The Burning Bush Vol. 2

Chapter 3

Solomon made an alliance with, and married the daughter of the king of Egypt. He brought her to live in the city of David until he could complete the building of his palace, the Temple of the Lord, and the wall around the city of Jerusalem. The people sacrificed and worshiped at the high places because the temple had not yet been built.

Solomon loved God but sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. He offered one thousand burnt offerings in Gibeon. God appeared to Solomon in a dream while he was at Gibeon and said to him, “Ask what you wish Me to give you” (1 Kgs. 3:5b). Solomon responded to God in prayer. He acknowledged that God had shown great lovingkindness to David because David walked in truth and righteousness before Him. He said it was because of that same lovingkindness that God granted David a son to sit on his throne after him. Solomon told God that he did not know what he needed to know to be a good king to the people. He said to God, “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours” (1 Kgs. 3:9)?

God was pleased that Solomon had asked for His help to govern the people and said,

“Because you have asked this thing and have

not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked

riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for

yourself discernment to understand justice,

behold, I have done according to your words.

Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days” (I Kgs. 3:11b–14).

When Solomon woke from his dream, he went to Jerusalem before the ark of the covenant. He offered burnt offerings, and peace offerings, and he made a feast for all his servants.

There were two women prostitutes who came before Solomon and asked him to settle their dispute. One of the women told the king that the two of them lived in the same house and had given birth to sons three days apart.

The woman said that the other woman had lain on her son in the night and killed him. She said the mother with the dead son had switched her dead baby for the woman’s living baby. She told Solomon that when she woke in the morning she found out the babies had been switched.

The other woman disputed her claim and said that the baby she had in her possession was actually hers and that the other woman’s baby had actually died. They argued in front of the king over whose baby was still living.

The king called for someone to bring him a sword. He ordered that the living baby be cut in two and each woman given half of the baby. The woman whose baby it actually was told the king to give the baby to the other woman but not to harm him. The other woman said to go ahead and divide him and then he would belong to neither of them.

Solomon ordered that the child be given to the first woman and not to kill him; he said she was the baby’s mother. When all Israel heard about the wisdom of Solomon, they knew it was the wisdom of God in him and they feared him.