Now ^aSolomon the son of David strengthened himself over his kingdom, and ¹Yahweh his God was with him and highly ^bexalted him.

2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, ^ato the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households. 3 Then Solomon and all the assembly with him went to ^athe high place which was at Gibeon, ^bfor God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the servant of Yahweh had made in the wilderness. 4 However, David had brought up ^athe ark of God from Kiriath-jearim ¹to ^bthe place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5 Now ^athe bronze altar, which Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, ¹was there before the tabernacle of Yahweh, and Solomon and the assembly sought it out. 6 And Solomon went up there before Yahweh to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting, and ^aoffered one thousand burnt offerings on it.

7 ^aIn that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I should give to you.”

8 Then Solomon said to God, “You have shown great lovingkindness to my father David, and ^ahave made me king in his place. 9 Now, O Yahweh God, ^alet Your ¹promise to my father David ²endure, for You have made me king over ^ba people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 ^aGive me now wisdom and knowledge, ^bthat I may go out and come in before this people, for who can do justice for this great people of Yours?” 11 ^aAnd God said to Solomon, “Because ¹you had this in your heart, and did not ask for riches, wealth, or glory, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may do justice for My people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge have been given to you. And ^aI will give you riches and wealth and glory, ¹such as none of the kings who were before you had nor those who will ²come after you.” 13 ^aSo Solomon went ¹from the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.

14 ^aAnd Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. ^bAnd he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in ^cthe chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 ^aThe king also made ^bsilver and gold as plentiful as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the ¹Shephelah. 16 Solomon’s import of ^ahorses was from Egypt and from Kue; the king’s merchants procured them from Kue for a price. 17 And they ¹imported a chariot from Egypt for ²600 shekels of silver and a horse for ³150; and ⁴by the same means they ⁵exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.

Now ^aSolomon the son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and ^bexalted him greatly.

2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, ^ato the commanders of thousands, of hundreds, and to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households. 3 Then Solomon and all the assembly with him went to ^athe high place which was at Gibeon, ^bbecause God’s tent of meeting was there which Moses, the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. 4 However, David had brought up ^athe ark of God from Kiriath-jearim ¹to ^bthe place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5 Now ^athe bronze altar which Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was there before the tabernacle of the LORD, and Solomon and the assembly sought it out. 6 And Solomon went up there before the LORD to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting, and ^aoffered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

7 ^aIn that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.”

8 And Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great faithfulness, and ^ahave made me king in his place. 9 Now, LORD God, ^aYour ¹promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over ^ba people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 ^aNow give me wisdom and knowledge, ^bso that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?” 11 ^aThen God said to Solomon, “Because this was ¹in your heart, and you did not ask for riches, wealth, or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor did you even ask for long life, but you asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge so that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. ^aI will also give you riches, wealth, and honor, ¹such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed, nor will those who will ²come after you.” 13 ^aSo Solomon went ¹from the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.

14 ^aSolomon amassed chariots and horsemen. ^bHe had 1,400 chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, and he stationed them in ^cthe chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 ^aThe king made ^bsilver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamores in the ¹lowland. 16 Solomon’s ^ahorses were imported from Egypt and from Kue; the king’s traders acquired them from Kue for a price. 17 They ¹imported chariots from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver apiece, horses for 150 apiece, and ²by the same means they ³exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.