Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom 1Now Solomon son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and highly exalted him. 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 heads of the families. 3And 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. 4Now 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. 5But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, was in Gibeon beforea the tabernacle of the LORD. So Solomon and the assembly inquired of Him there. 6Solomon offered sacrifices there before the LORD on the bronze altar in the Tent of Meeting, where he offered a thousand burnt offerings. 7That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!” 8Solomon replied to God: “You have shown much loving devotionb to my father David, and You have made me king in his place. 9Now, 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. 10Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people.c For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” 11God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or glory for yourself or death for 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— 12therefore 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.” 13So Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place in Gibeon before the Tent of Meeting, and he reigned over Israel. Solomon’s Riches 14Solomon accumulatedd 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses,e which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 15The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.f 16Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue;g the royal merchants purchased them from Kue. 17A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver,h and a horse for a hundred and fifty.i Likewise, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram. Footnotes: 5 a LXX, Vulgate, and some Hebrew manuscripts was there before ; MT he placed before 8 b Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion ; the range of meaning includes love , goodness , kindness , faithfulness , and mercy , as well as loyalty to a covenant . 10 c Literally so that I may go out before this people and come in 14 d Literally Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had 14 e Or horsemen or charioteers 15 f Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands ; that is, the western foothills of Judea 16 g Probably an area in Cilicia, a province in the southeast of Asia Minor 17 h 600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms of silver. 17 i 150 shekels is approximately 3.8 pounds or 1.7 kilograms of silver. |
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