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Solomon spoke to all Israel—to the commanders of regiments and battalions, judges, every prince, and the heads of Israel’s families. Then Solomon and the entire assembly went to the place of worship in Gibeon because Elohim’s tent of meeting was there. Moses, Yahweh’s servant, had made the tent in the desert. (However, David had already brought Elohim’s ark from Kiriath Jearim to a place he had prepared for it. He had put up a tent for it in Jerusalem.) The bronze altar that Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur, had made was in front of Yahweh’s tent. There Solomon and the assembly worshiped Yahweh. In Yahweh’s presence Solomon went to the bronze altar in front of the tent of meeting and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.

That night Elohim appeared to Solomon. He said, “What can I give you?”

Solomon responded to Elohim, “You’ve shown great love to my father David, and you’ve made me king in his place. Now, Yahweh Elohim, you’ve kept the promise you made to my father David. You’ve made me king of people who are as numerous as specks of dust on the ground. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”

11 Elohim replied to Solomon, “I know this request is from your heart. You didn’t ask for riches, fortunes, honor, or the death of those who hate you. You didn’t even ask for a long life. Instead, you’ve asked for wisdom and knowledge to judge my people, over whom I made you king. 12 So wisdom and knowledge will be given to you. I will also give you riches, fortunes, and honor like no other king before or after you.”

13 Solomon went from the tent of meeting at the place of worship in Gibeon to Jerusalem. And he ruled Israel.

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Then Solomon spoke to all Israel(A)—to the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, to the judges and to all the leaders in Israel, the heads of families— and Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon,(B) for God’s tent of meeting(C) was there, which Moses(D) the Lord’s servant had made in the wilderness. Now David had brought up the ark(E) of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent(F) for it in Jerusalem. But the bronze altar(G) that Bezalel(H) son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the tabernacle of the Lord; so Solomon and the assembly inquired(I) of him there. Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

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

Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me(K) king in his place. Now, Lord God, let your promise(L) to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth.(M) 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead(N) this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth,(O) possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor,(P) such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.(Q)

13 Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting. And he reigned over Israel.

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