Add parallel Print Page Options

Solomon the son of David was firmly established in his kingdom, and Yahweh[a] his God[b] was with him, and made him exceedingly great. Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households. So Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for God’s Tent of Meeting was there, which Yahweh’s servant Moses had made in the wilderness. But David had brought God’s ark up from Kiriath Jearim to the place that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. Moreover the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was there before Yahweh’s tabernacle; and Solomon and the assembly were seeking counsel there. Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before Yahweh, which was at the Tent of Meeting, and offered one thousand burnt offerings on it.

That night, God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for what you want me to give you.”

Solomon said to God, “You have shown great loving kindness to David my father, and have made me king in his place. Now, Yahweh God, let your promise to David my father be established; for you have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of yours?”

11 God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor yet have you asked for long life; but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge is granted to you. I will give you riches, wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you, and none after you will have.”

13 So Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the Tent of Meeting, to Jerusalem; and he reigned over Israel.

14 Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold to be as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars to be as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland. 16 The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt and from Kue. The king’s merchants purchased them from Kue. 17 They brought up and brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred pieces of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty.[c] They also exported them to the Hittite kings and the Syrian[d] kings.

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.
  2. 1:1 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
  3. 1:17 The pieces of silver were probably shekels, so 600 pieces would be about 13.2 pounds or 6 kilograms of silver, and 150 would be about 3.3 pounds or 1.5 kilograms of silver.
  4. 1:17 or, Aramean

Solomon Worships at Gibeon

Now (A)Solomon the son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and (B)exalted him greatly.

And Solomon spoke to all Israel, (C)to the commanders of thousands, 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)because God’s tent of meeting was there which Moses, the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness. However, David had brought up (F)the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim [a]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 was there before the tabernacle of the Lord, and Solomon and the assembly sought it out. And Solomon went up there before the Lord to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting, and (I)offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

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

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

And Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great faithfulness, and (K)have made me king in his place. Now, Lord God, (L)Your [b]promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over (M)a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 (N)Now give me wisdom and knowledge, (O)so that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?” 11 (P)Then God said to Solomon, “Because this was [c]in your heart, and you did not ask for riches, wealth, or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor did you even ask for long life, but you asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge so that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. (Q)I will also give you riches, wealth, and honor, [d]such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed, nor will those who will [e]come after you.” 13 (R)So Solomon went [f]from the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.

Solomon’s Wealth

14 (S)Solomon amassed chariots and horsemen. (T)He had 1,400 chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, and he stationed them in (U)the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 (V)The king made (W)silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamores in the [g]lowland. 16 Solomon’s (X)horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue; the king’s traders acquired them from Kue for a price. 17 They [h]imported chariots from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver apiece, horses for 150 apiece, and [i]by the same means they [j]exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 1:4 Lit where David had prepared for it
  2. 2 Chronicles 1:9 Lit word
  3. 2 Chronicles 1:11 Lit with
  4. 2 Chronicles 1:12 Lit which was not so to the kings who were before you
  5. 2 Chronicles 1:12 Lit be
  6. 2 Chronicles 1:13 As in other ancient versions; MT to
  7. 2 Chronicles 1:15 Heb shephelah
  8. 2 Chronicles 1:17 Lit brought up and brought out
  9. 2 Chronicles 1:17 Lit in the same way by their hand
  10. 2 Chronicles 1:17 Lit brought out