Solomon's unprecedented request for wisdom over wealth reverses the typical ancient Near Eastern royal prayer pattern, where kings sought military victory and material prosperity from their gods.
2 Chronicles 1
Solomon's Request for Wisdom
1Solomon the son of David was firmly established in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and made him exceedingly great.
2Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households.
3Then Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for God’s Tent of Meeting was there, which the LORD’s servant Moses had made in the wilderness.
4But David had brought God’s ark up from Kiriath Jearim to the place that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.
5Moreover 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.
6Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the Tent of Meeting, and offered one thousand burnt offerings on it.
7That night, God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for what you want me to give you.”
8Solomon said to God, “You have shown great loving kindness to David my father, and have made me king in his place.
9Now, 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 multitude.
10Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of yours?”
11God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked 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,
12therefore 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, and none after you will have.”
13So Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the Tent of Meeting, to Jerusalem; and he reigned over Israel.
14Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
15The 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.
16The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt and from Kue. The king’s merchants purchased them from Kue.
17They imported from Egypt then exported a chariot for six hundred pieces of silver and a horse for one hundred fifty. They also exported them to the Hittite kings and the Syrian kings.
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Theme
Solomon begins his reign with divine blessing and establishes his authority over Israel. When God appears to him at Gibeon and offers to grant any request, Solomon asks for wisdom and knowledge to govern God's people rather than personal gain. God is pleased with this selfless request and grants Solomon not only unprecedented wisdom but also riches, honor, and prosperity that make his kingdom extraordinarily wealthy and powerful.
Context
This chapter follows David's death and Solomon's succession, setting the stage for Solomon's temple building project and golden age that will dominate the following chapters.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-2 Solomon's Established Kingdom Solomon is firmly established as king with God's blessing and gathers Israel's leaders.
- 3-6 Worship at Gibeon Solomon leads the assembly to worship at the high place of Gibeon, offering a thousand burnt offerings.
- 7-10 God's Offer and Solomon's Request God appears to Solomon and offers to grant any request, prompting Solomon to ask for wisdom to govern well.
- 11-12 God's Generous Response God is pleased with Solomon's selfless request and grants wisdom plus unprecedented riches and honor.
- 13-17 Solomon's Prosperity Displayed Solomon returns to Jerusalem and demonstrates his God-given wealth through military might and abundant resources.
Solomon's Request for Wisdom
1:1–1:17 narrative dialogue hopeful
Solomon goes to Gibeon to worship at the Tent of Meeting, where God appears to him in a dream and grants his request for wisdom and knowledge to govern Israel. God also promises him riches, wealth, and honor because he asked for wisdom rather than personal gain.
person_contrast
Solomon's unprecedented request for wisdom over wealth reverses the typical ancient Near Eastern royal prayer pattern, where kings sought military victory and material prosperity from their gods.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
2 Chronicles 1:1 4 references
Lexicals 3
1 Chronicles 29:25 Lexical
The LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and gave to him such royal majesty as had not been on…
1 Chronicles 22:5 Lexical
David said, “Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magn…
2 Chronicles 11:17 Lexical
So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, for they walked t…
2 Chronicles 1:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Kings 3:4 Lexical
The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offering…
1 Chronicles 21:29 Lexical
For the LORD’s tabernacle, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering, were at that time in the…
Leviticus 16:17 Lexical
No one shall be in the Tent of Meeting when he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, and has m…
Leviticus 4:14 Lexical
when the sin in which they have sinned is known, then the assembly shall offer a young bull for a sin offering, and brin…
Leviticus 16:33 Lexical
Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the alt…
2 Chronicles 1:4 1 reference
2 Chronicles 1:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 38:22 Lexical
Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses.
Exodus 35:30 Lexical
Moses said to the children of Israel, “Behold, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of th…
1 Chronicles 2:20 Lexical
Hur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel.
Exodus 31:2 Lexical
“Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
2 Chronicles 6:13 Lexical
(for Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in th…
2 Chronicles 1:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 30:18 Lexical
“You shall also make a basin of bronze, and its base of bronze, in which to wash. You shall put it between the Tent of M…
Exodus 38:30 Lexical
With this he made the sockets to the door of the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze grating for it, all the v…
2 Chronicles 7:7 Lexical
Moreover Solomon made the middle of the court that was before the LORD’s house holy; for there he offered the burnt offe…
Exodus 40:29 Lexical
He set the altar of burnt offering at the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt off…
Leviticus 4:18 Lexical
He shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, that is in the Tent of Meeting; and t…
2 Chronicles 1:7 1 reference
2 Chronicles 1:11 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Chronicles 29:28 Lexical
He died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and Solomon his son reigned in his place.
Ecclesiastes 6:2 Lexical
a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God…
1 Kings 3:11 Lexical
God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have you asked for r…
1 Kings 3:13 Lexical
I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the king…
1 Kings 10:23 Lexical
So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
2 Chronicles 1:12 1 reference
2 Chronicles 1:13 1 reference
2 Chronicles 1:14 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 9:25 Lexical
Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen that he stationed in the chariot…
1 Kings 10:26 Lexical
Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen.…
1 Samuel 13:5 Lexical
The Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel: thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and…
1 Kings 9:19 Lexical
all the storage cities that Solomon had, the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomo…
1 Kings 9:22 Lexical
But of the children of Israel Solomon made no bondservants; but they were the men of war, his servants, his princes, his…
2 Chronicles 1:15 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Kings 10:27 Lexical
The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowlan…
2 Chronicles 9:27 Lexical
The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars to be as abundant as the sycamore trees that a…
1 Chronicles 29:2 Lexical
Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things…
1 Chronicles 22:14 Lexical
Now, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the LORD’s house one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million tal…
1 Chronicles 27:28 Lexical
Over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowland was Baal Hanan the Gederite. Over the cellars of oi…
2 Chronicles 1:16 1 reference
2 Chronicles 1:17 4 references
Lexicals 4
1 Kings 10:29 Lexical
A chariot was imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty shekels; and so t…
2 Samuel 15:1 Lexical
After this, Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him.
2 Kings 7:6 Lexical
For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots and the sound of horses, even the noise of a…
Isaiah 2:7 Lexical
Their land is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures. Their land also is full of horses, n…
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
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