1 Kings 3:10

GOD'S RESPONSE TO SOLOMON'S WISE REQUEST

"And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life, neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern justice; Behold, I have done according to thy word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee, all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream: and he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and offered up burnt-offerings, and offered peace-offerings, and made a feast to all his servants."

All of these things came to pass as God promised, except that due to Solomon's sins, God did not lengthen his days. Due to his youth when he was enthroned and the fact of his reigning forty years, he could not have been more than sixty years of age when he died, perhaps even less. In spite of the transgressions which later overwhelmed him, this chapter records a very beautiful and promising summary of the very beginning of his reign.

Another incident in which Solomon's wisdom in deciding a case of child custody is recorded, perhaps with the intention of giving Israel a glimpse of the young king's remarkable wisdom. That episode concludes the chapter.