1 Kings 3:1–15

The Lord Appears to Solomon

3 Solomon made an alliance n with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying Pharaoh’s daughter. o Solomon brought her to live in the city of David p until he finished building his palace, q the Lord’s temple, r and the wall surrounding Jerusalem. s 2 However, the people were sacrificing on the * high places, t because until that time a temple for the Lord’s name u had not been built. 3 Solomon loved the Lord v by walking in the statutes of his father David, w but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

4 The king went to Gibeon x to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered 1,000 * burnt offerings on that altar. y 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon z in a dream at night. a God said, “Ask. b What should I give you?”

6 And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and c integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, d as it is today. e

7 “Lord my God, You have now made Your servant king in my father David’s place. f Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership. g h 8 Your servant is among Your people You have chosen, i a j people too numerous to be numbered or counted. k 9 So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge l Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” m

10 Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. 11 So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life n or riches for yourself, o or the death p of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to understand justice, q 12 I will therefore do what you have asked. r I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. s 13 In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, t so that no man in any kingdom will be your equal during your entire life. u 14 If you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.” v

15 Then Solomon woke up w and realized it had been a dream. x He went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant, y and offered burnt offerings and * fellowship offerings. z Then he held a feast a for all his servants.