1 Kings 3:3
ESV
Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.
NIV
Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.
NASB
Now Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he was sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.
CSB
Solomon loved the Lord by walking in the statutes of his father David, but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
NLT
Solomon loved the Lord and followed all the decrees of his father, David, except that Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned incense at the local places of worship.
KJV
And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
NKJV
And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.
What does 1 Kings 3:3 mean?
Early in Solomon's reign, the tabernacle (Exodus 26) is in Gibeon. The ark (Exodus 25:10 – 16) is in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 1:1–6). The land is littered with "high places" where the Canaanites built shrines to worship false gods. Without a single place to merge national worship, the people repurposed these high places to worship Yahweh (Exodus 3:15). The tabernacle sits on the high place in Gibeon. Although God told the Israelites to only set up the tabernacle where He designated, archaeology suggests His choice of Shiloh was overrun by Philistines, so the priests moved it. It seems God accepts its place in Gibeon (1 Kings 3:5).The use of the other high places is problematic. God told the Israelites they were not to sacrifice to Him apart from the tabernacle (Deuteronomy 12:1–7). Even for sincere worship to only the Lord, the place and manner matter. In the best of circumstances, using the high places would validate them apart from the only priests who can offer proper sacrifices. But Israel doesn't experience the best of circumstances.
Solomon is often remembered for his wisdom and wealth, but also for his many hundreds of wives and concubines. Many are from nations God banned the Israelites from marrying into (1 Kings 11:1–3). He may wed many of these women simply to develop treaties with neighboring nations. Sadly, his marriages break his contract with God. These pagan wives draw him into worshiping the demon-gods God sent the Israelites to Canaan to judge. Solomon will return to these high places, not to worship God, but to worship Chemosh, Molech, Ashtoreth, and Milcom (1 Kings 11:4–8).
We forget that Solomon starts with obedience to the Mosaic law, walking in the "statutes of David his father." Solomon loves the Lord. He tries to live like his father, to take his place in God's promises to David. Solomon wants to be David's heir, to make his legacy great, to keep his people safe, and to build the temple (2 Samuel 7:9–13). In this story, he is sacrificing properly, at the tabernacle in Gibeon.
Sadly, although Solomon loves and obeys God, he doesn't continue in the same devotion to God that his father did.
