2 Chronicles 1
Christian Standard Bible
Solomon’s Request for Wisdom
1 Solomon son of David strengthened his hold on his kingdom.(A) The Lord his God was with him and highly exalted him.(B) 2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel—the family heads.(C) 3 Solomon and the whole assembly with him went to the high place that was in Gibeon(D) because God’s tent of meeting, which the Lord’s servant Moses had made(E) in the wilderness, was there. 4 Now David had brought the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place[a] he had set up for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem,(F) 5 but he put[b] the bronze altar, which Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, had made,(G) in front of the Lord’s tabernacle. Solomon and the assembly inquired of him[c] there. 6 Solomon offered sacrifices there in the Lord’s presence on the bronze altar at the tent of meeting; he offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.(H)
7 That night(I) God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask. What should I give you?”
8 And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and faithful love to my father David, and you have made me king in his place.(J) 9 Lord God, let your promise to my father David now come true.(K) For you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.(L) 10 Now grant me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people,(M) for who can judge this great people of yours?”
11 God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart, and you have not requested riches, wealth, or glory, or for the life of those who hate you, and you have not even requested long life, but you have requested for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may judge my people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge are given to you. I will also give you riches, wealth, and glory, unlike what was given to the kings who were before you, or will be given to those after you.”(N) 13 So Solomon went to Jerusalem from[d] the high place that was in Gibeon in front of the tent of meeting, and he reigned over Israel.
Solomon’s Horses and Wealth
14 Solomon(O) accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen,(P) which he stationed in the chariot cities(Q) and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar as abundant as sycamore in the Judean foothills. 16 Solomon’s horses came from Egypt and Kue.[e] The king’s traders would get them from Kue at the going price. 17 A chariot could be imported from Egypt for fifteen pounds[f] of silver and a horse for nearly four pounds.[g] In the same way, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram through their agents.
2 Chronicles 1
Common English Bible
Solomon first meets God
1 Solomon, David’s son, was securely established over his kingdom because the Lord his God was with him and made him very great. 2 Solomon summoned all Israel, including the officers of the army,[a] the judges, and every Israelite leader who was the head of a family. 3 Then Solomon, accompanied by the whole assembly, went to the shrine at Gibeon because that is where God’s meeting tent was, the tent that the Lord’s servant Moses had made in the wilderness. 4 Now David had already brought God’s chest from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared for it because he had pitched a tent for the chest in Jerusalem. 5 But the bronze altar that Bezalel, Uri’s son and Hur’s grandson, had made was there in front of the Lord’s dwelling, so that is where Solomon and the assembly worshipped. 6 Solomon went there to the bronze altar in the Lord’s presence at the meeting tent and offered a thousand entirely burned offerings upon it.
7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”
8 “You showed so much kindness to my father David,” Solomon replied to God, “and you have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be fulfilled because you have made me king over a people as numerous as the earth’s dust. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge so I can lead this people, because no one can govern this great people of yours without your help.”
11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is what you wish, and because you’ve asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I’ve made you king—rather than asking for wealth, riches, fame, victory over those who hate you, or even a long life— 12 your request for wisdom and knowledge is granted. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame beyond that of any king before you or after you.” 13 Then Solomon went from[b] the shrine in Gibeon, from the meeting tent to Jerusalem where he ruled over Israel.
Solomon’s wealth
14 Solomon acquired more and more chariots and horses until he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he stationed in chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 In Jerusalem, the king made silver and gold as common as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore trees that grow in the foothills. 16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue, purchased from Kue by the king’s agents at the going price. 17 They would import a chariot from Egypt for six hundred pieces of silver and a horse for one hundred fifty, and then export them to all the Hittite and Aramean kings.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 1:2 Or officers over thousands and hundreds
- 2 Chronicles 1:13 LXX, Vulg; MT to
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