1Solomon son of David strengthened himself over his kingdom, and Yahweh his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.
2Solomon spoke to all Israel—to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader of all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ houses.
3Then Solomon, and the whole assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for there was the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of Yahweh had made in the wilderness.
4But the ark of God David had brought up from Kiriath-jearim to the place David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.
5And the bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, had made was there before the tabernacle of Yahweh; and Solomon and the assembly sought it out.
6Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before Yahweh, which belonged to the tent of meeting, and he offered on it a thousand burnt offerings.
7That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.”
8Solomon said to God, “You yourself showed great loyal love to David my father, and you have made me king in his place.
9Now, Yahweh God, let your word to David my father be confirmed, for you yourself have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.
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 did not ask for riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of those who hate you, and you did not even ask for long life, but asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you might judge my people over whom I have made you king,
12wisdom and knowledge are given to you; and I will give you riches, wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings before you had, and none after you shall 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 a thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.
15The king made silver and gold as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as plentiful as the sycamores of the Shephelah.
16Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue; the king’s traders acquired them from Kue at a price.
17They imported a chariot out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred fifty; and so, through their agency, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.
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