In Gibeon hath Jehovah appeared unto Solomon, in a dream of the night, and God saith, 'Ask -- what do I give to thee?'1 Kings 3:5 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the BibleThe Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream - This was the night after he had offered the sacrifices, (see 2 Chronicles 1:7), and probably after he had earnestly prayed for wisdom; see Wis. 7:7: Wherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. If this were the case, the dream might have been the consequence of his earnest prayer for wisdom: the images of those things which occupy the mind during the day are most likely to recur during the night; and this, indeed, is the origin of the greater part of our dreams. But this appears to have been supernatural.
Gregory Nyssen, speaking of different kinds of dreams, observes that our organs and brain are not unlike a musical instrument; while the strings of such instruments have their proper degree of tension, they give, when touched, a harmonious sound, but as soon as they are relaxed or screwed down, they give no sound at all. During our waking hours, our senses, touched by our reason, produce the most harmonious concert; but as soon as we are asleep, the instrument is no longer capable of emitting any sound, unless it happen that the remembrance of what passed during the day returns and presents itself to the mind while we are asleep, and so forms a dream; just as the strings of an instrument continue to emit feeble sounds for some time after the musician has ceased to strike them. - See Greg. Nyss. De opificio hominis, cap. xii., p. 77. Oper. vol. i., edit. Morell., Par. 1638.
This may account, in some measure, for common dreams: but even suppose we should not allow that Solomon had been the day before earnestly requesting the gift of wisdom from God, yet we might grant that such a dream as this might be produced by the immediate influence of God upon the soul. And if Solomon received his wisdom by immediate inspiration from heaven, this was the kind of dream that he had; a dream by which that wisdom was actually communicated. But probably we need not carry this matter so much into miracle: God might be the author of his extraordinary wisdom, as he was the author of his extraordinary riches. Some say, "He lay down as ignorant as other men, and yet arose in the morning wiser than all the children of men." I think this is as credible as that he lay down with a scanty revenue, and in the morning, when he arose, found his treasury full. In short, God's especial blessing brought him riches through the medium of his own care and industry; as the inspiration of the Almighty gave him understanding, while he gave his heart to seek and search out by his wisdom, concerning all things under the sun, Ecclesiastes 1:13. God gave him the seeds of an extraordinary understanding, and, by much study and research, they grew up under the Divine blessing, and produced a plentiful harvest; but, alas! they did not continue to grow.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the Lord
1 Kings 9:2 That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon.
in a dream
Genesis 28:2,13 Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father...
Numbers 12:6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known to him in a vision...
Job 33:14,15 For God speaks once, yes twice, yet man perceives it not...
Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, you son of David...
Matthew 2:13,19 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise...
Ask what
2 Chronicles 1:7-12 In that night did God appear to Solomon, and said to him, Ask what I shall give you...
Matthew 7:7,8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you...
Mark 10:36,38-51 And he said to them, What would you that I should do for you...
Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.
John 14:13,14 And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son...
John 15:16 You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit...
James 1:5,6 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraides not; and it shall be given him...
1 John 5:14,15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us...
1 Kings 3:5 Parallel Commentaries
Appeared Dream Gibeon Night Solomon Vision Want Whatever WishAppeared Dream Gibeon Night Solomon Vision Want Whatever WishTHE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.1 Kings 3:5 Mobile Bible
1 Kings 3:5 Bible Suite
1 Kings 3:5 Biblia Paralela
1 Kings 3:5 Chinese Bible
Bible Apps
Bible Hub
