1St Kings 3 Solomon Asks for the Weightier Matters to Enable Wise Judgment of Israel

1st Kings 3 Solomon asks for the weightier matters to enable wise judgment of Israel

Another case that the weightier matters of Torah are the law [a]

Intellectual Property of John Marsing - www.MyHebrewBible.Com

Content

Introduction 1

Thesis – Law is the Weightier Matter of Torah 1

Relevant Verses of 1st Kings chapter 3 2

Final Thought 2

More verses with heavy words 4

A Word Study of some heavy words 4

Introduction

These verses are rich with heavy words like wisdom, understanding, discernment, judgment. Although it is interesting what Shlomo asks for … understanding bene H992 and discernment shomaw H8085 and judgment mishpat H4941 or shaphat H8199; I find it more interesting the purpose of the asked for heavy things.

The purpose can be found in 1Ki 3:9 “…an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad …”; 1Ki 3:11 “…but has asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;”.

Thesis – Law is the Weightier Matter of Torah

It is said that Solomon is the wisest man that ever lived which can be clearly demonstrated in 1Ki 3:12 which states that YHVH had given him “…a wise chacham H2450 and an understanding venavon H995 biyn heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.”

My subtitle for this article is that this is another example in scripture to support my claim that “the law is the weightier matter of Torah”. These verses of 1st Kings chapter 3 clearly show us as an example of the weight and gravity of what Solomon asked for from YHVH and for which YHVH granted.

What exactly is weightier than to posses wisdom, understanding, discernment and judgment and should we not be asking of YHVH the same? Should we not be actively pursuing this endeavor and making sacrifices with the limited amounts of time given to us to achieve this objective? In the millennial Kingdom when the nations come up to Jerusalem to petition the disputes that they have, to what courts will they go? Will it not be one of the 12 “district” courts run by the 12 tribes of Israel who will adjudicate these matters/disputes?

If you claim to be part of the Hebrew roots movement running around jumping up and down telling everybody and their brother that you are from the House of Israel then with that privilege comes duties, responsibilities and obligations. The ramifications of identifying yourself as Israel is that you will be playing the role as judge and therefore you must be competent in law. You must possess an understanding (shomea) heart to judge (lishpot) the nations and to discern lehavin between good and bad.

For more, see Pray for the peace of Jerusalem Psa 122 - https://www.myhebrewbible.com/Article/823

Relevant Verses of 1st Kings chapter 3

Besides the main words that I’m using to support my thesis, I’ve gone ahead and added transliteration of other “heavy” words. I contend that it is a good exercise to read these few verses and test yourself to see if you can identify these important Hebrew words.

1Ki 3:5-10 – Context

1Ki 3:5-10 5 In Gibeon YHVH appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and Elohim said, Ask what I shall give thee. 6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great gaddol H1419 mercy chesed, according as he walked[b] halach before thee in truth bEmet, and in righteousness uvitsdakah, and in uprightness veyishrat of heart levav with thee; and thou hast kept vattishmor for him this great kindness hachesed , that thou hast given him a son to sit [c] yoshev on his throne, as it is this day. 7 And now, O YHVH my God Elohai, thou hast made thy servant avdecha king himlachta instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know [d] yada not how to go out or come in. 8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great rav people, that cannot be numbered yimmaneh nor counted yissafer H5608 for multitude mero. 9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding shomea [e] H8085 heart to judge lishpot H8199 mishpat thy people, that I may discern lehavin H995 biyn between good and bad: for who is able to judge lishpot this thy so great [f] hakkaved a people? 10 And the speech pleased adonai, that Solomon had asked this thing.

1Ki 3:11-12 – God gives Shlomo understanding to discern judgment

11 And Elohim 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 lehavin to discern lishmoa H8085 judgment mishpot H4941 ; 12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise chacham H2450 and an understanding venavon H995 biyn heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

Final Thought

How does this story of King Solomon relate to the American Birthright where I claim that Americans are sovereigns (or at least have that capacity)? I will leave this for you as an exercise. Hint, what type of king is King Solomon patterned after, and what type of king are the American sovereigns patterned after?

Contents

Introduction 1

Thesis – Law is the Weightier Matter of Torah 1

Relevant Verses of 1st Kings chapter 3 2

1Ki 3:5-10 – Context 2

1Ki 3:11-12 – God gives Shlomo understanding to discern judgment 2

Final Thought 2

More verses with heavy words 4

Job 32:9 – a verse these words chakam, binyn and mishpat 4

Col 1:9 KJV - Greek related words 4

A Word Study of some heavy words 4

H995 bîyn bene 4

H8085 shâma‛ shaw-mah' 4

H4941 mishpâṭ mish-pawt' 4

H8199 shâphaṭ shaw-fat' 5

Chet Caf Mem 5

H2449 châkam khaw-kam' 5

H2450 châkâm 5

Chet Caf Mem Hey 6

H2451 chokmah 6

H2452 chokmah 6

Chet Caf Mem * 6

H2453 chakmoniy 6

H2454 chokmoth 6

Words translated as Wisdom that aren’t from the root Chet Chaf Mem 7

H8454 tushiyah 7

More verses with heavy words

Before I do a word study, I thought I would give more examples of verses that possess these “heavy” words

Job 32:9 – a verse these words chakam, binyn and mishpat

Great H7227 rav men are not always wise: H2449 chakam neither do the aged H2205 zaqen understand H995 binyn judgment. H4941 mishpat

Col 1:9 KJV - Greek related words

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge G1922 epignosis of his will in all wisdom G4678 sophia and spiritual G4152 pneumatikos understanding; G4907 sunesis

A Word Study of some heavy words

H995 bîyn bene

בּין

A primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish), that is, (generally) understand: - attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill (-ful), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) understand (-ing), view, (deal) wise (-ly, man).

H8085 shâma‛ shaw-mah'

שׁמע

A primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively to tell, etc.): - X attentively, call (gather) together, X carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear (-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim (-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell, understand, whosoever [heareth], witness.

H4941 mishpâṭ mish-pawt'

משׁפּט

From H8199; properly a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (particularly) divine law, individual or collectively), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly justice, including a particular right, or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style: - + adversary, ceremony, charge, X crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just (-ice, -ly), (manner of) law (-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, X worthy, + wrong.

H8199 shâphaṭ shaw-fat'

שׁפט

A primitive root; to judge, that is, pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication to vindicate or punish; by extension to govern; passively to litigate (literally or figuratively): - + avenge, X that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge (-ment), X needs, plead, reason, rule.

Chet Caf Mem

H2449 châkam khaw-kam'

חכם

A primitive root, to be wise (in mind, word or act): - X exceeding, teach wisdom, be (make self, shew self) wise, deal (never so) wisely, make wiser.

Total KJV Occurrences: 26

wise, 19 Deu_32:29 (2), Job_32:9, Psa_19:7, Pro_6:6, Pro_8:33, Pro_9:12 (2), Pro_19:20 (2), Pro_20:1, Pro_21:11, Pro_23:15, Pro_23:19, Pro_27:11, Ecc_2:15, Ecc_2:19, Ecc_7:16, Ecc_7:23, Zec_9:2

wiser, 4 1Ki_4:31, Job_35:11, Psa_119:98, Pro_9:9

wisely, 2 Exo_1:9-10 (2), Psa_58:5

wisdom, 1 Psa_105:22

H2450 châkâm

חכם

Total KJV Occurrences: 139

wise, 124 Gen_41:8, Gen_41:33, Gen_41:39, Exo_7:11, Exo_28:3, Exo_31:6, Exo_35:10, Exo_35:25, Exo_36:1-2 (2), Exo_36:4, Exo_36:8, Deu_1:13, Deu_1:15, Deu_4:6, Deu_16:19, Jdg_5:29, 2Sa_14:2, 2Sa_14:20, 2Sa_20:16, 1Ki_2:9, 1Ki_3:12, 1Ki_3:26-27 (2), 1Ki_5:7, 2Ch_2:12, Job_5:13 (3), Job_9:4, Job_15:2, Job_15:18, Job_17:10, Job_34:2, Job_34:34, Job_37:24, Psa_49:10, Psa_107:43, Pro_3:5-7 (3), Pro_3:35, Pro_9:8-9 (2), Pro_10:1, Pro_10:8, Pro_10:14, Pro_11:29-30 (2), Pro_12:15, Pro_12:18, Pro_13:1, Pro_13:14, Pro_13:20, Pro_14:3, Pro_14:16, Pro_14:24, Pro_15:2, Pro_15:7, Pro_15:12, Pro_15:20, Pro_15:31, Pro_16:14, Pro_16:21, Pro_16:23, Pro_17:28, Pro_18:15, Pro_20:26, Pro_21:11, Pro_21:20, Pro_21:22, Pro_22:17, Pro_23:24, Pro_24:5, Pro_24:23, Pro_25:12, Pro_26:5, Pro_26:12, Pro_28:11, Pro_29:8-9 (2), Pro_29:11, Pro_30:24, Ecc_2:14, Ecc_2:16 (2), Ecc_2:19, Ecc_4:13, Ecc_6:8, Ecc_7:4-5 (2), Ecc_7:7, Ecc_7:19, Ecc_8:1, Ecc_8:5, Ecc_8:17, Ecc_9:1, Ecc_9:11, Ecc_9:15, Ecc_9:17, Ecc_10:2, Ecc_10:12, Ecc_12:9, Ecc_12:11, Isa_5:21, Isa_19:11-12 (3), Isa_29:14, Isa_31:2, Isa_44:25, Jer_4:22, Jer_8:8-9 (2), Jer_9:12, Jer_9:23, Jer_10:7, Jer_18:18, Jer_50:35, Jer_51:57, Hos_14:8-9 (3), Oba_1:8

cunning, 10 1Ch_22:15, 2Ch_2:7 (2), 2Ch_2:13-14 (3), Isa_3:3, Isa_40:20, Jer_9:17, Jer_10:9

unwise, 2 Deu_32:6, Hos_13:13

wiser, 2 Pro_26:16, Eze_28:3

subtle, 1 2Sa_13:3

Chet Caf Mem Hey

H2451 chokmah

חכמה

Total KJV Occurrences: 149

wisdom, 145 Exo_31:3 (3), Exo_31:6, Exo_35:26, Exo_35:31, Exo_35:35, Exo_36:1-2 (2), Deu_4:6, Deu_34:9, 2Sa_14:20, 2Sa_20:22, 1Ki_2:6, 1Ki_4:28-30 (5), 1Ki_4:34 (2), 1Ki_5:12, 1Ki_7:14, 1Ki_10:4, 1Ki_10:6-8 (3), 1Ki_10:23-24 (2), 1Ki_11:41, 2Ch_1:10-12 (3), 2Ch_9:3, 2Ch_9:5-7 (3), 2Ch_9:22-23 (2), Job_4:21, Job_11:6, Job_12:2, Job_12:12-13 (2), Job_13:5, Job_15:8, Job_26:3, Job_28:12, Job_28:18, Job_28:20, Job_28:28, Job_32:7, Job_32:13, Job_33:33, Job_38:36-37 (2), Job_39:17, Psa_37:30, Psa_51:6, Psa_90:12, Psa_104:24, Psa_111:10, Pro_1:2, Pro_1:7, Pro_2:2, Pro_2:6, Pro_2:10, Pro_3:13, Pro_3:19, Pro_4:5, Pro_4:7 (2), Pro_4:11, Pro_5:1, Pro_7:4, Pro_8:1, Pro_8:11-12 (2), Pro_9:10, Pro_10:13, Pro_10:23, Pro_10:31, Pro_11:2, Pro_13:10, Pro_14:6, Pro_14:8, Pro_15:33 (2), Pro_17:16 (2), Pro_17:24, Pro_18:4, Pro_21:30, Pro_23:23, Pro_24:3, Pro_24:14, Pro_29:3, Pro_29:15, Pro_30:3, Pro_31:26, Ecc_1:13, Ecc_1:16-18 (4), Ecc_2:3, Ecc_2:9, Ecc_2:12-13 (2), Ecc_2:21, Ecc_2:26, Ecc_7:11-12 (3), Ecc_7:19, Ecc_7:23, Ecc_7:25, Ecc_8:1, Ecc_8:16, Ecc_9:10, Ecc_9:13, Ecc_9:15-16 (3), Ecc_9:18, Ecc_10:1, Ecc_10:10, Isa_10:13, Isa_11:2, Isa_29:14, Isa_33:6, Isa_47:10, Jer_8:9, Jer_9:23, Jer_10:12, Jer_49:7 (2), Jer_51:15, Eze_28:4-5 (2), Eze_28:7, Eze_28:12, Eze_28:17, Dan_1:20

wisely, 2 Pro_28:26, Ecc_7:10

skilful, 1 1Ch_28:21

wit’s, 1 Psa_107:27

H2452 chokmah

חכמה (Aramaic)

Total KJV Occurrences: 8 wisdom, 8 Ezr_7:25, Dan_2:20-21 (2), Dan_2:23, Dan_2:30, Dan_5:11 (2), Dan_5:14

Chet Caf Mem *

H2453 chakmoniy

חכמוני

Total KJV Occurrences: 2 hachmoni, 1 1Ch_27:32 hachmonite, 1 1Ch_11:11

H2454 chokmoth

חכמות / חכמות

Total KJV Occurrences: 5 wisdom, 4 Psa_49:3, Pro_1:20, Pro_9:1, Pro_24:7 wise, 1 Pro_14:1

Words translated as Wisdom that aren’t from the root Chet Chaf Mem

H8454 tushiyah

תּשׁיּה / תּוּשׁיּה

Total KJV Occurrences: 12

wisdom, 7 Job_6:13, Job_12:16, Pro_2:7, Pro_3:21, Pro_8:14, Pro_18:1, Mic_6:9

sound, 3 Pro_2:7, Pro_3:21, Pro_8:14

enterprise, 1 Job_5:12

working, 1 Isa_28:29

WordStudy

תּוִּשָׁיּה

tusiyyah: A feminine noun meaning sound wisdom, continuing success. The primary meaning of this Hebrew word is wisdom or ability that brings continued advancement. Used in the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament, it describes the wisdom of the Lord that keeps a person on the right path (Pro_3:21; Isa_28:29); the wisdom that recognizes the things of God (Mic_6:9); and the success that comes from heeding wise counsel (Job_5:12; Job_6:13).

0/0/0000 http://myhebrewbible.com/Article/266 7 of 8

[a] This was the document “Word-Study-Wisdom-Chet-Chaf-Mem-H2449-to-H2454.doc”

[b] Our walk in the law is our halacha

[c] It is my understanding that the root word and meaning of Shabbat is to cease from work and to sit down.

[d] Another heavy word, Yada, to know intimately.

[e] Here the translation for understanding is shomea which is the same root of Deu 6:4 “Hear (shema) O Israel…”. The context is a legal one like when a judge hears the case before him.

[f] Great is not translated as gaddol like in 1Ki 3:6, but here it is hakkaved (from kaved) which means heavy, like the weightier matters of Torah.