Chapter 1

Solomon Worships at Gibeon

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

2 Solomon spoke to all Israel, ato the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households.

3 Then Solomon and all the assembly with him went to athe high place which was at Gibeon, bfor God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness.

4 However, David had brought up athe ark of God from Kiriath-jearim 1to bthe place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.

5 Now athe bronze altar, which Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, 1was there before the tabernacle of the Lord, and Solomon and the assembly sought it out.

6 Solomon went up there before the Lord to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting, and aoffered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

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

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

8 Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and ahave made me king in his place.

9 “Now, O Lord God, aYour 1promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over ba people as numerous as the dust of the earth.

10 “aGive me now wisdom and knowledge, bthat I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?”

11 aGod said to Solomon, “Because 1you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king,

12 wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And aI will give you riches and wealth and honor, 1such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will 2come after you.”

13 aSo Solomon went 1from the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.

Solomon’s Wealth

14 aSolomon amassed chariots and horsemen. bHe had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in cthe chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.

15 aThe king made bsilver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamores in the 1lowland.

16 Solomon’s ahorses were imported from Egypt and from Kue; the king’s traders procured them from Kue for a price.

17 They 1imported chariots from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver apiece and horses for 150 apiece, and 2by the same means they 3exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.