1And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom , and Jehovah his God was with him , and magnified him exceedingly . 2And Solomon spake unto all Israel , to the captains of thousands and of hundreds , and to the judges , and to every prince in all Israel , the heads of the fathers’ houses . 3So Solomon , and all the 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 Jehovah had made in the wilderness . 4But the ark of God had David brought 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 brazen altar , that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur , had made , was there before the tabernacle of Jehovah : and Solomon and the assembly sought unto it . 6And Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar before Jehovah , which was at the tent of meeting , and offered a thousand burnt-offerings upon it . 7In that night did God appear unto Solomon , and said unto him , Ask what I shall give thee . 8And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast showed great lovingkindness unto David my father, and hast made me king in his stead . 9Now , O Jehovah God , let thy promise unto David my father be established; for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude . 10Give me now wisdom and knowledge , that I may go out and come in before this people ; for who can judge this thy people , that is so great ?
God's Response and Promise
11And God said to Solomon , Because this was in thy heart , and thou hast not asked riches , wealth , or honor , nor the life of them that hate thee , neither yet hast asked long life ; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself , that thou mayest judge my people , over whom I have made thee king : 12wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee ; and I will give thee riches , and wealth , and honor , such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee ; neither shall there any after thee have the like . 13So Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon , from before the tent of meeting , unto Jerusalem ; and he reigned over Israel . 14And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen : and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots , and twelve thousand horsemen , that he placed in the chariot cities , and with the king at Jerusalem . 15And the king made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore-trees that are in the lowland , for abundance .
Solomon's Wealth and Influence
16And the horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt ; the king ’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price . 17And they fetched up and brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver , and a horse for a hundred and fifty : and so for all the kings of the Hittites , and the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means .