Daily Bread

Solomon Asks for Wisdom^(A)(B)

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.