2 Chronicles 1

God Appears to Solomon—1 Kings 3:1–15; 10:26–29

1 Solomon, son of David, strengthened his position over the kingdom. The Lord his God was with him and made him very powerful.2 Solomon spoke to all Israel—to the commanders of regiments and battalions, judges, every prince, and the heads of Israel’s families.3 Then Solomon and the entire assembly went to the place of worship in Gibeon because God’s tent of meeting was there. Moses, the Lord’s servant, had made the tent in the desert.4 (However, David had already brought God’s ark from Kiriath Jearim to a place he had prepared for it. He had put up a tent for it in Jerusalem.)5 The bronze altar that Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur, had made was in front of the Lord’s tent. There Solomon and the assembly worshiped the Lord.

6 In the Lord’s presence Solomon went to the bronze altar in front of the tent of meeting and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.
7 That night God appeared to Solomon. He said, “What can I give you?”8 Solomon responded to God, “You’ve shown great love to my father David, and you’ve made me king in his place.9 Now, Lord God, you’ve kept the promise you made to my father David. You’ve made me king of people who are as numerous as specks of dust on the ground.

10 Give me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”
11 God replied to Solomon, “I know this request is from your heart. You didn’t ask for riches, fortunes, honor, or the death of those who hate you. You didn’t even ask for a long life. Instead, you’ve asked for wisdom and knowledge to judge my people, over whom I made you king.

12 So wisdom and knowledge will be given to you. I will also give you riches, fortunes, and honor like no other king before or after you.”
13 Solomon went from the tent of meeting at the place of worship in Gibeon to Jerusalem. And he ruled Israel.14 Solomon built up his army with chariots and war horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 war horses. He stationed some in chariot cities and others with himself in Jerusalem.15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as fig trees in the foothills.16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue. The king’s traders bought them from Kue for a fixed price.

17 They imported each chariot from Egypt for 15 pounds of silver and each horse for 6 ounces of silver. For the same price they obtained horses to export to all the Hittite and Aramean kings.

2 Chronicles 1

The Lord Gives Solomon Wisdom

1 Solomon son of David solidified his royal authority,t fort 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 centert in Gibeon, for the tent where they met Godt 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.s5 But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, was in front of the Lord’s tabernacle.s Solomon and the entire assembly prayed to himt there.)

6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord which was at the meeting tent, and he offered up a thousand burnt sacrifices.
7 That night God appearedt to Solomon and said to him, “Tell met what I should give you.”8 Solomon replied to God, “You demonstratedt great loyalty to my father David and have made me king in his place.9 Now, Lord God, may your promiset to my father David be realized,t 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 sot I can effectively lead this nation.t Otherwiset no one is ablet to make judicial decisions fort this great nation of yours.”t
11 God said to Solomon, “Because you desire this,t and did not ask for riches, wealth, and honor, or for vengeance on your enemies,t 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.t Furthermore I am giving you riches, wealth, and honor surpassing that of any king before or after you.”t

13 Solomon left the meeting tent at the worship center in Gibeon and went to Jerusalem, where he reigned over Israel.t

Solomon’s Wealth

14 Solomon accumulatedt chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem.ts15 The king made silver and gold as plentifult in Jerusalem as stones; cedar wast as plentiful as sycamore fig trees are in the lowlands.t16 Solomon acquired his horses from Egypts and from Que; the king’s traders purchased them from Que.

17 They paid 600 silver pieces for each chariot from Egypt, and 150 silver pieces for each horse. They also sold chariots and horses to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria.t