所羅門王求智慧

大衛的兒子所羅門鞏固了自己的王位。因為他的上帝耶和華與他同在,使他極其偉大。

所羅門召集所有以色列人,包括千夫長、百夫長、審判官、首領和族長, 與他們一起去基遍的邱壇,因為那裡有上帝的會幕,是耶和華的僕人摩西在曠野製造的。 大衛已經把上帝的約櫃從基列·耶琳搬到耶路撒冷,因為他在那裡為約櫃搭了一個帳篷。 戶珥的孫子、烏利的兒子比撒列造的銅壇在基遍耶和華的會幕前,所羅門和會眾就在那裡求問耶和華。 所羅門上到耶和華會幕前的銅壇那裡,獻上一千頭祭牲作為燔祭。

當天晚上,上帝向所羅門顯現,問他:「你要我給你什麼?只管求吧。」 所羅門回答說:「你厚待我父大衛,並讓我繼位。 耶和華上帝啊,求你成就你給我父大衛的應許。你立我為王,使我統治這多如地上塵土的百姓。 10 現在,求你賜我智慧和知識以帶領他們。不然,誰能治理這麼多的百姓呢?」 11 上帝對所羅門說:「你既然有此心願,不為自己求富貴、資財、尊榮、長壽,也沒有求滅絕你的敵人,只求智慧和知識以治理我的子民——我交在你王權之下的百姓, 12 我必賜你智慧和知識,並且我還要賜你空前絕後的富貴、資財和尊榮。」

13 於是,所羅門從基遍邱壇的會幕前回到耶路撒冷治理以色列。

所羅門王的兵力和財富

14 所羅門組建了戰車和騎兵,有一千四百輛戰車、一萬二千名騎兵,駐紮在屯車城和他所在的耶路撒冷。 15 王使耶路撒冷的金銀多如石頭,使香柏木多如丘陵的無花果樹。 16 所羅門的馬匹都是由王室商隊從埃及和古厄按定價買來的。 17 他們從埃及買來的車馬,每輛車六百塊銀子,每匹馬一百五十塊銀子,他們也把車馬賣給赫人諸王和亞蘭諸王。

Solomon Asks for Wisdom

Solomon, David’s son, became a powerful king, because the Lord his God was with him and made him very great.

Solomon spoke to all the people of Israel—the commanders of a hundred men and of a thousand men, the judges, every leader in all Israel, and the leaders of the families. Then Solomon and all the people with him went to the place of worship at the town of Gibeon. God’s Meeting Tent, which Moses the Lord’s servant had made in the desert, was there. David had brought the Ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to Jerusalem, where he had made a place for it and had set up a tent for it. The bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, who was the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the Holy Tent. So Solomon and the people worshiped there. Solomon went up to the bronze altar in the presence of the Lord at the Meeting Tent and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

Solomon answered, “You have been very kind to my father David, and you have made me king in his place. Now, Lord God, may your promise to my father David come true. You have made me king of a people who are as many as the dust of the earth. 10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge so I can lead these people in the right way, because no one can rule them without your help.”

11 God said to Solomon, “You have not asked for wealth or riches or honor, or for the death of your enemies, or for a long life. But since you have asked for wisdom and knowledge to lead my people, over whom I have made you king, 12 I will give you wisdom and knowledge. I will also give you more wealth, riches, and honor than any king who has lived before you or any who will live after you.”

13 Then Solomon left the place of worship, the Meeting Tent, at Gibeon and went back to Jerusalem. There King Solomon ruled over Israel.

Solomon’s Wealth

14 Solomon had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses. He kept some in special cities for the chariots, and others he kept with him in Jerusalem. 15 In Jerusalem Solomon made silver and gold as plentiful as stones and cedar trees as plentiful as the fig trees on the western hills. 16 He imported horses from Egypt and Kue; his traders bought them in Kue. 17 They imported chariots from Egypt for about fifteen pounds of silver apiece, and horses cost nearly four pounds of silver apiece. Then they sold the horses and chariots to all the kings of the Hittites and the Arameans.

Solomon Asks for Wisdom at Gibeon

Now Solomon the son of David firmly established himself over his kingdom. For Adonai his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.

Solomon spoke to all Israel—t0 the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the leading patriarchs— and Solomon and the whole assembly with him went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for the Tent of Meeting of God was there, which Moses the servant of Adonai had made in the wilderness. Now David had brought up the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. But the bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur had made was there in front of the Tabernacle of Adonai, and Solomon and the assembly inquired of Him there. So Solomon went up before Adonai to the bronze altar that was at the Tent of Meeting and offered 1,000 burnt offerings on it.

That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask! What should I give you?”

Solomon answered God, “You have shown great lovingkindness to my father David and now You have made me king in his place. Now, Adonai Elohim, let Your word to my father David be fulfilled for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge that I may go out and come in before this people. For who can govern this great people of Yours?”

11 Then God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart and you have not asked for riches, possessions or honor, nor for the life of those who hate you and have not even asked for long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself—so you can govern My people over whom I have made you king— 12 wisdom and knowledge will be given to you. Moreover, I will give you riches, possessions and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you ever had and none after you will have.”

13 Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place that was at Gibeon, from in front of the Tent of Meeting. So he reigned over Israel.

Horses and Chariots from Egypt

14 Solomon accumulated chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, which he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars as plentiful as sycamores in the foothills. 16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Keve—the king’s merchants purchased them from Keve at a price. 17 They imported a chariot from Egypt for 600 talents of silver and a horse for 150. So by the same means they were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.

Solomon Prepares to Build

18 Then Solomon vowed to build a House for the Name of Adonai, as well as a royal palace for himself.