1 Kings Chapter 3

Solomon Is Given Great Wisdom

A. God gives Solomon wisdom

1. First statement of Solomon’s political marriage

(1 Kings 3:1) Solomon marries an Egyptian princess

KJV Text:
“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 established a formal alliance with Pharaoh of Egypt by marrying Pharaoh’s daughter, a common political practice among ancient kingdoms. Royal families often exchanged daughters as a means of guaranteeing peace, strengthening alliances, and securing diplomatic trust. The text notes that Solomon brought her into the City of David temporarily, indicating that this marriage occurred early in his reign before his major construction projects were completed, including his palace, the temple, and the defensive walls surrounding Jerusalem. While tactically advantageous on a political level, the spiritual implications of this marriage are immediately evident to the careful reader.

a. Solomon made a treaty with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married Pharaoh’s daughter

Marrying into foreign royalty was normal in the ancient world and still occurs in various forms today. Political marriages were designed to prevent war and foster cooperation. However, Scripture consistently portrays marriage to foreign wives as spiritually dangerous when the women did not worship the God of Israel.

This was not Solomon’s first marriage. Scripture records that his son Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, “Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign” (2 Chronicles 12:13). Solomon reigned forty years according to 1 Kings 11:42 which says, “And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.” This means Rehoboam was born before Solomon became king and therefore before Solomon married the daughter of Pharaoh. Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah the Ammonitess, demonstrating that Solomon had already entered marriage with a foreign woman. This early pattern would later expand into catastrophic excess.

The disaster that came from Solomon’s marriages was so well known in Israel’s history that Nehemiah used Solomon as a warning example centuries later. Nehemiah rebuked the men of Judah who had married pagan wives by pointing directly to Solomon’s downfall, saying, “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things Yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel, nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin” (Nehemiah 13:26). Nehemiah reminded the people that even the wisest man on earth fell into spiritual ruin because of ungodly marital alliances.

The foreign wives did not merely stain Solomon’s legacy, they destroyed his spiritual life. Scripture records with painful clarity, “But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites” and “his wives turned away his heart” (1 Kings 11:1 and 1 Kings 11:3). The Lord had warned Israel explicitly, “Surely they will turn away your heart after their gods” (1 Kings 11:2). Solomon ignored the Word of God and paid the price.

Although 1 Kings 11:4 says, “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods,” the seeds of that destruction were planted in this early marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter. Politically it made sense, spiritually it was folly. A small compromise at the beginning of his reign led to devastating consequences decades later.

David also married a foreign woman, Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur, according to 2 Samuel 3:3 which says, “And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite, and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur.” Such a marriage was not forbidden by the Law of Moses, provided she embraced the God of Israel. What did not destroy David would destroy Solomon because Solomon did not restrain himself but multiplied wives in disobedience to God’s clear command in Deuteronomy 17:17.

b. He brought her to the City of David

Solomon housed Pharaoh’s daughter in the City of David until his building projects were complete. Though not forbidden outright, this decision lacked wisdom and discernment. Later in life, these foreign wives became the precise reason Solomon fell into idolatry. Scripture is plain, “his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father” (1 Kings 11:4).

Jewish rabbinic tradition contains an old legend describing their wedding night. The story claims that Pharaoh’s daughter cast a spell upon Solomon, placing above their bed a tapestry decorated with stars and constellations, making him believe night continued long past sunrise. As the legend goes, he overslept until after ten in the morning. The morning sacrifice could not begin until Solomon, who kept the keys of the Temple under his pillow, awakened. Only when Bathsheba came to rouse him did he awake, and the nation grieved over the interrupted worship. This story, though not Scripture, illustrates how Jewish tradition remembered Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter as the beginning of spiritual negligence rather than devotion.

2. Solomon’s Great Sacrifice

(1 Kings 3:2 through 1 Kings 3:4)

KJV Text

“Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the Lord, until those days. And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place, a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.”

The narrative now moves from Solomon’s political dealings to his spiritual conduct. Israel at this time did not yet possess a permanent temple, therefore worship was conducted in various high places where altars had been erected. Solomon’s devotion to the Lord is affirmed, yet the text includes a critical qualifier that will foreshadow the internal tensions of his reign.

a. The people sacrificed at the high places because there was no house built for the name of the Lord

Israel’s worship at this stage still operated with transitional structures. Until the completion of the temple under Solomon, the people worshiped at high places where altars had been built. The Law explicitly warned Israel, “Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the Lord thy God, which thou shalt make thee” (Deuteronomy 16:21). Yet the Lord permitted legitimate worship on authorized high places before the central sanctuary was established. The danger always present was the temptation to mix pagan practices with Israel’s worship. As long as the altars were used for worship of the Lord only, they remained permissible during this interim period.

Once the temple was built, the Lord required all sacrifices to be offered there alone. This explains why later kings were condemned for using high places even when they claimed to worship the God of Israel. Under Solomon, the arrangement was temporary, and therefore tolerated.

b. Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places

The text presents Solomon with both commendation and caution. He is described as one who “loved the Lord,” a statement affirming a genuine and sincere devotion. He followed the statutes of David, meaning he maintained doctrinal purity, upheld the moral law, and demonstrated the heart posture David modeled.

However, Scripture immediately follows this with “only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.” The word “only” introduces a spiritual flaw. Solomon’s love for God was real, yet his obedience was incomplete. This mixture of devotion and compromise becomes a central theme of his life. He served the God of Israel, yet he left room for practices that would later contribute to ruin.

Although sacrificing at high places was tolerated before the temple was complete, it still represented something less than ideal. Even when God permits something temporarily, it is never His perfect will. Adam Clarke notes the mercy shown in this period, explaining that many before Solomon, including judges, prophets, and kings, used high places before the temple was built. After the temple’s construction, such conduct became disobedience.

Solomon’s divided affections later became fully exposed through his marriages. Scripture records, “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods” (1 Kings 11:4). A divided heart is a dangerous heart, and early compromises often become gateways to devastating failures later in life. As one commentator observed, the peril of divided loyalties is severe indeed.

c. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar

Solomon’s sacrifice was extravagant in scale. A thousand burnt offerings demonstrated immense wealth, but more importantly, a desire to dedicate his entire kingdom to the Lord. Burnt offerings symbolized total surrender, complete consecration, and a public declaration that all belonged to God.

This massive sacrificial event also marked the ceremonial beginning of Solomon’s reign. According to 2 Chronicles 1:2 through 2 Chronicles 1:3, Israel’s entire leadership accompanied him to Gibeon for this event. This shows that Solomon did not worship in isolation, but led the nation in public dedication to the Lord.

d. Now the king went to Gibeon

Solomon chose Gibeon because it was the most significant high place in Israel. What set it apart was the presence of the tabernacle of Moses. Although David had brought the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, the original Mosaic tabernacle remained at Gibeon. Therefore, Gibeon was regarded as the legitimate worship center until the building of the temple.

The history of the tabernacle and ark in the Promised Land is complex and filled with movement due to war, judgment, and transition:

1. Joshua established both ark and tabernacle at Shiloh, “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there” (Joshua 18:1).

2. In the days of Eli, the ark was captured by the Philistines and the sanctuary at Shiloh suffered destruction, referenced in Psalm 78:60 through Psalm 78:64, as well as Jeremiah 7:12 and Jeremiah 26:9.

3. After its return, the ark was brought to Kiriath Jearim, “And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the Lord” (1 Samuel 7:1).

4. Saul restored the tabernacle at Nob, as seen in 1 Samuel 21.

5. Saul later moved the tabernacle from Nob to Gibeon, according to 1 Chronicles 16:39 through 1 Chronicles 16:40.

6. David brought the ark to Jerusalem and placed it in a temporary tent, “So they brought the ark of the Lord, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it” (2 Samuel 6:17).

David did not bring the tabernacle to Jerusalem for several possible reasons. He may have feared that the people would be content with the tabernacle and lose the vision for a true temple. It may be that the tabernacle was only to be moved when absolutely necessary, as at Shiloh and Nob. Or David, by divine leading, simply devoted his energy to building the future temple rather than maintaining a temporary structure.

Thus, Solomon’s journey to Gibeon was theologically appropriate and historically logical. It was the seat of legitimate sacrifice until the Temple was complete.

3. God’s Offer and Solomon’s Response

(1 Kings 3:5 through 1 Kings 3:9)

KJV Text

“In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee, and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father, and I am but a little child, I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad, for who is able to judge this thy so great a people”

This section records one of the most extraordinary divine encounters in Scripture. The Lord manifested Himself to Solomon at Gibeon and extended to him a blank check from heaven. Solomon’s response reveals spiritual maturity far beyond his years and supplies the context for the wisdom that became the defining mark of his reign.

a. The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream

The Lord chose to reveal Himself to Solomon through a dream, yet the encounter was entirely real and authoritative. This is one of the most significant dreams found in Scripture, comparable to God’s revelations to Joseph, Jacob, and Nebuchadnezzar. God condescended to speak intimately with Solomon at the outset of his rule, emphasizing both divine favor and divine guidance. Solomon’s lavish sacrifices were not the cause of God’s appearance, but the expression of a heart oriented toward the Lord. God often meets His servants in ways that correspond with their posture toward Him.

b. “Ask, what shall I give thee”

This astonishing divine invitation displays the generosity of God. The Lord placed before Solomon the opportunity to request anything. Such an offer was not made merely because of the thousand burnt offerings, but because God desired to shape Solomon through the request he would make. The Lord tests the desires of His people in order to refine them.

The believer today is not without similar promises. Scripture gives us divine assurances regarding prayer:

“Ask, and it shall be given you, seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7).
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7).
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14).

These promises are not blank checks for selfish desires, but assurances that God responds to the requests of those who walk in fellowship with Him.

c. “Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy”

Before presenting his request, Solomon reflected upon the covenant faithfulness God had shown to David. God had preserved David’s life, upheld his kingdom, forgiven his failures, and established his throne. Solomon recognized that his own kingship was not a personal achievement but a continuation of divine kindness. God had promised David a son to sit upon his throne, and Solomon acknowledged that this promise was now fulfilled. Gratitude is the proper foundation for any request made to God.

d. “I am but a little child”

Solomon was not literally a child, but this phrase expressed humility, dependence, and self awareness. He felt the weight of the crown and recognized his inadequacy apart from divine wisdom. Leadership in Israel was an overwhelming responsibility, and Solomon confessed that he did not even know how to “go out or come in,” a Hebrew idiom describing the full range of leadership duties, from military action to civil administration.

His humility was not a form of refusal or avoidance. Solomon did not say, “I cannot do this, therefore I will not try.” Instead he said, “I cannot do this in my own strength, therefore I must depend upon God.” This posture is the key distinction between humility and unbelief.

e. “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart”

Solomon’s request was profoundly spiritual. He did not seek riches, military power, long life, or personal glory. He asked for an “understanding heart,” literally a “hearing heart,” a heart that listens to God, receives His instruction, and applies divine truth in real time. True wisdom begins in the heart, not in intellectual brilliance. Solomon asked for the ability to perceive the will of God, to distinguish truth from error, and to shepherd the people faithfully.

The New Testament contains a parallel prayer. Paul prayed that the Ephesian believers would experience “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened” (Ephesians 1:18). God grants spiritual perception to those who ask.

f. “To judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad”

Solomon understood that righteous judgment was central to kingship. The ability to discern between good and evil is essential for any leader, whether king, judge, or pastor. Many leaders lack such discernment, and others lack the courage to act upon it. Solomon’s request shows that he valued righteousness over personal advancement, and discernment over worldly success.

Solomon also acknowledged the greatness of God’s people. Israel was not an ordinary nation. It was “thy people, which thou hast chosen.” To govern such a nation required spiritual insight that no natural wisdom could provide. Solomon therefore asked for wisdom not for self benefit, but for the good of God’s people.

4. God’s Great Promise to Solomon

(1 Kings 3:10 through 1 Kings 3:15)

KJV Text

“And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life, neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment. Behold, I have done according to thy words, lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour, so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream, and he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.”

Expanded Notes

God now responds to Solomon’s selfless request with divine approval and abundant blessing. This passage reveals the heart of God toward those whose desires align with His will, and it also foreshadows both the greatness and the tragedy of Solomon’s later years.

a. The speech pleased the Lord

The Lord was pleased because Solomon asked for wisdom rather than selfish gain. Solomon recognized that governing God’s people required spiritual discernment beyond natural intelligence. God honored this humility. The Lord was pleased not only by what Solomon asked, but also by what he did not ask. Solomon did not request long life, personal wealth, or victory over his enemies. Instead he asked for the character needed to fulfill his calling.

This request was good and honorable. Yet, as one commentator observed, it fell short of the greatest possible request. Solomon asked for wisdom to rule effectively, but David often asked for God Himself, for communion, intimacy, and deeper fellowship. Solomon desired wisdom for service, which pleased the Lord, yet his life never demonstrated the depth of spiritual devotion that characterized his father. His wisdom was unmatched, but his heart lacked the burning affection that produced David’s psalms.

Solomon performed his duties with remarkable excellence, yet Scripture records that in his later years his heart turned away because of his wives. The seeds of this weakness lay even in his early devotion. His outward success was not matched by inward spiritual fire.

b. “I have done according to thy words… I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked”

God answered Solomon’s request completely and abundantly. The Lord granted Solomon unparalleled wisdom, promising that no king before him or after him would equal the wisdom bestowed upon him. Yet God did far more. Solomon did not ask for riches or honor, but the Lord gave him both in extraordinary measure.

This reminds us of the promise found in Ephesians 3:20, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Solomon experienced divine generosity far beyond what he requested.

God honored Solomon because he sought character instead of possessions. What we are matters infinitely more than what we have. Solomon asked for wisdom to fulfill his calling, and God added blessings Solomon never mentioned. This shows that when the heart is rightly ordered toward God, blessings follow according to His sovereign pleasure.

c. “And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream”

Though the revelation came through a dream, it was a real message from God. Solomon awoke with a transformed heart and immediately returned to Jerusalem to worship before the ark of the covenant. This is significant because the ark represented God’s presence. His first action after receiving divine wisdom was to worship, to offer burnt offerings and peace offerings, and to celebrate through a feast with his servants. Solomon acknowledged that the wisdom he received was not self generated but divinely given.

God made Solomon wise, powerful, wealthy, and honored. Under his reign Israel entered its golden age. Yet the story contains sober warning. Despite being blessed with every advantage, Solomon’s heart drifted. 1 Kings 11:4 through 1 Kings 11:11 records his fall into idolatry through foreign wives. His tragic end reveals the danger of wasted blessings. What God gave Solomon was unparalleled, yet Solomon failed to remain faithful to the grace given.

One commentator gives a stark assessment. Solomon began as the wisest of men but ended in profound foolishness. He worshiped idols, the abominations of foreign nations, demonstrating spiritual blindness. He received much from God, but squandered much through disobedience. His life stands as one of the greatest warnings in Scripture. Few biblical characters disappoint the reader more than Solomon, a man with unmatched potential who fell through divided loyalty.

B. An Example of Solomon’s Great Wisdom

1. Two women claim the same child as their own

(1 Kings 3:16 through 1 Kings 3:22)

KJV Text

“Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house, and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also, and we were together, there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. And this woman’s child died in the night, because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead, but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. And the other woman said, Nay, but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, Nay, but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.”

This passage introduces the most famous judicial decision in Solomon’s life. It is placed here not as an isolated anecdote, but as the first demonstration of the wisdom God had just bestowed upon the king. It displays not only Solomon’s intellectual discernment, but his compassion and his willingness to judge even the lowest among society.

a. “Two women, that were harlots, came to the king and stood before him”

It is remarkable that two prostitutes, women with no social standing and no political influence, were granted direct access to Israel’s king. Most monarchs in the ancient world would not trouble themselves with such individuals, especially in a matter involving no property, no political threat, and no wealthy household. The fact that Solomon received them personally testifies to his integrity and generosity. He viewed all Israel as worthy of justice, not merely the privileged.

Some have suggested that the Hebrew word “zonot” may also refer to innkeepers, though the common usage refers to prostitutes. Regardless of their specific occupation, these women lived on the margins of society. Their presence before the king underscores the righteousness of the Davidic monarchy. Solomon reflected the heart of a just ruler, one who upheld the dignity of the weak. Proverbs later written by Solomon proclaim, “Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:9).

b. “The dead one is thy son, and the living is my son”

The situation appeared impossible to resolve. Both women lived in the same house. Both had given birth days apart. No third party was present. There was no witness, no midwife, and no physical evidence by which the truth might easily be determined. One woman accused the other of rolling over her own infant in the night and then exchanging the children. The other denied it, and both claimed the living child as their own.

Humanly speaking, Solomon faced a case that could not be solved by ordinary judicial means. The Law of Moses required the testimony of witnesses in serious matters, “At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established” (Deuteronomy 19:15). Here, such a standard was impossible. It was one woman’s word against another. Any lesser man would have been forced into guesswork, compromise, or resignation.

Yet this impossible situation becomes the stage on which Solomon’s God given wisdom shines forth. It demonstrates that divine wisdom is not merely knowledge, but the ability to discern motives, expose deception, and bring truth to light where it seems hidden.

2. Solomon’s Wise Solution

(1 Kings 3:23 through 1 Kings 3:27)

KJV Text

“Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead, and the other saith, Nay, but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it, she is the mother thereof.”

Solomon now renders judgment in the most difficult legal case imaginable. No witnesses were present, no evidence existed, and both parties contradicted one another completely. What follows is not only the most famous legal decision in biblical history but also the first public demonstration of the supernatural wisdom God gave to Solomon. His solution is bold and shocking, yet perfectly crafted to bring the truth to the surface.

a. “Bring me a sword”

Solomon repeated the competing claims of the two women and then issued the unexpected command, “Bring me a sword.” To anyone watching, the command must have seemed outrageous, unnecessary, and even foolish. The idea of dividing a living infant between two women appeared irrational and cruel. However, Solomon did not intend to harm the child. His intent was to reveal the heart of each woman. His strategy was not violence but discernment. The sword was merely the instrument through which their true motives would be exposed.

This illustrates a divine principle. The judgments and works of God often appear strange or inscrutable to human understanding. As Trapp observes, wise princes often act in ways that seem mysterious to common observers. God Himself sometimes works in ways that seem confusing at first glance. Yet time reveals the depth of His wisdom. Solomon’s demand for a sword was a calculated move that forced the true mother to reveal herself without hesitation.

b. “Her bowels yearned upon her son”

The true mother immediately cried out in compassion, begging the king not to harm the child. Scripture says her “bowels yearned,” an expression describing deep emotional longing and maternal love. She would rather surrender her child to another than see him slain. Her selfless plea is the unmistakable mark of genuine motherhood. True love sacrifices self for the good of another. Her concern was not personal victory, but the life of her son.

In contrast, the false mother revealed her callousness by agreeing to the division of the child. She said, “Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.” Her selfishness and bitterness exposed her deceit. She had no true affection for the child, only envy and resentment. This stark contrast between sacrificial love and jealous cruelty provided Solomon all the evidence he needed.

c. “She is the mother thereof”

Solomon made his ruling based entirely on the women’s reactions. He correctly discerned that the woman who sought to preserve the child’s life, even at her own loss, was the true mother. The willingness to save the child at personal cost proved her identity beyond all doubt. Solomon was not guessing. He understood that maternal love is unmistakable. His verdict not only spared the infant, but fully vindicated the true mother and exposed the fraud.

This judgment stands as a timeless demonstration of the wisdom of God operating through a human king. The case had no witnesses, no evidence, and no legal precedent. Yet Solomon penetrated through deceit and brought forth justice with perfect clarity. His wisdom is revealed not in academic knowledge but in the ability to expose the heart.

3. Solomon Is Highly Esteemed in the Eyes of the People of Israel

(1 Kings 3:28)

KJV Text

“And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged, and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.”

This closing verse of the chapter shows the immediate nationwide impact of Solomon’s famous judgment. What took place between two marginalized women became the foundational proof to all Israel that their king possessed God given wisdom. It was the first public display of the very gift God had promised him at Gibeon, and it established his legitimacy as Israel’s divinely appointed ruler.

a. All Israel heard

A decision of this magnitude could not remain hidden. The impossibility of the case, the astonishing cleverness of Solomon’s strategy, and the undeniable justice of the outcome caused the story to spread throughout the kingdom. From the palace to the villages, word traveled rapidly. Israel was a covenant people who valued justice and righteousness, and when they heard how Solomon resolved an unsolvable dispute, they recognized the hand of God upon him. This single judgment did more to confirm his authority than proclamations or decrees could ever accomplish. It demonstrated truth in action.

b. “They feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment”

The fear described here is not terror but reverent respect. The people understood that Solomon judged not from human cleverness but from divine wisdom. They recognized that he possessed both the insight and the moral courage required to uphold justice. A ruler who combines wisdom with boldness commands respect, and Israel responded accordingly. This reverence promoted national stability, discouraged rebellion, and reinforced obedience to the king’s laws. The people saw that Solomon could not be manipulated, deceived, or intimidated. His authority was grounded in the fear of the Lord, and the nation responded with healthy fear.

This verse also highlights that Solomon did not merely possess wisdom, he used it. Some leaders may know what is right but lack the resolve to act on it. Solomon demonstrated immediate application of the gift God had given him, proving that biblical wisdom involves action as much as understanding.

i. The rabbinic legends that grew around Solomon’s wisdom

Jewish tradition often expanded on Solomon’s reputation for extraordinary discernment. Ginzberg preserves one such legend. A demon is said to have brought Solomon a creature called a Cainite, a being with two heads. Unable to return underground, the Cainite married and had seven sons, one of whom also had two heads. When the two headed father died, the two headed son claimed a double portion of the inheritance, arguing that he was essentially two persons in one body. The six brothers denied this claim, believing he should receive only one share.

The Sanhedrin could not resolve the dispute, so Solomon sought divine wisdom. He ordered hot water to be poured on one of the two heads. Both heads cried out in pain, reacting together. From this, Solomon concluded that the man was a single person and deserved only one portion of the inheritance.

Although these stories are purely legendary, they reveal how deeply Solomon’s wisdom impressed the Jewish imagination. His extraordinary discernment became symbolic of divine justice rendered through a human ruler. Israel remembered him not only as a king, but as a man through whom God’s wisdom was made visible.