CHAPTER 1
Now Solomon
son
of David
established himself securely
over
his kingdom,
and the LORD
his God
was with him
and highly
exalted him.
Then Solomon
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 families.
And Solomon
and the whole
assembly
went
to the high place
at Gibeon
because
it was
the location of
God’s
Tent
of Meeting,
which
Moses
the servant
of the LORD
had made
in the wilderness.
Now
David
had brought
the ark
of God
from Kiriath-jearim
to the place
he had prepared
for it,
because
he had pitched
a tent
for it
in Jerusalem.
But the bronze
altar
made by
Bezalel
son
of Uri,
the son
of Hur,
was in Gibeon
before
the tabernacle
of the LORD.
So Solomon
and the assembly
inquired of Him there.
Solomon
offered sacrifices
there
before
the LORD
on
the bronze
altar
at the Tent
of Meeting;
on it
he offered
a thousand
burnt offerings.
Solomon
replied
to God:
“You
have shown
great
and loving devotion
to
my father
David,
and You have made me king
in his place.
Now,
O LORD
God,
let Your promise
to
my father
David
be fulfilled.
For
You
have made me king
over
a people
as numerous
as the dust
of the earth.
Now
grant
me
wisdom
and knowledge,
so that I may lead
this
people.
For
who
is able to govern
this
great
people of Yours?”
God
said
to Solomon,
“Since
this
was
in
your heart
and you have not
requested
riches
or wealth
or glory
or the death
of your enemies—
and since you have not
even
requested
long
life
but have asked
for wisdom
and knowledge
to govern
My people
over
whom
I have made you king—
therefore wisdom
and knowledge
have been granted
to you.
And I will also give you
riches
and wealth
and honor
unlike
anything
given to the kings
before you
or
after you.”
So Solomon
went
to Jerusalem
from the high place
in Gibeon
before
the Tent
of Meeting,
and he reigned
over
Israel.
Solomon
accumulated
1,400
chariots
and 12,000
horses,
which he stationed
in the chariot
cities
and also with
him
in Jerusalem.
The king
made
silver
and gold
as common in Jerusalem
as stones,
and
cedar
as abundant
as sycamore
in the foothills.
A chariot
could be imported
from Egypt
for six
hundred shekels
of silver,
and a horse
for a hundred
and fifty.
Likewise,
they
exported them
to all
the kings
of the Hittites
and to the kings
of Aram.