1 Kings 3; 5-11

Solomon is the third of Israel’s three great kings, all of whom were really good men who could not handle the power of being king. I am humbled when I consider how promising they seemed when they began, and compare those images with how each one fell short. Sometimes we act as though it is an easy thing to get through this life without any major missteps. It isn’t. If these three good men could not succeed, even though they were the very best men their country had to offer, then is it really so surprising that so many of us also fall short in our attempts? Is there not room for great compassion when we compare their situations with our own?

In 1 Kings 3:5, we read, “In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, ask what I shall give thee.”

Imagine for a moment that you were given this dream. What would you ask for?

Solomon’s response is beautiful. In verses 6–9, he says, “Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”

The Lord likes what Solomon said. In verses 11–14, he responds, “And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.”

The rest of the chapter illustrates Solomon’s wisdom. In verses 16–28 is the story of two women who are harlots. Each had a baby, but one baby died and the other lived. When they both claim the living child, Solomon determines who the mother is by offering to divide the living child. This story does not make clear which woman was lying and which woman was telling the truth, but the child goes to the woman who is unwilling to have her baby killed, even if it means giving up her child to the other woman.

Chapters 5–10 talk about Solomon’s reign and what he did. Unlike Saul and David, Solomon is not a war king. The wars are over, and Israel is victorious. Instead, Solomon begins to build. The first item on the list is a temple, built with the help of Hiram, king of Tyre, “for Hiram was ever a lover of David” (1 Kings 5:1). The footnote here says, “The Hebrew term here expresses the affection held by one friend for another….” Hiram and Solomon help each other so that Solomon can build something spectacular. In 1 Kings 7:23–26, we read about the temple’s baptismal font on the back of twelve oxen statues representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The temple is done by the end of chapter 7, and in chapter 8 we have the dedication ceremony.

My favorite part of the dedication is in verse 46–52, where Solomon says, “If [Israel sins] against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near; yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness; and so return unto thee with all their heart, and all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built unto thy name; then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them; for they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron; that thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee.”

At the end of the prayer (verse 54) Solomon “arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.” He blesses his people, and then he offers a sacrifice to God.

God answers Solomon with another vision. He makes Solomon glorious promises in 1 Kings 9:3–5. But in verses 6–9 he also warns Solomon that the promises are conditional upon Israel’s righteousness. He says, ‘But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes, which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them….”

Chapter 10 talks about the visit of queen of Sheba and again emphasizes how wise, wealthy, and powerful Solomon had become. The Study Guide has a good reference on p. 18. The question is, “How should wisdom, riches, and honor be used?” The answer is suggested with a reference to Jacob 2:18–19, which tells us that if we are righteous, our riches will be used to help other people instead of building fabulous and luxurious buildings for ourselves to enjoy.

Chapter 11 is about Solomon’s downfall. As with David his father, women are his undoing. We read in 1 Kings 11:3, “…his wives turned away his heart.” In verse 5, we learn that “…Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.” The Bible Dictionary (p. 615) has an entry entitled “Ashtaroth.” It reads, “Plural of Ashtoreth. Idols worshipped with Baal, by the Israelites….” Under the entry for “Milcom” (p. 732) it reads, “Their king”…. also called Molech.” Under “Molech” (p. 733) it reads, “…a fire god, worshipped by passing children through or burning them in fire….” Under “Baal” (p. 617) it reads, “Baal is by some identified with Bel of Babylon and Zeus of Greece. The word Baal expresses the relation between lord and slave.” As I read this, I see three things that were very offensive to God: (1) sexual immorality, (2) murdering babies, and (3) degrading the relationship between us and our Heavenly Father from that of loving parents and children to that of an unkind, unjust king and his slaves. I am reminded of D&C 121:41–46, which contains such a profound description of the nature of God’s true power and influence over us.

The rest of chapter 11 deals with setting things up and preparing the reader for the destruction of Israel as a single kingdom. God tells Solomon what is going to happen (verses 9–14), enemies arise (verses 14–25), and a new king (Jeroboam) is selected, in preparation for when Israel is to be divided (verses 26–40).

This is such a great lesson, because it does deal with idolatry, and idolatry of wealth and power is one of the real problems of our time. I am reminded of the work of Avraham Gileadi, who has had a lot of interesting things to say on the subject based on his study of Isaiah. Also, I think it also shows us how powerful it can be to ask God for gifts and talents that will bless the lives of those around us. Who would not want to have the wisdom and spiritual insight of Solomon before he fell? The end of the lesson guide suggests looking (among other things) at D&C 46, which talks about seeking the best gifts, but it could also have suggested looking in 3 Nephi 29, especially verses 6–9.

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Sunday School Notebook -July 2006 - Susan Morgan