1 Kings 3:11-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 3:5-15

We have here an account of a gracious visit which God paid to Solomon, and the communion he had with God in it, which put a greater honour upon Solomon than all the wealth and power of his kingdom did. I. The circumstances of this visit, 1 Kgs. 3:5. 1. The place. It was in Gibeon; that was the great high place, and should have been the only one, because there the tabernacle and the brazen altar were, 2 Chron. 1:3. There Solomon offered his great sacrifices, and there God owned him more than in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 3:11

And God said unto him ,.... Being yet in a dream: because thou hast asked this thing ; wisdom for government: and hast not asked for thyself long life ; which is naturally desired by men, and always reckoned a great temporal blessing, and especially to be wished for by a king living in great pomp and splendour: neither hast asked riches for thyself ; to support his grandeur; for though David his father had left him much, yet not for himself, but for the building of the temple: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 3:12

Behold, I have done according to thy words ,.... Expressed in his request: he not only promised he would grant him it, but he had already done it, or at least had begun to do it: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart ; had greatly increased his wisdom and understanding in things political, things respecting civil government, and also in things natural, in the knowledge of the things of nature as appears from 1 Kings 4:33 ; and of the arts and sciences: so that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 3:13

And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked ,.... That is, intended to give him, and now promised it, and was about to bestow it on him: both riches and honour ; the former through the presents and tribute of the nations about him, and his trading to foreign parts; and the latter chiefly through his wisdom, the fame of which was spread everywhere: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days ; that is, none like him for riches and honour... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 3:12

I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart - I have given thee a capacious mind, one capable of knowing much: make a proper use of thy powers, under the direction of my Spirit, and thou shalt excel in wisdom all that have gone before thee; neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. But, query, Was not all this conditional? If he should walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and commandments, 1 Kings 3:14 . Was it not to depend upon his proper use of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 3:5-15

God's Gifts and Solomon's Choice. "And God said, Ask what I shall give thee," etc. "Happy Solomon!" we exclaim, as we read these words. He had all that earth could give already—youth, wealth, prosperity. glory, greatness. He stood already on the topmost pinnacle of human felicity. And now Heaven offers him his choice of blessings; now the treasure house of the infinite God is opened, and he is bidden to take what he will. Behold the favourite of Heaven! It is indeed true "there was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 3:5-16

A wise prayer. Gibeon, the scene of this incident, was one of the "high places" of the land. Worship in high places had been forbidden. Law against it not rigidly enforced until the place was chosen "where the Lord would cause his name to dwell." That Solomon's act in sacrificing at Gibeon was not condemned is proved by his being favoured with this direct Divine communication. Every scene of real worship may become the scene of special Divine manifestation. "The Lord appeared unto Solomon... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 3:9-13

The wisdom of Solomon's choice. Solomon was never more kingly than when he made this choice. Subsequently he became enervated by prosperity, corrupted by heathen associations, etc; but now he ruled as a king over himself. The bright promise of life is often gradually overcast, till it ends in the gloom of a hopeless night. Examples from Scripture, e.g; Saul the King, Esau. It is well to know the kind of choice that "pleased the Lord." In Solomon's there was true wisdom, for it had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 3:11

And God said unto him. Because thou hast asked this thing and hast not asked for thyself long life [Heb. many days ] ; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life [ i.e; destruction in battle] of thine enemies [not so much personal enemies, like Hadad and Rezon, (Rawlinson) as military foes. The meaning is explained by the corresponding word, "honour" ( כָבוֹד glory ) in verse 13]; but hast asked [The word is repeated, according to Hebrew usage, now for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 3:12

Behold, I have done according to thy words [ i.e; granted thy prayer, as the next words show]: lo [Heb. behold ] I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. [Cf. 1 Chronicles 29:25 ; 2 Chronicles 9:22 . But there is no need to restrict the reference to kings and princes.] read more

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