2 Chronicles 1

Solomon Asks for Wisdom

1 Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.

2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel—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, for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the LORD’s servant had made in the wilderness.

4 Now David had brought up 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.

5 But the bronze altar that Bezalel 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 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 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 king in his place.

9 Now, LORD God, let your promise 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.

10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead 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, 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, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”

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 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 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 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.

2 Chronicles 1 Commentary

Chapter 1

Solomon's choice of wisdom, His strength and wealth.

- SOLOMON began his reign with a pious, public visit to God's altar. Those that pursue present things most eagerly, are likely to be disappointed; while those that refer themselves to the providence of God, if they have not the most, have the most comfort. Those that make this world their end, come short of the other, and are disappointed in this also; but those that make the other world their end, shall not only obtain that, and full satisfaction in it, but shall have as much of this world as is good for them, in their way. Let us then be contented, without those great things which men generally covet, but which commonly prove fatal snares to the soul.

Cross References

• 1. S 1 Kings 2:12,26; S 2 Chronicles 12:1
• 2. S Genesis 21:22; S Genesis 39:2; S Numbers 14:43
• 3. S 1 Chronicles 29:25
• 4. S 1 Chronicles 9:1; 1 Chronicles 28:1
• 5. S Joshua 9:3
• 6. S Leviticus 17:4; Exodus 36:8
• 7. Exodus 40:18
• 8. 2 Samuel 6:2; S 1 Chronicles 15:25
• 9. 2 Samuel 6:17; 1 Chronicles 15:1
• 10. Exodus 38:2
• 11. S Exodus 31:2
• 12. 1 Chronicles 13:3
• 13. 2 Chronicles 7:12
• 14. S 1 Chronicles 23:1; 1 Chronicles 28:5
• 15. S 2 Samuel 7:25; S 1 Kings 8:25
• 16. S Genesis 12:2
• 17. Numbers 27:17; 2 Samuel 5:2; Proverbs 8:15-16
• 18. S Deuteronomy 17:17
• 19. S 1 Chronicles 29:12
• 20. S 1 Chronicles 29:25; 2 Chronicles 9:22; Nehemiah 13:26
• 21. S 1 Samuel 8:11; S 1 Kings 4:26; 1 Kings 9:19
• 22. S 1 Kings 9:28; Isaiah 60:5
• 23. Song of Songs 1:9

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "charioteers"
• [b]. Probably Cilicia
• [c]. That is, about 15 pounds or about 6.9 kilograms
• [d]. That is, about 3 3/4 pounds or about 1.7 kilograms

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND CHRONICLES

This, and the preceding, were but one book originally, but divided into two because of the size of it, so that this is only a continuation of the former history; that ends at the death of David; this begins with the reign of Solomon, goes through that, and the reigns of all the kings of the house of David; of the kings of Judah only, after the separation of the ten tribes, quite down to the captivity of Judah in Babylon, and reaches to the deliverance of the Jews from thence by Cyrus, and contains an history of four hundred and seventy nine years. It treats not at all of the kings of Israel, after the separation, only of the kings of Judah, through whom the line of the Messiah was drawn; and though it omits several things recorded of them in the book of Kings, yet it gives abundance of anecdotes not to be met with there, which are of great use and advantage in history to know.

\\INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 1\\

This chapter relates, how that Solomon being confirmed in his kingdom, went to Gibeon to sacrifice 2Ch 1:1-6, that the Lord appeared there to him, and what passed between them, 2Ch 1:7-10 and that when he returned from thence to Jerusalem, he increased in splendour, wealth, and riches, 2Ch 1:13-17.