John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. For I was my father’s son , etc.] Or, “a son to my father” f87 ; so Solomon was to God, his heavenly Father, ( 2 Samuel 7:14); which Jarchi observes, and gives as the sense of this place: but his father David is meant, whose son he was; though he was not his only one, he had others besides him. But the sense is, that he was his darling, his beloved son, whom he loved above the rest; as he was beloved of the Lord, and therefore his name was called Jedidiah, so he was beloved of his father; and, because he had a peculiar love for him, he took a particular care of his education; tender and only [beloved] in the sight of my mother ; his mother Bathsheba, who had a most affectionate regard to him; and therefore in his tender age, as soon as he was susceptible of instructions, gave them to him, which being received, made deep and lasting impressions on him; (see Proverbs 31:1,2). The marginal reading is, “to the sons of my mother”; for Bathsheba had more sons, ( 1 Chronicles 3:5); both readings may be retained, “beloved in the sight of my mother’s sons”. Gersom interprets this of the people of Israel, who were sons to God their Father; and were the only nation that received the law, and which they received at the time of their coming out of Egypt, in the days of their youth.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-13 - We must look upon our teachers as our fathers: though instruction carr in it reproof and correction, bid it welcome. Solomon's parents love him, therefore taught him. Wise and godly men, in every age of the world, and rank in society, agree that true wisdom consists i obedience, and is united to happiness. Get wisdom, take pains for it Get the rule over thy corruptions; take more pains to get this than the wealth of this world. An interest in Christ's salvation is necessary This wisdom is the one thing needful. A soul without true wisdom an grace is a dead soul. How poor, contemptible, and wretched are those who, with all their wealth and power, die without gettin understanding, without Christ, without hope, and without God! Let u give heed to the sayings of Him who has the words of eternal life. Thu our path will be plain before us: by taking, and keeping fast hold of instruction, we shall avoid being straitened or stumbling.
Original Hebrew כי3588 בן1121 הייתי1961 לאבי1 רך7390 ויחיד3173 לפני6440 אמי׃517
