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Text -- 1 Kings 3:5 (NET)

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Context
3:5 One night in Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream. God said, “Tell me what I should give you.”
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · Gibeon a town of Benjamin pioneered by Jeiel of Benjamin
 · Solomon the tenth son of David; the father of Rehoboam; an ancestor of Jesus; the third king of Israel.,son of David and Bath-Sheba; successor of King David


Dictionary Themes and Topics: Temple, Solomon's | Solomon | Prayer | Micah, Book of | INTERCESSION | God | Gibeon | Dream | DREAM; DREAMER | DIVINATION | Communion | Children | AUGURY | APPEAR | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
JFB , Clarke , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable , Guzik

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

JFB: 1Ki 3:5 - -- It was probably at the close of this season, when his mind had been elevated into a high state of religious fervor by the protracted services. Solomon...

It was probably at the close of this season, when his mind had been elevated into a high state of religious fervor by the protracted services. Solomon felt an intense desire, and he had offered an earnest petition, for the gift of wisdom. In sleep his thoughts ran upon the subject of his prayer, and he dreamed that God appeared to him and gave him the option of every thing in the world--that he asked wisdom, and that God granted his request (1Ki 3:9-12). His dream was but an imaginary repetition of his former desire, but God's grant of it was real.

Clarke: 1Ki 3:5 - -- The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream - This was the night after he had offered the sacrifices, (see 2Ch 1:7), and probably after he had earnestly...

The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream - This was the night after he had offered the sacrifices, (see 2Ch 1:7), and probably after he had earnestly prayed for wisdom; see Wis. 7:7: Wherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. If this were the case, the dream might have been the consequence of his earnest prayer for wisdom: the images of those things which occupy the mind during the day are most likely to recur during the night; and this, indeed, is the origin of the greater part of our dreams. But this appears to have been supernatural

Gregory Nyssen, speaking of different kinds of dreams, observes that our organs and brain are not unlike a musical instrument; while the strings of such instruments have their proper degree of tension, they give, when touched, a harmonious sound, but as soon as they are relaxed or screwed down, they give no sound at all. During our waking hours, our senses, touched by our reason, produce the most harmonious concert; but as soon as we are asleep, the instrument is no longer capable of emitting any sound, unless it happen that the remembrance of what passed during the day returns and presents itself to the mind while we are asleep, and so forms a dream; just as the strings of an instrument continue to emit feeble sounds for some time after the musician has ceased to strike them. - See Greg. Nyss. De opificio hominis, cap. xii., p. 77. Oper. vol. i., edit. Morell., Par. 1638

This may account, in some measure, for common dreams: but even suppose we should not allow that Solomon had been the day before earnestly requesting the gift of wisdom from God, yet we might grant that such a dream as this might be produced by the immediate influence of God upon the soul. And if Solomon received his wisdom by immediate inspiration from heaven, this was the kind of dream that he had; a dream by which that wisdom was actually communicated. But probably we need not carry this matter so much into miracle: God might be the author of his extraordinary wisdom, as he was the author of his extraordinary riches. Some say, "He lay down as ignorant as other men, and yet arose in the morning wiser than all the children of men."I think this is as credible as that he lay down with a scanty revenue, and in the morning, when he arose, found his treasury full. In short, God’ s especial blessing brought him riches through the medium of his own care and industry; as the inspiration of the Almighty gave him understanding, while he gave his heart to seek and search out by his wisdom, concerning all things under the sun, Ecc 1:13. God gave him the seeds of an extraordinary understanding, and, by much study and research, they grew up under the Divine blessing, and produced a plentiful harvest; but, alas! they did not continue to grow.

TSK: 1Ki 3:5 - -- the Lord : 1Ki 9:2 in a dream : Gen 28:12, Gen 28:13; Num 12:6; Job 33:14, Job 33:15; Mat 1:20, Mat 2:13, Mat 2:19 Ask what : 2Ch 1:7-12; Mat 7:7, Mat...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: 1Ki 3:5 - -- The Lord appeared unto Solomon in a dream - Compare the marginal references and Gen 15:1; Gen 28:12; Gen 37:5.

The Lord appeared unto Solomon in a dream - Compare the marginal references and Gen 15:1; Gen 28:12; Gen 37:5.

Poole: 1Ki 3:5 - -- Quest How could Solomon pray in his dream, or that prayer be acceptable to God, as this was, 1Ki 3:10 ? Answ The dreams of men are not such insigni...

Quest How could Solomon pray in his dream, or that prayer be acceptable to God, as this was, 1Ki 3:10 ?

Answ The dreams of men are not such insignificant things as many imagine. That good dreams are oftentimes praiseworthy, and evil dreams blameworthy, is not only the opinion of the Jews and Christians, but of divers of the wiser and better heathens; and the reason hereof is evident, because men’ s dreams are commonly the images of their minds and tempers, and do only reflect and represent, though but faintly and imperfectly, those very things which are most imprinted upon their hearts by their waking meditations and daily conversation; and therefore it is not unreasonable, that either the sinful dreams of evil-minded men should be imputed to them, and punished in them, or the virtuous dreams of good men be imputed to and rewarded in them: which was Solomon’ s case; for his heart having been daily and constantly employed in passionate longings and prayers for the wisdom which here he begs, it was a natural and likely thing that his heart should, as it did, work that way even in his dreams. Although, to speak truly and strictly, Solomon’ s prayer made in his dream would have been no way pleasing to God, nor profitable to himself, if it had not been the result of his daily and most serious practice; and though God signified his mind in a dream, yet it was Solomon’ s waking prayers (which were shadowed by this dark representation) which God accepted and requited; and this acceptance of God was signified to him in an extraordinary manner, and by a Divine dream, which was one of those ways whereby God oft used to communicate his will to his prophets and people. So the whole business lies thus: Solomon dreamed that God bid him ask what he would, 1Ki 3:5 , and that he did ask wisdom, 1Ki 3:6 , &c., and that God accepted his desire, 1Ki 3:10 , and gave him that gracious answer, 1Ki 3:11 . &c. And all this was done in a dream, but with this difference; Solomon’ s prayer was but imaginary, but God’ s answer was real, though conveyed in a dream. And when he awoke, he knew by Divine inspiration that this was a dream sent from God to assure him that he would give him wisdom, and riches, and honour, and this with respect unto his frequent, constant, and fervent waking desires, which his dream of his prayers did sufficiently intimate. See Poole "1Ki 3:6" .

God said i.e. he dreamed that God said so.

Haydock: 1Ki 3:5 - -- In a prophetic dream, or ecstasy. His mind had been so filled with the desire of wisdom, that the same thoughts recurred to him while he slept; an...

In a prophetic dream, or ecstasy. His mind had been so filled with the desire of wisdom, that the same thoughts recurred to him while he slept; and, as he had entertained them voluntarily before, he acquired fresh merit even during that time; as a man, who indulges sensual affections, becomes responsible for the accidents of the night. (St. Thomas Aquinas, [Summa Theologiae] 1. 2. q. 113. a. 2. and 2. 2. 9. 154. a. 5.) (St. Augustine, de Gen. ad lit. xii. 15.) (Calmet)

Gill: 1Ki 3:5 - -- In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night,.... This was not a common natural dream, but an extraordinary, divine, and supernatural on...

In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night,.... This was not a common natural dream, but an extraordinary, divine, and supernatural one, a prophetic dream, a night vision, such as God used to speak in to his prophets; in which he had the full use of his reasoning powers, was under divine impressions, and in a spiritual frame of mind, and in the exercise of grace; it was not a mere dream that the Lord did appear to him, but he really did appear to him while sleeping and dreaming, by some display of his glory in some way or another:

and God said, ask what I shall give thee; he did not hereby dream that God said to him, but he really did say this; bid him ask what he would and it should be given him; he knew what he designed to give, but he would have it asked of him, as he will be inquired of by all his people to do that for them which he has intended and provided for them; and it is encouragement enough for them to ask, since he has promised to give.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 1Ki 3:5 Heb “ask.”

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: 1Ki 3:1-28 - --1 Solomon marries Pharaoh's daughter.2 High places being in use, Solomon sacrifices at Gibeon.5 Solomon at Gibeon, in the choice which God gave him, p...

MHCC: 1Ki 3:5-15 - --Solomon's dream was not a common one. While his bodily powers were locked up in sleep, the powers of his soul were strengthened; he was enabled to rec...

Matthew Henry: 1Ki 3:5-15 - -- We have here an account of a gracious visit which God paid to Solomon, and the communion he had with God in it, which put a greater honour upon Solo...

Keil-Delitzsch: 1Ki 3:4-15 - -- Solomon's Sacrifice and Dream at Gibeon (cf. 2Ch 1:1-13). - To implorethe divine blessing upon his reign, Solomon offered to the Lord at Gibeon agre...

Constable: 1Ki 1:1--11:43 - --I. THE REIGN OF SOLOMON chs. 1--11 The Holy Spirit led the writer of Kings to give an interpretation of history,...

Constable: 1Ki 3:1-28 - --2. Solomon's wisdom from God ch. 3 The flowing narrative of chapters 1-2 now gives way to report...

Constable: 1Ki 3:4-15 - --Solomon's petition for wisdom 3:4-15 A tabernacle, evidently the Mosaic tabernacle, and ...

Guzik: 1Ki 3:1-28 - --1 Kings 3 - Solomon is Given Great Wisdom A. God gives Solomon wisdom. 1. (1) Solomon marries an Egyptian princess. Now Solomon made a treaty with...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: 1 Kings (Book Introduction) THE FIRST AND SECOND BOOKS OF KINGS, in the ancient copies of the Hebrew Bible, constitute one book. Various titles have been given them; in the Septu...

JFB: 1 Kings (Outline) ABISHAG CHERISHES DAVID IN HIS EXTREME AGE. (1Ki 1:1-4) ADONIJAH USURPS THE KINGDOM. (1Ki. 1:5-31) SOLOMON, BY DAVID'S APPOINTMENT, IS ANOINTED KING....

TSK: 1 Kings 3 (Chapter Introduction) Overview 1Ki 3:1, Solomon marries Pharaoh’s daughter; 1Ki 3:2, High places being in use, Solomon sacrifices at Gibeon; 1Ki 3:5, Solomon at Gibeo...

Poole: 1 Kings (Book Introduction) FIRST BOOK OF KINGS COMMONLY CALLED THE THIRD BOOK OF THE KINGS THE ARGUMENT THESE two Books called Of the Kings, because they treat of the kings of...

Poole: 1 Kings 3 (Chapter Introduction) KINGS CHAPTER 3 Solomon marrieth Pharaoh’ s daughter: high places being in use, he goeth to Gibeon to sacrifice, 1Ki 3:1-4 . There the Lord ap...

MHCC: 1 Kings (Book Introduction) The history now before us accounts for the affairs of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, yet with special regard to the kingdom of God among them; for ...

MHCC: 1 Kings 3 (Chapter Introduction) (1Ki 3:1-4) Solomon's marriage. (1Ki 3:5-15) His vision, His prayer for wisdom. (1Ki 3:16-28) The judgment of Solomon.

Matthew Henry: 1 Kings (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The First Book of Kings Many histories are books of kings and their reigns, to which the affairs of the...

Matthew Henry: 1 Kings 3 (Chapter Introduction) Solomon's reign looked bloody in the foregoing chapter, but the necessary acts of justice must not be called cruelty; in this chapter it appears wi...

Constable: 1 Kings (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The Books of 1 and 2 Kings received their names because they docume...

Constable: 1 Kings (Outline) Outline I. The reign of Solomon chs. 1-11 A. Solomon's succession to David's throne 1:1-2:12...

Constable: 1 Kings 1 Kings Bibliography Aharoni, Yohanan. "The Building Activities of David and Solomon." Israel Exploration Journ...

Haydock: 1 Kings (Book Introduction) THE THIRD BOOK OF KINGS. INTRODUCTION. This and the following Book are called by the holy Fathers, The Third and Fourth Book of Kings; but b...

Gill: 1 Kings (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS This, and the following book, properly are but one book, divided into two parts, and went with the Jews under the common na...

Gill: 1 Kings 3 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 3 This chapter relates the marriage of Solomon with Pharaoh's daughter, 1Ki 3:1; his piety and devotion, 1Ki 3:2; his praye...

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