1 Kings 3:3–9

3:3 Solomon demonstrated his loyalty to the Lord by following5 the practices6 of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

3:4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for it had the most prominent of the high places.7 Solomon would offer up8 a thousand burnt sacrifices on the altar there. 3:5 One night in Gibeon the Lord appeared9 to Solomon in a dream. God said, “Tell10 me what I should give you.” 3:6 Solomon replied, “You demonstrated11 great loyalty to your servant, my father David, as he served12 you faithfully, properly, and sincerely.13 You have maintained this great loyalty to this day by allowing his son to sit on his throne.14 3:7 Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in my father David’s place, even though I am only a young man and am inexperienced.15 3:8 Your servant stands16 among your chosen people;17 they are a great nation that is too numerous to count or number. 3:9 So give your servant a discerning mind18 so he can make judicial decisions for19 your people and distinguish right from wrong.20 Otherwise21 no one is able22 to make judicial decisions for23 this great nation of yours.”24

5	tn Heb “Solomon loved the Lord by walking in.”
6	tn Or “policies, rules.”
7	tn Heb “for it was the great high place.”
8	tn The verb form is an imperfect, which is probably used here in a customary sense to indicate continued or repeated action in past time. See GKC 314 §107.b.
9	tn Or “revealed himself.”
10	tn Heb “ask.”
11	tn Heb “did.”
12	tn Heb “walked before.”
13	tn Heb “in faithfulness and in innocence and in uprightness of heart with you.”
14	tn Heb “and you have kept to him this great loyalty and you gave to him a son [who] sits on his throne as this day.”
15	tn Heb “and I do not know going out or coming in.”
16	tn There is no verb expressed in the Hebrew text; “stands” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
17	tn Heb “your people whom you have chosen.”
18	tn Heb “a hearing heart.” (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)
19	tn Heb “to judge.”
20	tn Heb “to understand between good and evil.”
21	tn Heb “for”; the word “otherwise” is used to reflect the logical sense of the statement.
22	tn Heb “who is able?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.”
23	tn Heb “to judge.”
24	tn Heb “your numerous people.”