Solomon’s Request for Wisdom
1Solomon son of David strengthened his hold on his kingdom.1:1 1Kg 2:12,46 The Lord his God was with him and highly exalted him.1:1 1Ch 29:25
2Then Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel — the family heads.1:2 1Ch 28:1
3Solomon and the whole assembly with him went to the high place that was in Gibeon1:3 1Kg 3:4 because God’s tent of meeting, which the Lord’s servant Moses had made1:3 Ex 36:8–38 in the wilderness, was there.
4Now David had brought the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place1:4 Vg; MT omits the place he had set up for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem,1:4 1Ch 13:1–14; 15:25–16:1
5but he put1:5 Some Hb mss, Tg, Syr; other Hb mss, LXX, Vg read but there was the bronze altar, which Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, had made,1:5 Ex 31:2–11; 38:1–7 in front of the Lord’s tabernacle. Solomon and the assembly inquired of him1:5 Or it there.
7That night1:7–13 1Kg 3:5–15 God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask. What should I give you?”
8And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and faithful love to my father David, and you have made me king in his place.1:8 1Ch 28:5
9Lord God, let your promise to my father David now come true.1:9 2Sm 7:12–16 For you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.1:9 Gn 13:16; 22:17
11God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart, and you have not requested riches, wealth, or glory, or for the life of those who hate you, and you have not even requested long life, but you have requested for yourself wisdom and knowledge 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, wealth, and glory, unlike what was given to the kings who were before you, or will be given to those after you.”1:12 1Ch 29:25; 2Ch 9:22
13So Solomon went to Jerusalem from1:13 LXX, Vg; MT reads to the high place that was in Gibeon in front of the tent of meeting, and he reigned over Israel.
Solomon’s Horses and Wealth
14Solomon1:14–17 1Kg 10:26–29; 2Ch 9:25–28 accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen,1:14 1Kg 4:26 which he stationed in the chariot cities1:14 1Kg 9:19 and with the king in Jerusalem.
15The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar as abundant as sycamore in the Judean foothills.
16Solomon’s horses came from Egypt and Kue.1:16 = Cilicia The king’s traders would get them from Kue at the going price.
17A chariot could be imported from Egypt for fifteen pounds1:17 Lit 600 shekels of silver and a horse for nearly four pounds.1:17 Lit 150 shekels In the same way, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram through their agents.
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