1Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt; he took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house, the house of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem.2The people, however, continued to sacrifice at the high places, because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD in those days.3Solomon loved the LORD by walking in the statutes of David his father, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.4The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, because that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.5At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream during the night, and God said, "Ask what I should give you."6Solomon answered, "You have shown great steadfast love to your servant David my father, just as he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart toward you, and you have continued that great steadfast love by giving him a son to sit on his throne to this day."7Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, though I am only a young child who does not know how to go out or come in.8Your servant is among your people whom you have chosen, a numerous people that cannot be numbered or counted because of their abundance.9Therefore give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil, for who is able to judge this great people of yours?10The request pleased the LORD, because Solomon had asked for this.11God said to him, "Because you have asked for this and have not asked for long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for discernment to understand justice,12behold, I have granted your request; behold, I give you a wise and discerning heart, so that none like you has existed before you and none like you will arise after you.13I also give you what you did not ask: both riches and honor, so that no king in all your days will be like you.14If you walk in my ways by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David your father walked, then I will lengthen your days."15Solomon awoke and realized it had been a dream; he returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, offered burnt offerings, presented peace offerings, and held a feast for all his servants.