2 Chronicles 1

Solomon's Request for Wisdom

1 Solomon son of David strengthened his hold on his kingdom. The Lord his God was with him and highly exalted him.

2 Then 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.

3 Solomon and the whole assembly with him went to the high place that was in Gibeon because God's tent of meeting, which the Lord's servant Moses had made in the wilderness, was there.^[a]

4 Now, David had brought the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place^[b] he had set up for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem,^[c]

5 but he put^[d] the bronze altar, which Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, had made,^[e] in front of the Lord's tabernacle. Solomon and the assembly inquired of Him^[f] [there].

6 Solomon offered sacrifices there in the Lord's presence on the bronze altar at the tent of meeting; he offered 1,000 burnt offerings on it.

7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him: "Ask. What should I give you?"

8 And Solomon said to God: "You have shown great faithful love to my father David, and You have made me king in his place.

9 Lord God, let Your promise to my father David now come true. For You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.

10 Now, grant me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people, for who can judge this great people of Yours?"

11 God said to Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and you have not requested riches, wealth, or glory, or for the life of those who hate you, and you have not even requested long life, but you have requested for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king,

12 wisdom and knowledge are given to you. I will also give you riches, wealth, and glory, such that it was not like this for the kings who were before you, nor will it be like this for those after you."

13 So Solomon went to Jerusalem from^[g] the high place that was in Gibeon in front of the tent of meeting, and he reigned over Israel.^[h]

Solomon's Horses and Wealth

14 Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen,^[i] which he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.

15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar as abundant as sycamore in the Judean foothills.

16 Solomon's horses came from Egypt and Kue.^[j] The king's traders would get them from Kue at the going price.

17 A chariot could be imported from Egypt for 15 pounds^[k] [of silver] and a horse for about four pounds.^[l] In the same way, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram through their agents.^[m]

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. 1 Kg 3:4
• [b]. Vg; MT omits the place
• [c]. 1 Ch 13:1-14; 15:25; 16:1
• [d]. MT, Tg, Syr; some Hb mss, LXX, Vg read but there was
• [e]. Ex 31:2-11; 38:1-2
• [f]. Or it
• [g]. LXX, Vg; MT reads to
• [h]. 1 Kg 3:4-15
• [i]. 2 Ch 9:25; 1 Kg 4:26; 10:26
• [j]. Cilicia (modern Turkey)
• [k]. Lit 600 shekels
• [l]. Lit 150 shekels
• [m]. 2 Ch 9:25-28; 1 Kg 10:26-29

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.