Solomon: Asking for Wisdom

1 Kings 3

¹ Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into David’s city until he had finished building his own house, Yahweh’s house, and the wall around Jerusalem.

² However, the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was not yet a house built for Yahweh’s name.

³ Solomon loved Yahweh, walking in the statutes of David his father, except that he sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.

⁴ The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

⁵ In Gibeon, Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask for what I should give you.”

⁶ Solomon said, “You have shown to your servant David my father great loving kindness, because he walked before you in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you. You have kept for him this great loving kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.

⁷ Now, Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father. I am just a little child. I don’t know how to go out or come in.

⁸ Your servant is among your people which you have chosen, a great people, that can’t be numbered or counted for multitude.

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 great people of yours?”

¹⁰ This request pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

¹¹ God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have you asked for riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice,

¹² behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you.

¹³ I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you for all your days.

¹⁴ If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

¹⁵ Solomon awoke; and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

2 Chronicles 1

¹ Solomon the son of David was firmly established in his kingdom, and Yahweh his God was with him, and made him exceedingly great.

² Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households.

³ Then Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for God’s Tent of Meeting was there, which Yahweh’s servant Moses had made in the wilderness.

⁴ But David had brought God’s ark up from Kiriath Jearim to the place that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

⁵ Moreover the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was there before Yahweh’s tabernacle; and Solomon and the assembly were seeking counsel there.

⁶ Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before Yahweh, which was at the Tent of Meeting, and offered one thousand burnt offerings on it.

⁷ That night, God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for what you want me to give you.”

⁸ Solomon said to God, “You have shown great loving kindness to David my father, and have made me king in his place.

⁹ Now, Yahweh God, let your promise to David my father be established; for you have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

¹⁰ Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of yours?”

¹¹ God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor yet have you asked for long life; but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king,

¹² therefore wisdom and knowledge is granted to you. I will give you riches, wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you, and none after you will have.”

¹³ So Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the Tent of Meeting, to Jerusalem; and he reigned over Israel.