2 Chronicles 1

Solomon Worships at Gibeon

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

2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands, of hundreds, and to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households.3 Then Solomon and all the assembly with him went to the high place which was at Gibeon, because God’s tent of meeting was there which Moses, the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness. 4 However, David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim *1:4 Lit where David had prepared for itto the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5 Now 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.6 And Solomon went up there before the Lord to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

7 In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask what I shall give you."

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

8 And Solomon said to God, "You have dealt with my father David with great faithfulness, and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, Your *1:9 Lit wordpromise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?" 11 Then God said to Solomon, "Because this was *1:11 Lit within 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. I will also give you riches, wealth, and honor, *1:12 Lit which was not so to the kings who were before yousuch as none of the kings who were before you has possessed, nor will those who will *1:12 Lit become after you." 13 So Solomon went *1:13 As in other ancient versions; MT tofrom the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.

Solomon’s Wealth

14 Solomon amassed chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamores in the *1:15 Heb shephelahlowland. 16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue; the king’s traders acquired them from Kue for a price. 17 They *1:17 Lit brought up and brought outimported chariots from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver apiece, horses for 150 apiece, and *1:17 Lit in the same way by their handby the same means they *1:17 Lit brought outexported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.