Solomon Worships at Gibeon
1 Solomon the son of David was firmly established in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.
2 Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of families. 3 So Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for the Lord’s Tent of Meeting was there, which the Lord’s servant Moses had made in the wilderness.
4 But David had brought the Ark of the Lord up from Kiriath Jearim to the place that David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. 5 Moreover the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was there before the Lord’s tabernacle, and Solomon and the assembly were seeking counsel there.
6 Solomon offered sacrifices there before the Lord, on the bronze altar which was at the Tent of Meeting and offered 1,000 burnt offerings on it.
Solomon Prays for Wisdom
7 That night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for what you want me to give you.”
8 Solomon said to the Lord, “You have shown great loving kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to David my father be established, for you have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in their multitude. 10 Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who can govern this great people of yours?”
11 God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for riches, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor yet have you asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge is granted to you. I will give you riches, wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you had, and none after you will have.”
13 So Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon from before the Tent of Meeting to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.
Solomon’s Riches
14 Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen that he placed in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold to be as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars to be as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland. 16 The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt and from Kue. The king’s merchants purchased them from Kue.
17 They imported from Egypt a chariot for 600 pieces of silver, and a horse for 150. They also exported them to the Hittite kings and the Syrian kings.