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Chapter 3 covers 4 very important events in the life of Solomon. Notice that after he obeys the final wishes of his father, David, his personal characteristics began to show. First of all, he loved the Lord and the Lord loved him. His "nick name", Jedidiah meant, "Loved of the Lord". Of all of his attributes, wisdom, wealth, popularity, his love of the Lord was his greatest asset.
The first important event of this chapter was the marriage of Solomon to the daughter of an Egyptian Pharaoh in 964 BC (probably Psousennes II). The question is, why did he do this? Two possibilities: One, the advice of council and two, because he loved her. Many scholars believe that this "unconventional" and "unapproved" marriage to an Egyptian proselyte was symbolic of the marriage of Christ to the Gentile and prophesied their inclusion into the Kingdom of God i.e. "To the Jew first and then the Gentile." Psalm 45 describes both of these marriages.
The second important event of this chapter was the establishment of Solomon's place of worship. While David confined his worship to the Tabernacle in Jerusalem, Solomon went to the "high places" to worship. Abraham built his altars on the "high places", but with the construction of the Tabernacle, in Deuteronomy, this was forbidden. Why then did Solomon worship on the "high places"? In most things, Solomon walked in the statutes of his father, David, but in this he digressed. The Tabernacle, in Jerusalem, housed the Ark of the Covenant and by God's approval, was the established place of worship. This was to eliminate the practice of worshipping on mountains, started by Abraham and continued in Canaan, as it was popular in the pagan religions of the time. The Altar, constructed on a mountaintop, was a platform upon which sacrifices were offered in open air. Solomon showed a great zeal for sacrifices but obedience to the Law would have been more desirable.
The third important event of this chapter was Solomon's prayer for wisdom. When Solomon established his Altar on a high place at Gibeon, God honored that place with his presence and his promise to give Solomon whatever he requested. This appearance of God to Solomon is the first of two that He will make.
Notice what Solomon asks for: "Give me understanding". This pleased the Lord for there was so much of this world that he could have asked for but instead he simply asked for wisdom, so the Lord gave him wisdom along with riches, honor and the promise that if he would walk as his father David had walked, He would lengthen his days.
The fourth important event of this chapter was an example of this wisdom being put to use. Two women appeared before him for the resolution of their problem. They were harlots, meaning they had no husband. Both had a child. One child died. Each claimed the remaining child as her own. How could Solomon determine which of the two women was the child's mother? Not knowing, he decreed that the child be cut in half and each woman be given one half a child, believing that the true mother would give up the child rather than see it cut in half, and so it was, one of the women declared this very thing and Solomon knew that she was the child's mother and gave it to her.
Because of the great wisdom that God gave Solomon, people feared him.
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