1:9 dust of the earth. Israel now had the largest population of its history, in addition to the conquered peoples in its territory, but “the dust of the earth” is obviously an exaggeration. The doctrine of inerrancy, of course, applies not to the accuracy of Solomon’s metaphor, but to the accuracy of the reporting of his metaphor.

l:10 Give me now wisdom. Solomon followed the advice and prayer of his father David (I Chronicles 22:11-13).