1 David's son Solomon made himself a strong ruler over his kingdom. [ a ] The Lord his God was with Solomon, so that he became a great king. [ b ]
2 Solomon called all the people of Israel to come together. They included the army officers who had authority over 1,000 men, and those who had authority over 100 men. They also included the judges, the leaders in Israel and the leaders of families. 3 Then Solomon went with all those people to Gibeon town to worship God. The special tent that the Lord 's servant Moses had made in the desert was there. It was the tent where God met with his people. 4 Before that, King David had brought God's Covenant Box from Kiriath-Jearim to Jerusalem. He had prepared a place for it in a tent there. 5 But the bronze altar that Bezalel had made was in Gibeon, in front of the Lord 's tent. (Bezalel was the son of Uri, and the grandson of Hur.) So Solomon and the people went to meet the Lord there in Gibeon. 6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar which was in front of the Lord 's special tent. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on the altar to the Lord .
7 That night, God showed himself to Solomon. God said, ‘Ask me to give you whatever you want.’
8 Solomon answered God, ‘You always showed your faithful love to my father David. Now you have chosen me to be king after him. 9 Now, Lord God, please do as you promised to my father David. You have chosen me to rule as king over a great nation with as many people as the dust on the ground. 10 So please give me wisdom and knowledge, so that I can be a good leader of these people. I will only be able to rule this great nation of your people if you do that for me.’
11 God said to Solomon, ‘I am pleased that you have not asked to have riches or many valuable things. You have not asked me to give you great honour or for me to punish your enemies with death. You have not asked for a long life. Instead you asked me to give you wisdom and knowledge to rule over my people that I have chosen you to rule as king. 12 Because of that, I will give to you wisdom and knowledge, as you asked. But I will also give you riches, valuable things and honour. You will have more of those than any king who has lived before you and more than any king who will live after you.’
13 Solomon left the special tent in Gibeon where God met with his people. He returned to Jerusalem. There he ruled over Israel as king.
14 Solomon brought together many chariots and horses for his soldiers to ride. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept some of them in Jerusalem where he lived as king. He kept the others in cities that he had chosen for this. 15 While Solomon ruled as king, there was as much silver and gold in Jerusalem as stones! There was as much wood from cedar trees as there were fig trees that grew in the low hills in the west. 16 Solomon brought his horses from Egypt and from Kue. He sent traders to Kue to buy them for him. 17 They paid 600 pieces of silver for each chariot that they bought in Egypt. They paid 150 pieces of silver for each horse. They also sold chariots and horses to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria. [ c ]
1 Solomon, the son of David, became a very strong king, because the Lord his God was with him and made him very great.
2-3 The people of Israel and the captains, generals, judges, leaders, and heads of the families were all gathered together. Solomon spoke to them, and then they all went to the high place at Gibeon. They went there because God’s Meeting Tent was there. The Lord ’s servant Moses made this tent when he and the Israelites were in the desert. 4 David had carried God’s Box of the Agreement from Kiriath Jearim to Jerusalem where he had set up another tent for it. 5 But the bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, who was the son of Hur, had made was in front of the Holy Tent at Gibeon. So Solomon and the people went there to ask the Lord for advice. 6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord at the Meeting Tent and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
7 That night God came to Solomon and said, “Ask me for whatever you want me to give you.”
8 Solomon said to God, “You were very kind to my father David when you allowed me to rule on his throne after him. 9 Now, Lord God, continue to keep your promise to my father David. You made me king over so many people that they are like the dust of the earth. 10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge so that I can lead these people in the right way. No one could rule this great nation without your help.”
11 God said to Solomon, “You have the right attitude. You did not ask for long life and riches for yourself. You did not ask for the death of your enemies. You asked for the wisdom and knowledge so that you can make the right decisions. 12 So I will give you wisdom and knowledge, but I will also give you wealth, riches, and honor. No king who lived before you has ever had so much wealth and honor, and no king in the future will have as much wealth and honor.”
13 Solomon left the Meeting Tent that was at the high place in Gibeon and went back to Jerusalem to rule as the king of Israel.
14 Solomon started gathering horses and chariots for his army. He had 1400 chariots and 12,000 horse soldiers. He kept them in the chariot cities [ a ] and in Jerusalem where he lived. 15 In Jerusalem Solomon gathered so much gold and silver that it was as common as rocks. He gathered so much cedar wood that it was as common as sycamore trees in the western hill country. 16 Solomon imported horses from Egypt and Kue. [ b ] His merchants bought the horses in Kue for a set price. 17 They also bought chariots from Egypt for 600 shekels [ c ] of silver each and horses for 150 shekels [ d ] of silver each. They then sold the horses and chariots to the kings of the Hittites and Arameans.
1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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.
7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.
8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.
9 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.
1 Now ( A ) Solomon the son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and ( B ) exalted him greatly.
2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, ( C ) to the commanders of thousands, 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 ( D ) the high place which was at Gibeon, ( E ) because 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 ( F ) the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim [ a ] to ( G ) the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5 Now ( H ) the 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 . 6 And Solomon went up there before the Lord to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting, and ( I ) offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
7 ( J ) In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.”
8 And Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great faithfulness, and ( K ) have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, ( L ) Your [ b ] promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over ( M ) a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 ( N ) Now give me wisdom and knowledge, ( O ) so that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?” 11 ( P ) Then God said to Solomon, “Because this was [ c ] in 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, 12 wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. ( Q ) I will also give you riches, wealth, and honor, [ d ] such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed, nor will those who will [ e ] come after you.” 13 ( R ) So Solomon went [ f ] from the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.
14 ( S ) Solomon amassed chariots and horsemen. ( T ) He had 1,400 chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, and he stationed them in ( U ) the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 ( V ) The king made ( W ) silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamores in the [ g ] lowland. 16 Solomon’s ( X ) horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue; the king’s traders acquired them from Kue for a price. 17 They [ h ] imported chariots from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver apiece, horses for 150 apiece, and [ i ] by the same means they [ j ] exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.
1 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 )
2 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— 3 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
7 That night God appeared ( O ) to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
8 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me ( P ) king in his place. 9 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.
