Bible Commentaries
1 Kings 3

Verse 1

affinity = relationship by marriage.

Verse 2

Only. May imply regret rather than censure. Compare 1 Kings 15:14 , &c.

in high places. Deuteronomy 12:11 , Deuteronomy 12:14 , Deuteronomy 12:26 , Deuteronomy 12:27 , not obeyed since Jehovah had forsaken Shiloh. Compare Psalms 78:60 , Psalms 78:67-69 . Jeremiah 7:12-14 .

Verse 3

statutes of David. Contrast "the statutes of Omri" (Micah 6:16 ), and"statutes of the heathen" (2 Kings 17:8 ).

high places. Not necessarily idolatrous (see note on 1 Kings 3:2 , and compare 1 Chronicles 16:39 ; 1 Chronicles 21:29 . 2 Chronicles 1:3 , 2 Chronicles 1:13 ), though perhaps copied from Canaanites. Practice too deeply rooted for even Asa and Hezekiah to remove. Josiah it was who finally desecrated them. Anglo-Saxon = Hoes. Gibeon = a high place, where the Tabernacle was. Compare Joshua 9:3 . 2 Samuel 2:12 , 2 Samuel 2:13 .

offer = offer up. See App-43 .

Verse 5

dream. One of the twenty in Scripture. See note on Genesis 20:3 . God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 6

said: i.e. in his sleep. Compare 1 Kings 3:15 . See note on Psalms 127:2 .

mercy = grace, or lovingkindness.

Verse 7

a little child. In his father's eyes a "wise man" (1 Kings 2:6 , 1 Kings 2:9 ).

I know not = I shall not know. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and know not", indicating the Figure of speech Polysyndeton here, and in the following verses. App-6 .

to go out or come in. Compare Numbers 27:17 . Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part). App-6 . Put for whole manner of life.

Verse 9

Give. Compare 2 Chronicles 1:10 .

understanding = hearing. Solomon began by asking wisdom from God. Rehoboam (his son) began by asking counsel from man (1 Kings 12:6 , 1 Kings 12:8 ).

Verse 12

like thee. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis , by adding "among the kings" from 1 Kings 3:13 with 1 Kings 10:23 .

Verse 13

any = a man. Hebrew. ish . App-14 .

Verse 14

as = according as.

thy father David. Compare 1 Kings 15:5 .

Verse 15

offered = prepared. See App-43 . Showing that the Ceremonial Law was in writing before the days of Solomon, and not a later production, as asserted and assumed by some.

Verse 18

there was no stranger. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and there was no stranger".

Verse 19

child = son.

overlaid. One of the ten deaths occasioned by women. See note on Judges 4:21 .

Verse 22

spake = talked [very much]. Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ), to be supplied.

Verse 26

said = kept on saying.

Verse 28

wisdom of God = Divine wisdom. Genitive of Character. See App-17 , and compare note on 1 Kings 3:9 above.