2 Chronicles 1 (NET)

2 Chronicles

The Lord Gives Solomon Wisdom

1 Solomon son of David solidified his royal authority,1 for2 the Lord his God was with him and magnified him greatly.

2 Solomon addressed all Israel, including those who commanded units of a thousand and a hundred, the judges, and all the leaders of all Israel who were heads of families. 3 Solomon and the entire assembly went to the worship center3 in Gibeon, for the tent where they met God4 was located 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, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.5 5 But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, was in front of the Lord’s tabernacle.6 Solomon and the entire assembly prayed to him7 there.) 6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord which was at the meeting tent, and he offered up a thousand burnt sacrifices.

7 That night God appeared8 to Solomon and said to him, “Tell me9 what I should give you.” 8 Solomon replied to God, “You demonstrated10 great loyalty to my father David and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, may your promise11 to my father David be realized,12 for you have made me king over a great nation as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Now give me wisdom and discernment so13 I can effectively lead this nation.14 Otherwise15 no one is able16 to make judicial decisions for17 this great nation of yours.”18

11 God said to Solomon, “Because you desire this,19 and did not ask for riches, wealth, and honor, or for vengeance on your enemies,20 and because you did not ask for long life,21 but requested wisdom and discernment so you can make judicial decisions for my people over whom I have made you king, 12 you are granted wisdom and discernment.22 Furthermore I am giving you riches, wealth, and honor surpassing that of any king before or after you.”23

13 Solomon left the meeting tent at the worship center in Gibeon and went to Jerusalem, where he reigned over Israel.24

Solomon’s Wealth

14 Solomon accumulated25 chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem.26 15 The king made silver and gold as plentiful27 in Jerusalem as stones; cedar was28 as plentiful as sycamore fig trees are in the lowlands.29 16 Solomon acquired his horses from Egypt30 and from Que; the king’s traders purchased them from Que. 17 They paid 600 silver pieces for each chariot from Egypt, and 150 silver pieces for each horse. They also sold chariots and horses to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria.31

1tn Heb “and Solomon son of David strengthened himself over his kingdom.” 2tn The disjunctive clause (note the vav [ו] + subject pattern) probably has a causal nuance here. 3tn Or “high place.” 4tn Heb “the tent of meeting of God.” 5map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. 6sn The tabernacle was located in Gibeon; see 1 Chr 21:29. 7tn Heb “sought [or “inquired of”] him.” 8tn Or “revealed himself.” 9tn Heb “ask.” 10tn Heb “did.” 11tn Heb “you word.” 12tn Or “be firm, established.” 13tn The cohortative with prefixed vav (ו) following the imperative here indicates purpose/result. 14tn Heb “so I may go out before this nation and come in.” The expression “go out…and come in” here means “to lead” (see HALOT 425 s.v. יצא qal.4). 15tn Heb “for.” The word “otherwise” is used to reflect the logical sense of the statement. 16tn Heb “who is able?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.” 17tn Heb “to judge.” 18tn Heb “these numerous people of yours.” 19tn Heb “because this was in your heart.” 20tn Heb “the life of those who hate you.” 21tn Heb “many days.” 22tn Heb “wisdom and discernment are given to you.” 23tn Heb “which was not so for the kings who were before you, and after you there will not be so.” 24tn Heb “and Solomon came from the high place which was in Gibeon [to] Jerusalem, from before the tent of meeting, and he reigned over Israel.” 25tn Or “gathered.” 26tn Heb “he placed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.”map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. 27tn The words “as plentiful” are supplied in the translation for clarification. 28tn Heb “he made.” 29tn Heb “as the sycamore fig trees which are in the Shephelah.” 30sn Because Que is also mentioned, some prefer to see 1 Kgs 10:28-29 as a reference to Mutsur. Que and Mutsur were located in Cilicia or Cappadocia (in modern southern Turkey). See HALOT 625 s.v. מִצְרַיִם. 31tn Heb “and they brought up and brought out from Egypt a chariot for 600 silver (pieces), and a horse for 150, and in the same way to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram by their hand they brought out.”