2 Chronicles 1

Solomon Requests Wisdom

1 Now Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and exalted him exceedingly. Now Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and exalted him exceedingly.2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers houses. 3 Then Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for the tabernacle of meeting with God was there, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness.4 But David had brought up the ark of God from Kirjath Jearim to the place David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.5 Now the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the Lord; Solomon and the assembly sought Him there. 6 And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.7 On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, Ask! What shall I give you?8 And Solomon said to God: You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place.9 Now, O Lord 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 Then God said to Solomon: Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long lifebut have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.

Solomons Military and Economic Power

13 So Solomon came to Jerusalem from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the tabernacle of meeting, and reigned over Israel.14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.15 Also the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as abundant as the sycamores which are in the lowland.16 And Solomon had horses imported from Egypt and Keveh; the kings merchants bought them in Keveh at the current price.17 They also acquired and imported from Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred and fifty; thus, through their agents, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.

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