3:1 Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and married one of his daughters. He brought her to live in the City of David until he could finish building his palace and the Temple of the LORD and the wall around the city.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 1 , Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and married one of his daughters. He brought her to live in the City of David until he could finish building his palace and the Temple of the LORD and the wall around the city.
3:2 At that time the people of Israel sacrificed their offerings at local altars, for a temple honoring the name of the LORD had not yet been built.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 2 , At that time the people of Israel sacrificed their offerings at local altars, for a temple honoring the name of the LORD had not yet been built.
3:3 Solomon loved the LORD and followed all the instructions of his father, David, except that Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned incense at the local altars.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 3 , Solomon loved the LORD and followed all the instructions of his father, David, except that Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned incense at the local altars.
3:4 The most important of these altars was at Gibeon, so the king went there and sacrificed one thousand burnt offerings.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 4 , The most important of these altars was at Gibeon, so the king went there and sacrificed one thousand burnt offerings.
3:5 That night the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, 'What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!'
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 5 , That night the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, 'What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!'
3:6 Solomon replied, 'You were wonderfully kind to my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued this great kindness to him today by giving him a son to succeed him.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 6 , Solomon replied, 'You were wonderfully kind to my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued this great kindness to him today by giving him a son to succeed him.
3:7 O LORD my God, now you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn't know his way around.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 7 , O LORD my God, now you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn't know his way around.
3:8 And here I am among your own chosen people, a nation so great they are too numerous to count!
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 8 , And here I am among your own chosen people, a nation so great they are too numerous to count!
3:9 Give me an understanding mind so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great nation of yours?'
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 9 , Give me an understanding mind so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great nation of yours?'
3:10 The Lord was pleased with Solomon's reply and was glad that he had asked for wisdom.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 10 , The Lord was pleased with Solomon's reply and was glad that he had asked for wisdom.
3:11 So God replied, 'Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people and have not asked for a long life or riches for yourself or the death of your enemies--
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 11 , So God replied, 'Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people and have not asked for a long life or riches for yourself or the death of your enemies--
3:12 I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding mind such as no one else has ever had or ever will have!
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 12 , I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding mind such as no one else has ever had or ever will have!
3:13 And I will also give you what you did not ask for--riches and honor! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life!
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 13 , And I will also give you what you did not ask for--riches and honor! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life!
3:14 And if you follow me and obey my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.'
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 14 , And if you follow me and obey my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.'
3:15 Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Lord's covenant, where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he invited all his officials to a great banquet.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 15 , Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Lord's covenant, where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he invited all his officials to a great banquet.
3:16 Some time later, two prostitutes came to the king to have an argument settled.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 16 , Some time later, two prostitutes came to the king to have an argument settled.
3:17 'Please, my lord,' one of them began, 'this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a baby while she was with me in the house.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 17 , 'Please, my lord,' one of them began, 'this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a baby while she was with me in the house.
3:18 Three days later, she also had a baby. We were alone; there were only two of us in the house.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 18 , Three days later, she also had a baby. We were alone; there were only two of us in the house.
3:19 But her baby died during the night when she rolled over on it.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 19 , But her baby died during the night when she rolled over on it.
3:20 Then she got up in the night and took my son from beside me while I was asleep. She laid her dead child in my arms and took mine to sleep beside her.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 20 , Then she got up in the night and took my son from beside me while I was asleep. She laid her dead child in my arms and took mine to sleep beside her.
3:21 And in the morning when I tried to nurse my son, he was dead! But when I looked more closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't my son at all.'
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 21 , And in the morning when I tried to nurse my son, he was dead! But when I looked more closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't my son at all.'
3:22 Then the other woman interrupted, 'It certainly was your son, and the living child is mine.' 'No,' the first woman said, 'the dead one is yours, and the living one is mine.' And so they argued back and forth before the king.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 22 , Then the other woman interrupted, 'It certainly was your son, and the living child is mine.' 'No,' the first woman said, 'the dead one is yours, and the living one is mine.' And so they argued back and forth before the king.
3:23 Then the king said, 'Let's get the facts straight. Both of you claim the living child is yours, and each says that the dead child belongs to the other.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 23 , Then the king said, 'Let's get the facts straight. Both of you claim the living child is yours, and each says that the dead child belongs to the other.
3:24 All right, bring me a sword.' So a sword was brought to the king.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 24 , All right, bring me a sword.' So a sword was brought to the king.
3:25 Then he said, 'Cut the living child in two and give half to each of these women!'
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 25 , Then he said, 'Cut the living child in two and give half to each of these women!'
3:26 Then the woman who really was the mother of the living child, and who loved him very much, cried out, 'Oh no, my lord! Give her the child--please do not kill him!' But the other woman said, 'All right, he will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!'
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 26 , Then the woman who really was the mother of the living child, and who loved him very much, cried out, 'Oh no, my lord! Give her the child--please do not kill him!' But the other woman said, 'All right, he will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!'
3:27 Then the king said, 'Do not kill him, but give the baby to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his mother!'
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 27 , Then the king said, 'Do not kill him, but give the baby to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his mother!'
3:28 Word of the king's decision spread quickly throughout all Israel, and the people were awed as they realized the great wisdom God had given him to render decisions with justice.
The NLT Book of 1Kings , Chapter 3 , Verse 28 , Word of the king's decision spread quickly throughout all Israel, and the people were awed as they realized the great wisdom God had given him to render decisions with justice.
