Solomon Prays for Wisdom I Kings 3

I Kings 3:9 "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? v10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing."

The chapter begins with Solomon marrying the daughter of the Pharaoh of Egypt. This seems a little strange to me since Israel was enslaved in Egypt but they were also cared for in Egypt while Joseph was alive. So, I think the purpose was to secure peace between Egypt and Israel.

v4 "And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place; a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar."

Gibeon was where Solomon had the dream in which he asked the Lord for wisdom instead of riches. It was frowned upon to sacrifice in the high places for this was where the pagans made sacrifices but the temple was not yet built. It is good to note that after Solomon received his answer to discern between good and bad that the then offered sacrifices at the tabernacle.

v15 "And Solomon awoke and behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt-offerings and offered peace-offerings, and made a feast to all his servants."

Solomon has received wisdom from the Lord. A test of that wisdom comes about when two women argue over a child. Both gave birth but one died. While the mother of the live baby slept, the other switch the babies. Now they are before Solomon, both insisting that the live child is theirs.

v25 "And the king said, Divide the living child in two and give half to the one and half to the other."

The mother who lied agreed that that was the thing to do but the real mother of the child cried for them to give the child to the other to save its life. Solomon knew now that the one who sought to save the life of the child was the real mother.

v27 "Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof."

The word spread of Solomon's wisdom and Israel heard and feared. He had the wisdom of God.

Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."

keywords: Old Old Story, Bible Study, Old Testament, Solomon. The judgement of two mothers and one baby.