Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof,1 for correction, and for training in righteousness, Paul told a young preacher named Timothy.2 Solomon was rich, powerful and wise. What’s useful about this information? I’ll expand the context a bit.
Earlier, God had appeared to Solomon in a dream (1 Kings 3:4-15 NET). God asked Solomon, Tell me what I should give you.3 Solomon recounted God’s faithfulness to his father David and confessed that he was young and inexperienced. He asked for a discerning mind to distinguish right from wrong. God promised to grant Solomon’s request along with riches and honor so that Solomon would be the greatest king of his generation.
Now I have something. The laundry list titled Solomon’s Wealth isn’t really about Solomon. It’s about God’s faithfulness and the reliability of his word. He does what he says and makes it so. This is right on target, then: God said it. I believe it. That settles it. God said it. Solomon believed it. That’s what happened.
Of course, now that trouble I wasn’t looking for is unavoidable. The scholars who argued that the Pharaoh in Egypt was richer than Solomon are a force to be reckoned with. When I thought the message of Solomon’s Wealth was that he was rich, powerful and wise, I didn’t need him to be absolutely the richest of his contemporaries. His critics were easy to dismiss. But now if I accept that Solomon’s wealth is the fulfillment of God’s promise to make him the richest of his contemporaries, detractors must be 1) proved false or 2) consciously disregarded.
Faith now is something more and something less than the rational response to, and direct deduction from, the premise—God said it. Faith is my decision now to believe the Bible in the face of contradictory statements from historians. And it prompts an honest question: Do I believe because it is true, or do I believe that my faith makes it true?
If I could send accountants back to Solomon’s time, and they appraised the wealth of every contemporary king on earth, and then returned to me with their spreadsheets, do I believe the total at the bottom of each financial statement would be less than the list in 1 Kings? Let me turn that around. If the total at the bottom of the spreadsheets of several kings, or even one king, was greater than the list in 1 Kings would I conclude that God is a liar, let’s be done with this god business once and for all?
The answer is clearly, “No.”
If I had irrefutable proof that one of Solomon’s contemporaries was richer than he, I’d reinterpret the meaning of the passage. After all, God promised riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation.4 I assumed that riches were greater than every other king and honor was greater than every other king. I don’t know how to measure honor so I measured riches. Maybe it is the sum of riches and honor that is greater than every other king. In other words, what Solomon lacked in riches he made up for in honor. Or, maybe it wasn’t God speaking to Solomon in a dream at all. Maybe it was just a dream.
My point [See Addendum: March 30, 2020 below.] is I don’t believe God because Solomon was richer than all of his contemporaries.
Addendum: September 28, 2018
A table comparing 2 Timothy 3:16 in the NET and KJV follows.
|
2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) |
|
| Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, | All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| πᾶσα γραφὴ θεόπνευστος καὶ ὠφέλιμος πρὸς διδασκαλίαν, πρὸς ἐλεγμόν, πρὸς ἐπανόρθωσιν, πρὸς παιδείαν τὴν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ | πασα γραφη θεοπνευστος και ωφελιμος προς διδασκαλιαν προς ελεγχον προς επανορθωσιν προς παιδειαν την εν δικαιοσυνη | πασα γραφη θεοπνευστος και ωφελιμος προς διδασκαλιαν προς ελεγχον προς επανορθωσιν προς παιδειαν την εν δικαιοσυνη |
Addendum: March 30, 2020
A table comparing English translations of 1 Kings (3 Kings, 3 Reigns) 3:13 from the Masoretic text and Septuagint follows.
|
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
| 1 Kings 3:13 (Tanakh) | 1 Kings 3:13 (NET) | 3 Reigns 3:13 (NETS) |
3 Kings 3:13 (Elpenor English) |
| And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. | Furthermore, I am giving you what you did not request—riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation. | And I have given you what you did not request, both riches and honor; there has not been a man like you among kings, | And I have given thee what thou hast not asked, wealth and glory, so that there has not been any one like thee among kings. |
It seems that the translators of the Elpenor Septuagint added so that to conform better to the Masoretic text. I don’t see it in the Greek. The NETS looks like the more accurate translation, which would lead me to believe that God had surveyed the men who reigned over the other kingdoms of the world and found none who had asked for an understanding heart (1 Kings 3:9-12 Tanakh):
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.
And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
It would have been better if I had made my point from 1 Kings (3 Kings, 3 Reigns) 10:23 where the Masoretic text and Septuagint are in better agreement:
|
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
| 1 Kings 10:23 (Tanakh) | 1 Kings 10:23 (NET) | 3 Reigns 10:23 (NETS) |
3 Kings 10:23 (Elpenor English) |
| So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. | King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth. | And Salomon was greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in discernment. | And Solomon increased beyond all the kings of the earth in wealth and wisdom. |
Tables comparing 1 Kings 3:5; 3:13; 3:9; 3:10; 3:11 and 3:12 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing 1 Kings (3 Kings, 3 Reigns) 3:5; 3:13; 3:9; 3:10; 3:11 and 3:12 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.
| 1 Kings 3:5 (KJV) | ||
| In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. | In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. | One night in Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream. God said, “Tell me what I should give you.” |
| καὶ ὤφθη κύριος τῷ Σαλωμων ἐν ὕπνῳ τὴν νύκτα καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Σαλωμων αἴτησαί τι αἴτημα σαυτῷ | καὶ ὤφθη Κύριος τῷ Σαλωμὼν ἐν ὕπνῳ τὴν νύκτα, καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Σαλωμών· αἴτησαί τι αἴτημα σεαυτῷ |
| And the Lord appeared to Salomon in a dream by night, and the Lord said to Salomon, “Request some request for yourself.” | And the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and the Lord said to Solomon, Ask some petition for thyself. |
| 1 Kings 3:13 (KJV) | ||
| And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. | And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. | Furthermore, I am giving you what you did not request—riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation. |
| καὶ ἃ οὐκ ᾐτήσω δέδωκά σοι καὶ πλοῦτον καὶ δόξαν ὡς οὐ γέγονεν ἀνὴρ ὅμοιός σοι ἐν βασιλεῦσιν | καὶ ἃ οὐκ ᾐτήσω, δέδωκά σοι, καὶ πλοῦτον καὶ δόξαν, ὡς οὐ γέγονεν ἀνὴρ ὅμοιός σοι ἐν βασιλεῦσι |
| And I have given you what you did not request, both riches and honor; there has not been a man like you among kings, | And I have given thee what thou hast not asked, wealth and glory, so that there has not been any one like thee among kings. |
| 1 Kings 3:9 (KJV) | ||
| Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? | Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? | So give your servant a discerning mind so he can make judicial decisions for your people and distinguish right from wrong. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours.” |
| καὶ δώσεις τῷ δούλῳ σου καρδίαν ἀκούειν καὶ διακρίνειν τὸν λαόν σου ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ τοῦ συνίειν ἀνὰ μέσον ἀγαθοῦ καὶ κακοῦ ὅτι τίς δυνήσεται κρίνειν τὸν λαόν σου τὸν βαρὺν τοῦτον | καὶ δώσεις τῷ δούλῳ σου καρδίαν ἀκούειν καὶ διακρίνειν τὸν λαόν σου ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ τοῦ συνιεῖν ἀνὰ μέσον ἀγαθοῦ καὶ κακοῦ· ὅτι τίς δυνηθήσεται κρίνειν τὸν λαόν σου τὸν βαρὺν τοῦτον |
| and you shall give your slave a heart to hear and to judge your people in righteousness to discern between good and evil; for who will be able to judge this your weighty people?” | Thou shalt give therefore to thy servant a heart to hear and to judge thy people justly, and to discern between good and evil: for who will be able to judge this thy great people? |
| 1 Kings 3:10 (KJV) | ||
| And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. | And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. | The Lord was pleased that Solomon made this request. |
| καὶ ἤρεσεν ἐνώπιον κυρίου ὅτι ᾐτήσατο Σαλωμων τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο | καὶ ἤρεσεν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου, ὅτι ᾐτήσατο Σαλωμὼν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο |
| And it was pleasing before the Lord that Salomon requested this thing. | And it was pleasing before the Lord, that Solomon asked this thing. |
| 1 Kings 3:11 (KJV) | ||
| And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; | And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; | God said to him, “Because you asked for the ability to make wise judicial decisions, and not for long life, or riches, or vengeance on your enemies, |
| καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς αὐτόν ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ᾐτήσω παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο καὶ οὐκ ᾐτήσω σαυτῷ ἡμέρας πολλὰς καὶ οὐκ ᾐτήσω πλοῦτον οὐδὲ ᾐτήσω ψυχὰς ἐχθρῶν σου ἀλλ᾽ ᾐτήσω σαυτῷ σύνεσιν τοῦ εἰσακούειν κρίμα | καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς αὐτόν· ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ᾐτήσω παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ τὸ ρῆμα τοῦτο καὶ οὐκ ᾐτήσω σεαυτῷ ἡμέρας πολλὰς καὶ οὐκ ᾐτήσω πλοῦτον, οὐδὲ ᾐτήσω ψυχὰς ἐχθρῶν σου, ἀλλ᾿ ᾐτήσω σεαυτῷ τοῦ συνιεῖν τοῦ εἰσακούειν κρίμα, |
| And the Lord said to him, “Because you requested this thing from me and did not request for yourself many days and did not request riches and did not request lives of your enemies but requested for yourself understanding to listen to judgment, | And the Lord said to him, Because thou hast asked this thing of me, and hast not asked for thyself long life, and hast not asked wealth, nor hast asked the lives of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself understanding to hear judgment; |
| 1 Kings 3:12 (KJV) | ||
| Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. | Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. | I grant your request and give you a wise and discerning mind superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you. |
| ἰδοὺ πεποίηκα κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου ἰδοὺ δέδωκά σοι καρδίαν φρονίμην καὶ σοφήν ὡς σὺ οὐ γέγονεν ἔμπροσθέν σου καὶ μετὰ σὲ οὐκ ἀναστήσεται ὅμοιός σοι | ἰδοὺ πεποίηκα κατὰ τὸ ρῆμά σου· ἰδοὺ δέδωκά σοι καρδίαν φρονίμην καὶ σοφήν, ὡς σὺ οὐ γέγονεν ἔμπροσθέν σου καὶ μετὰ σὲ οὐκ ἀναστήσεται ὅμοιός σοι |
| behold, I have done according to your word; behold, I have given you a prudent and wise heart; like you there has not been before you, and after you there shall not arise similar to you. | behold, I have done according to thy word: behold, I have given thee an understanding and wise heart: there has not been [any one] like thee before thee, and after thee there shall not arise one like thee. |
1 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐλεγμόν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ελεγχον.
2 2 Timothy 3:16 (NET)
3 1 Kings 3:5 (NET)
4 1 Kings 3:13b (NET)
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