What Did Solomon Ask For?

“At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’ ” – 1 Kings 3:5 In the famous story, Solomon is presented with the throne of his father, King David. God appears before him in all His glory and says to Solomon, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Many people are familiar with this moment, but often they misinterpret Solomon’s request. While it’s commonly believed that he asked for wisdom, that answer is only partially correct. In reality, he asked for both wisdom and knowledge. Wisdom and knowledge are not the same. Wisdom is the result of practicing principles and often comes with age and experience. In contrast, knowledge is acquired through learning, reading, and similar activities. In the Scripture, God says to Solomon: “Since this is your heart’s desire and you