2 Chronicles 1:1-13
New English Translation
The Lord Gives Solomon Wisdom
1 Solomon son of David solidified his royal authority,[a] for[b] the Lord his God was with him and magnified him greatly.
2 Solomon addressed all Israel, including those who commanded units of a thousand and a hundred, the judges, and all the leaders of all Israel who were heads of families. 3 Solomon and the entire assembly went to the worship center[c] in Gibeon, for the tent where they met God[d] was located there, which Moses the Lord’s servant had made in the wilderness. 4 (Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5 But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, was in front of the Lord’s tabernacle.[e] Solomon and the entire assembly prayed to him[f] there.) 6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord which was at the meeting tent, and he offered up 1,000 burnt sacrifices.
7 That night God appeared[g] to Solomon and said to him, “Tell me[h] what I should give you.” 8 Solomon replied to God, “You demonstrated[i] great loyalty to my father David and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, may your promise[j] to my father David be realized,[k] for you have made me king over a great nation as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Now give me wisdom and discernment so[l] I can effectively lead this nation.[m] Otherwise[n] no one is able[o] to make judicial decisions for[p] this great nation of yours.”[q]
11 God said to Solomon, “Because you desire this,[r] and did not ask for riches, wealth, and honor, or for vengeance on your enemies,[s] and because you did not ask for long life,[t] but requested wisdom and discernment so you can make judicial decisions for my people over whom I have made you king, 12 you are granted wisdom and discernment.[u] Furthermore I am giving you riches, wealth, and honor surpassing that of any king before or after you.”[v]
13 Solomon left the meeting tent at the worship center in Gibeon and went to Jerusalem, where he reigned over Israel.[w]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Chronicles 1:1 tn Heb “and Solomon son of David strengthened himself over his kingdom.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:1 tn The disjunctive clause (note the vav [ו] + subject pattern) probably has a causal nuance here.
- 2 Chronicles 1:3 tn Or “high place.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:3 tn Heb “the tent of meeting of God.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:5 sn The tabernacle was located in Gibeon; see 1 Chr 21:29.
- 2 Chronicles 1:5 tn Heb “sought [or “inquired of”] him.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:7 tn Or “revealed himself.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:7 tn Heb “ask.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:8 tn Heb “did.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:9 tn Heb “your word.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:9 tn Or “be firm, established.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:10 tn The cohortative with prefixed vav (ו) following the imperative here indicates purpose/result.
- 2 Chronicles 1:10 tn Heb “so I may go out before this nation and come in.” The expression “go out…and come in” here means “to lead” (see HALOT 425 s.v. יצא qal.4).
- 2 Chronicles 1:10 tn Heb “for.” The word “otherwise” is used to reflect the logical sense of the statement.
- 2 Chronicles 1:10 tn Heb “who is able?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:10 tn Heb “to judge.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:10 tn Heb “these numerous people of yours.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:11 tn Heb “because this was in your heart.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:11 tn Heb “the life of those who hate you.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:11 tn Heb “many days.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:12 tn Heb “wisdom and discernment are given to you.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:12 tn Heb “which was not so for the kings who were before you, and after you there will not be so.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:13 tn Heb “and Solomon came from the high place which was in Gibeon [to] Jerusalem, from before the tent of meeting, and he reigned over Israel.”
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.