1 Kings 3: Wisdom Worth More Than Gold
At Gibeon Solomon asks not for riches but for an understanding heart, and God grants wisdom proven in the case of two mothers and one child.
1 Kings 3 (WEB)
1 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 Yahweh’s house, and the wall of Jerusalem all around.
2 Only the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was no house built for Yahweh’s name until those days.
3 Solomon loved Yahweh, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
5 In Gibeon Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.”
6 Solomon said, “You have shown to your servant David my father great loving kindness, according as he walked before you in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you. You have kept for him this great loving kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 Now, Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father. I am but a little child. I don’t know how to go out or come in.
8 Your servant is in the midst of your people which you have chosen, a great people, that can’t be numbered nor counted for multitude.
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?”
10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice;
12 behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there has been no one like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like you.
13 I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like you, all your days.
14 If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
15 Solomon awoke; and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
16 Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king, and stood before him.
17 The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house. I delivered a child with her in the house.
18 The third day after I delivered, this woman delivered also. We were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, just us two in the house.
19 This woman’s child died in the night, because she lay on it.
20 She arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
21 When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, it was dead; but when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I bore.”
22 The other woman said, “No; but the living is my son, and the dead is your son.” This said, “No; but the dead is your son, and the living is my son.” Thus they spoke before the king.
23 Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son who lives, and your son is the dead;’ and the other says, ‘No; but your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’”
24 The king said, “Get me a sword.” They brought a sword before the king.
25 The king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.”
26 Then the woman whose the living child was spoke to the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no way kill it!” But the other said, “It shall be neither mine nor yours. Divide it.”
27 Then the king answered, “Give her the living child, and in no way kill it. She is its mother.”
28 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 justice.
1 Kings 3 (KJV)
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.
2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the Lord, until those days.
3 And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
4 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.
5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
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.
7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
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.
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?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
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.
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.
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.
15 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.
16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
19 And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
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.
27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
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.
1 Kings 3 (ASV)
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 Jehovah, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
2 Only the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was no house built for the name of Jehovah until those days.
3 And Solomon loved Jehovah, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
4 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.
5 In Gibeon Jehovah appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great lovingkindness, 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 lovingkindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 And now, O Jehovah my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in.
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.
9 Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life, neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern justice;
12 behold, I have done according to thy word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee, all thy days.
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.
15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream: and he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and offered up burnt-offerings, and offered peace-offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
16 Then there came two women that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
17 And the one woman said, Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
18 And it came to pass the third day after I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also; and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
19 And this woman’s child died in the night, because she lay upon it.
20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thy handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead; but when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I did bear.
22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
24 And the king said, Fetch me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, It shall be neither mine nor thine; divide it.
27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
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 justice.
Summary
Solomon makes an alliance with Egypt and, though he loves Yahweh and walks in his father's ways, the people still sacrifice at the high places because no temple has yet been built. At Gibeon, the great high place, Solomon offers a thousand burnt offerings, and there God appears to him in a dream with a stunning invitation: “Ask what I shall give you.” Solomon humbly confesses that he is like a little child, unable to lead such a great people, and he asks not for long life, riches, or victory over enemies, but for an understanding heart to discern good and evil and to judge rightly. The request pleases the Lord, who grants him a wise and discerning heart unlike any before or after, and adds riches and honor as well, with the promise of long life if he keeps walking in obedience. Solomon awakes, returns to Jerusalem, and worships before the ark. His new wisdom is immediately tested when two women dispute over a living child, each claiming it as her own. Solomon calls for a sword to divide the child, and the true mother, moved by love, surrenders her claim to spare him; the king awards her the child, and all Israel sees that the wisdom of God is in him to do justice.
Main Characters
- Solomon — The young king who loves the Lord and, when offered anything, asks for an understanding heart to govern, receiving wisdom, riches, and honor from God.
- Yahweh (the LORD) / God — The God who appears to Solomon at Gibeon, delights in his humble request, and grants him wisdom surpassing all others to judge his people.
- The two mothers — Two women who dispute over a living child; the true mother reveals herself by her willingness to give the child up rather than see him killed.
Key Verse
1 Kings 3:9 (WEB)
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?”
Lessons Learned
- What we ask of God reveals what our hearts truly treasure.
- Humility that confesses our smallness is the doorway to God-given wisdom.
- True wisdom is not abstract cleverness but the discernment to do justice and love rightly.
- When we seek God's kingdom first, he often adds the very things we did not request.
- Ask for the right things. Offered anything, Solomon prays, “Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people” (1 Kings 3:9, WEB). Our requests reveal whether we treasure God's purposes or our own comfort.
- Humility precedes wisdom. Solomon confesses, “I am but a little child. I don’t know how to go out or come in” (1 Kings 3:7, WEB). God gives understanding to those who admit their need.
- God delights to give more than we ask. Because Solomon asked for discernment, God adds “both riches and honor” (1 Kings 3:13, WEB). Seeking his kingdom first, we find other gifts added as well.
- Wisdom is seen in just love. The true mother is known because “her heart yearned over her son” (1 Kings 3:26, WEB), and Solomon's verdict reveals “the wisdom of God was in him, to do justice” (1 Kings 3:28). Godly wisdom serves life and love.
- When God invites Solomon to ask for anything, what does his request reveal about his values?
- Why does Solomon emphasize that he is “but a little child”? How does humility shape his prayer?
- What does it mean that God added riches and honor that Solomon had not asked for?
- How does the judgment of the two mothers display the kind of wisdom Solomon requested?
- If God said to you, “Ask what I shall give you,” what would you ask for, and what might that reveal about your heart?
- Solomon could have asked for long life, wealth, or the death of his enemies, but instead he asks for an understanding heart to govern justly (3:9, 11). His request shows a heart oriented toward serving God's people rather than his own advantage, and it pleases the Lord.
- Despite his crown, Solomon calls himself a little child unable to lead (3:7). This humility is not false modesty but a true sense of the weight of the task and of his dependence on God. Such humility opens the door to the wisdom God longs to give.
- Solomon sought God's gift for the sake of others, and God responded by granting wisdom and also riches and honor (3:12-13). It illustrates the pattern that when we seek God's kingdom first, he graciously provides what we did not even request.
- Faced with two competing claims, Solomon proposes dividing the child, exposing the true mother whose love prefers her son's life to her own claim (3:25-27). His discernment reaches the heart of the matter, and all Israel sees that God's wisdom is at work in him.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to reflect honestly on what they would most want from God, and what that desire reveals. As leader, gently steer the group toward asking for wisdom, a discerning heart, and a love that serves others, as Solomon did.