1 Kings 3

1. Solomon made affinity, etc. Solomon had already married, more than a year before his accession to the throne, Naamah an Ammoniteess, the mother of Rehoboam: cp. xi. 42 with xiv. 21. Which of the kings of Egypt was Solomon’s father-in-law is not known; probably he was one of the latest in the twenty-first (Tanitic) dynasty.

2 the people sacrificed in high places. Mountains and hills were favourite places of idolatrous worship among all the heathen nations of antiquity. The Israelites were expressly commanded to destroy “the high places” (Deut. xii. 2), and to offer sacrifice only in the place which God should appoint for the purpose (Deut. xii. 13, 14). But so long as the sanctuary was only a movable tabernacle, and Jehovah had not yet chosen any fixed place for His worship, this law could not be carried into full effect. And accordingly the offering on “high places” is here excused on the ground that the temple was not yet built. Serious efforts to suppress it, however, were made in the time of Hezekiah and Josiah: see 2 Kings xii. 3; xviii. 4, 22.

4 to sacrifice there. This was a public act (see 2 Chron. i. 2), expressive of gratitude for the establishment of the new government, and supplicating the continuance of the Divine protection and blessing.

that was the great high place. So called in distinction from the other “high places,” because here was the “Tent of meeting” which Moses had made in the wilderness (2 Chron. i. 3).

5. Ask what I shall give thee. Large as the offer was, God daily makes to every one of us offers as large and liberal; see Matt. vii. 7, 8; John xiv. 13.

7. I am but a little child. So Jer. i. 6.

to go out or come in. To conduct affairs.

8 that cannot be numbered. i.e., a great multitude: see Gen. xiii. 16; xv. 5; xxii. 17.

10 the speech pleased the Lord. This prayer of Solomon is remarkable for its unselfishness, relating as it did entirely to his kingly duties in administering the law among the people. For himself personally he asked nothing. His prayer, therefore, “pleased the Lord.”

14. I will lengthen thy days. The promise of long life was conditional; and it was forfeited by Solomon’s unfaithfulness, so that he scarcely reached the age of sixty: see xi. 42.

15 a dream. i.e., a divine vision and communication in a dream. Hence, on his return to Jerusalem, Solomon celebrates the event with grateful offerings and festivities “before the ark of the covenant” on Mount Zion.

28 they feared the king, etc. The expedient to which Solomon resorted shows that, with absolute judicial power, he possessed an insight into character imparted by God Himself (“the wisdom of God”), making him quick to discern and punish transgressors.