Question 1

Why did Solomon marry Pharaoh’s daughter at the start of his reign?

Accepted Answer

Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter was a political alliance with Egypt, a powerful neighbor. This kind of marriage was common for kings to secure peace and support. The passage, however, quietly hints at a tension. While it notes the alliance, it also shows that Solomon’s heart was mainly set on the Lord. Later in his life, foreign wives would pull him away, so this early choice already points to a mixture of wisdom and danger. It reminds us that practical decisions can carry spiritual risks.

Question 2

What is the significance of Solomon offering sacrifices at Gibeon?

Accepted Answer

Gibeon is called the “great high place” because, at that time, there was no permanent house yet built for the Lord. The people were still sacrificing at high places, and Gibeon was the main one. Solomon goes there and offers a huge number of burnt offerings, showing real zeal for worship. Even though this way of worship was not the final pattern God wanted, God meets Solomon there. It shows God’s kindness in accepting sincere worship while still calling His people toward better obedience later.

Question 3

Why did God tell Solomon, “Ask what I shall give thee”?

Accepted Answer

God’s words to Solomon in the dream show that God invites His people to come to Him with their needs. Solomon is a young king facing a large nation, and God meets him in that pressure. By saying, “Ask what I shall give thee,” God opens the door for Solomon to reveal what matters most to him. Solomon’s answer shows his heart: he asks for wisdom to serve, not comfort or revenge. This scene teaches that God cares about both our requests and our motives.

Question 4

What does it mean that Solomon asked for an “understanding heart”?

Accepted Answer

When Solomon asks for an “understanding heart,” he is asking God to help him hear, understand, and judge rightly. He feels like “a little child” who does not know how to go out or come in, so he asks for the ability to tell good from bad and to rule fairly. This is not just book knowledge. It is the kind of wisdom that knows how to care for people, make hard choices, and honor God. The passage holds this up as a good and unselfish prayer.

Question 5

Why was God pleased with Solomon’s request for wisdom?

Accepted Answer

God is pleased because Solomon’s request is not selfish. He does not ask for a long life, riches, or victory over his enemies. Instead, he asks for wisdom to judge God’s people well. His focus is on serving others and honoring God’s calling on his life. God responds by granting exactly what he asked, a wise and understanding heart, and then adds what he did not ask for, wealth and honor. This shows that God values hearts that seek His ways before personal gain.

Question 6

What does God’s promise to lengthen Solomon’s days depend on?

Accepted Answer

God’s promise about Solomon’s life comes with an “if.” God says that if Solomon walks in His ways and keeps His statutes and commandments, as David did, then He will lengthen Solomon’s days. This shows that some of God’s blessings in this passage are tied to ongoing obedience, not just a one-time request. Later in the story, Solomon’s turning away from God shows how serious this condition was. It is a reminder that wisdom must be joined with steady faithfulness.

Question 7

What does this passage teach about God’s character?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows God as generous, patient, and personal. He approaches Solomon in a dream, invites him to ask, listens to his words, and is pleased by a humble request. God gives more than Solomon asks, adding riches and honor to wisdom. At the same time, God speaks clearly about obedience, showing He is not just generous but also holy and just. He accepts worship in an imperfect setting, yet still calls His people to walk in His ways.

Question 8

How can Solomon’s prayer for wisdom guide believers today?

Accepted Answer

Solomon’s prayer is a pattern for anyone facing responsibility or hard choices. He admits his weakness, calls himself a servant, and asks first for a heart that can understand and judge rightly. Instead of chasing comfort or success, he seeks what will help him serve others well. Today, this encourages believers to ask God for wisdom rather than chasing quick fixes. It also points to checking our motives in prayer, putting God’s will and the good of others before our own advantage.

1 Kings 3:1

And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

Solomon’s Rule Consolidated

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1 Kings 3:1

And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

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Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

Solomon’s Rule Consolidated

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