Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom

1 Kings 3

1 Now a Solomon made 1 a treaty with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and married Pharaoh's daughter; then he brought her b to the City of David until he had finished building his c own house, and d the house of the LORD, and e the wall all around Jerusalem. 2 f Meanwhile the people sacrificed at the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the LORD until those days.

3 And Solomon g loved the LORD, h walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places. 4 Now i the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, j for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 k At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon l in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask! What shall I give you?" 6 m And Solomon said: "You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he n walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You o have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 "Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a p little child; I do not know how q to go out or come in. 8 "And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You r have chosen, a great people, s too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9 t "Therefore give to Your servant an 2 understanding heart u to judge Your people, that I may v discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"

10 The speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then God said to him: "Because you have asked this thing, and have w not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 x "behold, I have done according to your words; y see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. 13 "And I have also z given you what you have not asked: both a riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 14 "So b if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, c as your father David walked, then I will d lengthen 3 your days."

15 Then Solomon e awoke; and indeed it had been a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and f made a feast for all his servants.

  1. Cross References
    1 Kings 7:8
    And the house where he dwelt had another court inside the hall, of like workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken as wife.
    1 Kings 9:24
    But Pharaoh's daughter came up from the City of David to her house which Solomon had built for her. Then he built the Millo.
  2. Cross References
    2 Samuel 5:7
    Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).
  3. Cross References
    1 Kings 7:1
    But Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house; so he finished all his house.
  4. Cross References
    1 Kings 6:1
    And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.
  5. Cross References
    1 Kings 9:15
    And this is the reason for the labor force which King Solomon raised: to build the house of the LORD, his own house, the Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
    1 Kings 9:19
    All the storage cities that Solomon had, cities for his chariots and cities for his cavalry, and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
  6. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 12:2 - 5
    You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations which you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree.
    Deuteronomy 12:13
    Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see.
    Deuteronomy 12:14
    But in the place which the LORD chooses, in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.
    1 Kings 11:7
    Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon.
    1 Kings 22:43
    And he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.
  7. Cross References
    Romans 8:28
    And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
  8. Cross References
    1 Kings 3:6
    And Solomon said: "You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
    1 Kings 3:14
    "So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days."
  9. Cross References
    1 Kings 9:2
    That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon.
    2 Chronicles 1:3
    Then Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for the tabernacle of meeting with God was there, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.
  10. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 16:39
    And Zadok the priest and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place that was at Gibeon.
    1 Chronicles 21:29
    For the tabernacle of the LORD and the altar of the burnt offering, which Moses had made in the wilderness, were at that time at the high place in Gibeon.
  11. Cross References
    1 Kings 9:2
    That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon.
    1 Kings 11:9
    So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.
    2 Chronicles 1:7
    On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask! What shall I give you?
  12. Cross References
    Numbers 12:6
    Then He said, "Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream.
    Matthew 1:20
    But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
    Matthew 2:13
    Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.
  13. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 1:8
    And Solomon said to God: "You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place.
  14. Cross References
    1 Kings 2:4
    "that the LORD may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,' He said, 'you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'
    1 Kings 9:4
    Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments.
    2 Kings 20:3
    Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
  15. Cross References
    2 Samuel 7:8 - 17
    Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.
    1 Kings 1:48
    "Also the king said thus, 'Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, while my eyes see it!'"
  16. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 22:5
    Now David said, "Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it." So David made abundant preparations before his death.
    Jeremiah 1:6
    Then said I: "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.
    Jeremiah 1:7
    But the LORD said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
  17. Cross References
    Numbers 27:17
    "who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd."
    2 Samuel 5:2
    "Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, 'You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.'"
  18. Cross References
    Exodus 19:6
    'And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."
    Deuteronomy 7:6
    For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.
  19. Cross References
    Genesis 13:6
    Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.
    Genesis 15:5
    Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be.
    Genesis 22:17
    Blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
  20. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 1:10
    "Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?"
    James 1:5
    If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
  21. Cross References
    Psalms 72:1
    Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king's Son.
    Psalms 72:2
    He will judge Your people with righteousness, And Your poor with justice.
  22. Cross References
    2 Samuel 14:17
    "Your maidservant said, 'The word of my lord the king will now be comforting; for as the angel of God, so is my lord the king in discerning good and evil. And may the LORD your God be with you.'"
    Isaiah 7:15
    Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.
    Hebrews 5:14
    But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
  23. Cross References
    James 4:3
    You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
  24. Cross References
    1 John 5:14
    Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
    1 John 5:15
    And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
  25. Cross References
    1 Kings 4:29 - 31
    And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore.
    1 Kings 5:12
    So the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.
    1 Kings 10:24
    Now all the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
    Ecclesiastes 1:16
    I communed with my heart, saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.
  26. Cross References
    Matthew 6:33
    But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
    Ephesians 3:20
    Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
  27. Cross References
    1 Kings 4:21
    So Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
    1 Kings 4:24
    For he had dominion over all the region on this side of the River from Tiphsah even to Gaza, namely over all the kings on this side of the River; and he had peace on every side all around him.
    1 Kings 10:23
    So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
    1 Chronicles 29:12
    Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all.
  28. Cross References
    1 Kings 6:12
    Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, which I spoke to your father David.
  29. Cross References
    1 Kings 15:5
    Because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
  30. Cross References
    Psalms 91:16
    With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.
    Proverbs 3:2
    For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
  31. Cross References
    Genesis 41:7
    And the seven thin heads devoured the seven plump and full heads. So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream.
  32. Cross References
    Genesis 40:20
    Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
    1 Kings 8:65
    At that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven more days - fourteen days.
    Esther 1:3
    That in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants - the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him -
    Daniel 5:1
    Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.
    Mark 6:21
    Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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