r places
for sacrifice but the temple of God. Among these high places that of
Gabaon was the chiefest, because there was the tabernacle of the
testimony, which had been removed from Silo to Nobe and from Nobe to
Gabaon.

3:3. And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the precepts of David, his
father; only he sacrificed in the high places, and burnt incense.

3:4. He went therefore to Gabaon, to sacrifice there: for that was the
great high place: a thousand victims for holocausts, did Solomon offer
upon that altar, in Gabaon.

3:5. And the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, saying: Ask
what thou wilt that I should give thee.

3:6. And Solomon said: Thou hast shewed great mercy to thy servant
David, my father, even as he walked before thee in truth, and justice,
and an upright heart with thee: and thou hast kept thy great mercy for
him, and hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

3:7. And now, O Lord God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of
David, my father: and I am but a child, and know not how to go out and
come in;

3:8. And thy servant is in the midst of the people which thou hast
chosen, an immense people, which cannot be numbered nor counted for
multitude.

3:9. Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy
people, and discern between good and evil. For who shall be able to
judge this people, thy people, which is so numerous?

3:10. And the word was pleasing to the Lord, that Solomon had asked such
a thing.

3:11. And the Lord said to Solomon: Because thou hast asked this thing,
and hast not asked for thyself long life nor riches, nor the lives of
thy enemies, but hast asked for thyself wisdom to discern jndgment;

3:12. Behold I have done for thee according to thy words, and have given
thee a wise and understanding heart, in so much that there hath been no
one like thee before thee, nor shall arise after thee.

3:13. Yea, and the things also which thou didst not ask, I have given
thee; to wit, riches and glory: so that no one hath been like thee among
the kings in all days heretofore.

3:14. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, and keep my precepts and my
commandments, as thy father walked, I will lengthen thy days.

3:15. And Solomon awaked, and perceived that it was a dream: and when he
was come to Jerusalem, he stood before the ark of the covenant of the
Lord, and offered holocausts, and sacrificed victims of peace offerings,
and made a g