1 Kings 3:1-5
Solomon’s Rule Consolidated
1 Now Solomon became a son-in-law to Pharaoh king of Egypt [and formed an alliance] by (a)taking Pharaoh’s daughter [in marriage]. He brought her to the (b)City of David [where she remained temporarily] until he had finished building his own house (palace) and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem.
2 But [in the meantime] the people were still sacrificing [to God] on the high places (hilltops) [as the pagans did to their idols], for there was no [permanent] house yet built for the (c)Name of the Lord.
3 Now Solomon loved the Lord, walking [at first] in the statutes of David his father, except [for the fact that] he sacrificed and burned incense in the high places [ignoring the law that required all sacrifices to be offered at the tabernacle].(A)
4 The king went to Gibeon [near Jerusalem, where the tabernacle and the bronze altar stood] to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask [Me] what I shall give you.”
Footnotes:
a.
1 Kings 3:1: Pharaoh gave the Canaanite city of Gezer to his daughter as a dowry. Located on a major trade route it was strategically important to the economies of both Egypt and Israel (see 9:16).
b.
1 Kings 3:1: This was on the south side of the eastern ridge of Jerusalem.
c.
1 Kings 3:2: See note Deut 12:5.