Berean Standard Bible

2 Chronicles 1

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

1Now SolomonH8010 sonH1121 of DavidH1732 established himself securelyH2388 overH5921 his kingdomH4438, and the LORDH3068 his GodH430 was with himH5973 and highlyH4605 exalted himH1431.

2Then SolomonH8010 spokeH559 to allH3605 IsraelH3478, to the commandersH8269 of thousandsH505 and of hundredsH3967, to the judgesH8199, and to everyH3605 leaderH5387 in allH3605 IsraelH3478—the headsH7218 of the familiesH1. 3And SolomonH8010 and the wholeH3605 assemblyH6951 wentH1980 to the high placeH1116 at GibeonH1391 becauseH3588 it wasH1961 the location ofH8033 God’sH430 TentH168 of MeetingH4150, whichH834 MosesH4872 the servantH5650 of the LORDH3068 had madeH6213 in the wildernessH4057.

4NowH61 DavidH1732 had broughtH5927 the arkH727 of GodH430 from Kiriath-jearimH7157 to the placeH1732 he had preparedH3559 for it, becauseH3588 he had pitchedH5186 a tentH168 for it in JerusalemH3389. 5But the bronzeH5178 altarH4196 made byH6213 BezalelH1212 sonH1121 of UriH221, the sonH1121 of HurH2354, wasH7760 in Gibeon beforeH6440 1 the tabernacleH4908 of the LORDH3068. So SolomonH8010 and the assemblyH6951 inquired of Him thereH1875.

6SolomonH8010 offered sacrificesH5927 thereH8033 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 onH5921 the bronzeH5178 altarH4196 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150, where he offeredH5927 a thousandH505 burnt offeringsH5930.

7ThatH1931 nightH3915 GodH430 appearedH7200 to SolomonH8010 and saidH559, “AskH7592 , and I will give itH5414 to you!”

8SolomonH8010 repliedH559 to GodH430: “YouH859 have shownH6213 muchH1419 loving devotionH2617 2 toH5973 my fatherH1 DavidH1732, and You have made me kingH4427 in his placeH8478. 9NowH6258, O LORDH3068 GodH430, let Your promiseH1697 toH5973 my fatherH1 DavidH1732 be fulfilledH539. ForH3588 YouH859 have made me kingH4427 overH5921 a peopleH5971 as numerousH7227 as the dustH6083 of the earthH776. 10NowH6258 grantH5414 me wisdomH2451 and knowledgeH4093, so that I may leadH3318 H6440 H935 thisH2088 peopleH5971.3 ForH3588 whoH4310 is able to governH8199 thisH2088 greatH1419 people of YoursH5971?”

11GodH430 saidH559 to SolomonH8010, “SinceH3282 thisH2063 wasH1961 inH5973 your heartH3824 instead ofH3808 requestingH7592 richesH6239 or wealthH5233 or honorH3519 for yourself orH853 deathH5315 for your enemiesH8130—and since you have notH3808 evenH1571 requestedH7592 longH7227 lifeH3117 but have askedH7592 for wisdomH2451 and knowledgeH4093 to governH8199 My peopleH5971 overH5921 whomH834 I have made you kingH4427— 12therefore wisdomH2451 and knowledgeH4093 have been grantedH5414 to you. And I will also giveH5414 you richesH6239 and wealthH5233 and honorH3519 unlikeH3808 H3651 anythingH834 given to the kingsH4428 before youH6440 or after youH310.”

13So SolomonH8010 wentH935 to JerusalemH3389 from the high placeH1116 in GibeonH1391, from beforeH6440 the TentH168 of MeetingH4150, and he reignedH4427 overH5921 IsraelH3478.

14SolomonH8010 accumulatedH622 4 1,400H505 H702 H3967 chariotsH7393 and 12,000H8147 H6240 H505 horsesH6571,5 which he stationedH5117 in the chariotH7393 citiesH5892 and also withH5973 him in JerusalemH3389. 15The kingH4428 madeH5414 silverH3701 and goldH2091 as common in JerusalemH3389 as stonesH68, andH853 cedarH730 as abundantH7230 as sycamoreH8256 in the foothillsH8219.6

16Solomon’sH834 H8010 horsesH5483 were importedH4161 from EgyptH4714 and KueH4723;7 the royalH4428 merchantsH5503 purchased themH3947 H4242 from KueH4723. 17A chariotH4818 could be importedH5927 H3318 from EgyptH4714 for sixH8337 hundredH3967 shekels of silverH3701,8 and a horseH5483 for a hundredH3967 and fiftyH2572.9 LikewiseH3651, they exported themH3318 to allH3605 the kingsH4428 of the HittitesH2850 and to the kingsH4428 of AramH758.

1. 2 Chronicles 1:5 LXX, Vulgate, and some Hebrew manuscripts was there before; MT he placed before ↩
2. 2 Chronicles 1:8 Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant. ↩
3. 2 Chronicles 1:10 Literally so that I may go out before this people and come in ↩
4. 2 Chronicles 1:14 Literally Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had ↩
5. 2 Chronicles 1:14 Or horsemen or charioteers ↩
6. 2 Chronicles 1:15 Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea ↩
7. 2 Chronicles 1:16 Probably an area in Cilicia, a province in the southeast of Asia Minor ↩
8. 2 Chronicles 1:17 600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms of silver. ↩
9. 2 Chronicles 1:17 150 shekels is approximately 3.8 pounds or 1.7 kilograms of silver. ↩