Scofield Reference Bible Notes
1 Kings 3

1Ki 3:1 And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

Solomon…took Pharaoh's daughter

1Ki 7:8; 9:24.

the city of David

2Sa 5:7.

the house of the LORD

1Ki 6.

the wall of Jerusalem

1Ki 9:15, 19.

1Ki 3:2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.

sacrificed in high places

Cf. Leviticus 26:30; Deuteronomy 12:11-14. The use of commanding elevations for altars seems to have been immemorial and universal. In itself the practice was not evil (Genesis 12:7, 8; 22:2-4; 31:54; Judges 6:25, 26; 13:16-23). After the establishment of Mount Moriah and the temple as the centre of divine worship (Deuteronomy 12:5; with 2 Chronicles 7:12) the pentateuchal prohibition of the use of high places (Deuteronomy 12:11-14), which had looked forward to the setting up of such a centre, came into effect, and high places became identified with idolatrous practices. The constant recurrence to the use of high places, even for Jehovistic worship (Scofield 1 Kings 15:14, note), and after the building of the temple, proves how deeply rooted the custom was. See 2 Kings 18:4-22; 23:1-37; 2 Chronicles 33:3, 17, 19. See, also note on "groves" Scofield Judges 3:7.

1Ki 3:5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

Bible prayers (O.T.). 1Ki 8:23. (Gen 15:2; Hab 3:1-16.)

1Ki 3:6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy

2Ch 1:8.

he walked before thee in truth

1Ki 2:4; 9:4.

1Ki 3:8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

thou hast chosen, a great people

Deu 7:6.

that cannot be numbered

Gen 13:16; 15:5.

1Ki 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?

understanding [See also 1Ki 3:12.]

Heb. hearing.

discern between good and bad

Heb 5:14.

1Ki 3:12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, 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.

a wise and an understanding heart

1Ki 4:29, 30, 31; 5:12; 10:24; Ecc 1:16.

1Ki 3:13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

shall not be

Or, hath not been.

1Ki 3:14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

as thy father David did walk

1Ki 15:5.

1Ki 3:16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.

stood before him

Num 27:2.

1Ki 3:26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.

yearned

Heb. were hot.

1Ki 3:28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

in him

Heb. in the midst of him.