1 Kings 3:9-28

9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.
11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,
12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.
14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”
15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.

A Wise Ruling

16 Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.
17 One of them said, “Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me.
18 The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.
19 “During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him.
20 So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast.
21 The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.”
22 The other woman said, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.” But the first one insisted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.” And so they argued before the king.
23 The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,’ while that one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.’ ”
24 Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king.
25 He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”
26 The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!” But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”
27 Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”
28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

1 Kings 3:9-28 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KINGS 3

This chapter relates the marriage of Solomon with Pharaoh's daughter, 1Ki 3:1; his piety and devotion, 1Ki 3:2-4; his prayer for wisdom and understanding, which was acceptable to God, who promised to grant his request, with an addition to it, 1Ki 3:5-15; an instance and proof of the wisdom given him in determining a case between two harlots brought before him, which greatly raised his reputation, and gave him reverence among his people, 1Ki 3:16-28.

Cross References 19

  • 1. S 2 Samuel 14:17; James 1:5
  • 2. S Deuteronomy 1:16; Proverbs 2:3-9; Hebrews 5:14
  • 3. Psalms 72:1-2; 2 Corinthians 2:16
  • 4. James 4:3
  • 5. 1 Chronicles 22:12
  • 6. 1 John 5:14-15
  • 7. S 2 Samuel 14:20; 1Ki 4:29,30,31; 1 Kings 5:12; 1 Kings 10:23; Ecclesiastes 1:16
  • 8. Matthew 6:33; Ephesians 3:20
  • 9. 1 Kings 4:21-24; Pr 3:1-2,16; Proverbs 8:18
  • 10. 1 Kings 10:23; 2 Chronicles 9:22; Nehemiah 13:26
  • 11. ver 6; 1 Kings 9:4; Psalms 25:13; Psalms 101:2; Psalms 128:1; Pr 3:1-2,16
  • 12. Psalms 61:6; Psalms 91:16
  • 13. S Genesis 28:16; Genesis 41:7
  • 14. ver 5
  • 15. Leviticus 6:8-13; 1 Kings 8:65
  • 16. Leviticus 7:11-21; Mark 6:21
  • 17. Esther 1:3,9; Esther 2:18; Esther 5:8; Esther 6:14; Esther 9:17; Daniel 5:1
  • 18. Genesis 43:30; Psalms 102:13; Isaiah 49:15; Isaiah 63:15; Jeremiah 3:12; Jeremiah 31:20; Hosea 11:8
  • 19. ver 9,11-12; S 2 Samuel 14:20; Colossians 2:3
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