SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:5
¶ Y se le apareció el SEÑOR a Salomón en Gabaón una noche en sueños, y le dijo Dios: Pide lo que quisieres que yo te dé.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 3:5
Verse 5. The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream] This was the night after he had offered the sacrifices, (see 2 Chron. i. 7,) and probably after he had earnestly prayed for wisdom; see Wisdom, vii. 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. Deuteronomy 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 i. 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night , etc.] This was not a common natural dream, but an extraordinary, divine, and supernatural one, a prophetic dream, a night vision, such as God used to speak in to his prophets; in which he had the full use of his reasoning powers, was under divine impressions, and in a spiritual frame of mind, and in the exercise of grace; it was not a mere dream that the Lord did appear to him, but he really did appear to him while sleeping and dreaming, by some display of his glory in some way or another: and God said, ask what I shall give thee ; he did not hereby dream that God said to him, but he really did say this; bid him ask what he would and it should be given him; he knew what he designed to give, but he would have it asked of him, as he will be inquired of by all his people to do that for them which he has intended and provided for them; and it is encouragement enough for them to ask, since he has promised to give.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-15 - Solomon's dream was not a common one. While his bodily powers wer locked up in sleep, the powers of his soul were strengthened; he wa enabled to receive the Divine vision, and to make a suitable choice God, in like manner, puts us in the ready way to be happy, by assurin us we shall have what we need, and pray for. Solomon's making such choice when asleep, and the powers of reason least active, showed it came from the grace of God. Having a humble sense of his own wants an weakness, he pleads, Lord, I am but a little child. The more wise an considerate men are, the better acquainted they are with their ow weakness, and the more jealous of themselves. Solomon begs of God to give him wisdom. We must pray for it, Jas 1:5, that it may help us in our particular calling, and the various occasions we have. Those ar accepted of God, who prefer spiritual blessings to earthly good. It wa a prevailing prayer, and prevailed for more than he asked. God gave his wisdom, such as no other prince was ever blessed with; and also gav him riches and honour. If we make sure of wisdom and grace, these wil bring outward prosperity with them, or sweeten the want of it. The way to get spiritual blessings, is to wrestle with God in prayer for them The way to get earthly blessings, is to refer ourselves to God concerning them. Solomon has wisdom given him, because he did ask it and wealth, because he did not.
Original Hebrew
בגבעון 1391 נראה 7200 יהוה 3068 אל 413 שׁלמה 8010 בחלום 2472 הלילה 3915 ויאמר 559 אלהים 430 שׁאל 7592 מה 4100 אתן׃ 5414
