Solomon's Early wisdom
It is interesting that in Chapter 3 Solomon pleases God then when God tells him that he will grant him anything, Solomon asks for wisdom! Because here Solomon shows great wisdom. He recognizes that Adonijah was making pass at his throne. He knows that Adonijah and Joab were in accord when Adonijah tried to set himself up as King. He knows that they are conspirators. When Adonijah asked Bathsheeba for Abishag, despite Abishag's being a virgin she would publically be considered of the King's Harem, and culturally this would indicate Solomon would be placing Adonijah next in line for the throne, thus allowing for Joab (or another hitman) to kill Solomon and thus take the throne for Adonijah. Solomon not only recognized this ploy, but also used it as an opportunity to take his father's advice in dealing with Joab and cohort. And in Chapter three, he further showed early wisdom by understanding that the knowledge to run a country was more important than wealth or fame, because knowledge that great would actually lead to both (albeit God just gave it to him anyway). The only bad part about this is that Solomon's wisdom is what ultimately led him astray, the fame, the glory, and the pride that came with it allowed him to be in a position to marry many foreign wives, and begin to worship their gods.
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