2 Chronicles 1

Solomon Is Established as King

1Solomon son of David strengthened himself over his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great. 2Solomon spoke to all Israel—to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the ancestral houses. 3Then Solomon and all the assembly with him went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for the tent of meeting of God was there, which Moses servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. 4But David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-Jearim to the place David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5The bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, had made was there before the tabernacle of the LORD, and Solomon and the assembly sought him there. 6Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered upon it one thousand burnt offerings.

Solomon Asks for Wisdom

7That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” 8Solomon said to God, “You showed great steadfast love to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9And now, O LORD God, let your word to David my father be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10Now give me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can judge this great people of yours?” 11God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you did not ask for riches, possessions, honor, the life of those who hate you, or even many days, but asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge so that you may judge my people over whom I have made you king, 12wisdom and knowledge are given to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor such as no kings before you have had and none after you will have.”

Solomon’s Chariots and Wealth

13So Solomon came from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel. 14Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15The king made silver and gold in Jerusalem as common as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore trees in the foothills. 16Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; the king’s merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. 17A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver and a horse for one hundred fifty. So through them they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.