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Solomon Goes Before Yahweh

Now (A)Solomon the son of David strengthened himself over his kingdom, and [a]Yahweh his God was with him and highly (B)exalted him.

And Solomon spoke to all Israel, (C)to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households. Then Solomon and all the assembly with him went to (D)the high place which was at Gibeon, (E)for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the servant of Yahweh had made in the wilderness. However, David had brought up (F)the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim [b]to (G)the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. Now (H)the bronze altar, which Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, [c]was there before the tabernacle of Yahweh, and Solomon and the assembly sought it out. And Solomon went up there before Yahweh to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting, and (I)offered one thousand burnt offerings on it.

(J)In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I should give to you.”

God Gives Wisdom to Solomon

Then Solomon said to God, “You have shown great lovingkindness to my father David, and (K)have made me king in his place. Now, O Yahweh God, (L)let Your [d]promise to my father David [e]endure, for You have made me king over (M)a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 (N)Give me now wisdom and knowledge, (O)that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can do justice for this great people of Yours?” 11 (P)And God said to Solomon, “Because [f]you had this in your heart, and did not ask for riches, wealth, or glory, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may do justice for My people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge have been given to you. And (Q)I will give you riches and wealth and glory, [g]such as none of the kings who were before you had nor those who will [h]come after you.” 13 (R)So Solomon went [i]from the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.

Solomon’s Chariots and Horsemen

14 (S)And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. (T)And he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in (U)the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 (V)The king also made (W)silver and gold as plentiful as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the [j]Shephelah. 16 Solomon’s import of (X)horses was from Egypt and from Kue; the king’s merchants procured them from Kue for a price. 17 And they [k]imported a chariot from Egypt for [l]600 shekels of silver and a horse for [m]150; and [n]by the same means they [o]exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 1:1 The personal covenant name of God, a form of I AM WHO I AM, cf. Ex 3:14-15
  2. 2 Chronicles 1:4 Lit where David had prepared for it
  3. 2 Chronicles 1:5 Lit he put
  4. 2 Chronicles 1:9 Lit word
  5. 2 Chronicles 1:9 Or be true
  6. 2 Chronicles 1:11 Lit this was in your heart
  7. 2 Chronicles 1:12 Lit which was not so to the kings who were before you
  8. 2 Chronicles 1:12 Lit be
  9. 2 Chronicles 1:13 Lit to
  10. 2 Chronicles 1:15 Or lowland
  11. 2 Chronicles 1:17 Lit brought up and brought out
  12. 2 Chronicles 1:17 Approx. 15 lb. or 6.6 kg
  13. 2 Chronicles 1:17 Approx. 3.7 lb. or 1.6 kg
  14. 2 Chronicles 1:17 Lit and in like manner by their hand
  15. 2 Chronicles 1:17 Lit brought out

Solomon first meets God

Solomon, David’s son, was securely established over his kingdom because the Lord his God was with him and made him very great. Solomon summoned all Israel, including the officers of the army,[a] the judges, and every Israelite leader who was the head of a family. 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. 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. 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. 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.

That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”

“You showed so much kindness to my father David,” Solomon replied to God, “and you have made me king in his place. 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

  1. 2 Chronicles 1:2 Or officers over thousands and hundreds
  2. 2 Chronicles 1:13 LXX, Vulg; MT to