1 Kings 3 15

1 Kings 3:15 kjv

And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

1 Kings 3:15 nkjv

Then Solomon awoke; and indeed it had been a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

1 Kings 3:15 niv

Then Solomon awoke?and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord's covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.

1 Kings 3:15 esv

And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

1 Kings 3:15 nlt

Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Lord's Covenant, where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he invited all his officials to a great banquet.

1 Kings 3 verses

1 Kings 3 15 Meaning

Following a profound divine encounter in a dream, King Solomon fully understood that the Lord had granted him a discerning heart and great wisdom. His immediate response was to journey to Jerusalem, present himself before the Ark of the Covenant, and offer extensive burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He then culminated this act of worship and thanksgiving by hosting a celebratory feast for his entire administration, signifying a new beginning and public acknowledgment of God's blessing.

1 Kings 3 15 Context

1 Kings chapter 3 opens with Solomon establishing his kingdom and forging an alliance with Egypt through marriage. Despite these initial political maneuvers, a crucial event unfolds: Solomon travels to Gibeon, the most prominent high place, because the Tent of Meeting—housing the Ark of the Covenant—was there at that time (though the Ark itself was later moved by David to Jerusalem and placed in a tent). At Gibeon, Solomon offers a thousand burnt offerings, a lavish act demonstrating his devotion to God. It is there, in a dream by night, that the Lord appears to him and invites him to ask for anything he desires. Solomon's response—a humble request for a "discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong"—pleases the Lord immensely, who then promises him not only wisdom but also riches and honor, conditional upon his obedience. Verse 15 marks the turning point where Solomon, now awake and having comprehended the divine encounter, immediately acts upon it, transitioning from the place of revelation (Gibeon) to the capital of the kingdom (Jerusalem) to formally worship and acknowledge the received blessings. Historically, this occurs early in Solomon's reign, emphasizing his foundation upon God's favor and wisdom. The detailed account of the sacrifices and feast underlines the public, communal aspect of the covenant between God and the king.

1 Kings 3 15 Word analysis

• When Solomon awoke: This signifies the transition from the spiritual realm of the dream to physical reality. It emphasizes the genuine, impactful nature of the divine communication. The dream was not a fleeting illusion but a true revelation.
• he realized: The Hebrew word yada' (ידע) means "to know, perceive, understand." This implies not just remembering the dream but grasping its full meaning and significance. It was a conscious recognition of God's presence and gift.
• it had been a dream: The revelation from God came through a specific medium—a dream, which was a recognized means of divine communication in the ancient world (e.g., Joseph's dreams in Genesis, Pharaoh's dreams). It authenticated the encounter as God-given.
• He went to Jerusalem: Solomon’s immediate departure from Gibeon to Jerusalem is significant. Gibeon was the site of the dream and a high place where the old Tabernacle stood. Jerusalem, however, was David's city, the political capital, and the designated place for the Ark of the Covenant, now waiting for the future Temple. His going to Jerusalem indicates prioritizing the central worship place God had chosen.
• stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD: The Ark was the holiest object in Israel, representing God's tangible presence, His throne on earth, and the covenant established at Sinai. Standing before it signifies profound reverence, submission, and direct interaction with the divine presence. The divine name YHWH (LORD) emphasizes the one true God of Israel.
• and offered burnt offerings: The Hebrew term is ʿolá (עוֹלָה), meaning "that which goes up" or "ascends." This was a "whole burnt offering" where the entire animal (except the skin) was consumed by fire, symbolizing complete dedication, atonement for unintentional sin, and profound worship without reservation to the Lord.
• and presented fellowship offerings: The Hebrew term is shlamim (שְׁלָמִים), often translated "peace offerings." These were voluntary offerings for thanksgiving, a vow, or simply an act of worship, signifying communion, peace, and restored relationship with God. A portion was offered to God, a portion to the priests, and the offerer partook in a communal meal, highlighting fellowship between God, the offerer, and the community. This act counter-polemically showed unique communal peace and shared joy found only in the true God.
• He also gave a feast: The feast was a communal meal, a natural follow-up to the fellowship offerings. It celebrated God’s favor, publicly demonstrated the king's gratitude, and allowed for shared joy and participation in the blessing with his officials. Such a feast served to unify the kingdom around God’s anointing on Solomon.
• for all his officials: This includes the leading figures of his government. It emphasizes the public and institutional recognition of God's favor upon Solomon. The blessing was not just for the king personally but for the governance and welfare of the entire kingdom through him.

1 Kings 3 15 Bonus section

• The transition from Gibeon to Jerusalem marks a symbolic and spiritual shift. While Gibeon held the ancient Tent of Meeting, Jerusalem, David's city, was becoming the designated central worship location. Solomon's immediate journey underscores his intention to solidify Jerusalem's religious significance, paving the way for the building of the Temple.
• The elaborate offerings demonstrate Solomon's immediate application of his newly received wisdom, which includes understanding the importance of proper worship and acknowledging God publicly. This act was an outward expression of his inward transformation and gratitude, signaling a foundational reverence for God at the onset of his reign.
• The feast shared with "all his officials" was not just a meal but an act of social bonding and public proclamation. It allowed Solomon to share the blessings he received from God, implicitly strengthening his administrative base and indicating that God's favor on the king would trickle down to the leadership and, by extension, the kingdom.

1 Kings 3 15 Commentary

1 Kings 3:15 provides the critical immediate response to God's revelatory act. Solomon's genuine understanding ("he realized") of the dream as a divine encounter propelled him to an action-oriented form of worship. His movement from Gibeon to Jerusalem signifies the shift from a personal, internal encounter to a public, official acknowledgment of God's power and generosity at the established spiritual and political center of the kingdom. The sacrifices offered—the complete dedication of burnt offerings (ʿolá) and the celebratory communion of fellowship offerings (shlamim)—underscore his wholehearted gratitude, his humble submission, and his desire to re-establish proper covenant relationship. This elaborate act of worship was not merely ritualistic but an overflowing expression of thanks for God's immeasurable gift of wisdom. The subsequent feast for his officials formalized this divine recognition, making the kingdom’s leadership direct witnesses to and beneficiaries of God’s grace upon their king. This verse thus solidifies Solomon's reign, marking it as a rule founded not on human prowess or political alliance but on divine wisdom and humble worship. It sets a pattern for leadership: divine encounter should lead to worship, thanksgiving, and a communal sharing of blessings.