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Solomon Requests Wisdom

Solomon son of David strengthened himself in his kingdom; the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.(A)

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

That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I should give you.”(G) Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to my father David and have made me succeed him as king.(H) O Lord God, let your promise to my father David now be fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.(I) 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of yours?”(J) 11 God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you and have not even asked for long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may rule my people over whom I have made you king,(K) 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.”(L) 13 So Solomon came from[a] the high place at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.

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Footnotes

  1. 1.13 Gk Vg: Heb to

Solomon Worships at Gibeon

And Solomon the son of David strengthened himself concerning his kingdom, and Yahweh his God was with him and made him exceedingly great. And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to all the leaders for all Israel, the heads of the families.[a] And Solomon and the whole assembly with him went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for the tent of assembly[b] of God that Moses the servant of Yahweh had made in the desert was there. (But the ark of God David had brought up from Kiriath-Jearim to the place David had prepared for it, for David had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.) And the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was there before the tabernacle of Yahweh. And Solomon and the assembly sought it out. And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before Yahweh, which was at the tent of assembly,[c] and he offered upon it a thousand burnt offerings.

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

On that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give to you.” Then Solomon said to God, “You yourself have shown steadfast[d] loyal love to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, O Yahweh God, let your word to David my father be fulfilled, for you yourself have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Now, give to me wisdom and knowledge that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can judge this, your great people?”

11 Then God said to Solomon, “Because this was with your heart and you did not ask for wealth, possessions, honor, and the lives of your enemies, and also did not ask for long life,[e] but have asked for wisdom and knowledge that you might judge my people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge is given to you. And I will also give to you wealth, possessions, and honor, the like of which was not had by the kings who were before you, nor will there be the like after you.” 13 So Solomon went from the high place which was at Gibeon to Jerusalem before the tent of assembly.[f] And he reigned over Israel.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 1:2 Literally “fathers”
  2. 2 Chronicles 1:3 Or “meeting”
  3. 2 Chronicles 1:6 Or “meeting”
  4. 2 Chronicles 1:8 Or “great”
  5. 2 Chronicles 1:11 Literally “many days”
  6. 2 Chronicles 1:13 Or “meeting”