2 Chronicles 1

Solomon Asks for Wisdom

1 Solomon, David’s son, became a powerful king, because the Lord his God was with him and made him very great.
2 Solomon spoke to all the people of Israel—the commanders of a hundred men and of a thousand men, the judges, every leader in all Israel, and the leaders of the families.3 Then Solomon and all the people with him went to the place of worship at the town of Gibeon. God’s Meeting Tent, which Moses the Lord’s servant had made in the desert, was there.4 David had brought the Ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to Jerusalem, where he had made a place for it and had set up a tent for it.5 The bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, who was the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the Holy Tent. So Solomon and the people worshiped there.

6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar in the presence of the Lord at the Meeting Tent and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
8 Solomon answered, “You have been very kind to my father David, and you have made me king in his place.9 Now, Lord God, may your promise to my father David come true. You have made me king of a people who are as many as the dust of the earth.

10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge so I can lead these people in the right way, because no one can rule them without your help.”
11 God said to Solomon, “You have not asked for wealth or riches or honor, or for the death of your enemies, or for a long life. But since you have asked for wisdom and knowledge to lead my people, over whom I have made you king,

12 I will give you wisdom and knowledge. I will also give you more wealth, riches, and honor than any king who has lived before you or any who will live after you.”

13 Then Solomon left the place of worship, the Meeting Tent, at Gibeon and went back to Jerusalem. There King Solomon ruled over Israel.

Solomon’s Wealth

14 Solomon had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses. He kept some in special cities for the chariots, and others he kept with him in Jerusalem.15 In Jerusalem Solomon made silver and gold as plentiful as stones and cedar trees as plentiful as the fig trees on the western hills.16 He imported horses from Egypt and Kue; his traders bought them in Kue.17 They imported chariots from Egypt for about fifteen pounds of silver apiece, and horses cost nearly four pounds of silver apiece. Then they sold the horses and chariots to all the kings of the Hittites and the Arameans.

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