Jeroboam then thought to himself:<n id="1" /> &#8220;Now the Davidic dynasty could regain the kingdom.<n id="2" />

I<n id="1" /> grant your request,<n id="2" /> and give<n id="3" /> you a wise and discerning mind<n id="4" /> superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you.<n id="5" />

<p class="bodytext">God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment; the breadth of his understanding<n id="1" /> was as infinite as the sand on the seashore.

When your people<n id="1" /> come to their senses<n id="2" /> in the land where they are held prisoner, they will repent and beg for your mercy in the land of their imprisonment, admitting, &#8216;We have sinned and gone astray;<n id="3" /> we have done evil.&#8217;

Everyone<n id="1" /> in the world wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">He had 700 royal wives<n id="1" /> and 300 concubines;<n id="2" /> his wives had a powerful influence over him.<n id="3" />

Answer me, O <sc>Lordsc>, answer me, so these people will know that you, O <sc>Lordsc>, are the true God<n id="1" /> and that you are winning back their allegiance.&#8221;<n id="2" />

So give your servant a discerning mind<n id="1" /> so he can make judicial decisions for<n id="2" /> your people and distinguish right from wrong.<n id="3" /> Otherwise<n id="4" /> no one is able<n id="5" /> to make judicial decisions for<n id="6" /> this great nation of yours.&#8221;<n id="7" />

He prayed:<n id="1" /> &#8220;O <sc>Lord,sc> God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You maintain covenantal loyalty<n id="2" /> to your servants who obey you with sincerity.<n id="3" />

On the fifteenth day after the festival started,<n id="1" /> he dismissed the people. They asked God to empower the king<n id="2" /> and then went to their homes, happy and content<n id="3" /> because of all the good the <sc>Lordsc> had done for his servant David and his people Israel.p>

The <sc>Lordsc> said to him, &#8220;I have answered<n id="1" /> your prayer and your request for help that you made to me. I have consecrated this temple you built by making it my permanent home;<n id="2" /> I will be constantly present there.<n id="3" />

If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple in Jerusalem,<n id="1" /> their loyalty could shift to their former master,<n id="2" /> King Rehoboam of Judah. They might kill me and return to King Rehoboam of Judah.&#8221;

His wife Jezebel said to him, &#8220;You are the king of Israel!<n id="1" /> Get up, eat some food, and have a good time.<n id="2" /> I will get the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.&#8221;p>