Solomon's Wisdom #59

Solomon’s wisdom is the trait for which Israel’s third king is best remembered. Early in his reign, he traveled to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, and God appeared to him in a dream and offered to give him whatever he asked. Solomon asked for an understanding mind to govern God’s people. The famous judgment between two women who claimed the same baby then demonstrated the wisdom he received. The accounts are in 1 Kings 3 and 2 Chronicles 1.

Biblical Account

After David’s death, Solomon consolidated his rule and loved the LORD, though he, like others, sacrificed at high places. The greatest of these was at Gibeon, where he offered a thousand burnt offerings. That night the LORD appeared to him in a dream and said, “Ask what I shall give you.” Solomon acknowledged that he was like a little child who did not know how to go out or come in, and asked for an understanding mind to govern God’s people and to discern between good and evil. God was pleased that he had not asked for long life, riches or the life of his enemies, and He granted him a wise and discerning mind, and also gave him riches and honor. God added that if Solomon walked in His ways as David did, he would have a long life. Solomon woke, returned to Jerusalem and offered sacrifices before the ark of the covenant (1 Kings 3:3-15; 2 Chronicles 1:7-12).

Soon afterward, two women who lived in the same house came before the king. Each had given birth to a son, and one child had died in the night. Each claimed the living baby. Solomon called for a sword and proposed to divide the child in two. One woman said to give the living child to the other, while the second said to divide him. Solomon ruled that the first woman was the true mother, and all Israel heard of the judgment and stood in awe of the king, for they saw the wisdom of God in him (1 Kings 3:16-28).

The writer says Solomon’s wisdom surpassed all the people of the east and the wisdom of Egypt. He spoke three thousand proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs, and he taught about plants and animals, and people from all nations came to hear him (1 Kings 4:29-34). The queen of Sheba traveled to test him with hard questions and left amazed (1 Kings 10:1-13).

Theological Significance

The account presents wisdom as a gift from God, sought in humility and received in response to a request. The book of Proverbs is attributed in part to Solomon, and Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon are associated with him by tradition. The narrative also serves as a warning. Solomon’s later marriages to foreign women led him toward idolatry, and his wisdom did not prevent that failure, which led to the division of the kingdom after his death (1 Kings 11:1-13). Wisdom in the Bible is tied to obedience, not only intellect.