Editing Books of Kings (section)

=====Solomon the sage (3:1–4:34)=====
Solomon makes an alliance with [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]] and marries the [[Pharaoh's daughter (wife of Solomon)|Pharaoh's daughter]]. After this, he continues the ancient practice of travelling between the [[high place]]s and offering sacrifices. When he is at [[Gibeon (ancient city)|Gibeon]], God speaks to him in a dream and offers him anything he asks for. Solomon, being young, asks for "an understanding heart to judge" (שָׁפַט).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8199.htm |website=Strong's Hebrew Concordance |title=8199. shaphat |quote=Judges people 1 Kings 3:9 (twice in verse)}}</ref><ref>Rendered "govern" in the [[New Revised Standard Version]] {{cite book |last=Auld |first= A. Graeme |title=I & II Kings |date=1986 |publisher=The Saint Andrew Press |location=Edinburgh, Scotland |page=23 |quote=The hardest terms to translate in the whole passage are the related Hebrew verb and noun rendered "govern" (1 Kings 3:9) and right (v. 11) The Hebrew word ''shaphat'' has overtones of both ruling and judging.}}</ref> God is pleased and grants him not only "a wise...heart" ([[Hakham|חכם]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2450.htm |website=Strong's Hebrew Concordance |title=2450. chakam}}</ref> but also wealth, honor, and longevity, on the condition that Solomon is righteous like his father David. Solomon returns to Jerusalem and holds a feast for his servants in front of the [[Ark of the Covenant]].

After the [[Judgement of Solomon|Judgment of Solomon]] amazes the Israelites, he appoints a cabinet and reorganizes the governance of Israel at a local level. The nation of Israel prospers and Solomon's provisions increase.