CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>1 Kings 3:6 Commentaries: Then Solomon said, "You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newcom.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../vmenus/1_kings/3-6.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcom/1_kings/3-6.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="http://biblehub.com/commentaries/">Commentaries</a> > 1 Kings 3:6</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../1_kings/3-5.htm" title="1 Kings 3:5">◄</a> 1 Kings 3:6 <a href="../1_kings/3-7.htm" title="1 Kings 3:7">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">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 <i>it is</i> this day.</div><div id="jump">Jump to: <a href="/commentaries/barnes/1_kings/3.htm" title="Barnes' Notes">Barnes</a> • <a href="/commentaries/benson/1_kings/3.htm" title="Benson Commentary">Benson</a> • <a href="/commentaries/illustrator/1_kings/3.htm" title="Biblical Illustrator">BI</a> • <a href="/commentaries/cambridge/1_kings/3.htm" title="Cambridge Bible">Cambridge</a> • <a href="/commentaries/clarke/1_kings/3.htm" title="Clarke's Commentary">Clarke</a> • <a href="/commentaries/darby/1_kings/3.htm" title="Darby's Bible Synopsis">Darby</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_kings/3.htm" title="Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers">Ellicott</a> • <a href="/commentaries/expositors/1_kings/3.htm" title="Expositor's Bible">Expositor's</a> • <a href="/commentaries/edt/1_kings/3.htm" title="Expositor's Dictionary">Exp Dct</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gaebelein/1_kings/3.htm" title="Gaebelein's Annotated Bible">Gaebelein</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gsb/1_kings/3.htm" title="Geneva Study Bible">GSB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gill/1_kings/3.htm" title="Gill's Bible Exposition">Gill</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gray/1_kings/3.htm" title="Gray's Concise">Gray</a> • <a href="/commentaries/guzik/1_kings/3.htm" title="Guzik Bible Commentary">Guzik</a> • <a href="/commentaries/haydock/1_kings/3.htm" title="Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary">Haydock</a> • <a href="/commentaries/hastings/1_kings/6-7.htm" title="Hastings Great Texts">Hastings</a> • <a href="/commentaries/homiletics/1_kings/3.htm" title="Pulpit Homiletics">Homiletics</a> • <a href="/commentaries/jfb/1_kings/3.htm" title="Jamieson-Fausset-Brown">JFB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/kad/1_kings/3.htm" title="Keil and Delitzsch OT">KD</a> • <a href="/commentaries/king-en/1_kings/3.htm" title="Kingcomments Bible Studies">King</a> • <a href="/commentaries/lange/1_kings/3.htm" title="Lange Commentary">Lange</a> • <a href="/commentaries/maclaren/1_kings/3.htm" title="MacLaren Expositions">MacLaren</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhc/1_kings/3.htm" title="Matthew Henry Concise">MHC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhcw/1_kings/3.htm" title="Matthew Henry Full">MHCW</a> • <a href="/commentaries/parker/1_kings/3.htm" title="The People's Bible by Joseph Parker">Parker</a> • <a href="/commentaries/poole/1_kings/3.htm" title="Matthew Poole">Poole</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_kings/3.htm" title="Pulpit Commentary">Pulpit</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sermon/1_kings/3.htm" title="Sermon Bible">Sermon</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sco/1_kings/3.htm" title="Scofield Reference Notes">SCO</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ttb/1_kings/3.htm" title="Through The Bible">TTB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/wes/1_kings/3.htm" title="Wesley's Notes">WES</a> • <a href="#tsk" title="Treasury of Scripture Knowledge">TSK</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="comtype">EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_kings/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(6) <span class= "bld">And Solomon said</span>.—On Solomon’s “wisdom,” see Note on <a href="/1_kings/4-29.htm" title="And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.">1Kings 4:29</a>. Here it is clear that the wisdom which he asks is that of the ruler, involving elements both moral and intellectual—the wisdom to discern and do true justice between man and man. He calls himself “a little child”—his age is variously estimated from twelve to twenty at this time—and trembles at the responsibility of ruling over “so great a people.” But, in the characteristic spirit of the true godliness of the Old Testament, he looks for wisdom, not as the mere result of human teaching and experience, but as an inspiration of God, and prays for it accordingly, in a prayer of singular beauty and humility, pleading simply God’s promise to his father, and its fulfilment in his own accession to the throne.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/benson/1_kings/3.htm">Benson Commentary</a></div><span class="bld"><a href="/context/1_kings/3-6.htm" title="And Solomon said, You have showed to your servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before you in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you; and you have kept for him this great kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day....">1 Kings 3:6-8</a></span>. <span class="ital">According as he walked before thee in truth — </span>In the true worship of God, in the profession, belief, practice, and defence of the true religion. So <span class="ital">truth </span>here contains all duties to God, as <span class="ital">righteousness </span>doth his duties to men, and <span class="ital">uprightness </span>the right manner of performing both sorts of duties. <span class="ital">In uprightness of heart with thee — </span>That is, in thy judgment, to whom he appealed as the witness of his integrity. <span class="ital">I am but a child — </span>So he was in years: not above twenty years old, and withal (which he principally intends) he was raw and inexperienced as a child in state affairs. <span class="ital">How to go out, </span>&c. — To govern my people, and manage affairs. <span class="ital">Thy servant is in the midst of thy people — </span>Is set over them to rule and guide them. A metaphor from the overseer of divers workmen, who usually is in the midst of them, that he may the better observe how each of them discharges his office. <span class="ital">Which thou hast chosen — </span>Thy peculiar people, whom thou takest special care of, and therefore wilt expect a more punctual account of my government of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="mhc" id="mhc"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/mhc/1_kings/3.htm">Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a></div>3:5-15 Solomon's dream was not a common one. While his bodily powers were locked up in sleep, the powers of his soul were strengthened; he was enabled to receive the Divine vision, and to make a suitable choice. God, in like manner, puts us in the ready way to be happy, by assuring us we shall have what we need, and pray for. Solomon's making such a choice when asleep, and the powers of reason least active, showed it came from the grace of God. Having a humble sense of his own wants and weakness, he pleads, Lord, I am but a little child. The more wise and considerate men are, the better acquainted they are with their own weakness, and the more jealous of themselves. Solomon begs of God to give him wisdom. We must pray for it, Jas 1:5, that it may help us in our particular calling, and the various occasions we have. Those are accepted of God, who prefer spiritual blessings to earthly good. It was a prevailing prayer, and prevailed for more than he asked. God gave him wisdom, such as no other prince was ever blessed with; and also gave him riches and honour. If we make sure of wisdom and grace, these will bring outward prosperity with them, or sweeten the want of it. The way to get spiritual blessings, is to wrestle with God in prayer for them. The way to get earthly blessings, is to refer ourselves to God concerning them. Solomon has wisdom given him, because he did ask it, and wealth, because he did not.<a name="bar" id="bar"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/barnes/1_kings/3.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a></div>This great kindness - David himself had regarded this as God's crowning mercy to him <a href="/1_kings/1-48.htm">1 Kings 1:48</a>. <a name="jfb" id="jfb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/jfb/1_kings/3.htm">Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a></div>1Ki 3:6-15. He Chooses Wisdom.<p>6. Solomon said—that is, had dreamed that he said.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/poole/1_kings/3.htm">Matthew Poole's Commentary</a></div> <span class="bld">Solomon said, </span> i.e. he dreamed that he said. <span class="bld">See Poole "<a href="/1_kings/3-5.htm" title="In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give you.">1 Kings 3:5</a>"</span>. Or, he really said. For although the use of reason is ordinarily so dark and imperfect in dreams, that such actings are not human actions; yet in extraordinary and Divine dreams it is but reasonable to allow something extraordinary. For who can doubt but God may so clear up and assist a man’s reason in his dream, that he may have a true and strong apprehension of some things, which also may make a suitable impression upon the will or affections; and consequently such acts of the soul may be moral acts, and regardable by God and men? And this might be a kind of ecstatical rapture, whereby his soul might be as it were carried out of his body, as St. Paul’s was, <span class="bldvs"> <a href="/2_corinthians/12-3.htm" title="And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;)">2 Corinthians 12:3</a></span>, for a season; in which case both his reason might clearly and distinctly apprehend God’s mind, and his gracious offer; and his will might make a free choice of wisdom; which therefore might be accepted and rewarded by God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">In truth; </span> either, first, Sincerely, and without dissimulation. But that is more fully expressed in the following words, in uprightness of heart. Or rather, secondly, In the true worship and service of God, in the profession, belief, practice, and defence of the truth, or of the true religion, or of God’s will or word, which is called <span class="ital">truth</span>, <span class="bldvs"> <a href="/proverbs/23-23.htm" title="Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.">Proverbs 23:23</a> <a href="/john/17-17.htm" title="Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.">John 17:17</a> <a href="/galatians/3-1.htm" title="O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?">Galatians 3:1</a></span>. So <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">truth</span> here contains all his duties to God, as <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">righteousness</span> doth his duties to men, and uprightness the right manner of performing both sorts of duties. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Uprightness of heart with thee, </span> i.e. in thy judgment, to whom alone his heart was known; and to whom he oft appealed as the witness of his integrity; and with respect to whom he performed all his duties, even to men. Thou hast kept, or, reserved, that which thou didst not reserve for Saul, whose posterity thou didst cut off from the kingdom. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="gil" id="gil"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gill/1_kings/3.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a></div>And Solomon said,.... In his dream; not that he dreamt he said, when he did not; but he really said, as follows: <p>thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy; bestowed many favours and blessings upon him, both temporal and spiritual: <p>according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; in the truth of doctrine and worship, according to the revealed will and word of God, and which he observed with great strictness, living soberly, righteously, and godly, though not without failings and imperfections, yet with great integrity and sincerity; and this holy walk of his was not the cause of God's showing mercy to him, nor was it in proportion to that, but what he was influenced to by the mercy that was shown him: <p>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; a son to be his successor, meaning himself; which was an additional favour to all the rest, and was in reserve, and now bestowed, as time had made to appear. <a name="gsb" id="gsb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gsb/1_kings/3.htm">Geneva Study Bible</a></div><span class="cverse2">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 <span class="cverse3">{e}</span> kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as <i>it is</i> this day.</span><p>(e) You have performed your promise.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="comtype">EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/cambridge/1_kings/3.htm">Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges</a></div><span class="bld">6</span>. <span class="ital">great mercy</span>] As the word is the same as that rendered <span class="bld">kindness</span> in the latter half of the verse it is better to render it so here. The first kindness was during David’s life, the further kindness was in giving him a successor.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="pul" id="pul"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_kings/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 6.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto</span> [Heb. <span class="accented">wrought with</span>] <span class="cmt_word">thy servant David my father great mercy</span> [marg., <span class="accented">favour</span>] <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>according as he walked Before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee</span> [cf. <a href="/2_kings/20-3.htm">2 Kings 20:3</a>, where Hezekiah uses much the same language of himself. Also ch. 11:4], <span class="cmt_word">and thou hast kept for him this great kindness</span> [Heb. <span class="accented">favour</span>; same word as above. David himself had regarded this as a singular mercy (<a href="/1_kings/1-48.htm">1 Kings 1:48</a>)], <span class="cmt_word">that thou hast given him a son to sit</span> [Heb. <span class="accented">sitting</span>] <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>upon</span> <span class="cmt_word">his</span> <span class="cmt_word">throne, as it is this day.</span> [Same expression <a href="/deuteronomy/6-24.htm">Deuteronomy 6:24</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/8-18.htm">Deuteronomy 8:18</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/22-8.htm">1 Samuel 22:8</a>; <a href="/ezra/9-7.htm">Ezra 9:7</a>.] 1 Kings 3:6<a name="kad" id="kad"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/kad/1_kings/3.htm">Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament</a></div>The one thing wanting in the place of sacrifice at Gibeon, viz., the ark of the covenant with the gracious presence of Jehovah, was supplied by the Lord in the case of this sacrifice by a direct revelation in a dream, which Solomon received in the night following the sacrifice. There is a connection between the question which God addressed to Solomon in the dream, "What shall I give thee?" and the object of the sacrifice, viz., to seek the help of God for his reign. Solomon commences his prayer in <a href="/1_kings/3-6.htm">1 Kings 3:6</a> with an acknowledgment of the great favour which the Lord had shown to his father David, and had continued till now by raising his son to his throne (הזּה כּיּום, as it is this day: cf. <a href="/1_samuel/22-8.htm">1 Samuel 22:8</a>; <a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/8-18.htm">Deuteronomy 8:18</a>, etc.); and then, in <a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/3-7.htm">1 Kings 3:7-9</a>, in the consciousness of his incapacity for the right administration of government over so numerous a people, he asks the Lord for an obedient heart and for wisdom to rule His people. ועתּה introduces the petition, the reasons assigned for which are, (1) his youth and inexperience, and (2) the greatness or multitude of the nation to be governed. I am, says he, קטן נער, i.e., an inexperienced youth (Solomon was only about twenty years old): "I know not to go out and in," i.e., how to behave myself as king, or govern the people (for ובא צאת compare the note on <a href="/numbers/27-17.htm">Numbers 27:17</a>). At <a href="/1_kings/3-8.htm">1 Kings 3:8</a> he describes the magnitude of the nation in words which recall to mind the divine promises in <a href="/genesis/13-16.htm">Genesis 13:16</a> and <a href="http://biblehub.com/genesis/32-13.htm">Genesis 32:13</a>, to indicate how gloriously the Lord has fulfilled the promises which He made to the patriarchs.<div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/1_kings/3-6.htm">1 Kings 3:6 Interlinear</a><br /><a href="/texts/1_kings/3-6.htm">1 Kings 3:6 Parallel Texts</a><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/niv/1_kings/3-6.htm">1 Kings 3:6 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_kings/3-6.htm">1 Kings 3:6 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_kings/3-6.htm">1 Kings 3:6 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_kings/3-6.htm">1 Kings 3:6 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_kings/3-6.htm">1 Kings 3:6 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://bibleapps.com/1_kings/3-6.htm">1 Kings 3:6 Bible Apps</a><br /><a href="/1_kings/3-6.htm">1 Kings 3:6 Parallel</a><br /><a href="http://bibliaparalela.com/1_kings/3-6.htm">1 Kings 3:6 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="http://holybible.com.cn/1_kings/3-6.htm">1 Kings 3:6 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="http://saintebible.com/1_kings/3-6.htm">1 Kings 3:6 French Bible</a><br /><a href="http://bibeltext.com/1_kings/3-6.htm">1 Kings 3:6 German Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br /></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td align="center"><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="../1_kings/3-5.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Kings 3:5"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Kings 3:5" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../1_kings/3-7.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Kings 3:7"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Kings 3:7" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>