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Therefore Solomon, the son of David, was comforted in his realm (And so Solomon, the son of David, was strengthened, or confirmed, in his kingdom), and the Lord was with him, and magnified him on high.

And Solomon commanded to all Israel, to tribunes, and centurions, and to dukes, and to doomsmen of all Israel, and to the princes of families; (And Solomon commanded to all Israel, to the tribunes, and the centurions, and the leaders, and the judges of all Israel, and the leaders of the families;)

and Solomon went with all the multitude into the high place of Gibeon, where the tabernacle of [the] bond of peace of the Lord was, which tabernacle Moses, the servant of the Lord, made in wilderness. (and Solomon went with all the multitude to the hill shrine of Gibeon, where the Tabernacle of the Covenant of the Lord was, that is, the Tabernacle of the Witnessing, which Tabernacle Moses, the Lord’s servant, had made in the wilderness.)

Forsooth David had brought the ark of God from Kiriathjearim into the place which he had made ready to it, and where he had set a tabernacle to it, that is, in Jerusalem. (But David had brought the Ark of God from Kiriathjearim to the place which he had prepared for it, and where he had set up a Tent for it, that is, in Jerusalem.)

And the brazen altar, which Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the Lord; which also Solomon and all the church sought. (And the bronze altar, which Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there in front of the Tabernacle of the Lord; and Solomon and all the congregation sought the Lord at that altar.)

And Solomon went up to the brazen altar, before the tabernacle of the bond of peace of the Lord, and offered in it a thousand sacrifices. (And Solomon went up to the bronze altar, before the Tabernacle of the Covenant of the Lord, and offered on it a thousand sacrifices.)

Lo! forsooth in that night God appeared to him, and said, Ask that that thou wilt, that I give to thee (Ask what thou wilt, that I give it to thee).

And Solomon said to God, Thou hast done great mercy with David, my father, and hast ordained me king for him. (And Solomon said to God, Thou hast shown great love for my father David, and hast made me king in his place.)

Now therefore, Lord God, thy word be fulfilled, which thou promisedest to David, my father; for thou hast made me king upon thy great people, which is so unnumberable as the dust of [the] earth. (And so now, Lord God, let thy word be fulfilled, which thou hast promised to my father David; for thou hast made me king upon thy great people, who be as innumerable as the dust of the earth.)

10 Give thou to me wisdom and understanding, that I go in and go out before thy people; for who may deem worthily this thy people, which is so great? (Give thou to me wisdom and understanding, so that I can come in and go out before thy people; for who can worthily judge this thy people, who be so great in number?)

11 And God said to Solomon, For that this thing pleased more thine heart, and thou askedest not riches, and chattel, and glory, neither the lives of them that hate thee, but neither full many days of thy life; but thou hast asked (for) wisdom and knowing, that thou mayest deem my people, upon which I have ordained thee king, (And God said to Solomon, For that this thing more pleased thy heart, and thou hast asked not for riches, or possessions, or glory, or for the lives of those who hate thee, or for a great many days for thy own life; but thou hast asked for wisdom and knowledge, so that thou can judge my people, on whom I have ordained thee to be king,)

12 wisdom and knowing (shall) be given to thee; and over this, I shall give to thee riches, and chattel, and glory (and in addition to this, I shall give to thee riches, and possessions, and glory), so that none among kings, neither before thee, nor after thee, (shall) be like thee.

13 Then Solomon came from the high place of Gibeon into Jerusalem, (from) before the tabernacle of the bond of peace, and he reigned upon Israel. (Then Solomon came from the hill shrine at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the Tabernacle of the Covenant, and he reigned upon Israel.)

14 And Solomon gathered together to him chariots and knights, and a thousand and four hundred chariots were made to him, and twelve thousand knights; and he made them to be in the cities of carts, and with the king in Jerusalem. (And Solomon gathered to himself chariots and horsemen, and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; and he ordained some of them to be in the cities for the chariots, and some of them to be with the king in Jerusalem.)

15 And the king gave in Jerusalem gold and silver as stones in plenty, and he gave cedar trees as sycamores, that come forth in field places in great multitude. (And the king made gold and silver to be as plentiful as stones in Jerusalem, and cedar trees to be like the sycamores that come forth in the fields in great multitude.)

16 And horses were brought to him from Egypt, and from Coa, by the merchants of the king, which went, and bought by price (who went there, and bought them for money),

17 a chariot of horses for six hundred pieces of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty. In like manner buying was made of all the realms of cities, and of the kings of Syria (In like manner, purchases were made from all the kings of the Hittites, and from the kings of Syria).

Solomon Asks for Wisdom(A)(B)

Solomon son of David established(C) himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with(D) him and made him exceedingly great.(E)

Then Solomon spoke to all Israel(F)—to the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, to the judges and to all the leaders in Israel, the heads of families— and Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon,(G) for God’s tent of meeting(H) was there, which Moses(I) the Lord’s servant had made in the wilderness. Now David had brought up the ark(J) of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent(K) for it in Jerusalem. But the bronze altar(L) that Bezalel(M) son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the tabernacle of the Lord; so Solomon and the assembly inquired(N) of him there. Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

That night God appeared(O) to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me(P) king in his place. Now, Lord God, let your promise(Q) to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth.(R) 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead(S) this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth,(T) possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor,(U) such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.(V)

13 Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting. And he reigned over Israel.

14 Solomon accumulated chariots(W) and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses,[a] which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold(X) as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. 16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue[b]—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. 17 They imported a chariot(Y) from Egypt for six hundred shekels[c] of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty.[d] They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 1:14 Or charioteers
  2. 2 Chronicles 1:16 Probably Cilicia
  3. 2 Chronicles 1:17 That is, about 15 pounds or about 6.9 kilograms
  4. 2 Chronicles 1:17 That is, about 3 3/4 pounds or about 1.7 kilograms

And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.

So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness.

But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the Lord: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.

And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.

In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.

Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast 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 thy people, that is so great?

11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

13 Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.

14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

15 And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance.

16 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

17 And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means.