Summary

We are told in this verse that Solomon went to Gibeon. We are also told the reason for his going there. It was, the writer tells us, “the great high place.” The words the great are of particular importance. The use of the term high places in the previous verses reflects both Solomon’s practice and the people’s irregular practice indulged in because of the supposed validation that the temple did not exist yet. What, nevertheless, are we to say about the tabernacle? Wherever it was, God intended it as the central place of worship. Both Adonijah and Joab have previously gone there to grasp the horns of the altar. The language that calls Gibeon the great high place gives one a reason to suppose that it was at that time the place where the Lord's tent found its temporary home. This supposition, if true, assures us that Solomon’s act of worship at Gibeon was not irregular, as sacrifices at other high places would be.

The verse also tells us that the purpose of his going was to offer sacrifices. Indeed, it was to offer many sacrifices. The language is somewhat ambiguous. It says that Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. Does that mean that that is what he did at the particular time the writer is describing, or is that his customary practice whenever he came to Gibeon to offer sacrifices? The answer to both questions may be, yes. Alternatively, it might be suggested that the number a thousand is intended to be a sum total of the burnt offering Solomon offered at Gibeon throughout his patronage there,

One final matter remains to be discussed in this regard. Many have wondered at the likelihood of a thousand burnt offerings at one time. Because of this some commentators see it as an over-statement that was intended to describe very many offerings, but not a literal thousand.