Chapter 3: The wisdom, marriages, and sacrifices of Shlomo

1.      King Shlomo married the daughter of Pharaoh:

• Shlomo married into the house of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and he took the daughter of Pharaoh in marriage and brought her to the city of Dovid until his palace would be built, and until the house of G-d and wall of Jerusalem would be built around it.

2.      The offerings:

• Sacrifices are being brought on Bamos: The nation water for the sacrifices on portable altars known as Bamos, as the house of G-d has yet to be built.
• King Shlomo brings sacrifice on Bamos: King Shlomo loved G-d, and he went in the path of David his father. However, he continued to offer sacrifices and incense on the portable altars [and delayed building the temple for four years^[1]]. The King traveled to Givona in order to offer sacrifices there, as that is where the portable altar was positioned [i.e. the altar built by Moshe which was situated in the city of Givon at that time^[2]]. 1000 Olah sacrifices were brought by Shlomo on that altar [in a single day^[3]].

3.      The dream of Shlomo with G-d and his request for wisdom:

• In the city of Givon, Hashem appeared to Shlomo in a dream at night. G-d told Shlomo that he should ask him for whatever he desires. Shlomo then commenced to say as follows, “You have done for my father, Your servant David, a great kindness, after he followed after you diligently and was dedicated towards you with absolute honesty of the heart. You have done for him this great kindness and given him a son to sit on his throne as has occurred today. Now, Hashem my G-d You have crowned your servant in place of Dovid my father, and I am but a mere child [12 years old^[4]] who is young and do not know the ways of the world, to come and go. Your servant sits amongst your chosen nation, a large nation that cannot be counted due to their immense population. Please give your servant an understanding heart to hear and judge your nation and understand right from wrong, as who can judge such a heavy nation as ours.”
• G-d grants Shlomo unprecedented wisdom, wealth, and honor: The matter found favor in G-d’s eyes that he had asked for this [to be given intelligence in judging the nation. So Hashem said to him, “Being that you asked for this matter and did not ask to live long years, and did not ask for wealth, and did not ask for your enemies to be destroyed and rather asked to understand and comprehend judgment, therefore I will grant you what you requested. I will grant you wisdom of the heart and understanding of which there was no likeness of before you, and of which no other person will ever reach in the future. Furthermore, I will also grant you that which you did not request, and I will grant you wealth and honor to a level of stature that is unprecedented amongst any King in your days [whether you follow my Mitzvos or not, and furthermore^[5]]. If you follow my path to guard my Mitzvos as did Dovid your father, then I will lengthen your days.”
• King Shlomo celebrates the dream: Shlomo woke up from his dream and he arrived at Jerusalem and stood before the ark of G-d and brought offerings and sacrifices and made a great feast for all of his servants [in celebration of the good tidings he received from G-d in his dream^[6]].

[1] Rashi 3:3

[2] Rashi 3:4

[3] Rashi 3:4

[4] Rashi 3:7

[5] Rashi 3:14

[6] Rashi 3:15