A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
2 Chronicles 1
2 Chronicles 1 is the opening chapter of the fourteenth book of the Bible. The 17-verse chapter records Solomon's request for wisdom at the beginning of his reign and the wealth and military strength that follow.
The chapter opens with Solomon firmly established as king. He calls together the commanders, judges, and family heads of Israel, and they go up to Gibeon, where the tent of meeting from the wilderness years still stands. The ark of the covenant is no longer there. David has already brought it to Jerusalem. But the bronze altar Bezalel made is still at Gibeon, and Solomon offers a thousand burnt offerings on it.
That night God appears to Solomon and asks what he wants. Solomon's answer is famous. He thanks God for the kingdom given to him, acknowledges that he does not know how to govern such a large people, and asks for wisdom and knowledge to lead them well.
God is pleased that Solomon did not ask for wealth, long life, or the death of his enemies. He gives Solomon the wisdom he asked for, and adds wealth, possessions, and honor as well, promising prosperity beyond any king before or after him.
The chapter closes with a brief inventory of Solomon's wealth: thousands of chariots and horses, silver and gold as common as stones in Jerusalem, and a thriving trade in horses imported from Egypt and Kue.
Verse 1. Now Solomon son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and highly exalted him.
Verse 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.
Verse 3. And 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.
Verse 4. Now 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.
Verse 5. But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, was in Gibeon before the tabernacle of the LORD. So Solomon and the assembly inquired of Him there.
Verse 6. Solomon offered sacrifices there before the LORD on the bronze altar at the Tent of Meeting, where he offered a thousand burnt offerings.
Verse 7. That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”
Verse 8. Solomon replied to God: “You have shown much loving devotion to my father David, and You have made me king in his place.
Verse 9. Now, 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.
Verse 10. Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
Verse 11. God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or honor 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—
Verse 12. therefore 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.”
Verse 13. So Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place in Gibeon, from before the Tent of Meeting, and he reigned over Israel.
Verse 14. Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.
Verse 15. The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.
Verse 16. Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; the royal merchants purchased them from Kue.
Verse 17. A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. Likewise, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram.
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