Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 3:6
And Solomon said, Thou hast showed 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.
6. great mercy ] As the word is the same as that rendered kindness in the latter half of the verse it is better to render it so here. The first kindness was during David’s life, the further kindness was in giving him a successor.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This great kindness – David himself had regarded this as Gods crowning mercy to him 1Ki 1:48.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Solomon said, i.e. he dreamed that he said. See Poole “1Ki 3:5“. Or, he really said. For although the use of reason is ordinarily so dark and imperfect in dreams, that such actings are not human actions; yet in extraordinary and Divine dreams it is but reasonable to allow something extraordinary. For who can doubt but God may so clear up and assist a mans reason in his dream, that he may have a true and strong apprehension of some things, which also may make a suitable impression upon the will or affections; and consequently such acts of the soul may be moral acts, and regardable by God and men? And this might be a kind of ecstatical rapture, whereby his soul might be as it were carried out of his body, as St. Pauls was, 2Co 12:3, for a season; in which case both his reason might clearly and distinctly apprehend Gods mind, and his gracious offer; and his will might make a free choice of wisdom; which therefore might be accepted and rewarded by God.
In truth; either, first, Sincerely, and without dissimulation. But that is more fully expressed in the following words, in uprightness of heart. Or rather, secondly, In the true worship and service of God, in the profession, belief, practice, and defence of the truth, or of the true religion, or of Gods will or word, which is called truth, Pro 23:23; Joh 17:17; Gal 3:1. So
truth here contains all his duties to God, as
righteousness doth his duties to men, and uprightness the right manner of performing both sorts of duties.
Uprightness of heart with thee, i.e. in thy judgment, to whom alone his heart was known; and to whom he oft appealed as the witness of his integrity; and with respect to whom he performed all his duties, even to men. Thou hast kept, or, reserved, that which thou didst not reserve for Saul, whose posterity thou didst cut off from the kingdom.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. Solomon saidthat is, haddreamed that he said.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Solomon said,…. In his dream; not that he dreamt he said, when he did not; but he really said, as follows:
thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy; bestowed many favours and blessings upon him, both temporal and spiritual:
according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; in the truth of doctrine and worship, according to the revealed will and word of God, and which he observed with great strictness, living soberly, righteously, and godly, though not without failings and imperfections, yet with great integrity and sincerity; and this holy walk of his was not the cause of God’s showing mercy to him, nor was it in proportion to that, but what he was influenced to by the mercy that was shown him:
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; a son to be his successor, meaning himself; which was an additional favour to all the rest, and was in reserve, and now bestowed, as time had made to appear.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(6) And Solomon said.On Solomons wisdom, see Note on 1Ki. 4:29. Here it is clear that the wisdom which he asks is that of the ruler, involving elements both moral and intellectualthe wisdom to discern and do true justice between man and man. He calls himself a little childhis age is variously estimated from twelve to twenty at this timeand trembles at the responsibility of ruling over so great a people. But, in the characteristic spirit of the true godliness of the Old Testament, he looks for wisdom, not as the mere result of human teaching and experience, but as an inspiration of God, and prays for it accordingly, in a prayer of singular beauty and humility, pleading simply Gods promise to his father, and its fulfilment in his own accession to the throne.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(6) And Solomon said, Thou hast showed 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. (7) 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. (8) 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. (9) 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?
How delightful a petition this was of Solomon’s! how different from men of the world! and how evident that his mind was under divine teaching. Reader! do not forget that we cannot pray as we ought, as the apostle saith, unless the Spirit teach us; whatever we say in prayer to our God in Jesus, God, by his blessed Spirit, must first say to us. Rom 8:26 . Under this heavenly teacher, what an high mercy it is, in the silence of the night, or amidst the tumults of the day, to have our souls going forth in prayer or praise to the Lord! David hath a beautiful thought on the subject when he saith, I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel; my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. Psa 16:7 . Behold, Reader, the modesty, the humbleness, and teachable mind of Solomon. He calls himself a little child; one that knoweth not how to go out or come in, in the midst of such an enlightened nation as Israel. How sweet is it to behold ministers, both in church and state, thus diffident, and seeking grace from the Lord!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ki 3:6 And Solomon said, 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.
Ver. 6. And Solomon said. ] Though asleep, yet thus he said in his heart, and perhaps with his mouth too; as some have prayed notably in their sleep, the roof of their mouth being “like the best wine, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak” Son 7:9
According as he walked before thee.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
said: i.e. in his sleep. Compare 1Ki 3:15. See note on Psa 127:2.
mercy = grace, or lovingkindness.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
thy servant: Num 12:7, 2Sa 7:5
great: 2Sa 7:8-12, 2Sa 12:7, 2Sa 12:8, 2Sa 22:47-51, 1Ch 29:12-14, Psa 78:70-72
mercy: or, bounty, Psa 13:6, Psa 116:7, Psa 119:17, 2Co 9:5, 2Co 9:11
according: 1Ki 2:4, 1Ki 9:4, 1Ki 15:5, 2Ki 20:3, Psa 15:2, Psa 18:20-24
that: 1Ki 1:48
Reciprocal: Gen 6:9 – and Noah Gen 17:1 – walk Gen 48:15 – did walk 1Ki 2:24 – set me 1Ki 3:3 – walking 1Ki 8:23 – walk before 2Ki 22:2 – walked 1Ch 4:18 – Bithiah 1Ch 28:9 – the God 2Ch 6:10 – I am risen 2Ch 6:14 – walk before Psa 78:72 – guided Pro 14:2 – that walketh Pro 15:14 – heart Ecc 7:11 – good with an inheritance Ecc 12:1 – Remember Jer 4:2 – in truth Mat 20:2 – he sent 3Jo 1:4 – walk
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 3:6-8. According as he walked before thee in truth In the true worship of God, in the profession, belief, practice, and defence of the true religion. So truth here contains all duties to God, as righteousness doth his duties to men, and uprightness the right manner of performing both sorts of duties. In uprightness of heart with thee That is, in thy judgment, to whom he appealed as the witness of his integrity. I am but a child So he was in years: not above twenty years old, and withal (which he principally intends) he was raw and inexperienced as a child in state affairs. How to go out, &c. To govern my people, and manage affairs. Thy servant is in the midst of thy people Is set over them to rule and guide them. A metaphor from the overseer of divers workmen, who usually is in the midst of them, that he may the better observe how each of them discharges his office. Which thou hast chosen Thy peculiar people, whom thou takest special care of, and therefore wilt expect a more punctual account of my government of them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
3:6 And Solomon said, 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 {e} kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as [it is] this day.
(e) You have performed your promise.