2 Chronicles 1

Chapter 1

Solomon Asks for Wisdom

1 Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the LORD his God was with him and made him very powerful.
2 Solomon called together all the leaders of Israel—the generals and captains of the army,t the judges, and all the political and clan leaders.

3 Then he led the entire assembly to the place of worship in Gibeon, for God’s Tabernaclet was located there. (This was the Tabernacle that Moses, the LORD’s servant, had made in the wilderness.)
4 David had already moved the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the tent he had prepared for it in Jerusalem.5 But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri and grandson of Hur was theret at Gibeon in front of the Tabernacle of the LORD. So Solomon and the people gathered in front of it to consult the LORD.t

6 There in front of the Tabernacle, Solomon went up to the bronze altar in the LORD’s presence and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.

7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”
8 Solomon replied to God, “You showed faithful love to David, my father, and now you have made me king in his place.9 O LORD God, please continue to keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth!

10 Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly,t for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?”
11 God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people—

12 I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!”

13 Then Solomon returned to Jerusalem from the Tabernacle at the place of worship in Gibeon, and he reigned over Israel.
14 Solomon built up a huge force of chariots and horses.t He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He stationed some of them in the chariot cities and some near him in Jerusalem.15 The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stone. And valuable cedar timber was as common as the sycamore-fig trees that grow in the foothills of Judah.t16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egyptt and from Ciliciat; the king’s traders acquired them from Cilicia at the standard price.

17 At that time chariots from Egypt could be purchased for 600 pieces of silver,t and horses for 150 pieces of silver.t They were then exported to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.

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