Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 3:7
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.
7. I am but a little child ] This is a form of expression meant to indicate want of experience, but cannot be pressed literally. What Solomon’s age may have been we have very imperfect data for judging. The ordinary chronology puts the murder of Uriah about twenty years before David’s death. If this be correct Solomon might be at this time 17 or 18 years old. Bunsen ( Bibelwerk) says 22.
to go out or come in ] This expression of going out and coming in is frequent in one form or another for the manner of leading one’s life, and engaging in one’s proper duties. So Joshua uses it (1Ki 14:11) of his fitness for the leadership of Israel. Moses (Deu 31:2) when he is speaking of his growing age, says he can no more go out and come in.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
See 1Ki 2:2 note, and on the hyperbole contained in the phrase little child, compare Gen 43:8; Exo 33:11.
How to go out or come in – This expression is proverbial for the active conduct of affairs. (See the marginal reference.)
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. I know not how to go out or come in.] I am just like an infant learning to walk alone, and can neither go out nor come in without help.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I am but a little child; so he was in years; not as if he were now but twelve years old, as many gather from this name of child; for that name is given to Ishmael when eighteen years old, Gen 21:14,15, and to Rehoboam when forty-one years old, 2Ch 13:7, where the word is the same in the Hebrew; and before this time David calls him a wise man, 1Ki 2:9; but he was now not above twenty years old; and withal, (which he principally intends,) he was raw and unexperienced, as a child, in state affairs, and altogether unfit for so hard a task.
To go out or come in, i.e. to govern my people, and manage affairs, as that phrase signifies, Num 27:17; Deu 31:2; Jos 14:11.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. I am but a little childnotin age, for he had reached manhood (1Ki2:9) and must have been at least twenty years old; but he was rawand inexperienced in matters of government.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father,…. Removed by death, in whose stead he reigned by the appointment of God, and through his overruling providence, notwithstanding the attempts made to prevent it, and therefore to God he ascribes it:
and I [am but] a little child; not in age and stature, but in knowledge and understanding; for though his father called him a wise man, and he was judged so by others, and really was one, yet in his own opinion and thought of himself such was his modesty and humility, that he was but a child as to his intellectual powers and capacity for government: some understand this of age; and the Jews commonly say he was but twelve years of age when he was anointed king, which they reckon thus; that he was born at the time that Ammon ravished Tamar, two years after which was Absalom’s sheep shearing, when he slew Amnon, on which he fled to Geshur, and was there three years; here are five years; he returned thence and was at Jerusalem two years; lo, seven years; he rebelled and was slain, and after that there was a famine of three years, which make ten; and in the year following David numbered the people, which was nine or ten months in doing; the next year he died, which was the fortieth of his reign, in all twelve years; so reckon Jarchi and Kimchi; and Eupolemus, an Heathen writer n, is express for it, who says, that David, when he had reigned forty years, delivered up the kingdom to Solomon his son, being then twelve years of age, which he must receive from the tradition of the Jews; the same is said by several of the ancient fathers, as Ignatius o and Jerom p; but this cannot be fact; for, if so, his son Rehoboam must be born to him when he was but eleven years of age; [See comments on 1Ki 3:5]; it is best therefore to interpret this of the sense he had of the weakness of his understanding, and of his incapacity for government, as the next clause explains it:
I know not [how] to go out or come in; in the administration of government, to execute his office as a king, in allusion to shepherds, as kings are sometimes called, going in and out before their sheep.
n Apud Euseb. ut supra. (Praeparat. Evangel. l. 9. c. 30, 31, 32.) o Epist. ad Magnesios, p. 141. Ed. Voss. p Epist. Rufino & Vitali, fol. 24, 25. tom. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
7. I am but a little child His exact age at this time is not known, but he was evidently still a youth, probably not more than twenty years of age. David, in his old age, spoke of him as “young and tender.” 1Ch 29:1. Solomon, with graceful modesty and humility, feels and acknowledges his youth and inexperience.
To go out or come in An idiomatic expression denoting the whole official conduct of a ruler before his people. Compare Num 27:17.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“ And now, O YHWH my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father, and I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.”
But having received his authentication by YHWH Solomon recognised what his great problem was, and that was that he was ‘but a little child’ when it came to running an empire. He was openly acknowledging that as a very young and inexperienced man the task was too big for him and that he did not know how precisely to go about it (thus revealing that he already had some wisdom). The idea of ‘going out’ and ‘coming in’ refers to a person going out of the house or city in order to fulfil his purposes in life and do his duty and fulfil his responsibilities, and then returning, both to rest from his labours, and also to see to the internal problems at home in order also to fulfil his responsibilities there. It thus referred to all aspects of life both near and far. And he was admitting that he needed help with regard to all of them.
An interesting example of a similar humility shown by a king, and vividly depicted, is found in a sculpture at Pi-Rameses of Rameses II where he is portrayed as squatting like a young child and sucking his thumb under the protection of an image of Horus depicted as a giant stone falcon. It was an indication that in the hearts of all men, however great, there is a recognition of their own inadequacy and need for supernatural help, which if not met by trust in God, will find other avenues by which to express itself such as in Nature, ‘Evolution’ or the occult.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
1Ki 3:7-9. I am but a little child, &c. It is plain that Solomon means here, that he was only a little child, a mere infant, in understanding and abilities, to guide and govern so great a people. See Psa 131:2. Houbigant observes, that the phrase, tseth vabo, to go out or come in, is not only a Hebraism frequent in the sacred writings, but also a similitude taken from a little child, yet unable to walk firmly, and ignorant of all things; such as Solomon professes himself to be, as the ruler of so great a people. It is generally agreed, that he was about twenty years of age when he began to reign. Though Solomon, in his great modesty, might request of God no more than the gift of government, or, as he expresses it, 1Ki 3:9 an understanding heart, to judge the people, and to discern between good and evil; yet God, out of his abundant grace, gave him a general knowledge of all other things, as the succeeding history informs us; and that, whereas other men gather their knowledge from study and observation, Solomon had his by an immediate inspiration from God; insomuch that he who went to bed as ignorant as other men, awaked in the morning as an angel of God. But though his knowledge of things was in a great measure infused, yet he did not therefore neglect his study: he gave his heart to seek, and search out by his wisdom, concerning all things under the sun; in which search, as himself testifies, Ecc 1:13 he took no small pains: so that his gifts extraordinary did not supersede the use of other means in the acquisition of knowledge; but, by application and experience, he perfected what he had so advantageously received from the hands of God.
REFLECTIONS.Solomon having waited upon God, he mercifully visits him in return.
1. The same night after he had spent his day with him, in a vision, by a supernatural dream, God reveals himself to him, and makes him a gracious offer to grant whatever he should request. Note; (1.) They who wait upon God in prayer and praise, will find him speedy in his returns of benediction. (2.) When the outward senses are locked up in sleep, the souls of God’s people are still capable of divine manifestations, and may, and sometimes do, receive gracious communications from him. (3.) God still says to every praying believer, What is thy request, and it shall be given thee?
2. Solomon’s pious choice is recorded. Though asleep to the eyes of men, yet awake to God, he pours out his grateful acknowledgements, and puts up his fervent prayer. Note; That which engages us most when we are awake, will even in sleep still be our employment. Many a fervent prayer the spirit has breathed, when the body has been wrapped in slumbers. He mentions with deep gratitude God’s mercy to his father David whilst alive, and now after his death, in bringing himself, his son, to the throne. His father’s piety he honourably speaks of, as what he wished to imitate; his own insufficiency for the high station in which God had placed him, he humbly confesses, being but a child in his own eyes in wisdom and understanding, and his vast kingdom requiring the deepest judgment to govern it aright; therefore he requests an understanding heart, that he might be enabled to administer impartial justice, and to reign in uprightness to God’s glory, and for his people’s good. Note; (1.) A good child will remember his father’s excellencies to imitate them, and draw a veil over his sins. (2.) The wisest men are most sensible of their own ignorance. (3.) They who feel most the weight and difficulty of their office, will be best enabled to fulfil it, because they will be looking for strength and wisdom from above. (4.) An understanding heart is the gift of God.
3. God favourably accepted his request. He was pleased with the wisdom of his choice, in preferring spiritual blessings before temporal, the glory of God before his own advantage; he therefore not only bestows the wisdom that Solomon asked, but superadds riches and honour; and promises farther, long life to enjoy them, on condition that he should approve himself faithful. Note; (1.) When we seek God’s kingdom in the first place, he has promised to add all other things thereto. (2.) Riches and honours are then truly blessings, when God bestows the wisdom and grace to improve them aright. (3.) If any man want spiritual wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth liberally, beyond all we can ask or think.
4. Solomon awoke, and behold it was a dream; yet not, as dreams usually are, empty and vain, but followed by the real communication of the wisdom then promised him. On his return to Jerusalem, therefore, he offers a great and grateful sacrifice, and rejoices before the ark of the covenant, with all his servants, who partook in his joy, and shared in his entertainment.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Ki 3:7 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.
Ver. 7. And I am but a little child. ] So he seemed to himself; though his father counted and called him a wise man, 1Ki 2:9 even before that wonderful increase of his wisdom after David’s death. See the like modesty in Agur, that great wise man. Pro 30:2-3
I know not how to go out or come in,
a Vatab. A Lapide.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
a little child. In his father’s eyes a “wise man” (1Ki 2:6, 1Ki 2:9).
I know not = I shall not know. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read “and know not”, indicating the Figure of speech Polysyndeton here, and in the following verses. App-6.
to go out or come in. Compare Num 27:17. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part). App-6. Put for whole manner of life.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
thou hast: Dan 2:21, Dan 4:25, Dan 4:32, Dan 5:18, Dan 5:21
a little: 1Ch 29:1, Job 32:6-8, Ecc 10:16, Jer 1:6, Mat 18:3, Mat 18:4
to go: Num 27:17, Deu 31:2, 1Sa 18:16, 2Sa 5:2, Psa 121:8, Joh 10:3, Joh 10:4, Joh 10:9
Reciprocal: Exo 3:11 – General Deu 1:12 – General Jdg 11:11 – uttered 1Ki 1:37 – As the 1Ki 2:2 – and show 1Ki 2:24 – set me 1Ch 4:10 – God granted 1Ch 22:5 – Solomon 2Ch 1:9 – for thou hast 2Ch 6:10 – I am risen 2Ch 34:1 – eight years Isa 3:4 – children Mat 18:2 – General Act 1:21 – went Act 9:28 – coming Jam 1:5 – any
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3:7 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 {f} go out or come in.
(f) That is, to behave himself in executing this charge of ruling.