Divine Gift of Wisdom
Not long after Solomon became king, he went to a place called Gibeon to offer sacrifices to God as an act of worship and devotion. While he was there, something extraordinary happened—God appeared to Solomon in a dream during the night. In this dream, God gave Solomon an incredible offer: He could ask for anything he wanted, and God would give it to him.
Instead of asking for wealth, long life, or victory over his enemies, Solomon made a humble and thoughtful request. He asked God for wisdom—specifically, the ability to understand right from wrong and to govern the people of Israel fairly and wisely. Solomon knew that leading a nation was a great responsibility, and he wanted to be a good and just ruler.
God was very pleased with Solomon’s unselfish request. Because Solomon asked for wisdom rather than personal gain, God not only gave him unmatched wisdom—greater than anyone before or after him—but also added riches and honor as a bonus. This moment marked the beginning of Solomon’s reputation as a wise and respected king, just as described in 1 Kings 3:5–13.