1 Kings 3:4-15

1 Kings 3:4-15

[4] And the king  to Gibeon  to sacrifice  there; for that  was the great  high place:  a thousand  burnt offerings  did Solomon  offer  upon that altar.  [5] In Gibeon  the LORD  appeared  to Solomon  in a dream  by night:  and God  said,  Ask  what I shall give  thee. [6] And Solomon  said,  Thou hast shewed  unto thy servant  David  my father  great  mercy,  according as he walked  before  thee in truth,  and in righteousness,  and in uprightness  of heart  with thee; and thou hast kept  for him this great  kindness,  that thou hast given  him a son  to sit  on his throne,  as it is this day.  [7] And now, O LORD  my God,  thou hast made thy servant  king  instead of David  my father:  and I am but a little  child:  I know  not how to go out  or come in.  [8] And thy servant  is in the midst  of thy people  which thou hast chosen,  a great  people,  that cannot be numbered  nor counted  for multitude.  [9] Give  therefore thy servant  an understanding  heart  to judge  thy people,  that I may discern  between good  and bad:  for who is able  to judge  this thy so great  a people?  [10] And the speech  pleased  the Lord,  that Solomon  had asked  this thing.  [11] 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  judgment;  [12] Behold, I have done  according to thy words:  lo, I have given  thee a wise  and an understanding  heart;  so that there was none like thee before  thee, neither after  thee shall any arise  like unto thee. [13] And I have also given  thee that which thou hast not asked,  both riches,  and honour:  so that there shall not be any  among the kings  like unto thee all thy days.  [14] in my ways,  to keep  my statutes  and my commandments,  as thy father  David  did walk,  then I will lengthen  thy days.  [15] And Solomon  awoke;  and, behold, it was a dream.  And he came  to Jerusalem,  and stood  before  the ark  of the covenant  and offered up  burnt offerings,  and offered  peace offerings,  and made  a feast  to all his servants. 

What does 1 Kings 3:4-15 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

A tabernacle, evidently the Mosaic tabernacle, and the Mosaic tabernacle"s bronze altar still stood at Gibeon (lit. little hill; 1 Chronicles 16:39-40; 1 Chronicles 21:28-29; 2 Chronicles 1:3; 2 Chronicles 1:5-6). Gibeon was one of the Song of Solomon -called high places where the people offered sacrifices to Yahweh. Burnt offerings symbolized the dedication of the worshipper"s person to God ( Leviticus 1). By offering1 ,000 of these sacrifices Solomon was expressing his personal allegiance to Yahweh (cf. Romans 12:1-2).
God responded by blessing Solomon in a way that He would not have had the king failed to dedicate himself to God. God"s revelation to him was in response to his offerings. God"s offer constituted a test for Solomon ( 1 Kings 3:5). Would he request something for his own glory or for God"s glory? He showed his heart for God by asking something for God"s glory ( 1 Kings 3:9). His words show that he viewed himself as dependent on God, not self-sufficient ( 1 Kings 3:7), God"s servant ( 1 Kings 3:8-9), and a servant of God"s people rather than his people ( 1 Kings 3:9). In 1 Kings 3:7 the Hebrew word na"ar, translated "little child" (NASB, NIV, NKJV), means immature person. Solomon acknowledged God"s past action, asked for His continuing favor, expressed humility, and requested the ability to carry out his duties. [1]
""To go out and to come in" [2] refers to life beyond the doors of one"s household and the city gate in the discharge of one"s duties ( Deuteronomy 31:2; 1 Samuel 18:16)." [3]
This is an idiom that refers to the skills of leadership (cf. Numbers 27:17; Joshua 14:11; 1 Samuel 29:6; 2 Kings 11:8). [4] Solomon also requested an understanding (lit. a listening or obedient) heart ( 1 Kings 3:9). Significantly, in Hebrew, "hearing" and "obeying" come from the same word. Furthermore, Solomon viewed God as lovingly loyal, just, and gracious ( 1 Kings 3:6), his God ( 1 Kings 3:7), and the true King of Israel ( 1 Kings 3:8-9). [5]
"The heart (leb) in Israelite thought is the center of the psychic self. It includes especially mental activity but is broader in scope than English "mind," embracing the feelings and will as well. The heart is susceptible to become hardened, to be made fat ( Isaiah 6:10), and to dwell on evil ( Genesis 6:5; Genesis 8:21); indeed, it is "deceitful above all things" ( Jeremiah 17:9). It is over against these capabilities of the heart that Solomon"s request is to be understood. A "hearing heart" [6] is one that is open, receptive, teachable ( Isaiah 50:4). That to which the heart of the king should be open above all else is God"s torah. The king ideally rules not on the basis of his own understanding but administers his realm in the light of God"s revealed will." [7]
"The king was the supreme judge and final arbiter. Within his domain, the ideal king sought to achieve what was right, to vindicate the just, to protect the rights of the weak. And this was achieved in practice by a series of shrewd and just decisions or verdicts or judgments (mishpatim in the plural) all of which are examples of what our text calls "right" (mishpat in the singular)." [8]
God promised to bless Solomon for putting His interests before Solomon"s (cf. Matthew 6:33). He gave him much more than he asked ( 1 Kings 3:13). Furthermore, He promised to give Solomon long life if he continued to obey His Law ( 1 Kings 3:14).
Solomon"s expression of gratitude included more offerings. He presented these before the ark in Jerusalem. They expressed further personal dedication (the burnt offerings) and gratitude for fellowship with God (the peace offerings). They probably accompanied a covenant renewal ceremony that involved the commitment of his servants (i.e, government officials) to the Mosaic Law ( 1 Kings 3:15).
Notice that this section ends as it began: with a journey and sacrifices. This helps the reader identify it as a section, by the inclusio.