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。

After David had unified the tribes of Israel into one nation, subdued his neighboring enemies, and joined his ancestors in death, David’s son Solomon demonstrated his authority as king over Israel. The Eternal God was with Solomon and made him great.

As the new king, Solomon continues building God’s temple, utilizing David’s preparations, building the structure, and establishing the religion of the Lord.

As their new king, Solomon spoke to all Israel (commanders of thousands and hundreds, the judges, and every tribal leader). Then he took the group up to the high place at Gibeon, a place in the mountains known for its connection to the Divine, where God’s meeting tent stood. (Moses, the servant of the Eternal, had made this tent and the covenant chest in the wilderness where it traveled with the people, but David prepared a permanent home for the covenant chest of God in Jerusalem where it stayed after he took it from Kiriath-jearim.) At this high place, 5-6 Solomon and the group looked for the bronze altar, which Bezalel (son of Uri, son of Hur) had placed before the Eternal’s congregation tent. Solomon offered 1,000 burnt offerings there in the presence of the Eternal.

That night, the True God appeared to Solomon.

God (following the offerings of Solomon): Ask what you want from Me, and I shall give it to you.

Solomon: 8-9 The loyal love You showed my father, David, was immeasurable, and You, O Eternal God, have fulfilled Your promise to my father and made me the king of innumerable people in his place. 10 Now that I am their ruler, give me wisdom and knowledge to lead this great people. Without such wisdom, who can govern such a great people?

God: 11 You did not ask for selfish personal gain: riches, wealth, honor, the deaths of your enemies, or a long life. Instead, you asked for godly wisdom and knowledge to rule My people, over whom I have made you king. 12 Because you thought of the welfare of My people, I have granted you this exceptional wisdom and knowledge. In addition, I will give you riches and wealth and honor greater than any king ever has possessed or ever will possess.

These gifts are signs that God loves Solomon, and Solomon could use them for his own selfish reasons. But Solomon demonstrates wisdom by using these exceptional gifts to honor God in the construction of His temple.

13 Having sacrificed to God at the meeting tent on the high place of Gibeon and received His gifts, Solomon returned to Jerusalem to govern Israel.

14 There Solomon gathered his wealth. He collected 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen; and then he stationed them in the fortified cities, as well as in Jerusalem, where he remained. 15 He distributed silver and gold until they saturated Jerusalem. He imported cedar trees until they rivaled in number the sycamores of the foothills. 16 He imported horses from Egypt and from Kue, a nation north of Israel—the king’s merchants bought the horses from Kue, 17 and they acquired chariots from Egypt for about 15 pounds of silver each and horses for about 4 pounds of silver each. Solomon then traded them to all the Hittite and Aramean kings.

And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.

So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness.

But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the Lord: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.

And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.

In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.

Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

13 Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.

14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

15 And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance.

16 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

17 And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means.