthen thy days.

15. And Salomon awaked, and behold it was a dream: and he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, [Which David had set in the Fort of Zion, 2 Sam.6.17.] and offered up burnt-offerings, and prepared thank-offerings, [viz. to thank God, 1. For that favourable apparition, wherein he offered him the choice, of asking any thing of him. 2. For the Liberal promise, which he there made unto him. 3 For the sense and apprehension of the fulfilling thereof. 4. For the prosperous confirmation of his Kingdom] and made a feast to all his servants. [see Genes.20. on verse 8.]

16. Then came there two women that were harlots, [See of the Hebrew word, Jos.2.on v.1.] unto the King, and they stood before his face.

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 that house.

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

19. And this womans son died in the night, because she had lain upon him, [or, overlaid him: viz. So that she had pressed her child dead in her sleep.]

20. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from by me, when thine hand-maid slept, and laid him in her bosome, and she laid her dead son in my bosome.

21. And I arose in the morning, to give my son suck, and behold, he was dead: but I considered [The Hebrew word signifieth often, to consider and observe a thing very diligently, Job 37:14. Psal.119.95. Isa.43.18.] him in the morning, and behold, it was not my son, whom I had born.

22. Then said the other woman, Nay, but the living (child) is my son; and the dead is thy son; on the contrary that said, No, but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son; thus they spake before the face of the King.

23. Then said the King; This (woman) saith, This is my son that liveth, but thy son is that which is dead: and that (woman) saith, Nay, but the dead is thy son, and the living (is) my son.

24. Moreover the King said, Fetch me a sword: [Heb. Take me a sword; i.e. Taking (bring) me. See of this phrase, Gen.12.on ver.15.] and they brought a sword before the face of the King.

25. And the King said, Divide the living child asunder in two; and half to the other.

26. But the woman whose son the living (child) was, spake unto the King, (for her bowels yerned upon her son) [Understand hereby the natural affection, and stirring, that a motherly heart hath, when she sees her child in any distress or danger. See this phrase, Gen.43.vers.30. and the annotate.] and said, O my Lord, Give her that living child, and in no wise slay it: [Heb. slaying, slay it not: so in the following verse] this on the contrary said, Let it be neither thine nor mine, cut it asunder. [Heb. also mine, also thine let it not be, cut it asunder.]

27. Then the King answered, and said, Give unto that (woman) the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is his mother.

28. And all Israel heard that judgement which the King had judged, and feared before the face of the King: for they saw that the wisdom of God [A most excellent, and extraordinary wisdom, given him of God] was in him [Heb. in the midst of him. See Job 20.on ver.14.] to do right.