2 And the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the Lord, until those days.
3 And because the Lord blessed Solomon as he was walking in the statutes of David, his father, he began to love the Lord, and he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places, and he called on the name of the Lord.
4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for Gibeon was in a great high place; and Solomon offered upon that altar, in Gibeon, a thousand burnt offerings.
5 And the Lord God hearkened unto Solomon, and appeared unto him in a dream by night, and said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David, my father, great things according to thy mercy when he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprighteousness 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 this day.
7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king, instead of David, my father, over thy people.
8 And I know not how to lead them, to go out, or come in before them, and I, thy servant, am as a little child, in the midst of thy people whom 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 people, so great a people?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 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;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy word; lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none made king over Israel like unto thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
