Solomon’s sober evaluation of himself, his character and his ability, coupled with his understanding of the significance the people of Israel held in God’s plan for the history caused him to ask the Lord for something more than money, fame or power. The tremendous responsibility he had as their leader made him ask for wisdom to govern instead of things others might have asked for to make themselves comfortable or great.

With the destruction of the tabernacle at Shiloh in Samuel’s youth and the slaughter of the priests at Nob by Saul the sanctuary of the Lord was now at Gibeon. Any remains of the tabernacle or the priesthood’s service seem to have been located at the high place of Gibeon which is five miles north of Jerusalem. (See Google map here. And, see photos and more details here.) This sanctuary did not have the Ark of the Covenant which David had set in Jerusalem in its own tent. This sanctuary at Gibeon, or what is today called Nabi Samwil (the location of the prophet Samuel’s tomb), was in use until Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem.

“God words do not depend upon a reader’s interpretation. Instead, the reader is to interpret the Bible according to God’s intention.”
- David A. Noebel, Understanding the Times

Sin Nature of Man – It is the corrupt nature every man inherits from Adam. This sin nature has affected every part of man’s nature: spirit, body, intellect, will, emotions, etc. In this condition man is in complete depravity which means each individual person is as bad off as they can be in God’s eyes. (This does not mean each individual man is acting as badly as he could.)