1 Kings 3:8-9

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture - 1 Kings 3:5-15

1 Kings A YOUNG MAN’S WISE CHOICE OF WISDOM 1Ki_3:5 - 1Ki_3:15 . The new king was apparently some nineteen or twenty years old on his accession. He stepped at once out of seclusion and idleness to bear the whole weight of the kingdom. The glories of David’s reign, his brother Adonijah’s pretensions to the crown, the smouldering hostility of Saul’s old partisans, made his position difficult and his throne unsteady. No doubt, ‘the weight of too much dignity’ pressed on the youth, and this... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 Kings 3:1-15

the Young King’s Wise Choice 1 Kings 3:1-15 The chapter opens doubtfully. The affinity with Pharaoh, and the two onlys of 1 Kings 3:2-3 are not promising. See Deuteronomy 12:13-14 . Yet there were hopeful features in Solomon’s love for God, and the devotion and obedience by which it was proved. It remained, however, to be seen, which of these influences was to triumph in the outworking of his character. That is always the most urgent, question in life. With too many the early dew and... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 Kings 3:1-28

Breaking Three Commandments 1 Kings 21:1-29 ; 1 Kings 1:1-53 ; 1 Kings 2:1-46 ; 1 Kings 3:1-28 ; 1 Kings 4:1-34 ; 1 Kings 5:1-18 ; 1 Kings 6:1-38 ; 1 Kings 7:1-51 ; 1 Kings 8:1-66 ; 1 Kings 9:1-28 ; 1 Kings 10:1-29 ; 1 Kings 11:1-43 ; 1 Kings 12:1-33 ; 1 Kings 13:1-34 ; 1 Kings 14:1-31 ; 1 Kings 15:1-34 ; 1 Kings 16:1-34 From a worldly point of view Naboth might have done a good stroke of business by selling his estate to. Ahab. A royal price and assured favor might have been... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 3:1-28

The first brief paragraph in this chapter reveals at once Solomon's strength and weakness. He was strong, for he loved the Lord and walked in the statutes of his father David. However, there was the other side of his nature, to which he yielded in undue measure, even at the beginning. His affinity with Pharaoh, and his marriage with his daughter, while politically astute, was a vital mistake from the standpoint of his relationship with God and the divine purposes. It is at once seen how he... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 3:9

A NOBLE REQUEST‘Give thy servant an understanding heart.’ 1 Kings 3:9 I. Not wealth, not pleasure, not fame, not victory, not length of days, but an understanding heart, was the choice of Solomon’s boyhood.—The prayer for wisdom is always pleasing to God. (1) Even intellectual wisdom—how far higher is it, how far worthier of man as God made him, than any alternative of fashion or vanity, of wit or vice! Fear not to ask of God an understanding heart, even in studies which name not His name.... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 3:5-15

Because Of Solomon’s Heartfelt Worship YHWH Offers Him Anything That He Might Wish For, And Solomon Chooses To Have Wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-15 ). One night while Solomon was in Gibeon for worship at the Tabernacle, probably at one of the great feasts, YHWH appeared to him in a dream and offered him anything that he chose. Solomon, aware of the huge task of ruling his empire therefore asked Him for the wisdom to rule and judge His people rightly. This pleased God so much that He promised him also... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 3:8

“ And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, who cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.” Furthermore Solomon felt the burden of having responsibility for so many people, a people who were so numerous that they were beyond counting, and who were all the chosen of YHWH. This was especially so as he was aware that for this huge mass of people he himself was accountable to God. It was a huge responsibility indeed. read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 3:9

“ 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 your great people?” So he prayed to YHWH from the bottom of his heart that He would give him an understanding heart so that he could rightly judge and rule over His people. The ‘heart’ was regularly seen in the ancient world as the source of thought and mind, as well as of emotion. With the heart man thought, and willed, and experienced. Solomon... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 3:1-28

1 Kings 3:1 to 1 Kings 4:34 . Early Days, Reign, and Wisdom of Solomon.— The sources of this section are various, and the arrangement of the narrative in the LXX should be noticed. There are ( a) a statistical account of Solomon s reign, referred to, apparently in 1 Kings 11:41, as “ the book of the acts of Solomon” ; ( b) a number of narratives about this reign; ( c) several Deuteronomic additions— e.g. 1 Kings 3:6; 1 Kings 3:14, etc.: and ( d) some very late passages, possibly originally... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - 1 Kings 3:8

Is in the midst of thy people, i.e. is set over them to rule and guide them; a metaphor from the overseer of divers workmen, who usually is in the midst of them, that he may the better observe how each of them dischargeth his office. Which thou hast chosen; thy peculiar people, whom thou takest special care of, and therefore wilt expect a more punctual account of my government of them. read more

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