2 Chronicles: Chapter 1
1. Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his
kingdom, and The Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.
2. Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of
thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers' [houses].
3. So Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went
to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tent of meeting of God,
which Moses the servant of The Lord had made in the wilderness.
4. But David had brought the ark of God up from
Kiriath Jearim to the place that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a
tent for it at Jerusalem.
5. Moreover the bronze altar, that Bezalel the son
of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tent of The Lord: and
Solomon and the assembly were seeking counsel there.
6. Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before The
Lord, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered one thousand burnt
offerings on it.
7. In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said
to him, "Ask what I shall give you."
8. Solomon said to God, You have shown great loving
kindness to David my father, and have made me king in his place.
9. Now, The 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. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go
out and come in before this people; for who can judge this your people, that is
so great?
11. God said to Solomon, Because this was in your
heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of those
who hate you, neither yet have asked long life; but have asked wisdom and
knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you
king:
12. wisdom and knowledge is granted to you; and I will
give you riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had who
have been before you; neither shall there any after you have the like.
13. So Solomon came from the high place that was at
Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem; and he reigned over
Israel.
14. Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he
had one thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he
placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
15. The king made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem
as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the
lowland, for abundance.
16. The horses which Solomon had were brought out of
Egypt and from Kue; the king's merchants purchased them from Kue.
17. They brought up and brought out of Egypt a chariot
for six hundred pieces of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty: and so for
all the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of Syria, did they bring them out
by their means.