1 Kings 3:9-11 WEB

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 Kings 3:1-15

the Young King’s Wise Choice 1 Kings 3:1-15 The chapter opens doubtfully. The affinity with Pharaoh, and the two onlys of 1 Kings 3:2-3 are not promising. See Deuteronomy 12:13-14 . Yet there were hopeful features in Solomon’s love for God, and the devotion and obedience by which it was proved. It remained, however, to be seen, which of these influences was to triumph in the outworking of his character. That is always the most urgent, question in life. With too many the early dew and... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 Kings 3:1-28

Breaking Three Commandments 1 Kings 21:1-29 ; 1 Kings 1:1-53 ; 1 Kings 2:1-46 ; 1 Kings 3:1-28 ; 1 Kings 4:1-34 ; 1 Kings 5:1-18 ; 1 Kings 6:1-38 ; 1 Kings 7:1-51 ; 1 Kings 8:1-66 ; 1 Kings 9:1-28 ; 1 Kings 10:1-29 ; 1 Kings 11:1-43 ; 1 Kings 12:1-33 ; 1 Kings 13:1-34 ; 1 Kings 14:1-31 ; 1 Kings 15:1-34 ; 1 Kings 16:1-34 From a worldly point of view Naboth might have done a good stroke of business by selling his estate to. Ahab. A royal price and assured favor might have been... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 3:1-28

The first brief paragraph in this chapter reveals at once Solomon's strength and weakness. He was strong, for he loved the Lord and walked in the statutes of his father David. However, there was the other side of his nature, to which he yielded in undue measure, even at the beginning. His affinity with Pharaoh, and his marriage with his daughter, while politically astute, was a vital mistake from the standpoint of his relationship with God and the divine purposes. It is at once seen how he... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 3:9

A NOBLE REQUEST‘Give thy servant an understanding heart.’ 1 Kings 3:9 I. Not wealth, not pleasure, not fame, not victory, not length of days, but an understanding heart, was the choice of Solomon’s boyhood.—The prayer for wisdom is always pleasing to God. (1) Even intellectual wisdom—how far higher is it, how far worthier of man as God made him, than any alternative of fashion or vanity, of wit or vice! Fear not to ask of God an understanding heart, even in studies which name not His name.... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 3:11

SOLOMON’S PRAYER‘Thou hast asked.’ 1 Kings 3:11 The day of sacrifice is succeeded by a night of revelation. It is almost a reflection of the paradise lost when, after a day of blessed and happy toil, Adam and Eve saw and listened to God in the cool of the evening. I. The prayer which Solomon offered is in many respects a model.—All prayers must have certain points in common, as the letters in some heavy mail with various contents yet resemble one another closely enough to be included in the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 3:5-15

Because Of Solomon’s Heartfelt Worship YHWH Offers Him Anything That He Might Wish For, And Solomon Chooses To Have Wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-15 ). One night while Solomon was in Gibeon for worship at the Tabernacle, probably at one of the great feasts, YHWH appeared to him in a dream and offered him anything that he chose. Solomon, aware of the huge task of ruling his empire therefore asked Him for the wisdom to rule and judge His people rightly. This pleased God so much that He promised him also... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 3:9

“ 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 your great people?” So he prayed to YHWH from the bottom of his heart that He would give him an understanding heart so that he could rightly judge and rule over His people. The ‘heart’ was regularly seen in the ancient world as the source of thought and mind, as well as of emotion. With the heart man thought, and willed, and experienced. Solomon... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 3:1-28

1 Kings 3:1 to 1 Kings 4:34 . Early Days, Reign, and Wisdom of Solomon.— The sources of this section are various, and the arrangement of the narrative in the LXX should be noticed. There are ( a) a statistical account of Solomon s reign, referred to, apparently in 1 Kings 11:41, as “ the book of the acts of Solomon” ; ( b) a number of narratives about this reign; ( c) several Deuteronomic additions— e.g. 1 Kings 3:6; 1 Kings 3:14, etc.: and ( d) some very late passages, possibly originally... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - 1 Kings 3:9

An understanding heart; whereby I may both clearly discern, and faithfully perform, all the parts of my duty; for both these are spoken of in Scripture as the effects of a good understanding; and he that lives in the neglect of his duties, or the practice of wickedness, is called a fool, and one void of understanding. Judge, or, govern, as that word is used, Judges 3:10; Judges 4:4; Psalms 7:8; Psalms 67:4; Isaiah 2:4; Isaiah 16:5. That I may discern between good and bad, to wit, in causes and... read more