Malachim A. Perek 3

The end of the last perek speaks about Shimi's Death. and the opening of this Perek talks about how Shlomo married The daughter of פרעה. The Gemara Berachot 8B tells us that as long as Shlomo's Rebbi was alive he never married the Daughter of פרעה. We learn from this that having a close connection to a Rav helps prevent from falling

The Kli Yakar shows from Pasuk Gimel That Shlomo Followed all of Hashems ways that Even though Shlomo Should not have married her (even though he did indeed convert her) that his intentions were pure.

A Bama is used to described any Alter outside of the bet hamikdash or the mishkan. This was allowed after the destruction of Shilo until Shlomo Built the Bet Hamikdash

The connection between the first 2 Pesukim Is that even though it seems that Shlomo's Kingdom is firmly established, the Am is still sacraficing on Bamot a clear sign that the Shlomos kingdom was not complete as it was lacking the BH.

Again The fact that it mentions Shlomo bringin Korbanot on Bamot emphasises the lack of the temple.

This was the copper altar made in the Midbar (Rashi)

Shlomo mentions his father David because he knows that some of the merrit that allowed Shlomo success and to have this Nevua is from the love Hashem has for David

According to the Seder Olam who holds that Shlomo was twelve at the time when he became kind this statement is meant to be taken literally According to the Abarbanel who says that Shlomo was 20 upon being crowned kind, then this expression that Shlomo is young is a sign of huimility. This is Shlomo's way of saying I am not fit to lead the people.

לב שמע means a heart that understands (Radak) and כבד means many

Shlomo shows tremendous Yirat Shamaym to ask for understanding to properly judge the people (and not to just be the "smartest guy on the block") Shlomo did not ask for wealth but rather to be a good leader. We learn a tremendous lesson that Hashem wants to bestow blessings upon us but wants to see that we will use the gifts for Torah and Mitzvot.

The Shela says that someone who does not serve Hashem for reward then Hashem, will multiply his reward.

חכם - Wisdom is ther accumulation and retention of knowledge נבון- Is the ability to take that knowledge and apply it to the situation at hand and to have deductive reasoning. Radak

It is clearly stated that there was and never will be anyone as wise as Shlomo. However the Gemara in Megilla 13a says that Moshes wisdom was the greatest. The Radak suggests that Moshe was the wisest in Chochmat Elokim but Shlomo was wisest in chochmat hateva.

We see that Shlomos life span or kingship was contingent on following the ways David had gone, however Shlomo's wisdom and wealth was unconditional.

Rashi Says that when Shlomo awoke he realized that this dream was prophetic because he heard the chirping of the birds and barking of the dogs and understood there language. Shlomo that is why Shlomo comes to Yerushalayim to thank Hashem

Here we are introduced to the famous story where two women claim to be the mother of a baby. The connection to the previous pesukim, is to show that Hashems promise to Shlomo of wisdom to Judge the people came true

Targum explains that Zonot means inn keepers. The Abarbanel says that Zonot means harlots. According to the Abarbranel the purpose of pointing out the occupation of these women was to show that every person was able to receive judgment from Shlomo and that he was able to understand the minds of the most distant people from him

No one lived in the house- therefore there were no witnesses (Metzudat David)

A dayan is always supposed to repeat the two sides in front of the litigants. The Radak explains that this is in order to give both parties an opportunity to make sure that they were clearly understood. Rav Chaim Shmulevitz says that by repeating the claims the judge becomes more sensitive to the claims and will strive ever harder to come to an honest and just decision

Shlomo wants to provoke the passion of the true mother by devising this plan.

To the a real mother the life of her child is more important then her own happiness.

The reaction of the other women is shocking however. What does she gain by having the child killed. The Metzudos explains that her primary purpose was to deprive the real mother of the joy of motherhood because she herself was unable to have it as she accidently suffocated her own child.

Gemara Maakos 23b says that these words היא אמו were said by a bat kol in שמים as a way of confirming Shlomos decision. Rashi

People were afraid to even sin in public because they saw Shlomo was incredibly wise they were afraid he would somehow figure it out! (Radak). Rav Chaim Shmulevitz explains that the final decision was an obvious one but the Chochma of Shlomo was the plan he devised to bring out the passion of the mother.