2 Chronicles 1

Solomon Worships at Gibeon

1Now 1Solomon the son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and 2exalted him greatly.

2And Solomon spoke to all Israel, 3to the commanders of thousands, of hundreds, and to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households. 3Then Solomon and all the assembly with him went to 4the high place which was at Gibeon, 5because God’s tent of meeting was there which Moses, the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness. 4However, David had brought up 6the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim 7to 8the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5Now 9the bronze altar which Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was there before the tabernacle of the Lord, and Solomon and the assembly sought it out. 6And Solomon went up there before the Lord to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting, and 10offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

711In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.”

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

8And Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great faithfulness, and 12have made me king in his place. 9Now, Lord God, 13Your 14promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over 15a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 1016Now give me wisdom and knowledge, 17so that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?” 1118Then God said to Solomon, “Because this was 19in your heart, and you did not ask for riches, wealth, or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor did you even ask for long life, but you asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge so that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, 12wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. 20I will also give you riches, wealth, and honor, 21such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed, nor will those who will 22come after you.” 1323So Solomon went 24from the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.

Solomon’s Wealth

1425Solomon amassed chariots and horsemen. 26He had 1,400 chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, and he stationed them in 27the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 1528The king made 29silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamores in the 30lowland. 16Solomon’s 31horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue; the king’s traders acquired them from Kue for a price. 17They 32imported chariots from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver apiece, horses for 150 apiece, and 33by the same means they 34exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.