1 Kings 3:3 - Printer Friendly

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.

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.

First Kings 3:3–9 contains Solomon's renowned request for wisdom (2 Chronicles 1:2–10). He has already proven to be politically savvy in the way he rid his court of antagonists (1 Kings 2:13–46). On one of his regular trips to worship at the tabernacle, God asks Solomon what gift he wants. Solomon knows he's inexperienced as a king and asks for wisdom. God is pleased with this and grants Solomon wisdom, wealth, and honor, but he will only have long life if he follows God (1 Kings 3:10–14).

In 1 Kings 3, Solomon receives and displays supernatural wisdom. He gathers the national leaders and offers sacrifices at the tabernacle in Gibeon. In a dream, God asks him what he would want. Solomon says wisdom to rule well. God agrees and adds wealth and honor. In an example of his wisdom, Solomon decides the unsolvable case of two women who each claim a living baby is theirs and the dead one is the other's. When Solomon offers to cut the child into two, the real mother reveals herself. First Kings 4 continues with accounts of Solomon's honor, wealth, and wisdom.

First Kings 3 (2 Chronicles 1:2–13) explains how Solomon became wise. He established his kingdom through his own wisdom (1 Kings 2), but to rule Abraham's people, he needs God's guidance. God agrees to impart wisdom and promises money, possessions, and honor, as well. Two women argue over whose son is living and whose has died. Solomon offers to cut the baby in two, and the women reveal their natures. In the chiastic partner to 1 Kings 3, Solomon exhibits great foolishness (1 Kings 11:1–13), receives a great deal of wealth (1 Kings 10:14–29), and wins honor from the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1–13).

This was originally the first half of a combined text. First Kings records the end of David's reign and the rule of Solomon. After this, the kingdom is split in two. The northern nation of Israel no longer submits to the king of the southern nation, called Judah. The prophet Elijah first appears in this book. The kings mostly fail to honor the Lord. They participate in idolatry and other sins. This will eventually result in their conquest and exile, as depicted throughout the books of Chronicles.