1 Kings 3

5 *For ver. 5-14, see 2 Chr. 1:7-12At Gibeon *ch. 9:2;11:9the Lord appeared to Solomon *[Num. 12:6;Matt. 1:20;2:13,19]in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I shall give you." 6 And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because *ch. 2:4;9:4;[Ps. 15:2] he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and *ch. 1:48have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O Lord my God, *[1 Chr. 28:5] you have made your servant king in place of David my father, *[1 Chr. 29:1] although I am but a little child. I do not know *Num. 27:17how to go out or come in. 8 *Deut. 7:6And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, *Gen. 13:16;15:5too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 *[Prov. 2:6,9;James 1:5] Give your servant therefore an understanding mind *Ps. 72:1,2to govern your people, that I may *[2 Sam. 14:17;Isa. 7:15;Heb. 5:14]discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"

10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, *[1 John 5:14,15] I now do according to your word. Behold, *ch. 4:29-31;5:12;10:23,24;Eccles. 1:16I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.