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1 Kings

Solomon's Request for Wisdom

3
Chapter 3
1 Solomon intermarried with Pharaoh king of Egypt and took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her to the City of David until he finished building his house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem. 2 Only the people were sacrificing on the high places, because a house had not yet been built for the Name of the LORD in those days. 3 Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father—only he sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. 4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I will give you." 6 And Solomon said, "You have shown great steadfast love to David my father, your servant, just as he walked before you in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart among your people, and you have kept for him this great steadfast love and have given him a son sitting on his throne, as it is this day." 7 And now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, and I am but a little boy; I do not know how to go out and come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 So grant your servant a hearing heart to judge your people, to discern between good and evil, for who is able to judge your people, this great people? 10 And the matter was good in the eyes of the Lord, for Solomon had asked for this matter. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked for this thing and have not asked for yourself many days and have not asked for yourself wealth and have not asked for the life of your enemies but have asked for yourself understanding to hear justice.” 12 Behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has not been one like you before you, nor after you will one arise like you. 13 I have also given you what you did not ask: riches and glory, so that there has not been a man like you among kings all your days. 14 And if you walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days. 15 And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD and offered up burnt offerings and made peace offerings. And he made a feast for all his servants.